The wasteful older generation.

Fowler · #21 04/26/11, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Vet

I can remember working at a 7 up bottling plant as a salesman. We used to get back bottles that had to be sorted as to size and brand so that they can wash them and refill them. It was at that time cans became popular and only sold at the Air Force Base because they did not want to store bottles. I also worked at a store that had paper bags or boxes to put things in. I can remember using a push mower (human powered). I never got new clothes except for the ones that my mother sewed together. My first set of clothes I ever had (store bought) was when I was in the 6 grade and got a pair of jeans to wear. I can remember when TV came to our area and one of the first things on it. It was Eisenhower last campaign for president.Did I waste anything yes but not as much as the ones that came much latter. The through away generation came much latter. When I became an adult and moved out on my own my trash was a small paper bag full. And I went to visit my sister and the garbage was put on the back porch to be picked up every other day in a gallon pail.The garbage that I had was either fed to the dogs or hogs.I learned to shave with a safety razor and did until very recently.

I remember getting my first new outfit in 6th grade from Montgomery Wards...I always worn hand me downs....I went to first grade without shoes...LOL
And we had a black and white TV maybe 20 inches when I was in the 3rd grade the Remote and antenna was us kids...LOL and there were only maybe 6 channels..and they all signed off at midnight.
I use to take used Dr.Pepper/Coke bottles to the store and buy penny candy and ice cream.
And this was in the 70's

Fowler · #22 04/26/11, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chamoisee

Which is why the older generation blew up gigantic trees with dynamite to make....toothpicks? HUGE old growth trees....for toothpicks.

They only did that in cartoons...silly....LOL

springvalley · #23 04/26/11, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesedays

My local big box stores have barrels at the entrance for recycling, but I don't really believe they do that. IMHO, those bags go into the garbage. .

I have been picking up the old produce from our local store for pig feed, and one day there was a big bag of bags waiting in the area where the produce was, when I asked what they were, one of the guys that worked there said that they were indeed the recycle bags from the front of the store. I asked what was going to become of them, and he said they are going in the garbage. Wow, If we only knew what goesz on behind the back doors. > Thanks Marc

chamoisee · #24 04/26/11, 02:59 PM

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?...&v=NRS6B8mZTR8

joseph97297 · #25 04/26/11, 03:17 PM

Now I won't bash the "old" generation for "a green thing" as they surely did reuse everything, but that doesn't let them off the hook. If the next generation is the throw away generation, then wouldn't the 'old' generation as their parents have some say in how they were raised?

Somewhere up the stream, someone dropped the ball if we are going to be blaming generations for this problem.

I hear all this talk about how the current generation is lazy, the 80's generation is all about me, etc..... but someone raised these generations to be that way, did they not?

I agree, they reused and had a better 'green thing' going on, but look at the other aspects of their lives (socially especially), would you want to trade positions with them?

fffarmergirl · #26 04/26/11, 03:25 PM

Fowler, you ought to send that post to the grocery store and hope the clerk reads it.

Oggie · #27 04/26/11, 03:29 PM

I used to get so mad at that Garfield the Cat.

How could he treat John that way? Why did John even put up with it? Why, if I were in John’s place, I’d just set that Garfield the cat outside! If they neutered that dog Oddie, perhaps he could do something about it!

Then, someone explained to me that the whole thing wasn’t really true. They were stories that drew upon perceptions to try to create universal chords that might entertain.

So, it is with that sort of eye through which I look at a story such as this one of an older person and a store clerk.

Just what is this story trying to say?

That store clerks are rude?

Well, the overwhelming majority of the ones I encounter are friendly and helpful. That’s kind of their job.

That the perception of many is that we, as a people, were more wasteful in the past?

Well, those who I know who are very serious about protecting the environment often are highly respectful of older ways and technology and most embrace a simpler, more old-fashioned way of life.

So, is the point that we use and waste a whole lot more than we used to?

If that’s it, duh.

But, why is it that somehow, I think that one motivation of this cooked-up story is to try to convince me that hippies hate my grandma.

Probably wrong.

I guess I just don’t get what the story was trying to say.

Gregg Alexander · #28 04/26/11, 03:34 PM

This is the best post , I have seen in the last 6 months.

**Tiempo** · #29 04/26/11, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chamoisee

Which is why the older generation blew up gigantic trees with dynamite to make....toothpicks? HUGE old growth trees....for toothpicks.

And pretty much wiped out the bison, completely wiped out the carrier pigeon, pumped raw sewage and industrial waste into the aquifers with abandon, poured their chamber pots out of the window and into the street..it goes on and on.

Sure, we are a very wasteful society, and definitely more so than in the past, but those that went before us are not off the hook.

beccachow · #30 04/26/11, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Home Harvest

2) Plastic bags get repurposed at my house. I carry lunch to work every day in a plastic shopping bag. AND I carry the empty bowls home in that same bag. Bags get used until they fall apart.

