B.A.L.L.S.: Idling our way into oblivion symptom of society
Background:
Waiting seems to be a big part of modern society, which is ironic because people hate waiting. We are an instant gratification society. Small bites of life served up fast and furious. We are in the midst of a snack time culture that will lead to an equally fast and furious burn out. There is an aspect of this modern culture that may well be an insight into the collective downfall of humanity: the car idler.
There are many opportunities in our city to let your car idle away. To burn the refined liquids of prehistoric plankton because walking into a store to buy your coffee is an obtuse suggestion.
The Drive-Through:
Next time you are in the vicinity of a Tim Hortons on an early morning workday, take a look at the drivers waiting in line: tired, worn, pinch-nose glasses, waiting their turn like the soup-line masses. We all have our turn at the drive-through, but when does it become a matter of complacency, or laziness, or entitlement? When is it okay to use a drive-through, and when is it better to park and walk in? In my opinion, it is never okay to choose convenience over our planet! If burning prehistoric plankton was good for the environment, then have at it. The same goes for smoking, war, fast food and sniffing permanent markers. The problem is, they are all bad: they kill your lungs, innocent people, your health and you get marker on your nose. Breathing in the exhaust of combustion engines is not good for anything but industry and doctors.
So, why do people line up across the parking lot and spill out onto Adelaide Street? Why do they look at you with irritation and scorn when you wind your way through them to park? Because today doesn't count! By making today count, to really strive to contribute to the well being of the planet and its inhabitants only robs them of the opportunity to rest up and think of what should irritate them next (sounds like me). So they sit in their cars, listening to the easy hits of yesteryear, fix their hair (if they have any) and grow more and more irritated at the slow pace of the line. People love their ruts. I guess it's just like Christmas carols; some things will never change. Don't you think it is time for some new Christmas carols?
There was a short-lived movement in London two years ago to ban the drivethrough altogether. Remember that? Businesses responded with a fury, the public resolved against it and city council caved under the pressure. A year later, nothing. Convenience over our planet. Ease over effort. We are Timmy-ing our way to oblivion.
The Idling Continues:
The drive-through patron is an example of laziness perhaps, but perhaps it is something else. There are other cases of the car idler that may be more disconcerting. An example may be the driver waiting for a train to pass that will not shut off their engine. We see this everywhere, really: at grocery stores waiting for the middle-aged woman cart-abandoner to make her way out of the store, in front of variety stores waiting for bud to buy a pack of smokes and a bong. (You notice how you can buy a bong anywhere now? You used to have to make a special trip to Yonge Street in Toronto to hit up a head shop.) People all over the place running their engines like it was some sort of race nobody can win.
My Take:
Engine idling has serious health consequences, experts say. Air pollution contributes to ozone depletion, increases rates of asthma and heart disease and contributes to the greenhouse gases that are associated with climate change. It is a myth that stopping and starting an engine has more negative impact on the environment than idling — look it up.
The public relations machine will have us believe that it is swell to idle, but they aren't talking about the engine, they are talking about your brain.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
Waiting seems to be a big part of modern society, which is ironic because people hate waiting. We are an instant gratification society. Small bites of life served up fast and furious. We are in the midst of a snack time culture that will lead to an equally fast and furious burn out. There is an aspect of this modern culture that may well be an insight into the collective downfall of humanity: the car idler.
There are many opportunities in our city to let your car idle away. To burn the refined liquids of prehistoric plankton because walking into a store to buy your coffee is an obtuse suggestion.
The Drive-Through:
Next time you are in the vicinity of a Tim Hortons on an early morning workday, take a look at the drivers waiting in line: tired, worn, pinch-nose glasses, waiting their turn like the soup-line masses. We all have our turn at the drive-through, but when does it become a matter of complacency, or laziness, or entitlement? When is it okay to use a drive-through, and when is it better to park and walk in? In my opinion, it is never okay to choose convenience over our planet! If burning prehistoric plankton was good for the environment, then have at it. The same goes for smoking, war, fast food and sniffing permanent markers. The problem is, they are all bad: they kill your lungs, innocent people, your health and you get marker on your nose. Breathing in the exhaust of combustion engines is not good for anything but industry and doctors.
So, why do people line up across the parking lot and spill out onto Adelaide Street? Why do they look at you with irritation and scorn when you wind your way through them to park? Because today doesn't count! By making today count, to really strive to contribute to the well being of the planet and its inhabitants only robs them of the opportunity to rest up and think of what should irritate them next (sounds like me). So they sit in their cars, listening to the easy hits of yesteryear, fix their hair (if they have any) and grow more and more irritated at the slow pace of the line. People love their ruts. I guess it's just like Christmas carols; some things will never change. Don't you think it is time for some new Christmas carols?
There was a short-lived movement in London two years ago to ban the drivethrough altogether. Remember that? Businesses responded with a fury, the public resolved against it and city council caved under the pressure. A year later, nothing. Convenience over our planet. Ease over effort. We are Timmy-ing our way to oblivion.
The Idling Continues:
The drive-through patron is an example of laziness perhaps, but perhaps it is something else. There are other cases of the car idler that may be more disconcerting. An example may be the driver waiting for a train to pass that will not shut off their engine. We see this everywhere, really: at grocery stores waiting for the middle-aged woman cart-abandoner to make her way out of the store, in front of variety stores waiting for bud to buy a pack of smokes and a bong. (You notice how you can buy a bong anywhere now? You used to have to make a special trip to Yonge Street in Toronto to hit up a head shop.) People all over the place running their engines like it was some sort of race nobody can win.
My Take:
Engine idling has serious health consequences, experts say. Air pollution contributes to ozone depletion, increases rates of asthma and heart disease and contributes to the greenhouse gases that are associated with climate change. It is a myth that stopping and starting an engine has more negative impact on the environment than idling — look it up.
The public relations machine will have us believe that it is swell to idle, but they aren't talking about the engine, they are talking about your brain.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
