How Wasteful the Older Generation Was ...

[HatchA]

Was sent this by a friend and thought it'd be appreciated here...

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?

[NTD]

I have to say that when I first read the title you pissed me off LOL

I Like! 

Greenyism is more style over substance IMO.

[skyarrow]

Well sed amigo  i try to do alot of those things that are listed I walk to work I shave with a safety razor that was made in the 60s and use a shaving mugg and when traveling I have a 1924 travel safety razor set,  I live of the land and ect.... people from my generation not all but most don't understand that we are the wasteful ones not our ancestor. I hate that I was raised in a throw away world but atleast I can make a difference in my little neck of the woods my wife even crouches bags out of the plastic grocery bags why spend the money on buying there socalled green bags that break when yo can turn the so called wasteful bags I to a sturdy bag buy turnin it into a yearn at hooking I well  ttyl




Sterling
 

[gstoneberg]

Sterling, I didn't think you shaved?

Very insightful.  Loved it when I went to visit my wife (when she was my girlfriend in High School) because they didn't get their milk from a store in bottles.  They walked out to the barn and scooped it up out of the bulk tank.  Good stuff.  Made the best ice cream ever.

Don't get me wrong, some of today's conveniences are...well...convenient.  Some are just plain wasteful.

George

[Polar Bear]

Back in the 60's when I was a young teenager I had a girlfriend that lived 12 miles away.  If I wanted to see her on weekends or during summer vacation I had to jump on my bicycle.  If the weather turned particularly bad mom or dad might come and get me and the bike but generally it was pedal regardless of the conditions.  A good half of that distance was on back country roads.  I wish I still had those strong legs.

[Denham Archer]

Excellent post!  Spot on!

[Buckeye Guy]

Ataboy (slang for good job)

I could add a few hundred more  like like water pumps , rain barrels , eating the whole critter ( oxtail soup, tongue etc ) but it looks like you have the Idea all ready!!

Good for ya glad to see some younger folks using their head for something other than a hat rack !!!

[skyarrow]

Sterling, I didn't think you shaved?

Very insightful.  Loved it when I went to visit my wife (when she was my girlfriend in High School) because they didn't get their milk from a store in bottles.  They walked out to the barn and scooped it up out of the bulk tank.  Good stuff.  Made the best ice cream ever.

Don't get me wrong, some of today's conveniences are...well...convenient.  Some are just plain wasteful.

George

Haha well I normally shave but I  decided to grow a beard since iv never had one it's pretty cool but il prolly shave it off soon my wife hates it she says it's rubs her in the wrong spots lol she like the goat T and mutton chops but not the beard lol

[criveraville]

Jorge, Sterling is probably talking about shaving his legs

[El Destructo]

Hatch...I hope that you don't mind...but I FB'd this post....it really hit Home with me....

[HatchA]

LOL @ Sterling's legs.

El D, I don't mind at all pal.  Glad it's appreciated

[HatchA]

LOL @ Sterling's legs.

El D, I don't mind at all pal.  Glad it's appreciated

[Grunt]

Back then a family of four could get by on one persons salary. Not now. My grandmother wanted a chicken for Sunday supper she got out the hatchet. They had lots and lots of green but the green didn't have a name. It just was.

[ibuildforhim]

I can remember spending summers  with my grandparents around Dale Hollow Lake Tenn. they were farmers and didn't have much of anything.But I do remember my grandmother would make only one big meal at breakfast and the leftovers is what we ate for dinner.I miss those summers.

[HatchA]

They had lots and lots of green but the green didn't have a name. It just was.

I like that...