Nice chat with town home inspector

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Fair enough!

One of my friends from college for example... After college he dated and then married a woman. He then proceeded to change completely, to conform to her and her people. He doesn't read the news. Doesn't read, period. He gets all and any of his info by word of mouth from his new tribe (OMG the misinformation he repeats). The times he comes to visit, i.e. away from his tribe, he'd frequently and randomly ask question out loud—like an annoying toddler who won't stop asking questions. Usually with his smartphone in hand too. He was curious about many random things, but never thought to apply self-help in quest for answers. And when told to "look it up", he'd get annoyed and stew; while still holding that internet connected phone of his... Seemingly afraid the answer he finds would shatter his acquired identity and be rejected by his new tribe.

We all know someone like this right? I can't be the only one.

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[Great Gatsby]

One of my friends from college for example... After college he dated and then married a woman. He then proceeded to change completely, to conform to her and her people. He doesn't read the news. Doesn't read, period. He gets all and any of his info by word of mouth from his new tribe. The times he comes to visit, i.e. away from his tribe, he'd frequently and randomly ask question out loud—like an annoying toddler who won't stop asking questions. Usually with his smartphone in hand too. He was curious about many random things, but never thought to apply self-help in quest for answers. And when told to "look it up", he'd get annoyed and stew; while still holding that internet connected phone of his... Seemingly afraid the answer he finds would shatter his acquired identity and be rejected by his new tribe.

We all know someone like this right? I can't be the only one.

Someone came to mind as soon as you started describing this person. In my case, funny enough, they are looking for a new car and I've very strongly recommended they look at EVs because of the space and usability that they afford. The wife is all for it. He is very anti-EV, and can't stand when I talk about how great my experience has been. Goes against everything he has heard. I don't hate my EV and it hasn't needed its battery replaced? And it doesn't take hours to charge? And it super enjoyable to drive with a ton of space and smart features? And I bought it used and it had its warranty transferred so the main components are still covered? And it is built here...in the US of A?

Can't be. Propaganda. He has to crawl back to his social media safe space to not be confronted with reality too strongly. Could do some irreversible damage otherwise, like change his mind...

 

[Rade]

I love when they ask "What is that?", "A Rivian!", "Who makes it?", "...Rivian."

 

[Laserboy1054]

There have been several threads discussing encounters like these previously, but they really never get old. My most recent such encounter was with a clerk (a woman older than me) at a McDonald's at a truck stop not far from my house. The truck stop is on I55 in Hamel, IL--I55 is literally the main interstate through Normal. I walked in and before even asking what I wanted, the clerk, eyes wide, said "what is that?" I went through the usual explanation, ending with "to get to the factory, you just head North from here for two hours" (it takes me longer because I always stop at Portillo's in Springfield).

Until you're actually _in_ Normal, Rivian remains strange, alien, and exotic. But people do love that gorgeous yellow color!

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

There have been several threads discussing encounters like these previously, but they really never get old. My most recent such encounter was with a clerk (a woman older than me) at a McDonald's at a truck stop not far from my house. The truck stop is on I55 in Hamel, IL--I55 is literally the main interstate through Normal. I walked in and before even asking what I wanted, the clerk, eyes wide, said "what is that?" I went through the usual explanation, ending with "to get to the factory, you just head North from here for two hours" (it takes me longer because I always stop at Portillo's in Springfield).

Until you're actually _in_ Normal, Rivian remains strange, alien, and exotic. But people do love that gorgeous yellow color!

And it's probably more American than some supposedly American cars. Portillo's... Had it once while on business in Chicago. Salty meat in soggy bread... Now I'm hungry.

 

[Laserboy1054]

Portillo's... Had it once while on business in Chicago. Salty meat in soggy bread... Now I'm hungry.

With pickled peppers--don't forget the peppers! And, possibly, "cheese." (Y'know, not like _real_ cheese--the sort that goes on salty meat in soggy bread.)

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

With pickled peppers--don't forget the peppers! And, possibly, "cheese." (Y'know, not like _real_ cheese--the sort that goes on salty meat in soggy bread.)

