Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
'Checking out at the store, [View all] elleng Feb 2013 OP
One change I'd make. silverweb Feb 2013 #1
My thoughts EXACTLY! lobezen Feb 2013 #85
+100 GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #105
Not aware of the profit motive in disposables? Really? Raksha Feb 2013 #128
People buy water in plastic bottles randr Feb 2013 #184
I really don't understand the point of this oft-repeated e-mail forward. antigone382 Feb 2013 #2
+1 TDale313 Feb 2013 #6
+1. The minute the generational warfare crap starts up, I check out. n/t winter is coming Feb 2013 #20
Very well stated. HERVEPA Feb 2013 #9
It's divide-and-conquer crap. HughBeaumont Feb 2013 #12
I don't think so. I think there's genuine annoyance there and for a good reason. GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #103
+1 snort Feb 2013 #167
All while dumping toxic chemicals in the back yard LOL snooper2 Feb 2013 #193
Well, it definitely wasn't me, even if I am an early-vintage Baby Boomer. Raksha Feb 2013 #131
Bush 43 marions ghost Feb 2013 #202
Enough non-thinking idiots voted for him so that the theft could commence. HughBeaumont Feb 2013 #209
Corruption won marions ghost Feb 2013 #211
I think the point is that younger folks can learn how to do "green" things from their elders. backtoblue Feb 2013 #19
Thanks, backtoblue. elleng Feb 2013 #24
I think if your original had stated it was a chain email... Phentex Feb 2013 #32
"especially from a smartass who can't make change"... perhaps the negative replies are in response Luminous Animal Feb 2013 #33
It's DU, elleng... Sekhmets Daughter Feb 2013 #35
THANKS, Daughter! elleng Feb 2013 #36
You're welcome... Sekhmets Daughter Feb 2013 #39
I'm sorry if my responses TDale313 Feb 2013 #38
I'm sorry if I came off as negative towards you, elleng antigone382 Feb 2013 #71
Thanks for the explanation, antigone. elleng Feb 2013 #74
I think the piece asks genuine questions... druidity33 Feb 2013 #182
I, for one, didn't willingly "adopt" plastic bottles Art_from_Ark Feb 2013 #221
Cause dismissing them all TDale313 Feb 2013 #25
Yes, it could be worded softer but come on. It's not generational warfare as some are stating. backtoblue Feb 2013 #44
Good point. Blanks Feb 2013 #62
"The Greatest Geberation" were horrible polluters obamanut2012 Feb 2013 #42
Not true personally. Industrially, yes, but they didn't have much choice about that. GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #101
I would agree if it didn't have the snarky smartass comment at the end. progressoid Feb 2013 #59
a few changed words and this could be a great read. backtoblue Feb 2013 #63
+1 pengillian101 Feb 2013 #220
And no one on DU every makes a smart ass comment about the older generation? GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #104
Sure they do. And it's wrong then, too. n/t antigone382 Feb 2013 #107
You've got an interesting OP there. GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #109
Did I say that? progressoid Feb 2013 #133
Precisely. llmart Feb 2013 #139
I'm glad you wrote that. GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #142
From the elders that switched to "disposable everything"? jeff47 Feb 2013 #76
Depends on the age group. It was the late-60s and 70s that really brought "disposables" GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #108
It was plastics, recall that famous line Carolina Feb 2013 #117
Yes! I had forgotten The Graduate! GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #119
For diapers. But the email has lots of other disposable products jeff47 Feb 2013 #127
And the returnable glass bottles for milk and soda, the walking everywhere (especially to school and GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #143
Only when they were younger. They switched along with everyone else. (nt) jeff47 Feb 2013 #152
I am a boomer... love_katz Feb 2013 #155
You are so right--there really was no choice GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #160
