car culture

Badge Bitches

Posted on by noahmielke

Let’s talk about this dumb ass badge pride, something car guys deal with or dish out on the regular. The arrogance of feeling like your better than your brother because you have that special badge. It’s a reoccurring event in all performance package brands. BMW, Mercedes, VW, Ford, Chevy, Chrysler-Dodge, and now even Hyundai.

Look I got lucky and I spent more money than I should for an N model Veloster. It’s a fantastic car, and I joined all the groups talk about and love my car. But it only took like all of two seconds before the groups I joined to start bad mouthing other Veloster models. When did getting something so great mean dumping on others? I absolutely love the whole line because they all have their benefit. In car groups or shows this should be shamed fast. It alienates other people that supposedly have the same passion as you, and silly enough shows how little you really care about joining a community. If you want to prick it up, then make a group for yourselves where you can just bash and be bashed by other assholes like yourselves. Not everyone likes what you have or think the dollar amount gives you more clout.

When my wife got her BMW, she was so excited to join a group, and little by little her enjoyment of the car community was spoiled by these same validation whores. When I got my Hyundai Veloster N my wife posted in her group how proud I was of my purchase. Is it funny that right after she posted I had to warn her people are going to be mean about it? I’m ok with it, but the look on her face as comments poured in just left her sad, angry, and humiliated. I remember her immediately leaving the group and feeling bad that she had to see these people are everywhere.

So how about try to remember your in a community people will tolerate you as long as you join in building the group if your tearing it down no ones gonna give a crap what you drive.

Influence By Being You

Posted on by noahmielke

Your passion can be influenced, but this is about when your passion influences you. We all have things we like. Things we like to see, like to feel, like to taste, and like hear. It’s too easy to hide your passion in a secret place, a place of protection, and to put on a mask that fits societies norms. Try to remember those norms we see are an “accepted” mix of likes. There are things you can do that harm no one and encourage new norms.

You wear a white shirt to work but love the color blue. You can find ways to bring that color in, it feels good to set little things to your own preferences. Customize as much as you can to your passions. Surround yourself with what you want and beautify your world. I watched a lot of Casey Neistat on YouTube and absolutely love his way of just hammering things out to fit his own style. I have preferences and would watch him spray paint new shades and mess them up to fit him.

It’s Inspiring to see that and a breath of fresh air. It would remind me that I still had a way to go to open up to what I liked, even the small things could be adjusted cosmetic and simple, but still amazing. Just let that little bit of you slip out. I love to see different tastes in different items or clothes. Silly but even blog writing is a form of customizing and sharing your ideas.

Cars are all about this, as an extension of the driver personal steads are a great way to show your flair. From the Honda with the loud muffler to the classic hotrod with custom welding and paint. The sky is only limited by the capability. I don’t subscribe to hating on cars that have lesser mods. Each person has their own story, and not everyone has the same wealth, experience, or preference. The community should grow to love both.

I’d love to watch old hotrodders teach young kids how to weld their own intercooler piping and see the younger crowd show the older groups how to rewire, flash, and possibly understand the pull to hatch backs not just classic cars. There should be no reason car culture can’t be open to all. People should be more excited about seeing stuff that’s different. Broaden your horizons and don’t be scared to show what your about customize everything from your shirt to your car; it’s your life.