Do you Drive?

[Aquarius1234]

AIBU to be annoyed when a random stranger asks this question??
Wtf.

Why is the question offensive?

I do think it's quite telling when people ask it early on on OLD as it suggests they think the ability to drive is important. But I'd rather be asked than have people assume that everyone has a car and that it's the default mode of transport. Some people's lives and chat (yawn) seem to revolve around their cars and where they park them. As someone who doesn't drive for environmental reasons, that would be tiresome and therefore a deal-breaker. But I suspect lots of people would say the same about me cycling everywhere.

Surely OLD chat is all about getting to know someone and deciding if you might be compatible? How else are you supposed to do that without asking about someone's lifestyle?

In the context of OLD it can be quite a reasonable question. I mean if you live in London it's a daft question, because you can get anywhere you need to at any time without a car and generally quite a bit more quickly. Plus, we should all be driving less anyway. But in many rural areas it's an important question because as PP have said, you are at risk of just being used as a taxi service. Or it can just be a polite enquiry because it affects where you can meet up. Trains and busses are great if you're getting around reasonably populated areas, but there are villages near me that have one bus a day if you're lucky.

It wouldn't bother me as a question. It can be difficult getting to know someone and sometimes you do just find yourself asking inane and random questions, just to try to keep the conversation going.

Answer: yes, i passed my driving test but I use public transport and do not add to pollution and climate emergency.

I wouldn’t want to date someone who doesn’t drive, so don’t think it’s an odd question to ask OLD.

I was married to someone who didn’t feel the need to learn because I could drive. Driving for holidays, days out, errands, shopping etc all fell to me. Where we lived was also limited by walking distance to his job in the town centre (and in bad weather he’d ask me for lifts).

When I was OLD, one of the profile questions on POF was “Do you own a car?” so it must matter to lots of people otherwise it wouldn’t be there.

Why? So you can independently travel to places at your own conveneince where public transport is inaccessible or too expensive.

What if you live in an inner city? So you can leave the inner city when you need or want to travel to other places at your own conveneince where public transport is inaccessible or too expensive.

What if you have a disabilty that prevents you from driving? Then you won't be able to drive and will have to rely on others or public transport. But there is a reason that lots of people with disabilities learn to drive in order to be independent and not have to rely on poor public transport.

What if you have alcohol or drug problems? Then your ability to drive is not your problem.

What if you are concerned about the environment? Being able to drive does mena you are compelled to drive. Save driving for when you need or want to travel to other places at your own convenience where public transport is inaccessible or too expensive.

What if you have passed your test but just don't feel like you are naturally a safe driver? Then you have learned to drive.

All of these are silly arguments. Driving is a useful basic life skill for an adult to have in British society. There are others. Being able to swim. Being able to read. Being able to cook. None of them are absolutely compulsory to be able to live your life, but all of them are valuable life skills.