The switch occurred in the late 60s and was largely unavoidable GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #156
Minor point, but... PotatoChip Feb 2013 #192
Re: Breastfeeding babies, your time frame is a little bit off. Raksha Feb 2013 #138
It might be a class issue GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #149
Disposable culture really took off circa 1970s-1980s. And the way it happened was that it made HiPointDem Feb 2013 #122
They just responded to market forces. jeff47 Feb 2013 #126
they responded to profit potential. there's more profit on disposables. i was there, and no HiPointDem Feb 2013 #130
It had everything to do with the customers jeff47 Feb 2013 #135
i don't think you were there. even then, the soda market was dominated by a few big players. HiPointDem Feb 2013 #137
However the number one cause of carbon use right now is truedelphi Feb 2013 #34
You can't mention the use of fossil fuels as the #1 carbon culprit on DU? NYC_SKP Feb 2013 #53
I am tallking about a process that truedelphi Feb 2013 #116
I know Clearlake, the highlands, the special sulfurous hot springs out in the middle of the lake. NYC_SKP Feb 2013 #118
+1 obamanut2012 Feb 2013 #41
This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Feb 2013 #50
It was the current 80 year olds who started "disposable everything" starroute Feb 2013 #58
In a sense, but at the same time, that was specifically marketed to them. antigone382 Feb 2013 #111
Actually, they didn't start it: they were sold it. GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #114
+1 lobezen Feb 2013 #86
That was my impression customerserviceguy Feb 2013 #92
The point: that our grandparents' and great-grandparents' generation actually used less fossil fuel GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #100
i think though that younger people may not realize the degree to which recycle/reuse was built HiPointDem Feb 2013 #121
Yes, I've seen this on Facebook about a dozen times Lydia Leftcoast Feb 2013 #147
Yeah, the entire premise is false deutsey Feb 2013 #181
You can't find a hankerchief anymore. NYC_SKP Feb 2013 #3
Thanks, SKP. elleng Feb 2013 #5
Bandanas work fine for the purpose though. HERVEPA Feb 2013 #7
I find them with no problem. My husband and kids all use them... Phentex Feb 2013 #26
It might be a regional thing. I'm in Northern California. NYC_SKP Feb 2013 #30
Well you could have just called me! Phentex Feb 2013 #49
Macy's has them Starry Messenger Feb 2013 #83
My dad still has a few of them The Straight Story Feb 2013 #206
Terrific post! llmart Feb 2013 #4
This is a chain email, not an actual exchange between two humans. REP Feb 2013 #10
So? llmart Feb 2013 #14
No woman reminisces fondly about having no washing machine REP Feb 2013 #17
I missed the part about not having washing machines.... llmart Feb 2013 #22
That isn't true. truedelphi Feb 2013 #37
My MIL rode her horse to school in the 1970s Nevernose Feb 2013 #153
If you've never used one, you wouldn't have the chance to miss it. backtoblue Feb 2013 #56
But many women did hang their laundry out to dry. GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #112
Most of us can't even remember it, although we managed for years without dryers. Raksha Feb 2013 #141
Not hardly. Fuddnik Feb 2013 #162
That's the problem with the "story" progressoid Feb 2013 #69
You must be younger GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #113
50 progressoid Feb 2013 #129
No! LOL!! GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #150
Yes, I am glad you posted this and it is the 450th time I have seen it. n/t RebelOne Feb 2013 #52
Thanks, llmart. elleng Feb 2013 #11
There were nine in my family.... llmart Feb 2013 #13
Nonnie, mom, sister, and me out on a farm. Good times. NYC_SKP Feb 2013 #23
And yes, old lady you got to stay home to to do all these things CBGLuthier Feb 2013 #8
When did people have drinking fountains in their houses? REP Feb 2013 #15
We didn't watch much TV. llmart Feb 2013 #16
Right; Good; Thanks! elleng Feb 2013 #27
+1 obamanut2012 Feb 2013 #43
K&R pinboy3niner Feb 2013 #18
