The other day, I was waiting for a work buddy at a gas station. I was daydreaming as usual. I have the mental capacity of thinking about absolutely nothing, although just for a few seconds. Then, suddenly, my moment of intellectual inertia was interrupted by a bizarre sight.
I saw a man fuelling up his Honda Accord Hybrid while leaving the engine on. Besides the fact that he is supposed to shut off the engine before filling up, just like he should refrain from smoking around the gas pumps, I saw in him an element of flagrant contradiction.
Come on, think about it. A guy who pays extra to purchase himself a hybrid vehicle; he's got a good conscience and worries about the environment. He wants people to see him driving a hybrid vehicle. However, he instantly threw out his good conscience in the trash, by leaving the engine turning uselessly.
Don't send me emails to tell me that the engine of the Accord Hybrid is supposed to shut down when the car is at a standstill, I'm aware of that. But the exhaust fumes emanating from that Accord, wasn't an optical illusion. I suppose the guy had the heater on full blast, which probably requires the engine to stay on.
I often see this type of walking contradiction. Too often. For example, those who will drive all around town three times to buy an object at the lowest possible price. Why save $20 on some gadget if you've spent $15 in gas and wasted a half-day to find this deal? Or, what about a person who, when the stoplight turns green, blasts off in his car like a rocket, only to come to a stop at the next red light, 150 meters away? More wasted gasoline. And how about a single person who buys a full-size SUV, but doesn't have any kids and doesn't tow a boat. It seems to me that there are more logical choices when purchasing a vehicle.
Or, how about a guy who waits for his work buddy, in his car at a gas station, with his motor running, while he thinks about absolutely nothing?
Oops.
I saw a man fuelling up his Honda Accord Hybrid while leaving the engine on. Besides the fact that he is supposed to shut off the engine before filling up, just like he should refrain from smoking around the gas pumps, I saw in him an element of flagrant contradiction.
Come on, think about it. A guy who pays extra to purchase himself a hybrid vehicle; he's got a good conscience and worries about the environment. He wants people to see him driving a hybrid vehicle. However, he instantly threw out his good conscience in the trash, by leaving the engine turning uselessly.
Don't send me emails to tell me that the engine of the Accord Hybrid is supposed to shut down when the car is at a standstill, I'm aware of that. But the exhaust fumes emanating from that Accord, wasn't an optical illusion. I suppose the guy had the heater on full blast, which probably requires the engine to stay on.
I often see this type of walking contradiction. Too often. For example, those who will drive all around town three times to buy an object at the lowest possible price. Why save $20 on some gadget if you've spent $15 in gas and wasted a half-day to find this deal? Or, what about a person who, when the stoplight turns green, blasts off in his car like a rocket, only to come to a stop at the next red light, 150 meters away? More wasted gasoline. And how about a single person who buys a full-size SUV, but doesn't have any kids and doesn't tow a boat. It seems to me that there are more logical choices when purchasing a vehicle.
Or, how about a guy who waits for his work buddy, in his car at a gas station, with his motor running, while he thinks about absolutely nothing?
Oops.