to find a man who coudlnt drive UTTERLy unattractive

[NotCod]

and rather pathetic

yadaydayd meddical expcetiosn etc

ah, so nice to see a proper mumsnety thread! what won't we get our knickers in a twist about?

yanbu
also add cook, tidy, change nappies, not horrified by tampons, know the business end of a drill

lol@UQD. We could go round and round here. I don;t think driving is sexy (that would be a kinky fetish, wouldn't it? Like Anna and her driivng gloves husband).

I think men who can't drive definitely lose 'sexiness' points. that's all. I'm not remotely into cars and as stated previously, I can't drive (damn it! I am trying to pass that fecking test, though!).

put up shelves

Cars are tools.
So, all too often (sadly), are their drivers.

I apply the "necessary to invent" test.

If all cars disappeared overnight, together with knowledge of how to work them, there wold be no need for people to learn to re-invent them and reacquire the skill.

I don't think the same could be said for genuine basic skills like literacy. The jury's still out on IT.

Acceleration work:

AIBU: to htink that men who won't go up ladders are fraekin wimps?

iv'e never thought about it before..but having just thought about it now...no, it wouldn't bother me at all if a man couldn't drive...certainly wouldn't make him "unattractive"

UQD jumps on the first post:

I fail to understand how refusing to risk my life by going up a ladder makes me a freaking wimp. I think it makes me sensible. I am LOL at your outrageously outdated and sexist assumptions about men and ladders.

[Mumsnet applauds]

UQD jumps on the first post:

I fail to understand how refusing to risk my life by going up a ladder makes me a freaking wimp. I think it makes me sensible. I am LOL at your outrageously outdated and sexist assumptions about men and ladders.

[Mumsnet applauds]

You can get through life without reading as well and not be dependent, particularly if you have a job which is reasonably well-paying and manual, like a plumber.

But reading's still a basic skill. As is driving, in our society.

And again, to function in our society as we have it now, we would need to re-invent the car, or something very like it, ie a mode of transport which provides storage and takes you from door to door.

If we didn't have it, we would have a very different society.

UDQ you do make me laugh...how refreshing in a man

Plumbers need to be literate and numerate if they want to keep appointment diaries, read instruction manuals, do any additional training, do their own accounts...

i tell you what, you couldn't be a plumber without a van and a driving licence! Or are you going to tell me about your fabulous local plumber who cycles everywhere with his toolbox strapped to his back?

I didn't bring up plumbers - I was just pointing out that even "manual" workers need to be able to read and add up - and nor have I ever denied the need for tradespeople to have vans. That is no argument for everyone to have cars.

Agree UQD.

Actually would it undermine my stance entirely if I confessed that I'm learning to drive?

Yeah but lots of them don't UQD. They get their wives to do all that.

I also know a hairdresser who is illiterate. She's independent too (and don't hairdresser's earn good money nowadays? I was astonished...)

It's not ideal, you occasionally have to rely on other people to do basics for you, but it can be managed.

I wouldn't recommend it though.

Have not read any of this htread except OP

What happened?

I wouldn;t be at all bothered

No indicator of other virtues / vices, imho

Or maybe being married to a car bore has coloured my opinion

I think driving is a very useful skill. Not a life skill but just one step down from it once you have dependents who need lifts. I would expect a non-driving man in a family with children to do a bigger share of other chores - because driving children to and from school and classes is a chore.

But I would find it far more unsexy, FAR more uncaring and selfish, if a man I was with regularly insisted on driving with me and/or dcs ifn he was clearly over the alcohol limit.

Macho drunk driving is the most unsexiest thing around IMO.

I think some men (and women) take a long hard look at their lifestyle and realise that driving 100% sober and clearheaded just isn't going to happen for them 100% of the time, they know their limits so choose not to learn to drive - and that is a good decision IMO.

Aw sorry Bella but I think that's bollocks. The need to transport stuff is a basic need in our society -fair enough. But how many of us actually NEED to transport vast quantities of stuff in our every day lives. There is undoubtably a need for transportation of goods but that can be undertaken by a small skilled section of drivers/deliverers who can get essentials from A to B.

However the vast majority of driving 'outings' are non essential - getting to work (along a bus route) getting kids to school (a miles walk) getting more crap from Ikea (they deliver). Hmfff.

'I get rat arsed too often to drive!'

The best yet!

ROTFL

Well it depends on your definition of independence.

Lots of women get their husbands to put up shelves/ remove spiders from bath/ paint the ceiling. Are they not independent?

The point is, they function in society, but they don't function as well as they could do, if they could read. Just as someone who doesn't drive, may function perfectly well, just not as well as they would do if they could drive. It depends on circs - some peopl can live without a car v. well, others (like those whose partner drives and feels the burden is always on them) are not functioning well.

UQT - lol at car are tools etc comment. You're the man!!!

You only have to have a small amount of alcohol to be over the limit when you drive. Lots of drivers, me included, won't drive when they have drunk any alcohol, except in dire emergencies.