Have We Really Become THAT Lazy?
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (86713)
United States
April 8, 2017 10:48am CST
One of the really cool things that has been added to cars is the headlight feature. Back in the old days, leaving your headlights on would drain the car's battery and necessitate a call to AAA. So, the car companies designed the "warning" noise that tells you that you left the lights on once you open the door after you've removed the key.
Recently, more and more cars have a feature where the headlights will automatically shut off after 60-90 seconds after you've left the car without turning them off. And dang, has that made some people lazy.
I've done this a couple of times: I've seen someone leaving their car with the headlights still on and reminded them. "Thanks, but they'll turn off automatically."
Really, are we that lazy now? And I'm not talking about running into a store to buy a pack of gum or use the restroom. No, I'm talking about the office building parking lot where someone's going to work for eight hours.
It's a nice reminder when we drive with our lights on in the daytime because it's raining or foggy (or because we went through a tunnel). But really: letting the car turn the headlights off just because it can?
5 people like this
7 responses
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
8 Apr 17
We live in a world where reading lines on a page is exhausting thus audiobooks.
2 people like this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
8 Apr 17
True, but there are actually people who need audio books because of poor eyesight. And audiobooks are wonderful for long road trips.
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
8 Apr 17
@blitzfrick I know that but audiobooks are booming because people choose them over real books.
1 person likes this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
8 Apr 17
When automatic transmissions first hit the market, we all became a bit lazier. Cars were no longer as interactive.
I heartily dislike the snowballing trend to have cars do all the driving and remembering, and I especially dislike all the nagging beeps to remind me to do the things I'd gotten into the habit of doing for myself. Now, cars are increasingly doing the driving for us and soon they'll be driving themselves.
What happens when a pack rat gets under the hood and gnaws a wire or two? People are going to die and when the autopsy is performed, a glob of jello will be discovered in their skulls, not from the wreck but from all the "automatic conveniences" that were installed in the car to make them safer. 
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86713)
• United States
8 Apr 17
I love standard transmission!!! I had to give the stick up when the spondylolisthesis got too bad in my back for me to work the clutch in stop-and-go traffic. 
But I had a clutch from 1981 until 2008!
But I had a clutch from 1981 until 2008!1 person likes this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
8 Apr 17
@FourWalls Omg, I just sold my stick shift Saturn. My high school boyfriend taught me how to drive a stick way back in the Dark Ages, 1959. And the first car I ever owned was a Karmann Ghia. I've mostly owned VW Beetles over the years.
I had to give up the clutch because of a knee injury. 
Oh well, moving on! I drive a Ford Ranger now, automatic transmission...
You say standard transmission to people now and quite often they think you're referring to an automatic, lol.
Oh well, moving on! I drive a Ford Ranger now, automatic transmission...
You say standard transmission to people now and quite often they think you're referring to an automatic, lol.1 person likes this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
8 Apr 17
@Lupita234 I think if we don't watch out we may eventually become like the people in the Disney movie WALL-E who live on a starliner, called Axiom:
"The Axiom's passengers have become obese and feeble due to microgravity and reliance on an automated lifestyle" [Wikipedia]
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search This article is about the 2008 film. For the video game based on it, see WALL-E (video game). For the film's soundtrack, see WALL•E (soundtrack). WALL-E Theatrical release poster Directed by
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
8 Apr 17
I agree that's ridiculous!
My 2005 Toyota turns the lights of automatically, too, but the problem is that I have no control over them. I cannot turn them off if I want to, they are always on. What if I want to drive with them off for some reason? What if I want to follow someone at night without them seeing me? Yes, I know that's unlikely but what if I needed to?! I don't like not being able to turn my lights on and off manually.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189880)
• Boise, Idaho
9 Apr 17
I don't think it is so much laziness as it is that we live in such a past paced world now days. We are in a hurry to get out of the car and get to work or get the grocery shopping done. If we allowed ourselves more time then this might not be such a problem.
1 person likes this
@shivamani10 (11035)
• Hyderabad, India
8 Apr 17
yes. It happens. The automatic system is useful while driving in foggy weather.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
9 Apr 17
I had an Explorer with lights like that. And it did make me lazy, so I'm guilty.
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
8 Apr 17
If I were to manually shut my lights off, then they wouldn't come on automatically when I start driving? I am guessing. I don't even know if I Can shut them off manually. They are usually off before I can gather all my stuff anyway. And the interior lights stay on for that 90 seconds or so too after opening the door, even though they are off. They come on automatically when I open the door then go off automatically. They are already switched off.