You realize the vast majority of the things in this email pre-date the boomers, right? jeff47 Feb 2013 #64
Lots of places still have deposit bottles. nt DevonRex Feb 2013 #72
Not Coke or Pepsi jeff47 Feb 2013 #73
We have milk delivery. Good grief. Where do you live? nt DevonRex Feb 2013 #75
Upstate New York. jeff47 Feb 2013 #77
I found a site that lists all the dairies that deliver in glass bottles DevonRex Feb 2013 #207
"How To Return Your Coke Bottles" DevonRex Feb 2013 #80
Not a deposit container. jeff47 Feb 2013 #81
We have 'redemption centers' all over the place. PotatoChip Feb 2013 #198
Our returnables include Coke and Pepsi. PotatoChip Feb 2013 #196
Deposit bottles are thingx boomers know well pinboy3niner Feb 2013 #78
My point is the chain email above whitewashes the situation jeff47 Feb 2013 #84
That's total BS pinboy3niner Feb 2013 #89
You are utterly missing the key word: jeff47 Feb 2013 #124
I'd love to know where someone gets bottle washing xmas74 Feb 2013 #159
We have had to bring our own bags to the stores, all of them including Wal-Mart, since January in Cleita Feb 2013 #21
There is more to that ban than just plastic bags in the landfill marions ghost Feb 2013 #208
I don't have any problems with using them. I just would like to see the Cleita Feb 2013 #217
They don't think that way... marions ghost Feb 2013 #219
Cute, but apocryphal. WinkyDink Feb 2013 #28
Why not just say outright that it's fiction? Mariana Feb 2013 #197
Plus, the oldsters of today started the "green thing" Waiting For Everyman Feb 2013 #29
Grumpy Old Man gives his "rant of approval". bullwinkle428 Feb 2013 #31
Well done. I remember those day clearly DainBramaged Feb 2013 #40
While I normally don't like things that pit one generation against another. NCTraveler Feb 2013 #45
Nicely stated. Phentex Feb 2013 #46
All true. But another thing, our meat was packed in JDPriestly Feb 2013 #47
One thing about clotheslines VS. clothes dryers. And I hung out clothes as a kid. raccoon Feb 2013 #48
I'm 32 and never use a dryer tabbycat31 Feb 2013 #96
K&R one_voice Feb 2013 #51
The time line here needs to be noted. colorado_ufo Feb 2013 #54
I can remember using fountain pens until about my freshman year in high school. Raksha Feb 2013 #146
Nice Parkers and Sheaffers are beautiful. Manifestor_of_Light Feb 2013 #212
Great post and thanks for the razor blade suggestion DaveJ Feb 2013 #55
Probably. elleng Feb 2013 #57
There's a ton of them where the head is the only "disposable" part. jeff47 Feb 2013 #61
Yeah that occured to me. DaveJ Feb 2013 #67
Don't be too hard on glass bottles watoos Feb 2013 #60
It's still probably better to wash and reuse them Mariana Feb 2013 #95
Where's that theKed Feb 2013 #65
not only glurge but bullshit glurge dmallind Feb 2013 #66
This is both greatly enlightening and highly ironic. It is also appreciated. Egalitarian Thug Feb 2013 #68
Yes. Right. Thanks. elleng Feb 2013 #70
Nice rant - and I fully agree. Every damn thing is disposable now. Gorp Feb 2013 #79
How do I scoop the cat litter? HockeyMom Feb 2013 #82
I miss milk in bottles KauaiK Feb 2013 #87
And what nearby stream did the bleach and effluence from this AtheistCrusader Feb 2013 #88
Surely, you aren't suggesting that disposable containers are more eco-friendly? NYC_SKP Feb 2013 #90
Difficult to compare 1:1 AtheistCrusader Feb 2013 #91
We are a more wasteful and consumeristic society than ever before. NYC_SKP Feb 2013 #94
Not true dmallind Feb 2013 #199
That data set is incomplete. NYC_SKP Feb 2013 #204
From a younger person's POV tabbycat31 Feb 2013 #93
My fol0ks are in their 70's. Mariana Feb 2013 #98
Check out some other Boomers stories marions ghost Feb 2013 #210
Thereby proving again that the only people who forward friggin' chain emails are really old. Warren DeMontague Feb 2013 #97
How old is 'really old,' in your opinion??? elleng Feb 2013 #102
You hit the Bulls-Eye ! MadamYes Feb 2013 #99
Exactly right, about brown paper bags at the supermarket! elleng Feb 2013 #106
K & R good stuff, brought back memories. nt littlewolf Feb 2013 #110