 

[DD4ST]

Some people are certainly (and blissfully) ignorant, but had I not spend a lot of time in EV circles, I'd be hard pressed myself to know where Lucid and Rivian originated and I consider myself decently informed. Wouldn't hurt if they pushed themselves more as American brands without getting too obnoxious about it.

Folks really only widely know Tesla as an American-made EV company. Where I live (Rockledge FL) I get questioned all the time. When people see my Rivian, they either think it is part of the Big 3 or foreign. Occasionally I get someone trying to talk about all the negatives of an EV. Now for the history lesson (I had to check Wikipedia for part of this). Rivian actually started as Mainstream motors in 2009 in Rockledge FL (where I live). Initially they were going to produce a sport car called the R1. Apparently RJ grew up here. You’d think this would be well known here but nooooo. I have to tell them. Now for more history and trivia. Mainstream Motors morphed to Avera and then to Rivian. What I did not know is Rivian is actually a wordplay on the Indian River. The Indian River is actually not a river but the intercoastal waterway running through Brevard county and by Rockledge.

 

[lefkonj]

When I dropped my son off at college this year, in Boston, the guys helping unload vehicles asked the same thing. They were smiling when I told them American made. They then spent 5 minutes asking questions, and as I contradicted the FUD they have been spoon fed they were really excited to talk more and compliment the vehicle.

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

There have been several threads discussing encounters like these previously, but they really never get old. My most recent such encounter was with a clerk (a woman older than me) at a McDonald's at a truck stop not far from my house. The truck stop is on I55 in Hamel, IL--I55 is literally the main interstate through Normal. I walked in and before even asking what I wanted, the clerk, eyes wide, said "what is that?" I went through the usual explanation, ending with "to get to the factory, you just head North from here for two hours" (it takes me longer because I always stop at Portillo's in Springfield).

Until you're actually _in_ Normal, Rivian remains strange, alien, and exotic. But people do love that gorgeous yellow color!

Ah, you have a Compass Yellow vehicle. Excellent choice. Rivian should definitely bring this back for a limited run with the R2 and R3. Of course there are always wraps, but it’s just not the same.

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

When I dropped my son off at college this year, in Boston, the guys helping unload vehicles asked the same thing. They were smiling when I told them American made. They then spent 5 minutes asking questions, and as I contradicted the FUD they have been spoon fed they were really excited to talk more and compliment the vehicle.

I did this with my coworkers at lunch one day. One coworker asked, don’t you have to charge it every day? I was like, I could, but I charge up once or twice a week (I live in a condo and don’t have a garage.) Exactly like the ICE vehicle I used to own. She thought it was like a smart phone and that the battery would “go bad” in a couple years.

This is the experience most people have with batteries. That and their 12V nickel-based car batteries dying and needing replaced, or their TV remote or smoke detector batteries needing replaced. Come to think of it, most people’s experiences with batteries are charging them or replacing them, not realizing how many years of uninterrupted service they’ve provided.

We have to change the way people think about an EV’s battery. It’s a different beast.

 

[Great Gatsby]

I did this with my coworkers at lunch one day. One coworker asked, don’t you have to charge it every day? I was like, I could, but I charge up once or twice a week (I live in a condo and don’t have a garage.) Exactly like the ICE vehicle I used to own. She thought it was like a smart phone and that the battery would “go bad” in a couple years.

This is the experience most people have with batteries. That and their 12V nickel-based car batteries dying and needing replaced, or their TV remote or smoke detector batteries needing replaced. Come to think of it, most people’s experiences with batteries are charging them or replacing them, not realizing how many years of uninterrupted service they’ve provided.

We have to change the way people think about an EV’s battery. It’s a different beast.

I honestly enjoy having these conversations, specially if those asking are genuinely curios and not trying to reinforce their own world views. It is nice to educate people and watching them realize in real time the benefits of owning an EV. The biggest one is always "So where do you change the oil?" and then they have the "Oh wait...there is no engine" and realize how much simpler the powertrain is and how many other benefits come off that. When they ask me about the battery, I always say that it is the last thing I worry about. They are heavily regulated and tested and that always surprises people. I also mention the long warranty that they come with.

