Entering the 21st Century [rant]
May. 7th, 2009 09:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
helwenIt's a common thing when talking about some modern piece of technology, to refer to joining (or not) the 21st century. I've said it myself, in regards to not having a cellphone, iPod, or any other handheld electronic device (well, we do have a multi-meter and some old calculators). I've seen modern tech referred to in this way in the media, and heard it in conversations and on tv.
By contrast, trying to live a more simple life -- recycling, gardening, wearing clothing for more than one year, cooking from scratch, etc. -- is often referred to by the media or by some pro-tech people as trying to go back to the 19th century, and that anyone who thinks that more folks should stop living "the American Dream" is promoting living in the Middle Ages, or even the Dark Ages. Because obviously we'll all forget about germ theory eh?
Now it's true that in the days before industrial expansion, that fewer people wasted resources. You had to have a lot of resources in order to be able to waste them, and before the discovery of steam power, coal and oil, most things cost too much for more people than the few rich to dispose of things carelessly. This change made it possible, for those who continued to be conservative of their resources, to significantly improve their lot, and for the adventurous to join the ranks of the rich. For the less conservative, it meant they could waste more resources than before. One of the good things about these times have been the monies directed at research in medicine, so please don't think I don't appreciate that there have been benefits to the current way of life!
As time went on, and many resources seemed limitless, a lot of folks in the West anyway, used more and more of those resources -- and those in the East are going down the same path if at all possible. But of course our resources aren't limitless.
And yet, unable to face that, the media often continues to call those who would live more modestly, backwards and trying to go back to the 19th century or earlier, which is impossible. And of course they're right that it's impossible, but it's a fact that folks like me are Not trying to go back in time. How can I? I'm living today, not then. My education is modern. My motivation for using fewer resources is not the same as the motivation of many 19th century folks. It isn't to "get ahead" or because I don't have the money to spend on, well, any number of things I'm sure. Nor am I anywhere as good at keeping within my budget as some of the best of those saving folks (we ate out way too many times this past week!).
I use technology obviously, since I'm blogging here. Nor am I saying that nobody should have cellphones or PDAs or whatever, if needed (although I'm not keen on large televisions). I'm just trying to use less of everything than before, so that other folks have a chance to use some of the resources as well. My mother says that more and more folks in her assisted living community are joining in this concern, that there should be resources left for future generations. They've been engaging in their own battles within their community to not overuse resources and now more of them are getting involved at a higher level. California's in pretty bad shape, so they can use all the help they can get.
So please don't say that my thoughts on what the future should be like are a call to go back in time. I'm tired of people saying that no one should use horses or oxen for farming because they use oodles of resources and besides he or she won't do it, so there. First, tractors and the like use a lot of resources as well and if oil cost what it should, I suspect the cost comparison would like quite different. Second, nobody said he or she has to do it.
We still use tractors here at the moment (or rather other people on the farm do, not me personally), because the equipment is here already. Should things get more costly however, that could change. A wise person doesn't say never about these sorts of things. Many folks, looking back on their pasts with open eyes, can see there are things that have happened that he or she never imagined would.
I think that many of the folks who call people like me crazy are concerned that somehow we'll bring down their way of life. Personally, I think some of them are doing a fine job on their own (Wall St. and the major banks, anyone?). But if I am contributing to bringing their way of life down, I'm having a hard time feeling bad about it. Poor babies, who can't get their pedicures, hair styling, and eating out at lots of 5-star restaurants anymore. Feh.
Living life with a little less padding around the edges, I think you can better appreciate what you have.
By contrast, trying to live a more simple life -- recycling, gardening, wearing clothing for more than one year, cooking from scratch, etc. -- is often referred to by the media or by some pro-tech people as trying to go back to the 19th century, and that anyone who thinks that more folks should stop living "the American Dream" is promoting living in the Middle Ages, or even the Dark Ages. Because obviously we'll all forget about germ theory eh?
Now it's true that in the days before industrial expansion, that fewer people wasted resources. You had to have a lot of resources in order to be able to waste them, and before the discovery of steam power, coal and oil, most things cost too much for more people than the few rich to dispose of things carelessly. This change made it possible, for those who continued to be conservative of their resources, to significantly improve their lot, and for the adventurous to join the ranks of the rich. For the less conservative, it meant they could waste more resources than before. One of the good things about these times have been the monies directed at research in medicine, so please don't think I don't appreciate that there have been benefits to the current way of life!
As time went on, and many resources seemed limitless, a lot of folks in the West anyway, used more and more of those resources -- and those in the East are going down the same path if at all possible. But of course our resources aren't limitless.
And yet, unable to face that, the media often continues to call those who would live more modestly, backwards and trying to go back to the 19th century or earlier, which is impossible. And of course they're right that it's impossible, but it's a fact that folks like me are Not trying to go back in time. How can I? I'm living today, not then. My education is modern. My motivation for using fewer resources is not the same as the motivation of many 19th century folks. It isn't to "get ahead" or because I don't have the money to spend on, well, any number of things I'm sure. Nor am I anywhere as good at keeping within my budget as some of the best of those saving folks (we ate out way too many times this past week!).
I use technology obviously, since I'm blogging here. Nor am I saying that nobody should have cellphones or PDAs or whatever, if needed (although I'm not keen on large televisions). I'm just trying to use less of everything than before, so that other folks have a chance to use some of the resources as well. My mother says that more and more folks in her assisted living community are joining in this concern, that there should be resources left for future generations. They've been engaging in their own battles within their community to not overuse resources and now more of them are getting involved at a higher level. California's in pretty bad shape, so they can use all the help they can get.
So please don't say that my thoughts on what the future should be like are a call to go back in time. I'm tired of people saying that no one should use horses or oxen for farming because they use oodles of resources and besides he or she won't do it, so there. First, tractors and the like use a lot of resources as well and if oil cost what it should, I suspect the cost comparison would like quite different. Second, nobody said he or she has to do it.
We still use tractors here at the moment (or rather other people on the farm do, not me personally), because the equipment is here already. Should things get more costly however, that could change. A wise person doesn't say never about these sorts of things. Many folks, looking back on their pasts with open eyes, can see there are things that have happened that he or she never imagined would.
I think that many of the folks who call people like me crazy are concerned that somehow we'll bring down their way of life. Personally, I think some of them are doing a fine job on their own (Wall St. and the major banks, anyone?). But if I am contributing to bringing their way of life down, I'm having a hard time feeling bad about it. Poor babies, who can't get their pedicures, hair styling, and eating out at lots of 5-star restaurants anymore. Feh.
Living life with a little less padding around the edges, I think you can better appreciate what you have.
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no subject
Date: 2009-05-07 02:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-07 02:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-07 02:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-07 02:45 pm (UTC)I know our system would not work for everyone everywhere, but it works well for us. The only downside is the flies in summer but there are solutions for that if it becomes a problem as well. We have no rats etc because there are no meat products permitted in the compost bins.
We also have a special recycling for electronics. Old computers, handhelds, phones etc are either refurbished and reused, or taken apart and the nasty bits removed. The plastics are recycled and the nasty bits are disposed of safely with other dangerous chemicals. You don't have to go backward to conserve precious resources, you just have to be careful how you use them and ensure that you get the best use you can out of each resource.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-08 12:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-08 12:18 pm (UTC)Hear, hear! I don't know about the penalties part in all towns, but we do have in some here. In our town, there's an annual fee for the transfer station (not too bad), no additional fee for recyclables, and a fee per bag for trash. We also have collection points for scrap metal, paint, and a couple of other things.