For the "Green Thing" snobs

[pyewacket]

This is for all those who are old enough to remember our old "wasteful" days. Not sure of the source of this piece - just found it on FB.

Checking out at the store, the young cashier suggested to the much older lady that she should bring her own grocery bags, because plastic bags are not good for the environment.

The woman apologized to the young girl and explained, "We didn't have this 'green thing' back in my earlier days."

The young clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations."

The older lady said that she was right -- our generation didn't have the "green thing" in its day. The older lady went on to explain:

Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the "green thing" back in our day.

Grocery stores bagged our groceries in brown paper bags that we reused for numerous things. Most memorable besides household garbage bags was the use of brown paper bags as book covers for our school books. This was to ensure that public property (the books provided for our use by the school) was not defaced by our scribblings. Then we were able to personalize our books on the brown paper bags. But, too bad we didn't do the "green thing" back then.

We walked up stairs because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.

But she was right. We didn't have the "green thing" in our day.

Back then we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy-gobbling machine burning up 220volts. Wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.

But that young lady is right; we didn't have the "greenthing" back in our day.
Back then we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief(remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But she's right; we didn't have the "green thing" back then.

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blade in arazor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But we didn't have the "green thing" back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service in the family's $45,000 SUV or van, which cost what a whole house did before the"green thing." We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 23,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest burger joint.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the "green thing" back then?

Please forward this on to another selfish old person who needs a lesson in conservation from a smart ass young person.

We don't like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to really piss us off... especially from a tattooed, multiple pierced smart-ass who can't make change without the cash register telling them how much.

[West of the Rockies]

I like much about this post!  On the other hand, it seems to vilify young people a bit:  they aren't all snot-nosed, pierced know-it-alls.  More to say, I am sure....

[FightTheFuture]

Good post. I have to say, I was green back in the day; way before it was fashionable.

Around 50 or so years ago, when I wanted a snack, I would scour the `hood in search of treasure (empty soda bottles). And when I had uncovered a sufficient quantity of the precious glass, I immediately recycled the bottles at the corner grocery, dutifully placing the heavy glass bottles in the wood racks by the entrance.

Upon collecting my hard-earned reward of 24 cents, It was then time to celebrate life with an ice-cold 16oz. Barq's red cream soda and a pack of twinkies. One penny change. God.....those were good, simple times.

[albrecht]

there used to be a relatively small, local brewery and we would buy a case, drink it, return the bottles, and then buy another case for a discount. They would reuse. So perfect, logical, and economical recycling. And cheaper beer for us. Then they expanded and eliminated this. Apparently non-recycling is cheaper (for them). Bums used to collect cans from our yards after parties and at least sell them at the scrap metal plant. Again, recycling and although not that efficient I guess the bums could buy their beer with the proceeds. We never had the nickle or dime State-wide recycling thing here but I recall it in other states and picking up bottles as a kids and redeeming for candy.  I thought a good idea. Now the recycling we get here is top-down, forced lest you risk a fine and no benefit to the person. You must put this or that is the special trash can and if you don't you are fined. Why not make recycling worth it to the individual? At it also exposes your habits to neighbors. I enjoy seeing a particular old lady's recycle bin everywhere. Who woulda thought she could put away so much wine? Haha.

[Kelt]

The purpose of these fabricated, "I was standing in line at the store when ________" stories always seems to be twofold.  To vilify one individual/group of individuals, and to smack the reader in the face with a bit of self-righteous rhetoric from the author.

More recently it's the 'Young Marine and the Muslim', but I've seen many variations involving multiple demographic. 'The Atheist Professor' in particular is one that keeps going round and round on the Facebook/Email circuit.

People like to have their beliefs and prejudices reinforced, which is why Ann Coulter is a millionaire.

[wr250]

heres a good one:
it used to be the recyclers would go around to the auto shops and pay for the used oil (not much like $0.10 /gallon, but it was something). then a law was passed that mandated oil recycling and the recyclers started charging to take the oil away, and with the law in effect, auto shops had no choice but to pay. 

[albrecht]

heres a good one:
it used to be the recyclers would go around to the auto shops and pay for the used oil (not much like $0.10 /gallon, but it was something). then a law was passed that mandated oil recycling and the recyclers started charging to take the oil away, and with the law in effect, auto shops had no choice but to pay.

And now they charge you, the customer, for the "recycling fee" if you get your oil change with them! Once again the top-down, government mandates are passed down to the customer. (Though they still let me bring me own in and dump in their recycling vat when I change my own.)

[pyewacket]

I like much about this post!  On the other hand, it seems to vilify young people a bit:  they aren't all snot-nosed, pierced know-it-alls.  More to say, I am sure....

I wouldn't lump all young people together- they are like all other demographic groups: good- bad and everything in between. I remember young people who really recycled old clothes and many other things to avoid waste when my daughters were in high school. Lots of young people have learned how great a deal they can get at Thrift shops if they are a persistent and wise shoppers. Like others have pointed out, recycling has become more about generating money and less about the sensible reasons for being frugal and avoiding waste.

People don't have to be young and snot-nosed to be a know-it-all. I can think of people in my age group that fit this description. 

[pyewacket]

The purpose of these fabricated, "I was standing in line at the store when ________" stories always seems to be twofold.  To vilify one individual/group of individuals, and to smack the reader in the face with a bit of self-righteous rhetoric from the author.

