were things more "green" when you were a kid?
06 January 2012, 11:39 AM
#1
were things more "green" when you were a kid?
I recieved this by email this morning and thought it was worth sharing.
As I checked out at the grocery store recently, the young cashier suggested I should bring my own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.
I explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my younger days." She responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations." She was right about one thing -- our generation didn't have the green thing in “Our” day. So what did we do back then…?
Back then, we returned milk bottles, lemonade bottles and beer bottles to the shop. The shop sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles repeatedly. So they were recycled.
We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator or elevator in every shop and office building. We walked to the grocery shop and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two streets. Back then, we washed the baby's nappies because we didn't have the throw-away kind.
We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts - 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. 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 a cinema. 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 used old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn petrol 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.
We drank from the tap when we were thirsty instead of using a plastic 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 blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. Back then, people took a bus, and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of using their parents 24-hour taxi service.
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 22,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest chippy.
Isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we older folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?
As I checked out at the grocery store recently, the young cashier suggested I should bring my own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.
I explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my younger days." She responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations." She was right about one thing -- our generation didn't have the green thing in “Our” day. So what did we do back then…?
Back then, we returned milk bottles, lemonade bottles and beer bottles to the shop. The shop sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles repeatedly. So they were recycled.
We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator or elevator in every shop and office building. We walked to the grocery shop and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two streets. Back then, we washed the baby's nappies because we didn't have the throw-away kind.
We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts - 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. 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 a cinema. 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 used old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn petrol 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.
We drank from the tap when we were thirsty instead of using a plastic 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 blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. Back then, people took a bus, and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of using their parents 24-hour taxi service.
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 22,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest chippy.
Isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we older folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?
06 January 2012, 12:03 PM
#5
I wouldn't....
I'm a 'lazy' son of a bitch and like 'my' modern day conveniences, etc. - despite all the waste/non-green credentials that seem to come with it (as pointed out by OP).
Possibly a selfish attitude I know. But therein lies the problem - I guess the majority feel that way too...(?)
I'm a 'lazy' son of a bitch and like 'my' modern day conveniences, etc. - despite all the waste/non-green credentials that seem to come with it (as pointed out by OP).
Possibly a selfish attitude I know. But therein lies the problem - I guess the majority feel that way too...(?)
Last edited by joz8968; 06 January 2012 at 12:05 PM.
06 January 2012, 12:09 PM
#6
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A 73 year neighbour tells me that she used to go to the chapel to pray, in which I resided with my family during my initial few years of ruralling in North Wales. She also tells me that she remembers when her mate's boyfriend used to arrive in a horse-pulled cart to pick her mate up. 
Fancy going to see a movie with your boyfriend in something like that.
She says that she used to play wild in the woods with her mates without any fear of the peadophiles and axe-murderers etc. She says that it is really sad that today's youths can't do that as freely. If they do, they set fire to the woods or litter all over.
Fancy going to see a movie with your boyfriend in something like that. She says that she used to play wild in the woods with her mates without any fear of the peadophiles and axe-murderers etc. She says that it is really sad that today's youths can't do that as freely. If they do, they set fire to the woods or litter all over.
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06 January 2012, 01:03 PM
#10
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you forget how grossly fuel inefficient vehicles and engines were
virtually no diesel cars, you'd be lucky to see 30 mpg out of nearly any petrol car in 60's/70's etc
also they rusted at such a rate/failed, they had to be replaced very quickly, relatively speaking to today.
i.e you don;t see rusty cars on the road anymore.
virtually no diesel cars, you'd be lucky to see 30 mpg out of nearly any petrol car in 60's/70's etc
also they rusted at such a rate/failed, they had to be replaced very quickly, relatively speaking to today.
i.e you don;t see rusty cars on the road anymore.
06 January 2012, 02:10 PM
#13
I wouldn't....
I'm a 'lazy' son of a bitch and like 'my' modern day conveniences, etc. - despite all the waste/non-green credentials that seem to come with it (as pointed out by OP).
Possibly a selfish attitude I know. But therein lies the problem - I guess the majority feel that way too...(?)
I'm a 'lazy' son of a bitch and like 'my' modern day conveniences, etc. - despite all the waste/non-green credentials that seem to come with it (as pointed out by OP).
Possibly a selfish attitude I know. But therein lies the problem - I guess the majority feel that way too...(?)
I don't remember any scantly clothed fit young women back then, that had thongs poking out of the top of their jeans as they bent over.
