Vodka Zombie: If you're too stupid to know what it is for, you should be riding the goddamned bus instead of driving a car.

YES.

That was the stupidest article I've ever skimmed.

kingoomieiii: What do you mean "New"? I had an '02 Civic (RIP) that had that. Also, how did it take you more than five seconds to figure out what it's for?

Also, it's REALLY handy in rental cars.

This, and this.

fluffy2097: Flint Ironstag: The people I laugh at are the people who do not realise that the hose will reach the filler whichever side of the pump you park on. As long as you park fairly close to the pump it will reach, unless you have some huge truck of course.

I often see a queue of cars waiting on one side of the pumps so I go past them and stop the other side, grab the hose and walk to the far side of the car. I usually can fill up and drive away before the people at the end of the queue who were before me even get to the pump.

I laugh at people who pull the hose to the wrong side of the car instead of pulling a 3 point turn and approaching the island from the right direction to put the filler flap on the correct side.

Pulling a hose out is a lot faster than turning your car around, especially at a busy gas station. Oh, but people do get mad at you.

It's time to build my "Outside of the Asylum".

Uzzah: Hack Patooey: There are people that 1) haven't seen this, and 2) don't know what it means?

*Raises hand.*

I've got Toyotas from 1993 and 2005, and to the best of my knowledge, neither one has this. Never noticed it when riding as a passenger in someone else's car, although I don't generally look at their gas gauge. I drive rental cars only occasionally, and never noticed an arrow on the gas gauge on any of them. So this was news to me.

/and I'm normally pretty observant. I spot bus stops in town not from signs but from the fact that they pour concrete pads for the buses to sit on while they load and unload because their weight warps the asphalt otherwise.

I have a 2000 Celica and it has it

And to add, GET OUT OF YOUR CAR AND LOOK.

We didn't have this in the 40s,50s, 60s, 70, 80s, etc. We got off our backsides and made note of it when we FIRST GOT THE CAR.

/Next we'll have tattoos letting us know which hand to wipe our asses.

77 chevy, gas tank on both sides, I'm never wrong.

Next week in Slate, a hard-hitting report explaining that the little signs with exit numbers on them that sit atop the big green directional signs on interstates indicate whether it's a right or left exit based on whether they're on the right or left side of the sign.

My 92 Taurus had one. Easy ladies, I'm taken



/hot

fluffy2097:

You people sound terrible at 3 point turns. I can do it quite quickly and I've got a clutch and throttle to manage, as well as a very fast reverse speed.

Here's your cookie.

And I can do it faster than you yet, but I'm usually either pulling in the right way around in first place if it's not busy, or if it's a busy gas station then I get tp the first free pump, whether it's the right way around or not and pulling a three way turn would waste time and possibly lose me the spot...

fluffy2097: Vaneshi: Everyone knows what the dippy stick thing in the engine bay is for though! It's a hidden lollipop you can give to your kids to suck on should you break down.

The real question is; what is the 710 cap is for?

+A would lol again.

Peoples minds are blown if you own a 48 to 56 Cadillac.

/ my '64 under the plate, making it far from everywhere.

ZAZ: Because there really are people that don't know.
I knew one of those. She said her brakes smoked after she drove down a mountain. I asked if she had downshifted. She didn't know what those extra positions on her shifter were for.

I know, I just forget to use them, unless it's winter. And I live on top of a big hill. I have to remember to do that.

Kar98: Pulling a hose out is a lot faster than turning your car around, especially at a busy gas station. Oh, but people do get mad at you.

That's why they have long hoses, so they will fit across your car. Then I just pretend it's not my car. "This? I borrowed it while mine's in the shop. Look at this piece of crap--it can't be mine."

cryinoutloud: ZAZ: Because there really are people that don't know.
I knew one of those. She said her brakes smoked after she drove down a mountain. I asked if she had downshifted. She didn't know what those extra positions on her shifter were for.

I know, I just forget to use them, unless it's winter. And I live on top of a big hill. I have to remember to do that.

Kar98: Pulling a hose out is a lot faster than turning your car around, especially at a busy gas station. Oh, but people do get mad at you.

That's why they have long hoses, so they will fit across your car. Then I just pretend it's not my car. "This? I borrowed it while mine's in the shop. Look at this piece of crap--it can't be mine."

My usual fill up spot has long hoses, so I've gotten lazy and pull in wherever I damn well feel like. So when I go to a gas station that doesn't have the long hoses, I usually pick the wrong side. It's annoying.

Fubar: What if they put the gas cap underneath the license plate, like in an old Ford Monarch. What then smart guys...

