this post was submitted on 12 Nov 2025
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xkcd

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xkcd #3167: Car Size

Title text:

'They really shouldn't let those small cars drive in traffic. I worry I'm going to kill someone if I hit one! They should have to drive on the sidewalk, safely out of the way.'

Transcript:

Transcript will show once it’s been added to explainxkcd.com

Source: https://xkcd.com/3167/

explainxkcd for #3167

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[–] PunnyName@lemmy.world 159 points 1 week ago (4 children)

Just gonna keep on posting this

[–] eager_eagle@lemmy.world 55 points 1 week ago (3 children)

I should get an M1 Abrams and write off as a business expense

It would probably be quieter than any of the diesel pickup trucks on the road too!

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[–] ZoteTheMighty@lemmy.zip 35 points 1 week ago (1 children)

"Your honor, I got the M1 because it was safer than an F150 in my neighborhood with lots of small children."

[–] stelelor@lemmy.ca 9 points 1 week ago

"And here is the data to prove it."

audience gasps

[–] dwemthy@lemmy.world 11 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

~~A 0.2m tall 3 year old??~~ nope, reading comprehension, that's distance

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[–] eager_eagle@lemmy.world 97 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

I'm not even against large vehicles as there are legit use cases for them. I just think they should cost more, be taxed more, and be forbidden to park in certain areas.

[–] YaDownWitCPP@lemmy.world 38 points 1 week ago (5 children)

They already cost more and considering they have worse gas mileage, they paying more taxes on fuel as well.

I agree with the parking though, back of the lot with ya.

[–] eager_eagle@lemmy.world 41 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (8 children)

in reality most (all?) states in the US don't charge progressively more for vehicle registration based on weight, and even when they do, the thresholds are really high. So a F-150 weighing over 5000 lbs may pay the same as a Honda Civic weighing half of that.

[–] fahfahfahfah@lemmy.billiam.net 10 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Right but the comment you’re replying to is talking about sticker price and gas, not registration.

[–] eager_eagle@lemmy.world 14 points 1 week ago (4 children)

the original (my) comment mentions tax

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[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 88 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (4 children)

Fucking with a coworker back in the day who drove a monster SUV with zero need. I don't noramlly make judgement on that but I knew the family well. Her husband had a nice truck and their one kid was adult and moved out.

"I drive it because it's safer."

"So you're happy to kill someone in a tiny car like mine, as long as you're OK?"

<stares motherfuckerly>

"Aren't you Christian? What do you figure Jesus would say about that?"

"Get out of my office Shalafi."

🤷🏻

[–] jjjalljs@ttrpg.network 41 points 1 week ago

It bugs me when people refuse to acknowledge they're being a selfish prick. At least have the strength of character to look someone in the eye and say "Yes, I'd rather you die than me". Fucking cowards.

[–] usualsuspect191@lemmy.ca 36 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Old joke, but Jesus drove a Honda sedan.

He and his disciples were together in one Accord.

[–] AtariDump@lemmy.world 28 points 1 week ago (2 children)
[–] FordBeeblebrox@lemmy.world 13 points 1 week ago

Maybe he doesn’t mention it cause it’s all dinged up since he’s shit at parking. Thinking you’re a god means fuck off fuck off in parallel

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[–] axexrx@lemmy.world 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)

John 10:18:

"No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father".

He didnt just drive it, he raced it, using NOS given to him by god!

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[–] SocialMediaRefugee@lemmy.world 79 points 1 week ago (6 children)

The number of massive trucks I see without a speck of dirt in the bed that are used mainly for commuting and groceries is pathetic.

[–] ArsonButCute@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 points 1 week ago (14 children)

If I could have a Fully electric mid 90s chevy S10 style pickup with modern safety features and no surveillance I would be sooooo happy. But no, if I want a truck I can buy old as fuck or get a wanktank. Closest option to what I want in the US currently is a Ford Maverick (which is literally just a rebadged explorer sport trac for the modern age) but that would mean supporting Ford, and like, fuck Ford.