The media (strictly focusing on the sectors losing sales, EV fires, sus hands free tech, being trapped stories) and the somehow politized nature of EVs have become their worst enemy. I think most reasonable people would be open to one if they weren't bombarded with FUD all the time. You can also enjoy both, as I still have an ICE vehicle myself. It unfortunately has become a "my team is ICE and yours EV" thing like we tend to do with everything else, which I just find unfortunate.

 

[DD4ST]

Yes, people have misconceptions about the batteries, both in their lifespan, use, and range. I also once had a guy (politely) ask me what I am going to do when the Florida governor bans EV’s from roads during a hurricane evacuation (never happened). And while I’ve run into guys who brag their ICE truck can go 800 miles on a single tank, my R1T’s 380 miles is very respectable. Plus, when I am sitting in stop-n-go traffic I am using much less energy than ICE vehicles (common in evacuations). Funny state, Florida. Has the second highest number of EV’s behind California, but state government doesn’t act like it.

 

[strykerwsu]

There have been several threads discussing encounters like these previously, but they really never get old. My most recent such encounter was with a clerk (a woman older than me) at a McDonald's at a truck stop not far from my house. The truck stop is on I55 in Hamel, IL--I55 is literally the main interstate through Normal. I walked in and before even asking what I wanted, the clerk, eyes wide, said "what is that?" I went through the usual explanation, ending with "to get to the factory, you just head North from here for two hours" (it takes me longer because I always stop at Portillo's in Springfield).

Until you're actually _in_ Normal, Rivian remains strange, alien, and exotic. But people do love that gorgeous yellow color!

Best color. Same reaction from people in my yellow T. We have black S in stealth and people ask if Range Rover lol.

 

[jeeden]

Someone came to mind as soon as you started describing this person. In my case, funny enough, they are looking for a new car and I've very strongly recommended they look at EVs because of the space and usability that they afford. The wife is all for it. He is very anti-EV, and can't stand when I talk about how great my experience has been. Goes against everything he has heard. I don't hate my EV and it hasn't needed its battery replaced? And it doesn't take hours to charge? And it super enjoyable to drive with a ton of space and smart features? And I bought it used and it had its warranty transferred so the main components are still covered? And it is built here...in the US of A?

Can't be. Propaganda. He has to crawl back to his social media safe space to not be confronted with reality too strongly. Could do some irreversible damage otherwise, like change his mind...

There is a great term for this called "Jaqing" and a better one where someone is "Jaqing off" meaning they are just asking questions to undermine. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_Asking_Questions

It is amazing how many people still haven't heard of Rivian, but then I step out of MY bubble and realize just how much I tend to read and research about so many things compared to other people. Even now, I'm working on geting solar panels installed on my home and you hear the horror stories of people in FL that have panels they can't use and were scammed and I leap off the couch wondering "how could they have done that? It wasn't like the scammer was really devious, they just didn't ask basic questions" but people DO just go with the first thing they hear that sounds right.

Go the other direction. Many people will PROUDLY say they have a "Dodge RAM truck" and not understand that it is basically a foreign car at this point.

I was asked at a gas company last week when I rolled up for their discount tank fill day and opened the frunk to get to 20lb cylinders out. The woman taking the money asked the car make and where it was made, I gave the usual enthusiastic reply. She saw all the room in the frunk and then asked if it had the "normal" amount of room in the back. That was different and I stuttered and just said it had the usual amount as any other SUV with the third row up or down. Told her I loved it.

I remember when I was a kid my grandmother came to visit my family while we lived on the west coast of FL for a few years for my Dad's job. When she arrived she wouldn't stop commenting on how shocked she was that EVERYTHING was green. Apparently, she was convinced that she woudl show up and it would look like the beach the moment she stepped off the plane and of course most of FL is covered in grass, palm trees, brush, etc EXCEPT for the beach.

Bias is a very very very hard thing to overcome

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