A Truly Alarming Cultural Development

Tom Nessinger’s account of the obnoxious (talking car alarm) is truly an amazing story about how far our adolescent culture has gone (“The Little Red Car That Cried Wolf . . . and Other Things,” June 30). Cars seem to bring out the worst in jerks, affording them protected metal wombs from which they can exercise their infantile road games. It’s no wonder they protect these ego shrines with such exotic alarm systems.

Car alarms are an increasing nuisance. For the one time they actually stop someone from breaking in, there must be a thousand times that they go off by themselves with their sole contribution being to annoy everyone within earshot.

The irritating concept here is that the owners of these alarms place the burden of watching their cars on the hapless local citizens who pass by as the owners dine, shop or sleep elsewhere.

I believe that all car alarms should be required to have only a remote receiving unit. This would put the person who owns the car in the position of having to put up with it and having to do something about it. How long do you think someone would leave their Saab or BMW set so that every passing car triggers their alarm if their remote went off all the time while they were indulging in their favorite yuppie activity?

And while we’re cleaning up noise pollution, let’s not forget those cute little alarms that beep continuously (like all night) outside your apartment window.

WALT McKEE

La Crescenta