| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| walkinwalkoutcattle |
Posted - Apr 20 2011 : 05:38:53 AM
My mom sent this to me, and I thought it was cute and right on!
How Wasteful the Older Generation Was ...
In the line at the store, the cashier told the older woman that she should bring her own grocery bag because plastic bags weren't good for the environment. The woman apologized to him and explained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my day."
The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. The former generation did not care enough to save our environment."
He was right, that generation didn't have the green thing in its day.
Back then, they returned their 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 they didn't have the green thing back in that customer's day.
In her day, they walked up stairs, because they didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. They walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine
Every time they had to go two blocks.
But she was right. They didn't have the green thing in her day.
Back then, they washed the baby's diapers because they didn't have the throw-away kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts - wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.
But that old lady is right, they didn't have the green thing back in her day.
Back then, they 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 hankerchief, not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, they blended and stirred by hand because they didn't have electric machines to do everything for you.
When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.
Back then, they didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power. They exercised by working so they didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.
But she's right, they didn't have the green thing back then.
They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water. They refilled their writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and they replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.
But they 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 rode the school bus instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. They had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And they didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.
But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful the old folks were just because they didn't have the green thing back then?
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
|
| 13 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| walkinwalkoutcattle |
Posted - Jul 15 2011 : 2:36:12 PM
Nicole-I cloth diaper and love it! :) My husband tries to fix everything, and I use my reusable bags as often as possible. It's incredible how "wasteful" I used to live and never thought about it!
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
|
| n/a |
Posted - Jul 11 2011 : 05:32:00 AM
Sheri---I had that convo just the other day with someone---about repairing things. My daughter went away to college for the first time last fall and she was SHOCKED at how many young people could not even sew on a BUTTON! They would just toss the shirt or what have you! I am wondering how this next generation will be able to handle REAL cut backs such as what was experienced during the depression and WW II? I watch the old TV show the Walton's and see how frugal they needed to be with everything--I am not sure that most could do that today---concerns me the amount of stealing that might go on---after all, one cannot expect to live without blu-ray DVD's and Blackberries---and not the kind one puts in tasty jams :0).
Just a Brooklyn, NY gal trying to figure out this country thing after 12+ years in the woods of NE PA! Wife of my HS sweetie going on 23 years and mom to the amazing four ages 19(g), 17(s), 14(s), 13(s)!
Donna
Sister # 3062
http://restingunderthepinetree.blogspot.com/ |
| DeborahLee |
Posted - Jul 07 2011 : 08:45:05 AM
My TV doesn't have the tubes---but it is an old Montgomery Ward that simply will not die. I've had it for over 25 years---I keep saying that I will replace it once it dies with one of the newer TVs but I don't watch a lot of TV and dropped most of cable last year (and added the funds to my book fund!) I know folks who are on their second or third flat screen TV (they seem really vulnerable to damage.) Meanwhile, my old TV just keeps going and going....
Deborah
Professor, librarian, writer and farmgirl! |
| WoodstreamDreambyNicole |
Posted - Jul 04 2011 : 06:35:38 AM
I love that!
I do wash diapers! I have a small group of friends who all use cloth diapers 95% of the time for the babes. So much better for the babies & the environment - not to mention cuter!!!
Nicole
Shop
www.woodstreamdream.etsy.com
Custom Creations
www.woodstreamdream.blogspot.com |
| levisgrammy |
Posted - Jul 04 2011 : 05:24:57 AM
Cute! Back then they didn't put our groceries in plastic bags either. Used paper which was handy for other things. Covering schoolbooks for instance.
Sheri~ I remember that with the tv tubes. Things were taken to be repaired instead of tossed. Now because many things are so cheaply made they are not worth the expense of fixing compared to the cost of buying new. A shame really.
farmgirl sister#43
O, a trouble's a ton or a trouble's an ounce,
Or a trouble is what you make it!
And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,
But only--how did you take it?
--Edmund C. Vance.
|
| Sheep Mom 2 |
Posted - Jul 03 2011 : 7:45:21 PM
What about repairing things? You fixed your toaster or TV or vacume cleaner rather than tossing it. It really makes me angry when things are more expensive to repair than to buy new. My grandparents and parents repaired everything many times before they were replaced with new. I think that alone is nuts. No wonder our landfills are full to overflowing. Anyone remember taking the tubes from the TV to the tester in the grocery store and replacing the ones that were bad - my Dad always fixed it himself. Guess I am "dating" myself with that one!!
Blessings, Sheri
"Work is Love made visible" -Kahlil Gibran |
| princesspatches |
Posted - Jul 03 2011 : 2:05:50 PM
LOVE this article. Try to get the message through to my kids. They are not getting it. They don't realize how easy they have it.
My oldest son asked for P90X so he could get in shape. He got mad when I told him we have 5 acres of lumber that could get him in shape. He told me it sounded too much like "work". Ha
Arttie |
| tribalcime |
Posted - Jul 03 2011 : 02:27:00 AM
great artcle and so true ! Only thing we didnt do was use the push mower..we used a gas one . My grand parents watched me while mom worked . They would turn over in their graves to see the waste of today .
http://www.tribalhorsedesigns.com
My webstores are http://www.1craftywoman.com and http://www.shadowsofthegoddess.etsy.com |
| debtea2 |
Posted - Apr 20 2011 : 6:51:47 PM
how wonderful is that i love it
thanks for sharing
blessings deborah
inch by inch we find our way
jersey farmgirl
#1330
|
| Fiddlehead Farm |
Posted - Apr 20 2011 : 4:45:21 PM
I posted this awhile ago, I love it! Thanks for sharing.
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
Happy to be a "Raggedy Ann" in a Barbie World!
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White |
| embchicken |
Posted - Apr 20 2011 : 11:14:20 AM
How true.
~ Elaine
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi
Farmgirl sister #2882
http://embchicken.blogspot.com
|
| Ingrid |
Posted - Apr 20 2011 : 10:36:53 AM
Wonderful article.
Give thanks to yourself everyday for all the wonderful things you do! |
| natesgirl |
Posted - Apr 20 2011 : 09:54:05 AM
I love it!!!
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
