SUV Haters

SUVs have a far greater (negative) effect on the environment than other vehicles, bonehead. Give yourself a pat on the back for adding to an already horrendous pollution problem.

Proud SUV Owner must have to haul around his balls in a wheelbarrow.

If SUV’s were built with an alternative fuel source such as Hydrogen would people still complain about them?

You people all seem to be part of some odd little whiners club when it comes to this pet issue. No one’s saying SUVs are the greatest thing on the planet but seriously.You bitch and whine about SUVs because you can, it makes you feel superior (for some odd reason) and perhaps it makes you believe you are actually doing something about this issue you supposedly care so much about. Either that or it helps your self esteem when you are walking across town in February.If global warming is such a major topic in your life then how about telling the world what amazing steps you have taken to help deal with the problem instead of complaining about someone’s car choices like a petulant 16 year old. Oh and hey if any of you actually do drive care to list your vehicles and their age here? A 10 year old car might be just as bad as an SUV.

His bitch didn’t seem that evil to me. Some of the responses on the other hand were quite so.And ok, people don’t like them but seriously, it is worthy of complaints here every month or two? Where are all of the other complaints about all of the other issues contributing to global warming?No, a single complaint about SUVs I can see but constant harping on this pretty much singular issue….I’m betting there’s more to it for many people than they are letting on. Oh and Secret….no need to get your panties in a bunch. All I’m saying is this seems a case of protesting too much.

I guess SUV Owner is right. Children starving and diseases are bigger issues than some numb-nut trying to compensate for something. And I guess cars with bigger engine blocks that require more fuel and, oh yeah, cost more because of some idiotic idea of status are not as bad as poverty and homelessness. Gee, maybe if you took the money you spent on extra gas for your unnecessarily oversized toy and donated it to cancer research or outreach programs then you wouldn’t have to lose all that sleep over these issues you care so much about.

“Maybe rich guy in his SUV”….I don’t own one myself and truthfully don’t want one but I knew there was more to this than purely environmental concerns. Sucks but it seems that jealousy/class issues actually are playing a role here.So what about people who own boats? They’re not really necessary either and many burn lots of gas so does everyone hate them too? In fact, why not measure things to rant against based on real numbers? One SUV per household for example, surely pollutes far less than the 2-3 cars that many have right? First vehicle cut in the name of the environment should probably be the car for the teenagers or younger people living at home as they “need” it far less. Interesting that many target SUVs only while ignoring these other also important factors.Environmental issues are certainly important but illogical complaints based in class and lifestyle perceptions and perhaps with a bit of jealousy only hurt the effort and add to the image (and I seriously hope it’s only an image) that environmentalists are leftie kooks who don’t actually know what they are talking about.

Chuck U. You’re absolutely right. There should not be a class/jealousy factor to this debate. I also agree that SUVs are not necessarily the most detrimental culprit in harming our environment. I was merely pointing out the fact that it costs more to buy, own and drive an SUV than most smaller, fuel efficient cars. I was also trying to point out the fact that the person who started this discussion was bandying around other important issues in an attempt to make us feel bad for having conviction to a cause we believe in. I think, however, some of us are mixing class/jealousy issues with status symbol issues. I believe that most people buy SUVs for one (or more) of three reasons. 1) They actually need a vehicle to regularly transport large truck sized items but have need for more than 2 passengers. 2) Safety. 3) Status. The first reason I understand. The second reason in most cases is just an insecurity issue and if we had more strict driving laws and people learned to drive their cars better this would not be such a big deal. The third is what I think gets most people. From MTV to general advertising the SUV has been toted as a “big mans” vehicle. There’s proof in Proud SUV owner’s challenge to the rest of us poor, unimportant people. It’s the same way the Austin Mini couldn’t sell through the 80s and 90s but put it in a movie with Mark Walberg and advertise the hell out of it and you’ve got Joe Shmoe dishing out big cash to pull up to the club in a car that’s way to small for him. Same with the smart car and the air of moral superiority some of their owners have. The problem is that people are being sold a mentality at the cost of our air quality and they’re buying it with out a care in the world how it impacts anyone else. I think people are concerned about the environment when they see so many SUVs but they get fucking pissed off when some asshole cuts them off because he thinks he owns the road. Most SUV owners seem to have bought an attitude when they bought their vehicle.

Dom,I couldn’t agree more. I demand a high standard for criticism even though no one cares usually. If we (and I include myself strongly) want to build a better world then let’s focus on real, hard evidence here and not meaningless rants by supposed environmentalists that only hurt the cause through lack of information and appearing to be “stupid granolas” by the rest of the world. Get a fucking haircut, grow up and do some research. Yes it sucks but hey, life is like that for things you truly care about.This is fucking serious (excuse my language) shite here people so if you want to actually do something and make a real difference then you are going up against people with facts and figures coming out of their ass and it’s actually not that bad research truthfully, it’s just paid for and ignores many things. So if you want to complain and rant against a thing you believe to be so vitally important then get your fucking facts straight because if we’re actually going to make a fucking difference in anything in this world then we better be dam well prepared and ready to fight it out as “professional” environmentalists and not “crazy tree huggers” who hate SUVs because you hate the people in them.I have enough trouble dealing with the obvious injustices of life and actually making sense without nutbars who are too lazy to do the research messing things up. I don’t have time for your shit. Get off your ass and talk to me when you’re prepared. Otherwise go home. The future of the environmental movement has to be led by people who know their shit and actually care about their children’s future. Speeches are nice but if you try selling them without facts you look like idiots and destroy the meaning of what you may be trying to do.Get real because if it’s really that bad you’d better.

Do you drive your boat everyday… probally not…. Its a toy and not used everyday.