How wasteful the older generation has been

[dltang]

A friend of mine posted this on her Facebook and I thought I would share:

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 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 probably had no TV, or radio, in the house – not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen if they had one, 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?

 

[ataDude]

Man, I feel guilty now, Deb. <<not>> :thumbup:
.

A friend of mine posted this on her Facebook and I thought I would share:

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 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 probably had no TV, or radio, in the house – not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen if they had one, 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?

 

[Hawk Eye]

:2thumbs::clap::agree::yes:

 

[johnnyg]

A friend of mine posted this on her Facebook and I thought I would share:

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 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 probably had no TV, or radio, in the house – not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen if they had one, 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?

Aman to that ! JC

 

[IWN2RYD]

Just would like to add... :agree:

And... Keep in mind. It has only been about 80 years since the Military (I am told, not factual on my part) invented plastic. Like many things in life as we try and find a way to make our human lives easier and more productive, we do not have the ability to look into the future to see what can/will go wrong.

Crude oil is natural. We (Humans) just found a way to use it, not realizing it's harmful ways afterwards.

So in all fairness. The only folks my wife and I do not cut any slack to are those that are alive today, with the means and still choose to butcher our planet and out children's children future.

I am not talking tree hugging over the top now. I am speaking realistically. For example. We do use the bags over and over. Our recycle can is twice the size of our trash, yet just a few years ago the opposite was true.

At the end of the day knowledge is power. As long as we continue to learn at all ages and levels of society, our kids and the rest of the future will be just fine.

I will end here now. As I know enough to get myself deep into this subject (College education and hard knocks of real life), but do not know enough to find my way back out :roflblack:

 

[Boots]

didn't have the green thing

A friend of mine posted this on her Facebook and I thought I would share:

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 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 probably had no TV, or radio, in the house – not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen if they had one, 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?

This was GREAT ! ! this is the true facts all the way

 

[SpyderAnn01]

:agree:

 

[Dudley]

And we were in better shape, more appreciative, never "bored". Our discarded trash was minimal because we reused so much, as was noted. We didn't know how to hug a tree, but learned early on how to climb one. We used our hands to play ball, mold clay, catch frogs, etc., not to play video games. OH, the Good Old Days! How I miss them.

 

[Firefly]

Interesting point -- but I doubt many young people are really 'calling out' their seniors about this kind of thing.

We ALL need to do more to keep the planet clean-- not out of fear of global warming --- just because it's the right thing to do.

The 'good ol' days' really weren't that good---- we live much longer and don't have things like polio ------ :thumbup:

 

[bone crusher]

Interesting point -- but I doubt many young people are really 'calling out' their seniors about this kind of thing.

We ALL need to do more to keep the planet clean-- not out of fear of global warming --- just because it's the right thing to do.

The 'good ol' days' really weren't that good---- we live much longer and don't have things like polio ------ :thumbup:

We actually don't live longer...those numbers are totally manipulated. To figure out the average lifespan, the gov't considers those babies who don't make it as being 0 years old. As we have less infant mortality now compared to the early 1900s and before, the average will naturally go up as there are less '0's. This makes it look like we're living longer when really, we're not. In fact, the US is nowhere near the top of the world in life expectancy (I have the numbers on that somewhere as I teach it).

Also, polio is an interesting topic too. Studies both ways on that. One side say vaccinations were the reason...the other side says that cleanliness did it...remember that polio is a fecal/oral (parenteral) disease. The cleaner your society, the less disease you will have, naturally.

Interesting facts, eh? I'd much rather have lived in the 1950s than today...world was safer...

 

[ThreeWheels]

Interesting facts, eh? I'd much rather have lived in the 1950s than today...world was safer...

I can understand how one would feel that way, but having lived through the '50s it's really a matter of perspective. I was taught this in Kindergarten when I was 5 years old.

 

[Bob Denman]

Going back a bit further in time... When we only lived to about 40, we basically died because we got hurt and couldn't feed ourselves, we were killed in some sort of fall or we got eaten by something that we were trying to catch and eat! We ate what we could kill or gather... meat roots and fruit!
300 years ago we were killed by infection. Our diet was meat, fruits, vegetables and grains...

