Joe & Ben
Joe and Ben are friends. Joe is older, more experienced and generally wiser in the ways of the world. Ben is several years younger and generally inexperienced. This story takes place outside the realm of legality, so try not to factor that into your understanding.
Joe has been driving a lot longer than Ben. He has encountered most of the typical driving situations and various problems related to driving. Some of the issues he has dealt with better than others, but he emerged from all of them a better driver. Friends would say Joe was a very experienced driver. Joe has been driving the same car for several years. He takes good care of it, and it’s going to last. He’s owned several cars before.
Ben hasn’t been driving very long. He’s not young, but his experience is pretty limited. Ben hasn’t really encountered many of the typical driving situations yet, but he will as he gains more experience. Friends would say that Ben is learning and capable, but lacks the know how of experienced drivers. Ben got a new car a while ago, and is pretty used to it by now. He takes good care of it, and hopes it will last, but it’s his first car.
Neither Joe nor Ben has a license. Joe is confident in his ability as a driver and less concerned with having a license. Ben, on the other hand, decides he wants to have a license. He just doesn’t feel it’s right to keep driving without one.
Joe runs into Ben around town. Ben tells Joe all about his new license and how it has made a difference for him. Ben says it’s completely different than driving without one. He tells Joe that he heard that without a license, you may not be able to drive one day. Joe comments that having a license won’t protect Ben if he doesn’t work hard to become a good driver.
Ben thinks that Joe’s experience isn’t as important as doing things the “right way”, and being able to prove to his friends and family that he can drive.
Joe thinks that maybe Ben has put more stock in having a license than actually being a good driver. Joe doesn’t think having a license makes a person a more successful driver any more than not having one makes for a less successful driver. He’s fairly sure that he’ll get a license one day, but thinks that if he had to choose between having a license and being a good driver, he’d rather be a good driver.