jato0072 wrote:I know plenty of idiots that drive hybrid cars and recycle cans but still fly all over the country and the world several times a year.
^ This ^
I have seen many "environmental" hypocrites, but never a true believer who lives what they preach. They have to be out there somewhere, but very rare. Yes, I am "selfish". Other then the huge taxes, I rarely give away my resources to strangers. If it is legal, I can afford it and I want to do it, I make it happen. I am just following my human programming. Shame away if you must, I can take it.
I get the "frownie face" from friends of mine (a couple), for (for example) buying plastic forks in bulk. Like 1000 heavy duty forks (which don't break unless you're really careless) for maybe $35 on Amazon.
And this saves me washing 1000 forks, the water, the soap, processing that water and soap by some govt. mandated facility, and annoying my often sore wrist/hand joints. (Being single, I don't waste the resources to have a dishwasher).
And yet, between them, they drive nearly TEN times as much as I do, and they fly often and all over the world for vacations, whereas I never fly, and I live in a house which is less than half as big as theirs, and am far more careful re A/C and heating use, re living with slightly uncomfortable temps and dressing for the temp.
But somehow I'm the "bad guy", because I do one thing differently than they would. And they don't have 40 years + of painful inflammatory joint issues (which the doctor's can't diagnose, despite my having spent plenty to have them run tests) and resulting sleepless nights, etc. to compare to my primary reason for that decision.
At some point, more empathy, even for positions you might have an initial knee-jerk aversion to, might make sense. For everyone, including myself. But being human, it's apparently, generally, hard to admit that.
Given the track record of the perma-doomer blogs, I wouldn't bet a fast crash doomer's money on their predictions.