Today... Cancer and heart disease seem to have lept to the forefront...

Talk to me about progress... We appear to be living beyond what we ewere ever suppoosed to. (Of course that makes for more Spydering time...) What are we eating today? Processed this and artifical that...
:lecturef_smilie: Okay... I'm off the soapbox...SORRY!

 

[SNSTRO]

I think all those whinny people that are crying about "going GREEN"
need to have all their cell phones, computers, TV, electricity, cars, hot running water, clothing that has any man made components, anything that is made from plastic, or depends on a fossil fuel to be created or used TAKEN AWAY.. If they really want to "Go Green" they should live like the Amish (note: nothing wrong with the way the Amish live or their beliefs, no offense ment, they live with out electricity and off the land is my point) or go even "greener" wear undearwear made from leaves and live in the jungle... and stop Whinning to the rest of us that are enjoying the fruits of industry, technology, and advancement.. now I am not saying we cant have those things and still make them pollute our world less.. I am all for that.. but I am sick of hearing all these cry Babies jumping on the "Go Green" thing.. When just like the original post states back then..They didnt have the "GREEN THING"..BUT.. They Really did live "Greener" than these little whinners that like to hear themselves talk.. or text.. or tweet or whatever the crap they call communicating now... "Texting" thats the equivalent of jerking your telephone out of the wall and replacing it with civil war era telegraph machine.. Thats how advanced this new generation is..

 

[IWN2RYD]

We actually don't live longer...those numbers are totally manipulated. To figure out the average lifespan, the gov't considers those babies who don't make it as being 0 years old. As we have less infant mortality now compared to the early 1900s and before, the average will naturally go up as there are less '0's. This makes it look like we're living longer when really, we're not. In fact, the US is nowhere near the top of the world in life expectancy (I have the numbers on that somewhere as I teach it).

Also, polio is an interesting topic too. Studies both ways on that. One side say vaccinations were the reason...the other side says that cleanliness did it...remember that polio is a fecal/oral (parenteral) disease. The cleaner your society, the less disease you will have, naturally.

Interesting facts, eh? I'd much rather have lived in the 1950s than today...world was safer...

Sorry Bonecrusher... I have to disagree. Just ask any Life Insurance Company and work with Social Security. They see the real figures and have to adjust their needs about once every 5 years to accommodate this trend. The numbers are NOT manipulated and they are very real.

Bottom line... Today many live after a heart attack, stroke and infections, liver transfers, loss of limb, pneumonia etc. Heck even those with Asthma. Many babies make it now when before there was no chance.

What this does is help push the life expectancy higher. Because those folks used to not make it and be a part of the numbers. Now they are. Not to mention when the number first started getting tracked they had not been as accurate as they are today as technology allows for faster and more accurate info to be shared.

 

[Firefly]

We actually don't live longer...those numbers are totally manipulated. To figure out the average lifespan, the gov't considers those babies who don't make it as being 0 years old. As we have less infant mortality now compared to the early 1900s and before, the average will naturally go up as there are less '0's. This makes it look like we're living longer when really, we're not. In fact, the US is nowhere near the top of the world in life expectancy (I have the numbers on that somewhere as I teach it).

Also, polio is an interesting topic too. Studies both ways on that. One side say vaccinations were the reason...the other side says that cleanliness did it...remember that polio is a fecal/oral (parenteral) disease. The cleaner your society, the less disease you will have, naturally.

Interesting facts, eh? I'd much rather have lived in the 1950s than today...world was safer...

Sorry bro--- but you're just not right on this. Certainly our life expectancy is NOT the best in the world--- but it IS better than 50 years ago. Medical science and technology is keeping us alive much longer.

Safer back in the 1950's ????:roflblack:
Uh-- no-- not even close. Crime was MUCH higher. We also are MUCH safer in the workplace than back then.

