The Decline and Fall of Automotive Journalism
Posted by freedomforall 2 years, 2 months ago to Politics
Excerpt:
"“Mainstream” – that is, corporate – journalism died when it was bought, as by the drug cartels (Kudos, Woody Harrelson). Car journalism fell victim to the same forces, which homogenized journalists, often in the name of superficial “diversity.” Too many men, many of whom drank and smoke and – worst of all – were white and straight. The corporations said: More women! Because they were women. Not because they could write. Not because they knew cars.
So why were they being hired to write about cars?
Well, because some of them had big . . .
I mean that literally because factually. I saw it. Not meaning the . . . but the rest of it.
One of the first “diversity” hires I witnessed hired was a woman who was put into the not-driver’s seat at USA Today, back when people still read it (this was the ’90s). She had as much business writing about cars as Liberace had writing about dating. Well, women. But she did have something. Two of them. So she was given – literally – the job and the rest of us guys watched and marveled, which was foolish of us, in the manner of watching and marveling at the sight of the tide receding from the beach, the water drawing back, far out to sea."
"“Mainstream” – that is, corporate – journalism died when it was bought, as by the drug cartels (Kudos, Woody Harrelson). Car journalism fell victim to the same forces, which homogenized journalists, often in the name of superficial “diversity.” Too many men, many of whom drank and smoke and – worst of all – were white and straight. The corporations said: More women! Because they were women. Not because they could write. Not because they knew cars.
So why were they being hired to write about cars?
Well, because some of them had big . . .
I mean that literally because factually. I saw it. Not meaning the . . . but the rest of it.
One of the first “diversity” hires I witnessed hired was a woman who was put into the not-driver’s seat at USA Today, back when people still read it (this was the ’90s). She had as much business writing about cars as Liberace had writing about dating. Well, women. But she did have something. Two of them. So she was given – literally – the job and the rest of us guys watched and marveled, which was foolish of us, in the manner of watching and marveling at the sight of the tide receding from the beach, the water drawing back, far out to sea."
I feel that way at the shooting range. My days worries do NOT enter my mind when I am touch a loaded weapon!
Another theory smashed into oncoming traffic. Oh well, ...
Tommy's gone about 8 or 9 years now and we still miss him. At least we have Jay Leno, not afraid to turn a wrench or to set his face on fire.
I do take one exception to this article and he implies if you don't know how to drive a stick you really don't know how to drive. I say BS on that. Saying if you only can drive an automatic and not a stick means you don't know how to drive is like saying if you only use a modern calculator and not an abacus means you don't know how to do math.
the basics that you should have. Look at 95% of people taking orders and making change at
fast food restaurants for an example of not being able to do math.
Seriously, driving with a manual transmission is a world away from operating with an automatic.
The 'driver' has a lot more input and control with a manual, and someone who has not done so
and developed that expertise can't understand how that feels.
That involvement of the 'driver' is what makes 'driving' 'driving instead of just 'traveling.'
Bottom line: If you like fooling with a stick have at it, but I was done with them years ago.
Edit add: Had an automatic in my '69 440 GTX. Put 4:56 in the rear end and had no trouble blowing the doors off stick shifting street competition. Had to keep both hands on the wheel, for sure! However, my older brother with the Pantera gave a good run for the money.
brings back my memories of chemistry class....
"with rolling start"
Because those pathetic little 2.0 liter engines had not torque or suspensions that could hook up off the line.
I had a 1971 Mercury Gand Marquis with a 429, 3:1 gears in a 9" with a posi. I stuck "7.0 liter" vinyl mailbox stickers on the front fender. That car was awesome! $350!
That was back in the day of pathetic bottom end torque and narrow power bands for turbo / small engine cars. Those days are over. I drive a Focus RS, with a 350 hp/350 ft-lb 2.3 engine, with a FLAT torque curve. It handles like a go-cart on rails. I have zero interest in the new 600-700 hp supercharged pony cars.
Edit add: I loved the look of those Mercs. If I recall they had a "mafia sized" trunk, too.
I'll digress, although a manual shift vehicle does keep us more in tune with the act of driving I won't agree these vehicles make us necessarily better drivers. My last 4 and 5 speed stick shifts made me a road demon because they tend to be the sportier versions of vehicles and much more fun to drive. I don't for the life of me know how I escaped speeding tickets and reckless driving charges when I had such cars. I do know back then with those cars I always enjoyed having female company with all of their optional equipment.
Police back in the day were more likely to give warnings to otherwise innocent drivers.
Police had not been militarized and according to legend were more interested in
extracting funds from visitors, not locals. You probably also had some luck. ;^)
I learned on a 4 on the column (Peugeot) and graduated to 4 on the floor (Plymouth,
Jensen, Mercury) then 5 and 6 on the floor (Mazda, ...) as I became more skillful.
I drove a lot of automatics as rentals and friends' cars. The only one that was really
fun was a '69 Chevelle 350 convertible. Lots of GO and lacking in Stop and
Handle.
Now instead the car catches on fire.
after these 65+ yrs.
I grew up on Car and model car magazines, hot rod, car craft, road and track, motor trend etc.
The Trend, as the article describes, has lead to the ugliest, mundane and down right Uncomfortable (in spite of multi, electrically adjustable seats) cars in history.
Sometimes a guy or two are added to a group for diversity.
Ha! Ha! Ha! Me dino makes a funny.
Gee I hadn't noticed....I better go check right now.
yipppeee!!!!
Women- it is ok for an article by a women to put forward what is the typical women's view on motoring or a particular model, if views are stereotypical still ok as humor. Women make what percent of car buying decisions- 40% ?
10 years ago Motor magazine Australia published an article on a car from the gangster perspective. The gangster could have been legit, the car was the Chrysler 300C, big, square, big motor, high sills, usually black..
In the news, the UK Centurion tank, Motor did a review on that, fuel consumption was one of many reasons it would not make a good daily driver, apparently.
Yes.. too many opinions now in the motor press mention emissions. If nitrous/ sulfur oxides then yes, if carbon emissions, BS.
All the US fed gov regs on autos are unconstitutional.
They exist to financially benefit insiders that pay off government for favors, e.g., insurance companies.
Agreed, carbon emissions in cars and trucks (1990's and newer) are complete BS.
Women have their own magazines if female 'writers' want to write their 'feelings' about cars.
Women who love cars can write their opinions just like men who love cars - in the opinion letters section
(or online.) Magazine editors should hire based on merit, not gender, sexual preference, or politics.