Is there anything worse than a greedy consumeristic slob paying lip service to the environment?

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
So I'm watching House Hunters or something (I didn't choose the channel) and this couple is showing the kitchen renovation they did. Massive house, massive kitchen. Their heating and AC bill, it goes without saying, is quite substantial. They were happy as a pig in sh*t, however, to point out their bamboo cabinets and how it's a "renewable" resource. I bet they can feel happy now that they've "done their part" despite otherwise being power-hungry profligate consumer-whores.

Yes, this is in the same vein as driving a Prius to the private hanger where your jet is. Or having a 15 gallon rain catching jug next to the tap that powers your sprinkler you run twice/week chugging through hundreds of gallons a month.

Perspective failure.

:thumbsup:

(that's not to say I'm never guilty of this tho)

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: mugs
Errr... most cabinets are made out of wood, which is also a renewable resource.

I know, but they grow slower than bamboo so bamboo is the trendy wood to use

So far this spring/summer, and we've had temps in the upper 90's and over 100, our highest electric bill has been $103.

What do you pay per kilowatt hour? That seems crazy cheap.

So there is no additional offset, they are only lowering their overall use of bad product.

And they feel good enough about it to mention it, plus the appraising realtor was saying how her clients will appreciate it. It reminded me of a rich king who thinks he's magnanimous because he threw a basket of semi-rotten apples out of his carriage and the sorry peasantry ate it up, his good deed for the day done.

So it's all or nothing for you, then?

Hemp clothes, biking to work, showers once a week and a strictly vegan diet - anything less and you're necklacing mother nature?

Tell you what: screw you. People with views as extreme as yours seem to be are part of the problem. You know you alienate more people than you sway with rhetoric like this.

I'm not endorsing the house these people built but for you to call a single step in the right direction a complete waste won't do anything but distance yourself from the rational middle ground on the issue. So how would you prefer the people have acted? NOT bought the large house they were looking at, NOT used the more-friendly cabinets, NOT made a point to show other people via the TV that they're making slightly more conscientious choices?

 

[0roo0roo]

oh u don't need a private jet. a trip on a plane a year and ur far beyond anyone that drives a hummer around all day even if u have ur pretty prius.

 

[Peelback79]

You just like being angry about things. Get a cat, learn to love.

 

[lxskllr]

Consumerist environmentalism helps. When things hit popular culture, that when the real changes get made. The only thing that matters to companies is the bottom line. A small percentage of hippies living a non destructive lifestyle doesn't bring in dividends for the shareholders. When you get everyone on board, companies start producing the products, and adopt practices that are easier on the planet. The situation you outlined isn't ideal, but it beats a blank. At least those people are taking something other than aesthetics into account when they shop.

 

[SlitheryDee]

You can't have anything big and nice with all the modern amenities without having above average impact on the environment. The thing that's really annoying about the story in the OP is that these people want to have their cake and eat it too. They don't want to give up the plush and wasteful life they can afford and they also don't want to give up their eco-friendly self-image. Making a token gesture in the general direction of being green at least lets them pretend they aren't giving anything up. The truth is that they are deluding themselves, but that's no different from the rest of us when it comes to whatever we choose to think well of ourselves about.

 

[kotss]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
I soak my feet in acid when I get home every night, so it removes all of the carbon from my footprints. Hurts like a bitch, but from my understanding I am more environmentally-friendly by doing this.

KT

All well and good, but what precisely do you do with the acid after you are done?

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
You can't have anything big and nice with all the modern amenities without having above average impact on the environment. The thing that's really annoying about the story in the OP is that these people want to have their cake and eat it too. They don't want to give up the plush and wasteful life they can afford and they also don't want to give up their eco-friendly self-image. Making a token gesture in the general direction of being green at least lets them pretend they aren't giving anything up. The truth is that they are deluding themselves, but that's no different from the rest of us when it comes to whatever we choose to think well of ourselves about.

How do you know the cabinets is all they've done? After all, they're buying an existing home, not clearcutting 18 acres of prime forest to build a new one on. Perhaps they made other high efficiency choices? Perhaps they're adding extra insulation or solar hot water next (or already have and just didn't talk about it).

Even if they didn't/won't - choosing something mildly more friendly to the environment is a step in the right direction. You're not going to have any success telling them they could lessen their impact by moving into a smaller house, but you can have success by making better choices available - like bamboo cabinets.

 

[fisheerman]

I think Ill stick with my McMansion and my Suburbans <--(plural) and not put forth the effort. I'm fine with that. No really.

Greenies will not be happy until we are all living in tee-pees, eating dirt and sitting around smoking houch all day.

I will agree with the op most of the "green movement" is just feel good for people who want to look trendy.


Example: My neighbor just cleared a 3 acre lot (prime hardwood) to build a 10K sq ft house and had a tree planting party after the house was built with all of his "greeny" friends to "help save the environment". You can't make this stuff up!

 

[fisheerman]

Originally posted by: fisheerman
I think Ill stick with my McMansion and my Suburbans <--(plural) and not put forth the effort. I'm fine with that. No really.

Greenies will not be happy until we are all living in tee-pees, eating dirt and sitting around smoking houch all day.

I will agree with the op most of the "green movement" is just feel good for people who want to look trendy.


Example: My neighbor just cleared a 3 acre lot (prime hardwood) to build a 10K sq ft house and had a tree planting party after the house was built with all of his "greeny" friends to "help save the environment". You can't make this stuff up! They even had the media out doing PR and everything. I think it was on Earth Day. Ill see if I can find the article.