Read me >>> sharing illuminating journalism

**mzilliox** · 02-05-2020

its fun to go to other places that dont have such obscene lobbying and marketing and good ole american bigger cars are better mentality. everyone is practical and drives a small car or station wagon.
yes, SUVs are selfish, as are a lot of our hyper-consumerism based choices. we are comfy here. that influences perspective

**thollandpe** · 02-05-2020

Originally Posted by caleb

I want to preface this with some caveats, but I'm not sure about the caveats: Electric or Not, Big SUVs Are Inherently Selfish - VICE

The market research insights are incredible:

“Car companies managed this remarkable feat because they ran—and continue to run—quite possibly the most sophisticated marketing operations on the planet. They knew what people really wanted: to project an image of selfish superiority. And then they sold it to them at a markup.

The picture they painted of prospective SUV buyers was perhaps the most unflattering portrait of the American way of life ever devised. It doubled as a profound and lucid critique of the American ethos, one that has only gained sharper focus in the years since. And that portrait is largely the result of one consultant who worked for Chrysler, Ford, and GM during the SUV boom: Clotaire Rapaille.

Rapaille, a French emigree, believed the SUV appealed—at the time to mostly upper-middle class suburbanites—to a fundamental subconscious animalistic state, our ‘reptilian desire for survival,’ as relayed by Bradsher. (‘We don’t believe what people say,’ the website for Rapaille’s consulting firm declares. Instead, they use ‘a unique blend of biology, cultural anthropology and psychology to discover the hidden cultural forces that pre-organize the way people behave towards a product, service or concept’). Americans were afraid, Rapaille found through his exhaustive market research, and they were mostly afraid of crime even though crime was actually falling and at near-record lows. As Bradsher wrote, ‘People buy SUVs, he tells auto executives, because they are trying to look as menacing as possible to allay their fears of crime and other violence.’ They, quite literally, bought SUVs to run over ‘gang members’ with, Rapaille found.”

I mean, man, what do you even say to that aside from... yeah: The dude who almost ran me over in a LX460 probably hasn't had s*x in a month and is terrified his trophy wife is going to leave him.

P.S. That dude and his frustrated brethren/ilk are responsible for the demise of domestic road cycling in the U.S. Because, not dying is a perk.

The sophisticated marketing was only part of the recipe. The other major components were deregulation, safety and emissions, and a tax trick.

**Scott G.** · 02-05-2020

Like they say, history doesn't repeat, but it sure knows how to rhyme.

The Last Time Democracy Almost Died | The New Yorker

**guido** · 02-05-2020

Trump will be acquitted in the impeachment trial. American politics will be convicted. - Vox

**caleb** · 02-05-2020

Originally Posted by mzilliox

its fun to go to other places that dont have such obscene lobbying and marketing and good ole american bigger cars are better mentality. everyone is practical and drives a small car or station wagon.
yes, SUVs are selfish, as are a lot of our hyper-consumerism based choices. we are comfy here. that influences perspective

One of the issues I (we, judging by the cars thread) run into though is that there's almost no incentive in the US to drive something that isn't gigantic. Gas is cheap. The engineering has gone mainly to SUVs and pickups, and they're honestly amazing. A modern crew cab half ton pickup is a marvel of engineering. It drives like a car, has space for three kids, and - oh yeah - it'll carry an atv in the bed while also towing a boat. It's a fully actualized El Camino on steroids. Other than cost, there's very little downside to the individual.

The big expensive vehicles are amazing. Most of the more efficient alternatives feel like afterthoughts at best. And so the design resources create their own inertia, drawing in people who otherwise don't have a specific preference for a big vehicle. The result ends up being not only a lack of efficiency because the vehicles are overly heavy, but also the decreased road capacity caused by human psychology that the article describes.

**Too Tall** · 02-05-2020

This thread is a gift which keeps on giving. Thanks y'all.

Who here among us will endorse my next foray into magazines? I'm thinking about The Economist since I already pay for it on News Stands when it looks good why not?

What else?

**thollandpe** · 02-05-2020

Originally Posted by Too Tall

Who here among us will endorse my next foray into magazines? I'm thinking about The Economist since I already pay for it on News Stands when it looks good why not?

What else?

Orion. Because it’s impossible to have too many beautiful things in your life.

Orion Magazine | Nature, Culture & Place

**monadnocky** · 02-05-2020

Originally Posted by thollandpe

Orion. Because it’s impossible to have too many beautiful things in your life.

Orion Magazine | Nature, Culture & Place

ooooh.... I'm hooked.

**guido** · 02-05-2020

Orion Magazine | 7 Rites to Perform Upon Finding a Dead Animal

Hmmm...

**mzilliox** · 02-06-2020

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opini...ump-i-believe/

for those who believe. This one is sharp, careful, it may draw blood

**slwrnu** · 02-06-2020

Magazines, yes the Economist is a high class publication. If you are inclined, you might google the New Scientist. You can look at old editions on line for free, The more modern ones require a subscription. It is England based but is also published in the US, and, after all, science knows no boundaries.

**guido** · 02-06-2020

Donald Trump has been acquitted. Here are 3 winners and 3 losers from his impeachment trial. - Vox

**Scott G.** · 02-06-2020

For TT, join the US Naval Institute, and choose "USNI Proceedings" as your magazine.
Very interesting to read, a little learning cliff understanding the naval speak.
Proceedings reads like Bicycle Quarterly, a self help book and Foreign Policy magazine mix tape.
USNI is not part of the Navy.