Tesla Is Changing How Men Are Jerks Behind the Wheel | Hacker News Reader

Tesla Is Changing How Men Are Jerks Behind the Wheel

melmagazine.com

7 pointsjamesgill5 comments

I don't know about all that. I meticulously follow rules laid forth for pedestrians and it's gender neutral in regards to close calls. I think women edge out men in terms of distracted driving from what I've seen however. Generally phone use but my favorite: I was really excited to someone reading a book out and about not too long ago, it was just terrifying she was driving as she did it. Paperback resting atop the wheel as she sailed through the parking lot.

I'm male and used to do that when I was younger. Eventually I lost the skill as I got older and gave it up.

I too, don't know that I buy this. Aholes are always going to find a way to be an ahole, but there are only so many ways you can do this with a vehicle, and for the most part Tesla drivers still use the old-fashioned ways (using a turn lane to pass, cutting people off, etcetera).

> Autopilot, meanwhile, threatens a “demasculinization” of male drivers as they’re converted into passengers.

"Real men" have always been chauffeured.

I wish I had the source, but one view of being in the dominant position in a relationship is that "one gets things done or their needs met, but 'moves' the least." A baby is an example they gave. It just lies there, but everyone around it tends to its needs unconditionally. It is in tyrannical control of the relationship.

In the case of Tesla vehicles, the human driver sits (or lies) there and his transportation needs are met. The auto-pilot does all the work. The driver is still in control of the relationship, even if the chauffeur is software. The technology serves him; very much in contrast to the similarly "rugged, individualist" men who felt threatened by industrialization 200 years ago.

Great point of view with regard to adults. This doesn't apply to babies, though, as it is ultimately up to the adults whether or not to abandon the baby to die. It is up to adults what kind of food, shelter, bedding, etcetera that the baby gets. The baby has no power, just the ability to project "take pity on me" through generally, but not universally, felt nurturing reactions in the adults.

Dependency is not equivalent to dominance. Dependency requires vulnerability, dominance requires the reduction of vulnerability.

> The technology serves him; very much in contrast to the similarly "rugged, individualist" men who felt threatened by industrialization 200 years ago.

These men had firearms which served them, and the ability to bend nature to their will. They lost this ability as nature was overtaken by industrialization controlled by others.

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