[–] Ironfacebuster@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago (4 children)

What's crazy (and sucks) is they DID have an EV S10 from the mid 90's (hence why it sucks: it's exactly what you want, but they killed it)

Of course it doesn't have the modern safety features, but I bet you could still find one if you're determined enough! Although it's possible you already knew this 😉

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_S-10_EV

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[–] wizardbeard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 16 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

It's become a wealth/status symbol for people who don't like the more traditional bougie shit. Lets them still delude themselves into thinking they're salt of the earth types.

I can afford for 2/3 of my vehicle to be functionally useless! Dohohohoho!

[–] burntbacon@discuss.tchncs.de 7 points 1 week ago

t’s become a wealth/status symbol for people who don’t like the more traditional bougie shit

It's because they are actual luxury vehicles. Get inside one of the new ones, and it's basically what you would imagine a lexus or lincoln would be like. All the fanciness, all the nifty little features... Finding one that is actually made to 'work' is hard.

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[–] drunkpostdisaster@lemmy.world 11 points 1 week ago

So much this. I can somewhat forgive a stupid sized truck if it was used for work or some kind of off roading.

[–] Katana314@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago

I think there have been occasions where I have passed a truck stopped at a red light on my bike, while carrying more groceries or other materials than they have in their entire backseat and bed.

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 week ago

And with the short box option, so you can't fit 4x8 sheets of stuff in there anyway. Better off with a minivan.

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[–] lol_idk@piefed.social 60 points 1 week ago (11 children)

Just a few thousand truck flipping cars on the road might be a good start

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[–] salacious_coaster@infosec.pub 43 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Yep. And now we have little old ladies, who should've had their license yanked years ago, driving 4 ton trucks to get groceries.

[–] MBech@feddit.dk 22 points 1 week ago

While net even being able to see over the steering wheel.

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[–] Credibly_Human@lemmy.world 41 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

This could be solved so many different ways.

The most obvious is getting rid of the stupid CAFE regulations and Chicken tax that basically incentivise the fuck out of making these monstrosities.

The others are less likely to be done in a country like the USA with its 2 party system where the options are conservatism and fascist conservatism.

[–] QuoVadisHomines@sh.itjust.works 26 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Im sick and tired of this bullshit claim that we can only choose beyween conservatism and fascism. This completely overlooks the Christian fascist theocratic option that is also available to those who really love "freedom".

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[–] muusemuuse@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 week ago

Or just apply the CAFE standards to all vehicles equally, don’t create loopholes that enable this kind of shit.

[–] Benchamoneh@lemmy.dbzer0.com 23 points 1 week ago (15 children)

May Skeletor suggest: Regulation

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[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 18 points 1 week ago (3 children)

INTRODUCING...GRAVE DIGGER!!!

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[–] stupidcasey@lemmy.world 15 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

Don't forget your bullet proof windows, solid steel armor and spikes:

[–] TheJesusaurus@sh.itjust.works 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I can't even imagine howuch shit I could buy to keep my family safe with the money used to buy and pimp that cyber truck...

Like a house

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[–] ramius345@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Is this in Houston? I'm pretty sure that's the only place I've seen rims like that.

[–] Mossheart@lemmy.ca 13 points 1 week ago

We're in the "I need to make my headlights brighter than the sun phase". It's just before the spike club panel

[–] joyjoy@lemmy.zip 12 points 1 week ago

This is how Mad Max was made.

[–] ksigley@lemmy.world 12 points 1 week ago

There really is an xkcd for everything.

[–] ceenote@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago

Clearly we need to start actively destroying larger vehicles to address this problem.

[–] dantheclamman@lemmy.world 9 points 1 week ago (2 children)

The thing that really frustrates me is that I can't buy the car I want. I would like a successor to my Chevy Volt but it's become very difficult to find a compact hybrid hatchback in the States. It's basically Prius Prime or bust, and the Prius is not nearly as fun to drive as the Volt.

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[–] Snowpix@lemmy.ca 9 points 1 week ago

"We're also going to make cars uglier as they get bigger too. Can't have style, that might distract other drivers"

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