More recently it's the 'Young Marine and the Muslim', but I've seen many variations involving multiple demographic. 'The Atheist Professor' in particular is one that keeps going round and round on the Facebook/Email circuit.

People like to have their beliefs and prejudices reinforced, which is why Ann Coulter is a millionaire.

I've seen some of this, too. I like this one in particular because it makes an interesting comparison. I'm not looking to hate on anyone. What I'd really like to see is the return of real common sense and common interest. It doesn't matter who you are - what does matter is us, as fellow citizens, finding more to bring people together.
 

[Gd5150]

I like much about this post!  On the other hand, it seems to vilify young people a bit:  they aren't all snot-nosed, pierced know-it-alls.  More to say, I am sure....

C'mon man, yeah they are. And they always will be. We we're when we we're young and I look forward to yelling at kids when I'm older for no reason.

[Gd5150]

heres a good one:
it used to be the recyclers would go around to the auto shops and pay for the used oil (not much like $0.10 /gallon, but it was something). then a law was passed that mandated oil recycling and the recyclers started charging to take the oil away, and with the law in effect, auto shops had no choice but to pay.

Yep and then the shops raised the prices to offset the costs of new govt regulations so now people who are hard up change their own oil and dump it in the gutter or trash or some field. That's the power of our worthless govt and its stupid regulations in a nutshell. Because our noble saviors are completely out of touch, they don't realize people will adapt to their endless regulations. Or they know the people will adapt and they don't care as long as they can take credit for saving the world with their endless regulations and get reelected.

CA just passed  a law banning plastic bags. Idiots. Clearly CA is racist against undocumented bags.

[albrecht]

Yep and then the shops raised the prices to offset the costs of new govt regulations so now people who are hard up change their own oil and dump it in the gutter or trash or some field. That's the power of our worthless govt and its stupid regulations in a nutshell. Because our noble saviors are completely out of touch, they don't realize people will adapt to their endless regulations. Or they know the people will adapt and they don't care as long as they can take credit for saving the world with their endless regulations and get reelected.

CA just passed  a law banning plastic bags. Idiots. Clearly CA is racist against undocumented bags.

My city did that ban. So now you see more dog *shit around since that was a cheap, go-to for the people nice enough to pick up after their dog. So the city put in some doggy doo-doo bag dispensers at the park (that always are out- I think because people take them all or at least more than they need for use elsewhere.) Also, your meat, fish, and chicken often bleed onto your other food. (I think I heard of more salmonella outbreaks due to this.)  There is no insulation (I always liked paper-bags) for even that short trip home in 100+F heat. And, of course, when in a hurry and you don't have your bags you have to pay at the counter for bags. So drive 10min more and goto to the market in the county and get free bags, so city stores lose money. (Thusly contributing to the "warming", wasting more fuel, and taking away business from the newly "revitalized" city economy.

I've found gallon jugs of oil dumped on my more rural road, in addition to trash -including building materials. Because- guess what- you have to pay $$ to take junk to the county dump and they won't take building materials (you need to hire your own dumpster from a private company and they take it to another dump.) And you need to pay to turn in your recycle oil.

I actually tried to do right thing and dispose of some old pesticides and various oil-based paint etc. City said I could only could do so at a special facility cross-town and only at a certain days and the hours were worse than banker hours. I won't tell you where they went.

Bureaucrats don't understand how the world works.

[onan]

I remember being a kid when out houses were still in use. I also remember everyone dumping their oil in alleys and country roads. I can still show old properties where garbage was dumped into ravenes that ran into a watershed. It isn't just the poor and inconvenienced, overburdened by current law.

Yeah we recycled bottles... hangers too if you think back on it. It wasn't the green movement that discontinued recycling, it was the businesses that saved more on their bottom line switching to plastics. And we were all unaware or ignorant of the accumulation of plastics. Our world view was narrow and in the long run toxic.

[paladin1991]

I've found gallon jugs of oil dumped on my more rural road, in addition to trash -including building materials. Because- guess what- you have to pay $$ to take junk to the county dump and they won't take building materials (you need to hire your own dumpster from a private company and they take it to another dump.) And you need to pay to turn in your recycle oil.

I actually tried to do right thing and dispose of some old pesticides and various oil-based paint etc. City said I could only could do so at a special facility cross-town and only at a certain days and the hours were worse than banker hours. I won't tell you where they went.

Somewhere down your more rural road?

[albrecht]

  Somewhere down your more rural road?

Yes, they usually find dump-sites right where it turns more rural. I guess too many cops, people, etc to dump building materials right on the city streets. And suburbs too many HoA folks spending their timing monitoring their neighborhood to dump there. So they drive out to where the roads have more trees, brush, etc hiding them to do their dumping. But no need to drive too far out into the country. Sort of where suburbs end and farms begin is their choice place. No street lights, less chance of police, etc.

[PB the Deplorable]

Yes, they usually find dump-sites right where it turns more rural. I guess too many cops, people, etc to dump building materials right on the city streets. And suburbs too many HoA folks spending their timing monitoring their neighborhood to dump there. So they drive out to where the roads have more trees, brush, etc hiding them to do their dumping. But no need to drive too far out into the country. Sort of where suburbs end and farms begin is their choice place. No street lights, less chance of police, etc.

Riding my bike out on the back roads I constantly see stuff that has been dumped.  As soon as one pile of junk gets hauled off, another one appears.

[Catsmile]