I apologize to the flyers on my flist

[hmpf]

I know that attacks and recriminations are not the way to go if you want to convince people to change their behaviour. It's just that I get so frelling impatient when I read things like the article linked in the post before the one about flying, because I get the impression the house is on fire and we really need to start, y'know, dousing the flames, and yet any measure to do so is currently regarded as purely an individual 'lifestyle choice' that nobody has any business 'pushing' on others.

And yes, I actually flew fairly frequently between 2003 and 2005 (about eleven times, i.e. five return trips and one single, between Germany and Britain), and my *really* firm decision not to fly anymore is a recent thing, so I'm obviously no saint myself. So it's not like I don't understand the temptation and so on. I just think the time to give in to that temptation is well and truly over now. (Strictly speaking it's been over for quite a while, but sometimes facts take a while to penetrate. We all want to go on believing that we can make 'just one more' exception, and go on living the way we've always done - reality has to hit us over the head with a mallet a few times, usually, before we're ready to acknowledge it.)

Comments

[dune-drd.livejournal.com]

I can tell you exactly what tempts people: Money. Just one little example: I actually went into one of those DB 'Service Points' one day and asked what it would cost me if I went to the UK (IIRC as far as Birmingham) by train. The good woman clicked and clicked and clicked and finally found me a 19 hour fare for 240 Euros. Hooray. My last trip (return!) with airberlin cost 60 Euros.

Service Points suck

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

Frankfurt-London by train can take as little as five and a half hours, and cost as little as 75 euros (one way, admittedly - but 150 euros for a return ticket is still a lot cheapter than what that 'Service' Point lady found you). As with most of the really cheap flights, though, you have to book a little while in advance, and watch for special offers.

Of course, under the current perverse conditions flying will continue to be cheapter than taking the train or bus for a while yet - it's just so massively subsidised. But there *are* train tickets within an affordable range.

[starwatcher]

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In USA, the latest is that Feds give customs agents free hand to seize travelers' documents -- which apparently includes personal computers, cellphones, whatever they decide *might* be 'dangerous'. I think there'll soon be a LOT less plane travel into and out of the USA.

I've already decided that, if I ever go to Moonridge again, I'll drive for two days rather than fly. Flying over here seem very different from over there, and has become nothing but an endless series of hassles.
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A-ha!

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

The true reason of all the silly flying rules finally revealed: they're secretly trying to save the climate, by making flying so ridiculously difficult that people will 'voluntarily' abstain! *Sneaky*!

;-)

BTW, I have quite a bit of experience with not flying - both from recent years (19 hours to Britain by train and bus; 22 hours to Spain by bus) and from my childhood/youth, when I was still travelling with my parents, and I have to say I usually enjoyed travelling, say, from Germany to Spain by car (or, even better, by train - but we only did that once, I think). 'course, I wasn't the one driving... ;-) But still... I think it's nice to see the countryside, the gradual change of it as you make your way. The 'trick' is to take enough time for the trip, so you won't have to stress yourself too much... And yeah, I do realise that with the very short holiday times that are common in many countries, that is of course a bit of a problem. :-(

'cheapter'???

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

And not just once, but *twice*... o.O

Re: A-ha!

[starwatcher]

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Unfortunately, in America, train travel is really not an option except for certain limited, high-populated areas. I looked into train travel for Moonridge last year. I would have to travel to either El Paso or Dallas (over 6 hours driving) to catch the train, and the very strange routing (way north before heading west and south to get to LA) would take over two days to get there. I could drive it in less time (depending on how long I could sit behind the wheel), and have the freedom of my own schedule.

In my case, travel by car means going alone for long distances. I might be able to meet another fan on the way to Moonridge next time... but it's a 12-hour drive to her place. I guess, ultimately, sharing stuff by Internet is the greenest solution.
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