K&R Carolina Feb 2013 #115
Divisive glurge Warpy Feb 2013 #120
+1 Hissyspit Feb 2013 #136
Post removed Post removed Feb 2013 #123
I'm old enough to remember every one of those features of life in the 1950s, Raksha Feb 2013 #125
"We didn't feel especially deprived or inconvenienced" = exactly. interesting that disposables etc HiPointDem Feb 2013 #132
Well, there are some things a stay-at-home mom can do more easily than one who works. Raksha Feb 2013 #148
the economic necessity is kind of related to the women's movement though. double the labor HiPointDem Feb 2013 #154
I really hope you are not suggesting that the women's movement is at fault for ... love_katz Feb 2013 #161
I'm suggesting that increasing the labor supply = wage reduction. It's not controversial. HiPointDem Feb 2013 #164
My issue with that stance is that it plays into the hands of the 1%... love_katz Feb 2013 #168
I get that it's absolutely a fact that the entry of women into the workforce in a major way HiPointDem Feb 2013 #174
Women are not responsible for the depression of wages. love_katz Feb 2013 #175
THANK YOU, love! elleng Feb 2013 #165
You're making me feel old Smll_Ax3 Feb 2013 #134
You young folks and your penicillin! Hissyspit Feb 2013 #140
I agree with all of this except the confrontational tone and a focus on inter-generational butt-hurt limpyhobbler Feb 2013 #144
My grocer wrote the bill with carbon paper & pencil fadedrose Feb 2013 #145
Big difference . . . Richard D Feb 2013 #151
one of my biggest peeves Texasgal Feb 2013 #157
Right, more planned obsolescence. elleng Feb 2013 #158
Message auto-removed year of the cat Feb 2013 #222
The problem with the 'throw-away' kind of products is... love_katz Feb 2013 #163
I get a little peeved, and a little puzzled when... love_katz Feb 2013 #166
Thanks AGAIN, love_. elleng Feb 2013 #169
More than welcome. love_katz Feb 2013 #170
I've really appreciated your 'rants' here; elleng Feb 2013 #171
Thank you for speaking out. Yes environmentalism started in the 60s. DevonRex Feb 2013 #203
Oh, bright blessings to you, and thank you. love_katz Feb 2013 #205
This 'green thing' mass email has been talked about on the Snopes forum since bike man Feb 2013 #172
Lost it's way at the end... bl968 Feb 2013 #173
I do have to point out a few things dsc Feb 2013 #176
yay! generational conflict! fishwax Feb 2013 #177
my grandpa was composting. victory garden since the war. pansypoo53219 Feb 2013 #178
We also burned trash in backyard incinerators, and drove gas-guzzling boats... VOX Feb 2013 #179
And most of those smartasses cartach Feb 2013 #180
Pandora Radio only lets me pass on a few songs each hour demwing Feb 2013 #183
Things seem better back then, the simpler life, for sure. But, disagree that it was all Laura PourMeADrink Feb 2013 #185
Very Good Post Angry Dragon Feb 2013 #186
I would love to go back to the days of paper packaging, glass jars and bottles, returnable sinkingfeeling Feb 2013 #187
The young clerk responded, JayhawkSD Feb 2013 #188
What was old is new again... Javaman Feb 2013 #189
The idea that the "green thing" is an individual's choice is the problem jcboon Feb 2013 #190
Whew +++++ FINALLY +++++ Bingo Bingo marions ghost Feb 2013 #213
And we wore an onion on our belt, because that was the fashion at the time... AngryAmish Feb 2013 #191
This is the only response to the OP that is worth anything ajk2821 Feb 2013 #200
Thank goodness the old days are gone. I'm 65 and I remembered when I worked and southernyankeebelle Feb 2013 #194
The discussion should be- We didn't have 7 billion people back then. Gregorian Feb 2013 #195
But the baby boomers were the ones that invented all that disposable trash. Kablooie Feb 2013 #201
An environmentally sensitive lifestyle is a frugal lifestyle. lumberjack_jeff Feb 2013 #214
Okay... jmowreader Feb 2013 #215
still she should bring reuseable bags and recycle everything ThomThom Feb 2013 #216
Riding mowers are not easy!!! Don't knock them. Glassunion Feb 2013 #218
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»'Checking out at the stor...»Reply #51