I'm being manipulated by the media into rational behavior

re: I'm being manipulated by the media into rational behavior

HeatherLeigh — Wed, 23 May 2007 03:43:31 GMT

Yeah, perhaps you need to consider employing your sense of humor when reading that sentence. Of course, you are approaching this from a completely unbiased perspective, right? Um , yeah. I can tell by what you wrote.

And anonymous, yet. Charming!

re: I'm being manipulated by the media into rational behavior

hmmmmster — Tue, 22 May 2007 21:10:50 GMT

"Manipulated by the media" I will agree with.... rational, not so sure. What do you mean, you still love your aunt? How could you, you must be torn about it. She actually thought you might look at both sides of the issue, instead of just following what His Holy Al Goreness hath spoke? You mean, there might even be another side to this issue? Be careful, you might end up doubting! (GASP!!)

All kidding aside, read this sentence again:

"My aunt, whom I adore, requested that I look at both sides of the global warming issue and I still love her. "

Is it only because you adore her that you allow her to have a contrary opinion?

Manipulated by the media, indeed!

re: I'm being manipulated by the media into rational behavior

HeatherLeigh — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 20:41:03 GMT

Tim - yeah, we do what we can. If being green ends up being too hard, people won't do it. The whole paper towel thing for me is a study in human behavior. When I remodeled my kichen, I took the papertowls off the counter and put them under the sink. In the last 2 (??) months, I've probablyu reached for them twice and now I don't miss them at all. Must be a case of out of sight out of mind. There's nothing I wanted to do with them that I haven;t substituted something else for (like a sponge or the old socks I use for dusting furniture---less linty). I imagine it's different if you've got kids though, right?

I will also admit to reusing ziplocs sometimes. I can't believe I am admitting that as I recall how weird I thought my grandma was to wash them out and them dry them. I don't go that far, but as an example, I made chicken fajitas the other night and had frozen torillas in pairs (single girl food storage trick). When I took the tortillas out of the ziploc, I used it for the leftover veggies. I guess I would say I opportunistically re-use ziplocs and, of course, choose a non-disposable option when I can.

Re: Ed Begley, I actually understand him. It's hard to separate the thrifty from the green. I don't want people to think that I am crazy thrifty. I spend too much on clothes, make-up, shoes, hair care stuff. I'm just thrifty on the stuff I can buy in bulk, re-use easily or care little about.

Bad_Brad, I am not sure what it is going to take for me to get that image out of my head! Arrggg!

re: I'm being manipulated by the media into rational behavior

Bad_Brad — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 19:09:18 GMT

I like Sheryl Crow's suggestion about limiting toilet paper use to a single square. Actually, when I was in Europe a couple years ago, that's how the public restrooms were - you paid to use it, and they gave you a square of toilet paper about two inches by two inches. If we REALLY wanted to go "green", we would do away with toilets altogether and simply construct large public composting bins where we could all do our business. It could be a real community building thing. Every so often, a public employee would come around and collect the compost and use it as fertilizer. Back to nature, baby!

re: I'm being manipulated by the media into rational behavior

Tim — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 05:12:20 GMT

I've always agreed with Ed Begley, Jr. who admitted to not being as green as he was cheap. Er, thrifty. Good for you, green girl. And don't be rough on yourself, I work in a full and thriving office and if you saw the amount of plastic Ziploc (tm) bags in the trashcan at the end of the lunch hour, you would spew. Do what you can, then go outside and feel better about what you did. (For three seconds, before you begin picking up others' trash.) How in the heck are you going to do away with paper towels? I've moved to 100% recycled ones, but doing away with them, that's a trick I want to learn.

re: I'm being manipulated by the media into rational behavior

HeatherLeigh — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 22:40:32 GMT

Barrett - sounds like some of my relatives (but for different reasons....we can be a thrifty bunch). I intentionally stayed away from bathroom habits in my list. Those I'll have to track mentally. It would truly be a case of TMI if I addressed those here!

re: I'm being manipulated by the media into rational behavior

Barrett — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 22:20:30 GMT

I read the part about one paper napkin and chuckled as I thought of an article I saw just yesterday on "Sheryl Crow's Solution to Global Warming". It's from Fox news, so take lightly.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,267783,00.html

On toilet paper, Sheryl supposedly says:

"Now, I don't want to rob any law-abiding American of his or her God-given rights, but I think we are an industrious enough people that we can make it work with only one square per restroom visit, except, of course, on those pesky occasions where 2 to 3 could be required," she wrote.

re: I'm being manipulated by the media into rational behavior

HeatherLeigh — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 18:19:21 GMT

That's good!

re: I'm being manipulated by the media into rational behavior

Darren Cox — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 17:44:08 GMT

Heather,

I was only (sort of) joking. I actually happen to know that Microsoft is launching a big initiative this year to eventually migrate a great deal of global software purchases online. The only reason I know this is because Digital River is the delivery partner and I know Joel Ronning, the CEO.

The green revolution is coming and I'll be right here at the back if you need me.

-Darren

re: I'm being manipulated by the media into rational behavior

HeatherLeigh — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 17:34:56 GMT

There you go : )

Seriously, there are aspects of my life where I am frustrated by my ability to make greener choices. Giving up my laptop? Never! Turning it off instead of locking it when I leave? Absolutely. Baby steps I guess.

If I have the opportunity to weigh in on greener software packaging internally here, I will.