Dozens more report prior cases of vandalism targeting Hummer

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http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/archive ... lizin.html

First of all I'll start off by saying, right off the top - I know this doesn't at all represent the majority of democrats or even liberals. I am listening to Gallagher right now though and he's getting a lot of callers, a lot of people who really can't even drive Hummers through a lot of major cities without having people either chewing on them, trying to pick fights, and of course vandalisim as well. These sorts of people feel completely justified in vandalism much for the same reason as this guy above; their ethos trumps the law.

Like some other people here I had my own bullying experiences through gradeschool and highschool but the effects on me and I guess my own hot-buttons that I was left with were a bit different. My end result, my trigger, is people trying to dictate - tell me who I am, tell me what I'll do, tell me what my beliefs are or aren't, tell me what my intelligence level is or isn't, and trying to assert their authority over my identity its an instant "How F***ING *DARE* you...." response from deep within me. When I see people keying people's vehicles, cutting them down because they own a certain brand of vehicle, and there's social consensus of applause for vandalism from sizeable swaths of people because they feel its a special case (which will grow broader and broader if its let go as cultureally acceptable) - its revolting. They're both being bad little kids and scolding other adults, many who strive for personal integrity and keep a stiff upper lip about life hardships (many being construction people, ex-military, landscapers - people with a little thicker bark on them) as if they're bad little kids. This situation is a bit like people throwing paint on anyone walking around in an Armani suite because they think its a vulgar display of wealth (forget whatever this person did for society to get that money or who that money for the suite went back to and the reinforcent of employment for the person making the suite) - the idea of class division and class warfare is another one that grosses me out similarly, its an arbitrary, this isn't middle ages feudal europe, there are no kings, no queens, no dukes, no knights, no counts, no princes, no princesses - and the closest thing to that end - we elect by our own votes and aside from the Supreme Court they have limited time and yes, accountability. Yes, there is also the argument that the left firmly believes in global warming, the right tends to think its more emotional/aesthetic/feely much like banning outdoor smoking.

I really have a hypothesis, which was kind of spurred by a conversation I was having with someone else here a couple days ago and by some of her analysis in response. I'm pretty convinced at least that these sorts of people, same person different party - they'd be bible-beating people and would be Westboro's if they were on the right and they'd be Greenpeace nuts like the guy in the article above if they were on the left. The one thing we can't have is thinking that the right is the only side that's preachy - this is the left's equivalent to everything that those who do hate the right see in the right, and its equally justified that sensible people on the right are equally offended by this.

My bad for going off on this but **wow** does this get me going......

You're right about the mob mentality thing and you expressed yourself very lucidly and forcefully

However, I should point out that keying such an ugly car as the civilian Hummer will probably improve its appearance.

As a liberal, I think it is important to defend people's rights to drive Humvees. First, the fools are draining their own bank accounts. Second, every one around them is quick to clue into their judgment, or lack there of.

As the owner of a car, I think anyone who vandalizes cars is a moron. I work to pay for my car, they work to pay for theirs. The fact that I chose a car that gets 35 mpg while someone else chose a car that only gets 17 mpg is a matter of choice.

No.

Unless the owner paid me to make his car less ugly.

I am good.

Obviously I don't support keying Hummers for all the good or petty reasons people might have for disliking them, but it's a bit understandable why people might dislike them. The Hummer has come to symbolize some of the social ills facing the United States today: waste, pollution, self-centeredness. Few people have a practical need for an automobile like the Hummer; it's mostly a matter of conspicuous consumption of a status symbol, which is done to raise social status. I really never understood this motivation until I got out into the "work world" and then read up on the kind of motivations that drive so-called mature adults (on WIkipedia and elsewhere). It's everywhere.

Also, part of a Hummer's utility as a status symbol comes from its metaphorical "ownership of the road." You see, by blocking the view of other drivers, often bursting out of their parking space, and causing other nuisances for other drivers, many owners of Hummers derive a perverse feeling of social superiority. Consuming more than their "fair share" of gasoline and thus impacting the environment and increasing demand in the market are another example of this. This produces a visceral emotional reaction in many people, understandably.

As for myself, I based my car purchase decision mostly on (1) price, (2) fuel economy, (3) basic comfort, and (4) appearance—oh, and I just wanted to get a car soon because I was sharing my mom's car with my sister! Needless to say, this resulted in a less than common purchase (although I've been seeing more and more of them because of the fuel economy lately).

The Hummer: Sorry about your penis.

In that case: Sorry about the sand up your vagina...

I'm with Vincent Vega on this one, it would be worth them doing it if I could catch them doing it...