Well, the license plate will either be in the center of the car, thus removing the need for the driver to know which side it's on

or

It will still point to the side of the car that the license plate is closest to.

micah1701: [imgs.xkcd.com image 462x316]

"Saying 'what kind of an idiot doesn't know about the Yellowstone supervolcano' is so much more boring than telling someone about the Yellowstone supervolcano for the first time."

This isn't the Yellowstone Supervolcano. Its an arrow. Pointing to where to refuel your car. There can be no joy in realizing that someone can't put this much together. This XKCD is not applicable.

vonmatrices: micah1701: [imgs.xkcd.com image 462x316]

"Saying 'what kind of an idiot doesn't know about the Yellowstone supervolcano' is so much more boring than telling someone about the Yellowstone supervolcano for the first time."

This isn't the Yellowstone Supervolcano. Its an arrow. Pointing to where to refuel your car. There can be no joy in realizing that someone can't put this much together. This XKCD is not applicable.

why are you being such a snob about this? some people don't have cars with this feature, so this article may be news to them. Some people don't rent cars frequently, so they have no need for it. Some people just don't spend that much time looking at the fuel gauge beyond checking to see if they have enough gas. Does this make you better than they are? Get over yourself.

rga184: vonmatrices: micah1701: [imgs.xkcd.com image 462x316]

"Saying 'what kind of an idiot doesn't know about the Yellowstone supervolcano' is so much more boring than telling someone about the Yellowstone supervolcano for the first time."

This isn't the Yellowstone Supervolcano. Its an arrow. Pointing to where to refuel your car. There can be no joy in realizing that someone can't put this much together. This XKCD is not applicable.

why are you being such a snob about this? some people don't have cars with this feature, so this article may be news to them. Some people don't rent cars frequently, so they have no need for it. Some people just don't spend that much time looking at the fuel gauge beyond checking to see if they have enough gas. Does this make you better than they are? Get over yourself.

Because people who drive a 40 mph hunk of metal down the road without knowing the simple basics of the damn thing worry me. But if you are behind the wheel of your vehicle (whether rented or personnel) and don't even know what the dashboard icons mean - you're well past the point of me having sympathy for you. Stop on the side of the road for a minute and read the owners manual.

I can imagine the same people with the 4 way flashers on while driving down the road, or driving at night without knowing the highbeams are on.

Perhaps I was a bit strong, but this is a case where people need to know what they are doing behind the damn wheel.

//Also, I do like XKCD
//I just don't think there is a good XKCD for this situation

I had just gotten my first beater car, a 1982 Buick Regal and I assumed I was low on gas (the gauge was dead). I pulled into the gas station not knowing what side the gas cap was on, I tried driver side first but when I got out it wasn't on that side, so I pulled the car around. I get the passenger side near the Gas pumps and I see THE GAS CAP ISN'T ON THE PASSENGER SIDE EITHER. I must have had the most dumb struck look on my face as I circled my car wondering how the hell I was supposed to fill her up.

Turns out, the f'ing cap was behind my rear license plate. You pull the plate forward on a hinge and presto! But damn if it wouldn't have saved me some WTF if I had an arrow telling me where to look.

fluffy2097: Kar98: pulling a three way turn would waste time and possibly lose me the spot...

I didn't realize getting gas was supposed to be like a NASCAR pit stop.

Dude, if I miss that sweet spot of hitting Arapaho at precisely 17:02 on my way home, it'll take me 45 minutes to an hour to get home. Otherwise, I can make it in 20 minutes.

kingoomieiii: NFA: FTFA-"a) The arrow indicates the direction that the dots move from empty to full. Most gauges and dials-think your radio volume, for example-work in the opposite fashion: full/more is to the right, empty/less to the left. While F and E would seem sufficiently explanatory, car manufacturers further clarify the matter with an arrow, lest drivers get confused."


[t0.gstatic.com image 279x181]

Seriously, I think this might be the dumbest article ever published on Slate. Fo' real.

You haven't read anything by Amanda Marcotte, have you? Honestly, it's as though they went to the politics tab, found the trolliest troller they could find and then gave her a weekly opinion column.

ZAZ: The choice between (b) and (c) makes this a bad design.

In the 2000s the federal government wanted to standardize a supplemental sign for three way stop signs showing drivers that traffic from the fourth direction did not stop. The sign had an arrow. Engineers thought the arrow obviously meant "look in that direction for non-stopping traffic." Normal people thought the arrow meant "traffic moving in that direction does not stop." The rule was withdrawn.

They didn't think that people could just glance in each direction to see if the other cars have stop signs?