 

[boborgera]

I think all those whinny people that are crying about "going GREEN"
need to have all their cell phones, computers, TV, electricity, cars, hot running water, clothing that has any man made components, anything that is made from plastic, or depends on a fossil fuel to be created or used TAKEN AWAY.. If they really want to "Go Green" they should live like the Amish (note: nothing wrong with the way the Amish live or their beliefs, no offense ment, they live with out electricity and off the land is my point) or go even "greener" wear undearwear made from leaves and live in the jungle... and stop Whinning to the rest of us that are enjoying the fruits of industry, technology, and advancement.. now I am not saying we cant have those things and still make them pollute our world less.. I am all for that.. but I am sick of hearing all these cry Babies jumping on the "Go Green" thing.. When just like the original post states back then..They didnt have the "GREEN THING"..BUT.. They Really did live "Greener" than these little whinners that like to hear themselves talk.. or text.. or tweet or whatever the crap they call communicating now... "Texting" thats the equivalent of jerking your telephone out of the wall and replacing it with civil war era telegraph machine.. Thats how advanced this new generation is..

Every now and then The local High School Students will get on a GREEN kick and come around with a petition to outlaw Plastic or Styrofoam or something?
I just tell them, ''If'' you really want to go green rip up the Students Parking Lots and Plant grass and trees, can't get greener than that.
''Wow'' walk to School what are you some kind of nut!!.:gaah:

 

[bruiser]

We actually don't live longer...those numbers are totally manipulated. To figure out the average lifespan, the gov't considers those babies who don't make it as being 0 years old. As we have less infant mortality now compared to the early 1900s and before, the average will naturally go up as there are less '0's. This makes it look like we're living longer when really, we're not. In fact, the US is nowhere near the top of the world in life expectancy (I have the numbers on that somewhere as I teach it).

Also, polio is an interesting topic too. Studies both ways on that. One side say vaccinations were the reason...the other side says that cleanliness did it...remember that polio is a fecal/oral (parenteral) disease. The cleaner your society, the less disease you will have, naturally.

Interesting facts, eh? I'd much rather have lived in the 1950s than today...world was safer...

I can't agree either. Ask my wife where she would be without the kidney transplant that saved her life. Or yet, ask a wounded warrior where he would be without todays medical advances. Technology that we didn't have in Viet Nam.

 

[bone crusher]

Sorry Bonecrusher... I have to disagree. Just ask any Life Insurance Company and work with Social Security. They see the real figures and have to adjust their needs about once every 5 years to accommodate this trend. The numbers are NOT manipulated and they are very real.

Bottom line... Today many live after a heart attack, stroke and infections, liver transfers, loss of limb, pneumonia etc. Heck even those with Asthma. Many babies make it now when before there was no chance.

What this does is help push the life expectancy higher. Because those folks used to not make it and be a part of the numbers. Now they are. Not to mention when the number first started getting tracked they had not been as accurate as they are today as technology allows for faster and more accurate info to be shared.

You can disagree but facts are facts...with lower infant mortality rates, we artificially raise the life expectancy...it's simple math...there has really been very little to raise the overall life expectancy...

 

[bone crusher]

I can't agree either. Ask my wife where she would be without the kidney transplant that saved her life. Or yet, ask a wounded warrior where he would be without todays medical advances. Technology that we didn't have in Viet Nam.

Bruiser,

Yes, there are isolated incidents....sure...and medications have helped millions...however, on the other side, medications have also killed as many (or more)...we haven't really progressed as much as you'd like to believe...

Take a look at DES...probably responsible for over 30 million cancer related deaths...the list goes on...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diethylstilbestrol

Beyond that, again, the average life expectancy is an average (mean)...remember, if less babies die when they're born, the mean goes up quite a bit...we've had huge advances with infant mortality. As far as just living longer, the numbers don't support this.

I have the numbers...I can look them up and post them...I am right on this...I teach it...

 

[bone crusher]

Sorry bro--- but you're just not right on this. Certainly our life expectancy is NOT the best in the world--- but it IS better than 50 years ago. Medical science and technology is keeping us alive much longer.

Safer back in the 1950's ????:roflblack:
Uh-- no-- not even close. Crime was MUCH higher. We also are MUCH safer in the workplace than back then.

We're nowhere near the top of this list...science and technology are not extending life expectancy as much as you think...although we're all led to believe this...I'll get the numbers from one of my powerpoint presentations, if you want...