Why do we buy gas all of the time? Is it because we really want to get somewhere and see gas as the only way that we can do that? Or is it because, somewhere deep inside of ourselves, we really just want to have one more thing that we can complain about and simultaneously feel guilty about? After all, while we might say that we hate to buy gas, some of us do so almost every day. And while we might claim that we would like to be positive people, we still sort of enjoy having something that we can complain about that almost every person that we talk to can relate to. So why are we so into buying gas, since we all seem to hate it so much?
Gas is one of the most subtle forms of social glue. After all, it is the vehicular equivalent of food. While some of us might desire more quantity, some of us might play at wanting more quality, and some others may simply want to have a particularly good presentation for our fuel, we are all basically putting the same stuff into our tanks. Social stratification ends when the nozzle goes into the inlet, and we are all getting hosed when it comes right down to it. In a sense, our society can be said to be facilitated by gas, not just when it is in motion, but also when it is sitting around talking about the horror that is gassing up.
Another reason why we buy gas anyway has got to be that rush of victimhood that we can allow ourselves to feel, when we talk about the massive, greedy companies that keep us rolling along as we so love to do. It is a little bit like how we complain about how badly our lovers treat us. While we might consciously declare that it is a terrible shame, we are secretly attracted to, if not in love with the notion of being owned in this way. Maybe we all like that feeling of submission before the gas pump.