Thursday, August 06, 2009

Yes, I care about the environment...


I recycle to the point of obsessing - and things that cannot be recycled at work, I take home with me. We are power conservers. We drive as little as possible, carpool as much as possible, and try not to purchase things that create lots of garbage and/or recycling.

But. Is it just me, or are some of the people who are latching onto the green bandwagon just a teeny bit irritating?

I read something from someone in an online writers group I am a part of that sparked this post. We were doing introductions (no, I did not say, "Hi, I'm Riot Kitty! I love to use the word "fuck!") and while most people stuck to the basics (name, city, type of writing, what we do during the day to pay bills), a couple of people waxed poetic about their hobbies. Or rather, they went on very un-poetically, 'cause I couldn't give a shit.

MEMEMEMEMEMEME!

For starters, I just *hate* that. This is supposed to be a professional group. I don't care what you eat for breakfast.

So anyhow, said writer was going on and on and on about how she "is very concerned about limiting my carbon footprint." Anyone who uses those last two words, I tell you, is some kind of idiot. Notice that the car companies manufacturing huge SUVS (I'm talking about the ones big enough to cart around an NFL team) use that lingo to justify charging several thousand dollars more for a vehicle that STILL won't get 20 mpg!

Anyway - not two sentences later, she proved my point. Among her "hobbies" is ordering things online from as far away as Canada to be delivered to her, in her current city of residence - which is in South America.

I kid you not.

Tip for the uninitiated: if you're really concerned about the environment, try not to order things that must be shipped halfway around the world. All of that burning of fossil fuels and such, sweetheart.

Then again, she's probably one of those people who think buying "carbon credits" is OK, rather than bothering to use fewer resources to begin with. Either that, or she doesn't wear deodorant.

Just sayin'.

13 comments:

listen for azure said...

I actually picture a perfectly coiffed bottle blonde with perfect nails.

Fireblossom said...

I don't leave ANY footprint, darling. I'm always wearing new heels from Fendi's!

Sidhe said...

Ha! So true...I gotta take the SUV to Grand Rapids today; do you think I should buy carbon credits or will forgoing the deo do the trick?

P.S. I have that recycling problem you mentioned...

Granny Annie said...

Am I your only friend that worries about your anger?

Darth Weasel said...

buzzwords make people feel better about themselves regardless of how banal the actions.

and I have long hated both the phrase "carbon footprint" and the nonsensical idea of offsets. I shall quit now before I get rolling and my soapbox becomes a mass of splinters which must be burned thus contributing to my own carb...no, not gonna say it.

cherie said...

that footprint right there reminds me of when i used to be a postpartum nurse and had to get the newborn's prints after we gave them baths heheh

Aliceson said...

The stupidity of some people is astounding.

My condition must be similar to yours and Sidhe's. I have OCD (Obsessive Composting Disorder).

Riot Kitty said...

GA: I hope you are just kidding because all of the stuff that I rant about here is meant to be satirical :) Maybe you meant to be, too, but I'm tired, it's Friday, and I am decaffinated, so if that's the case sorry!

Aliceson: We compost, too. It drives my husband nuts, but the soil is sooooooooooo lovely!

PG: You are probably right...

FB: Wonderful, dahling ;)

Sidhe: What is the deo?

Darth: Totally agree!

Cherie: Cute story :)

themom said...

My son got us into the "eco" phase a couple of years ago. Recycling has worked well. Even the 8 year old grandson tells his friends where each particular item needs to be disposed. There, of course, are still some areas that need improvement - but we are getting there.

Scarlet said...

"...limiting my carbon footprint?!" Who the hell talks like that??

LL Cool Joe said...

Ha ha, no one quite rants like you do Riot Kitty!!!

We wouldn't have it any other way!

Riot Kitty said...

TM: That is fantastic!
Scarlet: Exactly...
Joey: Thanks :)!

G. B. Miller said...

I believe good ranting is underappreciated.

I believe that bad ranting is overblown.

In any event, a good rant will squish a bad rant like a cockroach every time.

Nice to find another good ranting blog.