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Unpopular Opinion
Welcome to the Unpopular Opinion community!
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Vote the opposite of the norm.
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- If your post is a "General" unpopular opinion, start the subject with [GENERAL].
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I think calling it a culture of fear and selfishness is a pretty significant disservice to the reality of how car companies bought and dismantled public transit.
It was stolen from us, we didn't reject it.
Lots of people are happy to reject it these days though, it's like the mythical Stockholm syndrome come to life
That’s definitely a big part, but it’s both. Like white flight out of cities and insisting on a detached suburban home, the other part of the story is that cars represent “social worth” for many in North America.
It’s why car people become so angrily defensive, and fight even modest changes. Cars aren’t just functional. They represent a cherished value system. Their worth as a person is tied up with their car.
That said, just like diamond rings and smoking, even this weird cultural norm was bought by industry advertising. We’re social apes, who do things to feel important and valued, even when it otherwise makes no sense.