Virtuoso80: Somewhat related: Did you know that you don't own your license plate? It's state property. And if you're going, "of course I knew that, duh," then realize you know more about that legal arrangement than a Supreme Court Justice:

From U.S. vs. Jones:

MR. LECKAR: Well, a license plate, as I understand it, is the property of the State, and driving is a privilege. But it's not a technical trespass in this particular case. Mr. Jones had the -
JUSTICE SCALIA: Is that right? I didn't own my license plate? I didn't know that. How do you know that?

I actually assumed that I owned mine because, you know, I paid money to get it.

meanmutton: Virtuoso80: Somewhat related: Did you know that you don't own your license plate? It's state property. And if you're going, "of course I knew that, duh," then realize you know more about that legal arrangement than a Supreme Court Justice:

From U.S. vs. Jones:

MR. LECKAR: Well, a license plate, as I understand it, is the property of the State, and driving is a privilege. But it's not a technical trespass in this particular case. Mr. Jones had the -
JUSTICE SCALIA: Is that right? I didn't own my license plate? I didn't know that. How do you know that?

I actually assumed that I owned mine because, you know, I paid money to get it.

You're so adorable! Just loooook at your pinchable leeedle cheeks!

But no. You don't own the bus either merely because you bought a ticket to ride. Same with the software on your computer.

meanmutton: Virtuoso80: Somewhat related: Did you know that you don't own your license plate? It's state property. And if you're going, "of course I knew that, duh," then realize you know more about that legal arrangement than a Supreme Court Justice:

From U.S. vs. Jones:

MR. LECKAR: Well, a license plate, as I understand it, is the property of the State, and driving is a privilege. But it's not a technical trespass in this particular case. Mr. Jones had the -
JUSTICE SCALIA: Is that right? I didn't own my license plate? I didn't know that. How do you know that?

I actually assumed that I owned mine because, you know, I paid money to get it.

A quick little googling gives me nothing for sure, but it does give me this: "If you no longer own the vehicle or plate, destroy the renewal notice." This is from the State of Michigan's "Titles, Insurance,
Registrations, and License Plates" document. Another spot, from the FAQ on Online Services:
"Why would a vehicle or a license plate I no longer own show on my customer file online?"

Looks like in Michigan, there's a chance you do own your license plate.

vonmatrices: Perhaps I was a bit strong, but this is a case where people need to know what they are doing behind the damn wheel.

You weren't too strong. These people are the same wastes of oxygen that camp out in the left lane at 5 under. Death is too good for them.

kingoomieiii: Also, it's REALLY handy in rental cars.

THIS is a key point.

Joe Peanut: [i.imgur.com image 640x428]

On the one hand... that's a little tacky. On the other hand, pretty cool. Yours?

Kanemano: if you drive more than 2 rental cars a year, you know and look for this

I feel dumb now because I have never noticed it and I rent cars a lot. In fact I drove 4 separate rental cars in the last two weeks. Not only that but whenever I am about to pull up to a pump I lean my head out the window as far as I can and look back to see if I can spot the fuel door on the driver's side and think to myself how much easier it would be in they just marked the correct side somehow.

Cybernetic: meddleRPI: LucklessWonder: fickenchucker: This is the type of question I want on my intelligence test everyone should take in order to vote and breed.

1. How many Senators does your state have in the U.S. Senate?

Rather unfair to those of who live in Commonwealths or the District of Colombia...

Commonwealths are still states. The only difference is people in Commonwealths live in a state where people like to pretend that they're better than other people for bullshiat reasons.

/born in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
//living in the Commonwealth of Virginia
///Both are dysfunctional

And Fark is based in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

COINCIDENCE?!?!?!?!?!?!


That question is not unfair in the least. Those who live in territories and the district should know the answer. And everyone knows a commonwealth is the same as a state.

Notice I don't want to make it tricky and mention Congressmen. That changes too much to be fair for a short simple test.

I have 2 cars, and it's only correct on one of them.

Gas hole.

ItsJustJake: I have 2 cars, and it's only correct on one of them.

It's about the ARROW next to the pump account, not the urban legend about which side the gas nozzle is on the pump icon.

This Looks Fun: Joe Peanut: [i.imgur.com image 640x428]

On the one hand... that's a little tacky. On the other hand, pretty cool. Yours?

Nope. Not mine.

Wow. I hate it when an interesting thread gets even more entertaining while I have shiat to do. I'd leave it for dead, but since I was asked so politely....

Kar98: Why? The movement necessary to operate a stalk switch requires so much less effort than operating a foot switch.