06 January 2012, 02:17 PM
#14
Too right!!!Plus... now we get to enjoy bald, or aesthetically trimmed, minges. Who remembers the big bad hairy biffs of the 80s, that were 'out to get yer, GRRRR!'?
Never EVER want to return to that (please god don't let become 'fashionable'... 
).
Last edited by joz8968; 06 January 2012 at 02:19 PM.
06 January 2012, 02:37 PM
#15
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You can argue about "green ness" all day. As the OP said. earlier generations were nowhere near as wasteful as we see in general today, and people were far more capable at doing things for themselves and also taking care of themselves too. They were not used to being "nannied" and were used to looking out for themselves.
The really big difference however was the set of values that people used to live by. This was a far more Christian country then and people had far more concern to others and they even knew the names of their neighbours too! You can start wittling about the Atheist side if you want but that is not part of the argument. There is nothing that can be criticised about the Christian outlook on life which basically encouraged people to think about others and to have a far more friendly and helpful attitude to others than we see now. It seems rather to be a sign of weakness to even express gratitude to those who have been helpful. Life in general these days seems to be treated as a competition now. It seems to be almost a major disaster if someone has better possessions than you. We also see so much of the particularly nasty attitude towards others especially amonst law breakers who are prepared to trash someone's house or car etc. out of spite just because they feel like it when breaking into a property and who are also quite likely to seriously injure or even kill if someone gets in their way.
I think it is a very unhappy kind of attitude that we see so much of these days and I would be only too happy to see the older style of thinking and behaviour again. If that is regarded as old fashioned, then I am all for it without reservation.
Of course I am not blaming everyone in sight, but just the modern set of values which seems to have evolved now and I don't think is too much to be proud of.
Les
The really big difference however was the set of values that people used to live by. This was a far more Christian country then and people had far more concern to others and they even knew the names of their neighbours too! You can start wittling about the Atheist side if you want but that is not part of the argument. There is nothing that can be criticised about the Christian outlook on life which basically encouraged people to think about others and to have a far more friendly and helpful attitude to others than we see now. It seems rather to be a sign of weakness to even express gratitude to those who have been helpful. Life in general these days seems to be treated as a competition now. It seems to be almost a major disaster if someone has better possessions than you. We also see so much of the particularly nasty attitude towards others especially amonst law breakers who are prepared to trash someone's house or car etc. out of spite just because they feel like it when breaking into a property and who are also quite likely to seriously injure or even kill if someone gets in their way.
I think it is a very unhappy kind of attitude that we see so much of these days and I would be only too happy to see the older style of thinking and behaviour again. If that is regarded as old fashioned, then I am all for it without reservation.
Of course I am not blaming everyone in sight, but just the modern set of values which seems to have evolved now and I don't think is too much to be proud of.
Les
06 January 2012, 02:44 PM
#16
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It wasn't the fact that we were 'greener' back then - it was just how life was.
If anyone yearns to go back to the 'simple ' 1950' or 60's and be green once again, go and live in North Korea - non of your fancy electro gubbins there!
If anyone yearns to go back to the 'simple ' 1950' or 60's and be green once again, go and live in North Korea - non of your fancy electro gubbins there!
06 January 2012, 07:01 PM
#22
I love this thread an being only 29 I have the good polite n helpfulness of the 80's.. Sadly the wifes bush isn't 
lol shhh,
And selfishly I won't be around when my co2 footprint kills the planet but so be it. Nature always wins so she should bounce back!
lol shhh,And selfishly I won't be around when my co2 footprint kills the planet but so be it. Nature always wins so she should bounce back!
06 January 2012, 07:37 PM
#23
The funny thing with technology is that we can always choose to forgoe it when we want to but few rarely do.
Examples, going to the shops, you can still leave the car sat in the drive and walk. You can still use fabric carrier bags and iirc most shops have steps as well as escalators etc.
Technology marches on making life easier and people lazier.
Examples, going to the shops, you can still leave the car sat in the drive and walk. You can still use fabric carrier bags and iirc most shops have steps as well as escalators etc.
Technology marches on making life easier and people lazier.
Last edited by brendy76; 06 January 2012 at 07:55 PM.
06 January 2012, 08:10 PM
#24
Bloody hate computers and the lazy fat society we have become.
06 January 2012, 10:42 PM
#27
That kids film Wall-E sums us up so well
Fooked the planet,lazy and fat with i phones and computers.
Complete bunch of wasters last 10 years.World has gone nuts
Fooked the planet,lazy and fat with i phones and computers.
Complete bunch of wasters last 10 years.World has gone nuts
07 January 2012, 01:02 PM
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