Story idea 10-31-2020, by Chug Dignugget

Story idea 10-31-2020

It is modern day, identical to reality except, since invention by Benz in the 19th century, all automobiles, trucks, motorcycles and even bicycles (to a lesser extent -skateboards and roller skates) are conscious and sentient.

As a result, far fewer humans died in 20th century wars as much of the fighting was done by a combination of human men (HM) and vehicle men (or I will use the politically correct term, “ vehicle people”). Due to the physical superiority of the VPs fewer HMs lost their lives.

An interesting fact of this universe, from early on, powered lawn mowers and other small engine devices, although sentient, are unknown to possess consciousness, due to the lack of human/vehicular speech. As a result, lawn mowers and snow blowers are commonly kept as pets by VPs and share the garages as would the cats and dogs of Humans.
Skateboard and scooters straddle the boundary between loyal pet lawnmower and more completely acceptable VP. They roam in small groups, self chosen outcasts of society, scratching out a hard fought existence on the fringes of human and vehicular life. Seemingly without compassion or self conscious thought, often unscrupulous HMs or VPs employ such to do their illegal bidding.

Faced with the problems inherent with overpopulation and the damage done to the environment by the more than 50 years it took world governments to make leaded fuel illegal (due to the objections of most VPs due to the euphoric effects and desirable flavor of full lead fuels), the world is near the brink of collapse.

True friendship between humans and vehicles is rare. Political and general societal cooperation and declarations of trust, in the interests of world peace, are now common. Some nations are dominated by vehicles, some by humans. Either type of nation still struggles with the residual social problems of past pre-war years.
One example, known as Italy in the real world, had been known since 1921 as Macchina Roma, after the overthrow of the democratic government by the Fascist luxury sedan named Benito A. Romeo. Macchina Roma closed its borders and declared itself neutral during the Second World War. Compared with reality, the 2021 Macchina Roma is now predominantly populated by VPs and humans are born into lives of near slavery to their vehicular masters. Mysteriously, as war raged in the 1940s, the world did not notice the disappearance of millions of former Italian humans. The precious few who left Italy before the 1921 overthrow, have taken as their cause, to inform the world of the prior atrocities on the tires of the ruling classes.

Another interesting contrast to reality, the once popular TV show “Night Rider” never happened, as the premise could not take hold in the minds of people due to the unfavorable social circumstances. Such a show would have been like a story about a crime fighting team of a plantation owner and his talking dog roaming the pre civil war Deep South. Such an idea would not meet with favor among either the ruling or subjugated classes.

The Disney film series “cars” is based on actual events and accurate in many ways. No humans required. A major difference- vehicles are not drawn to resemble humans in any way. Vehicles do not have blinking headlights or bumpers than move like lips. They do not use their front wheels like human hands. When a human sees the “Vehicles” Films, they are uninterested at best, despite the hilarity observed by nearly every VP viewer.

The 1950s TV show, “my mother the car” (“car” is an offensive and antiquated term in 2021, similar to “negro” or “chinaman” in our reality) is lauded as one of the greatest achievements of art and social cooperation ever made by human or vehicle. It has become the basis for a subset of the entertainment industry, like the “Star Wars “ franchise is in our reality.

This alternate history may be the basis for some interesting dramas or comedies, all ignoring the seeming absurdities of talking cars and pet lawnmowers. Also, ignoring the fact that boats or aircraft have no sentience is never to be explained.

Humans who wish to transport themselves by anything other than a horse or mule (or other animal transportation as regionally available) must depend upon the rare friendship and cooperation of a willing vehicle.
Human dominance of the planet, as we know it in reality, is non existent. Intelligence, and the contributions to life as well as the devious problems such being May bring upon themselves and their environment, is shared by both human and vehicle.

Diesel powered trains were never invented, just as humans never tried to insert a living human brain and nervous system into an Android (not that I know of). Trains are steam and now nuclear powered and are the primary terrestrial mode of long range travel for humans and vehicles alike. Aircraft exist, but are more of a curiosity rather than major transportation tool. As a result, aircraft never really advance much beyond 1940s level of technology.

Space exploration exists, however as vehicles are much easier and more safely equipped for the rigors of space, all astronauts are vehicles. Only the first test subject astronaut was a human rather than a monkey…to test the waters for the vehicles with the “right stuff”.

What we think of as a mechanic in reality, is a doctor in this world, and a similar path of education and accreditation is required to change ones oil or make repairs. Human “mechanics” are often self taught and offer their services via often locally owned small clinics, identical to car repair businesses in reality. As a result, human life is less well attended to, and humans generally live shorter lives with less robust health than they do in reality. Obesity is not a problem globally as a result of most average humans not having access to transportation beyond their own two feet.

Vehicles may be physically superior to humans but are not necessarily the dominate beings…being unable to reproduce biologically, but being made of durable materials, average age of a vehicle is similar to a human in reality. This means that only recently have all the original vehicles have expired. This has slowed, in comparison to human reality, the social evolution of vehicles. The incongruous pace of social evolution between humans and vehicles will be the main theme of my story.