Fair question. I find them more convenient, and you can keep two hands on the wheel... particularly useful for night driving at *cough* speed *cough* in tight mountain roads, dipping your headlights constantly / flashing them before blind turns / etc.

And given that the two vehicles I drive regularly have their stalks reversed, I'm often hitting the high beams when I want the wipers, and vice versa. In the classic truck with the floor switch? Never a problem.

I'd bet money that the main force eliminating floor switches is ease of assembly / cost of construction, but it's not like stalks are -bad-, certainly.

ZAZ: In California the plates stay with the car.

One of the many things California does right. WTF are you supposed to do in a "person keeps the plate" state? How am I supposed to buy/sell a used car from a private party? Choices seem to be: Rent a flatbed trailer, cheat and illegally use the former owner's plate to go get inspections, drive it home etc or trust the owner not to rip you off while you go get registered after having paid for it but leaving it at their location. STUPID. And all significantly more ass pain / expense than a simple "mail in a release of liability." Sheesh.

And, yeah, I've actually seen cops in the parking lots at the MVA (DMV in MD) *writing*tickets*for*cars*without*plates* while the owner/soon-to-be-owner are waiting inside to do the registration swap. Awesome. Assholes.

On topic: I honestly can't recall if any of the cars I drive regularly have the little arrow. The only chance is the 97 F250, but I don't think so. Pretty sure the 98 Honda doesn't.

SFSailor: Fair question. I find them more convenient, and you can keep two hands on the wheel...

For both turn signals and high beam switch (same stalk), all I ever have to is extend my middle finger to activate them. No need to take my hands off the wheel.

Kar98: fluffy2097: Kar98: pulling a three way turn would waste time and possibly lose me the spot...

I didn't realize getting gas was supposed to be like a NASCAR pit stop.

Dude, if I miss that sweet spot of hitting Arapaho at precisely 17:02 on my way home, it'll take me 45 minutes to an hour to get home. Otherwise, I can make it in 20 minutes.

I know just how you feel, if I'm not out the door and on the road at just the right time, I'd hit every farking red light on the way, with ludicrously short greens. Doesn't help that it feels like 90% of drivers in DFW (and Texas in general) seem to have gotten their licences as cereal prizes.

As far as this story, it seems dumb, but has proven to be informative to some. Of course, the easy solution to end guessing which side to pull up on is to have a filler cap on both sides!

SFSailor:

ZAZ: In California the plates stay with the car.

One of the many things California does right. WTF are you supposed to do in a "person keeps the plate" state? How am I supposed to buy/sell a used car from a private party? Choices seem to be: Rent a flatbed trailer, cheat and illegally use the former owner's plate to go get inspections, drive it home etc or trust the owner not to rip you off while you go get registered after having paid for it but leaving it at their location. STUPID. And all significantly more ass pain / expense than a simple "mail in a release of liability." Sheesh.

And, yeah, I've actually seen cops in the parking lots at the MVA (DMV in MD) *writing*tickets*for*cars*without*plates* while the owner/soon-to-be-owner are waiting inside to do the registration swap. Awesome. Assholes.



Around here the seller and the buyer would find a Notary Public and the owner would sign the title over so you couldn't be ripped off. Then you take the plate from the car you already own or your parents plate if it's your first car and put it on the new one for a few days until you get the new plate. It sounds illegal but that's what the license plate agency told me to do 25 years ago when I called and asked, and that's what everyone around here does.

FROGSTOMPER: SFSailor:

ZAZ: In California the plates stay with the car.

One of the many things California does right. WTF are you supposed to do in a "person keeps the plate" state? How am I supposed to buy/sell a used car from a private party? Choices seem to be: Rent a flatbed trailer, cheat and illegally use the former owner's plate to go get inspections, drive it home etc or trust the owner not to rip you off while you go get registered after having paid for it but leaving it at their location. STUPID. And all significantly more ass pain / expense than a simple "mail in a release of liability." Sheesh.

And, yeah, I've actually seen cops in the parking lots at the MVA (DMV in MD) *writing*tickets*for*cars*without*plates* while the owner/soon-to-be-owner are waiting inside to do the registration swap. Awesome. Assholes.



Around here the seller and the buyer would find a Notary Public and the owner would sign the title over so you couldn't be ripped off. Then you take the plate from the car you already own or your parents plate if it's your first car and put it on the new one for a few days until you get the new plate. It sounds illegal but that's what the license plate agency told me to do 25 years ago when I called and asked, and that's what everyone around here does.

I mean you put the old plate on your car and you drive it unregistered until you get the car registered you don't get a new plate unless you ask for one, but you only get a few days.