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    gilbertkittensLeah Beckmann
    5/14/13 1:14pm

    I am pretty sure that when they say "Millenials" they just mean "people who live in NYC." I am also pretty sure that Millenials who live in LA or every other part of the country that relies heavily on personal rather than public transportation, drive cars.

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      CardinalVicesgilbertkittens
      5/14/13 1:25pm

      I agree—I live in Texas, and everything is absolutely spread all over creation down here. It's difficult for public transportation (or bikes) to take off when all of your destinations are 20+ miles apart.

      Austin, however, needs to get off its ass on light rail. I would much rather ride a train to work than have to drive 2 hours round trip every day.

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      FerminaDazagilbertkittens
      5/14/13 1:45pm

      Eh, I live in a small northeastern city that definitely has a car culture, and most of the people in my peer group don't drive, as well as the lower income residents. We have a fairly decent public transportation system and many people bike. I think for a lot of millennials like myself, it's an unnecessary expense and in a shaky economy, who wants to be stuck with that loan/insurance/etc. if we lose our jobs?

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    DoctorNineLeah Beckmann
    5/14/13 2:09pm

    In other news, young people have been recently observed questioning the choices and assumptions of preceding generations. National media outlets covering the story have reported reactions among their parents ranging from lukewarm disapproval, to outright shock and stunned silence. When asked directly for the reasons behind this reckless course, millenials responded this way:

    GIF
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      Gr8DaneDoctorNine
      5/14/13 2:42pm

      ...erhmsurrywhaa? Distracted.

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      DoctorNineGr8Dane
      5/14/13 3:40pm

      Here's a bunny to make you feel better.

      Now GTFO.

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    smokeybaileyLeah Beckmann
    5/14/13 1:32pm

    I just took a casual poll of everyone that I know, olds and youngs, and everyone drives. The youngs can't wait to get their licenses.

    I also live in the greater Los Angeles area where even my 12 mile commute takes 30 minutes and at least one freeway.

    I bought a car when I was 19 and working at Pizza Hut while going to college. In addition, I paid my way through college and graduated undergrad debt free. Millennials, please stop crying. Get a job delivering pizzas, work until 3 and then be in class by 9. Then tell me how hard your life is.

    ::puts down fist:: Good god, I've become my father.

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      wkiernansmokeybailey
      7/28/13 1:17pm

      Oh for crying out loud, do you have any idea how expensive college is these days? Not just xtra-hi-klass places like Harvard and Columbia but common state schools. The whole reason these young people are complaining so much is precisely because, between the cost of college as a multiple of the minimum wage

      and unemployment shown on this graph (and keep in mind that young people's unemployment, always lower than the overall average, falls even further behind in slumps)

      the opportunity to do what you did, difficult as it may have been, no longer exists.

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    goldenraeLeah Beckmann
    5/14/13 1:07pm

    Well, gas prices are never going down and it's either a car loan or my student loans. Student loans have to win. Our economy has changed because of this.

    And, by shopping at my community stores instead of driving 30 minutes to a big box store I'm keeping more tax money in the local base. What the hell is wrong with investing back in the local?

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      ArdenLeah Beckmann
      5/14/13 2:56pm

      The people who need cars are the ones who live in Suburbia out in BFE because they wanted to get away from the city. So their life literally requires a vehicle so they can make that 1+ hour commute back into the city that they just moved AWAY from to work. Not to mention any time they need groceries or want to go do something besides sit in their yard and say "Look at this yard I have!"

      If you live inside the city and the city is large enough, you have public transportation, subways, trains, buses, anything you need to get you somewhere. If your city is small enough but you live inside it, you can walk or ride your bike anywhere you need to go.

      Move back into the city people, stop running away!

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        KyleLeah Beckmann
        5/14/13 2:13pm

        I'm a millenial who judges people who CAN'T drive. Yes, if you live in an urban area, you probably won't have a chance to use it that much, but come on. If you can afford to get a license, you should get one, because you never know if you're going to encounter an emergency that requires you to get behind the wheel of a car.

        The other thing is that young people who don't have cars don't often get to experience the convenience of having one because renting cars is so damn expensive. I just checked Enterprise and Hertz and the cheapest car I could find for a Saturday was almost 200 bucks because of age restriction fees. If it was cheaper, I'm sure more people would take advantage of it and possibly see the value of owning a car sooner in life. I live in New York City and it pains me that I can't afford to own a car here. It's definitely something I'm saving up for.

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          All Hail The Big CatKyle
          5/14/13 2:48pm

          So, you judge people for differences in situation and temper. You sound awesome.

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          KyleAll Hail The Big Cat
          5/14/13 3:20pm

          I said I judge people who can't drive, not don't drive. Like I said, driving is a skill that could save your life or someone else's life someday and if you can afford to get a license, it's irresponsible not to have one. If you have a license but live in an area where you can go months or years without using it, well, then good for you for using public or alternate transportation. But there's no situation where you shouldn't have one.

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        Half man, Half buiscuitLeah Beckmann
        5/14/13 1:06pm

        This honestly doesn't surprise me. Especially in urban areas, there really isnt a benefit to owning a car. They are expensive, and parking alone can be astronomical. Nevermind maintenance, insurance and gas. Plus, the whole 'not having a car' thing can actually help with physical health. If they arent driving they are biking, walking or running places, or taking public transport, which is good, IMHO. However, I would wager that kids in suburban and rural areas are getting their licenses at the same rates. Because public transport isnt as readily available.

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          bbberlinHalf man, Half buiscuit
          5/14/13 1:11pm

          When I lived in NY it was basically that: in the city no one drives, but my Texas/NJ friends had grown up driving everywhere and when they went back home they borrowed family member cars.

          But yeah, insurance+gas is awful expensive. How the hell do people go to school AND have a car in places like LA?

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          courtneys_keyboardHalf man, Half buiscuit
          5/14/13 1:17pm

          Totally agree. I live in the Philly suburbs now and only drive to the train station and back. But I grew up in Iowa and nobody rides the bus if they can help it. I mean, nobody. And there are no trains, etc. People don't walk much because we don't work in city centers, and because it's insanely cold for 6 months of the year. Driving is still the only way to not freeze to death.

          I feel like all of these trend pieces are based on what people in NYC (and a few other metropolitan areas) do, and they totally ignore what everyone in the rest of the country does. The culture in flyover states just doesn't matter, apparently.

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        lehanLeah Beckmann
        5/14/13 1:57pm

        Good. With the boomers aging and dying off and the millenials rejecting car culture this Gen Y'er looks forward to 20 years from now when he can afford a sports car and have nice empty roads to drive it.

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          wkiernanlehan
          7/28/13 12:41pm

          Hah you young punk I'll be right in front of you going 5 mph below the speed limit, laughing and wheezing. Love, Grandpa

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        rudi_freudeLeah Beckmann
        5/14/13 1:58pm
        GIF

        "You're a Millennial who can't drive."

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          Gr8DaneLeah Beckmann
          5/14/13 2:10pm

          Something was just *off* but I think I figured it out.

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            abbasdGr8Dane
            5/15/13 1:50am

            Just ride your bike. Bitching about a bike that isn't your's changes nothing. Ride what you want to ride.

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            Gr8Daneabbasd
            5/15/13 1:55am

            I take it you're the life of every party?

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