.

My exact complaint. I have a drawer FULL of bags. They are used and reused, and used again.

It wouldn't surprise me to find the bigger trash bag companies behind this. Not selling enough bathroom waste basket trashbags or some such carp.

It irritates me to no end.

naturelover · #31 04/26/11, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Win07_351

I wouldn't mind the whole green movement so much if it wasn't mostly liberals behind it.

So you're saying if there was less liberals and more conservatives promoting the environmental movement then you'd be more accepting of it yourself.

That doesn't make any sense at all. You either approve of conservation and environmentalism or you don't.

Falling back on your political philosophy as an excuse for not backing environmentalism and conservation is a cop out and indicative of not being able to think for yourself or take responsibility for your own actions.

.

Bearfootfarm · #32 04/26/11, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Falling back on your political philosophy as an excuse for not backing environmentalism and conservation is a cop out and indicative of not being able to think for yourself or take responsibility for your own actions.

The thing about the liberal view on "being green" is they tend to base their decisions on emotion and lies rather than science and common sense.

naturelover · #33 04/26/11, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

The thing about the liberal view on "being green" is they tend to base their decisions on emotion and lies rather than science and common sense.

I don't know if that's true or not, or if that's just a conservative perception that's used as an excuse by conservatives to take cheap shots at liberals for the good they try to do.

If it is true then that's all the more reason why there should be more conservatives backing up conservation with science and common sense.

Conservation = conservative. What is so hard to understand about that?

.

Tabitha · #34 04/26/11, 05:15 PM

Here is George Carlin's take on things. Not that I agree with every word he says, but he is a shrewd dude.

naturelover · #35 04/26/11, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuliaAnn

But some in the younger, hipper, more 'educated' and 'informed' generation (as opposed to the old coots who grew up being so darn wasteful and trashing the environment) believe it is their environmental DUTY to lecture and 'enlighten' those wasteful old coots. Being 'green' is sometimes seen as free license to butt into other people's business, don't you know...

I'd have told the clerk exactly what he/she could do with her 'green' bag, and then given a lecture in return similar to the one outlined above, but substituting my own 'green' activites.

Hypocrites.

I love it.

Off topic I know, but I just can't resist, I can't let your quote pass by because it reminds me of another one of my bees in a bonnet.

Now JuliaAnn, this is not directed at you, it's just that your words were inspirational and given the nature of some of the topics on the board in recent days I might want to use them again at another time and topic, only reworded thusly.

"some in the more informed generation believe it is their religious DUTY to lecture and 'enlighten' those sinners. Being religious is sometimes seen as free license to butt into other people's business, don't you know...

I'd have told the lecturer exactly what he/she could do with her book, and then given a lecture in return similar to the one outlined above, but substituting my own religious activities.

Hypocrites."

Win07_351 · #36 04/26/11, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturelover

So you're saying if there was less liberals and more conservatives promoting the environmental movement then you'd be more accepting of it yourself.

That doesn't make any sense at all. You either approve of conservation and environmentalism or you don't.

Falling back on your political philosophy as an excuse for not backing environmentalism and conservation is a cop out and indicative of not being able to think for yourself or take responsibility for your own actions.

.

Ok then, Liberals and Statists make me disaprove of the whole green movement.

It really has nothing to do with political persuasion as much as many of the ones barking the loudest about it really don't practice what they preach (a certain vice president for example comes to mind).

NewGround · #37 04/26/11, 07:28 PM

Ha Ha Ha, it's the Greenies who brought on plastic bags...

Now they want you to believe that it's time for oil to go and you must drive an electric car...

Besides the fact of how electricity is generated (save your windmill stories boys) Washington state just announced they want to charge a "flat rate" tax on electric cars since they will lose the gas tax money...

Will that be gas or electric? Now what do you suppose will happen to all those used up toxic car batteries? Or what about those mercury-laden CFL bulbs?

Ha Ha Ha... Greenies, you sure got it going on. We just never knew how wasteful we really were...

Win07_351 · #38 04/26/11, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturelover

I don't know if that's true or not, or if that's just a conservative perception that's used as an excuse by conservatives to take cheap shots at liberals for the good they try to do.

I can think of no good that comes from liberalism.

chamoisee · #39 04/26/11, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Win07_351

I can think of no good that comes from liberalism.

Probably not, if you are a white male. Those of us who are not white males have this crazy idea that we are people too and should be treated as equals.

JeffreyD · #40 04/26/11, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chamoisee

Probably not, if you are a white male. Those of us who are not white males have this crazy idea that we are people too and should be treated as equals.

Sooo, liberals are the only ones who treat others as equal? WOW! Please provide some proof of that statement please! Our president is liberal and he doesn't treat others as equal does he?