Why do some hate tree huggers (Texas, fuel, diesel, attic)
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My point was the immature additude and disresect for the law. It seems to be a theme in posts. I don't think trying to educate or reason with this particular poster will do any good. Just one opinion.
I know, I got your point. However, I do find it ironic that she bemoans the end result of the government's spending spree which is joined at the hip with the environmental movement. Just wait for cap and tax.
Lots of derogatory terms being thrown at people who have a respect for the planet and its environment,terms like tree huggers, eco terrorists, eco nazis,whacked out hippies etc. where did this attitude come from? Why would having concern for the well being of the planet we live on incur such hate and venom toward the people who do care? I dont get it
Well, speaking from personal experience alone, the words overbearing, obnoxious pains in MY a** come to mind. I am sooooo tired of the sense of entitlement that some have. I've encountered several trespassers here on the farm. One family had an armful of petrified wood , smoky quartz and other goodies that "belonged to the earth" and were going to take it home. Or so they thought... I was polite, gave them options ( drop it and leave, jail...). Had it not been for the 5 small children with them I would have let my dogs out of the truck. They left. 2 days later similar scenario. All had climbed over posted fences, after parking by the private property sign. I these tree-hugging lawbreakers were injured while doing this I would be sued and they would become eco-martyrs. If they want people to embrace their cause maybe they should change their methods.
Well, speaking from personal experience alone, the words overbearing, obnoxious pains in MY a** come to mind. I am sooooo tired of the sense of entitlement that some have. I've encountered several trespassers here on the farm. One family had an armful of petrified wood , smoky quartz and other goodies that "belonged to the earth" and were going to take it home. Or so they thought... I was polite, gave them options ( drop it and leave, jail...). Had it not been for the 5 small children with them I would have let my dogs out of the truck. They left. 2 days later similar scenario. All had climbed over posted fences, after parking by the private property sign. I these tree-hugging lawbreakers were injured while doing this I would be sued and they would become eco-martyrs. If they want people to embrace their cause maybe they should change their methods.
I'd put up a game camera and turn their backsides over to law enforcement for criminal trespass. But, that's just me. Poacher's often come back to vehicles that have all the air let out of the tires in my part of the country. It gives the sheriff or game warden more time to respond.
I'd put up a game camera and turn their backsides over to law enforcement for criminal trespass. But, that's just me. Poacher's often come back to vehicles that have all the air let out of the tires in my part of the country. It gives the sheriff or game warden more time to respond.
I think a load of rock salt in the rear end would be a good deterrent as well. I asked one of our county cops and he said 'NO'. Some people have no sense of humor.
Well, speaking from personal experience alone, the words overbearing, obnoxious pains in MY a** come to mind. I am sooooo tired of the sense of entitlement that some have. I've encountered several trespassers here on the farm. One family had an armful of petrified wood , smoky quartz and other goodies that "belonged to the earth" and were going to take it home. Or so they thought... I was polite, gave them options ( drop it and leave, jail...). Had it not been for the 5 small children with them I would have let my dogs out of the truck. They left. 2 days later similar scenario. All had climbed over posted fences, after parking by the private property sign. I these tree-hugging lawbreakers were injured while doing this I would be sued and they would become eco-martyrs. If they want people to embrace their cause maybe they should change their methods.
Those aren't environmentalists. I think the OP is talking about the defensiveness that so many people display when someone is living life differently than the status quo.
My dad STILL cannot get over the fact I'm a vegetarian, even though it's been 20 years, and several of my close friends are the same way. I don't give them any grief for eating meat, I'm not preachy, but so many of them feel a need to defend their lifestyle/attack mine it's funny/absurd.
My gut feeling is that people don't like the pangs of guilt that can accompany being around people who have made a commitment to change their behavior. I believe you lead by example, I can count at least a half dozen friends who have at least tried going vegetarian because they said they liked how healthy I seemed and that it must be a factor.
Those aren't environmentalists. I think the OP is talking about the defensiveness that so many people display when someone is living life differently than the status quo.
My dad STILL cannot get over the fact I'm a vegetarian, even though it's been 20 years, and several of my close friends are the same way. I don't give them any grief for eating meat, I'm not preachy, but so many of them feel a need to defend their lifestyle/attack mine it's funny/absurd.
My gut feeling is that people don't like the pangs of guilt that can accompany being around people who have made a commitment to change their behavior. I believe you lead by example, I can count at least a half dozen friends who have at least tried going vegetarian because they said they liked how healthy I seemed and that it must be a factor.
I think there are many people who want everyone to be just like them, and you'll always get the prod from those militant types to adhere to the status quo.
But, on the other hand, I think most people that have a problem with "tree huggers" have the problem for that exact same reason. Many of these tree huggers want everyone to be exactly like them--in effect redefining a new "status quo." At that point we are right back to an admittedly annoying basic human trait: that of wanting to force others to conform.
Until we get away from that annoying trait, we are going to have friction coming from both sides. And of course, this applies to many other issues as well. Personally, as soon as someone starts preaching to me, that's when I stop listening. I'm naturally a fairly "earth-friendly" type of person. I naturally consume far less than most people. I naturally see that our modern culture is inefficient, overconsumptive, and destructive to the environment in many ways. But I'll be damned if I'm ever going to allow myself to be identified with "tree huggers"--main reason is that I don't believe in the tyrannical practice of coerced conformity. Most "tree huggers" are all about forcing their views and agenda on others. In my mind it's a disservice to a cause that does have some merit. It's a pity that many folks think they have to jam a cause down everyone else's throat. It never works.
As for vegetarianism--that's fine by me. I don't care... nor should I. It's not my decision. Likewise, what I eat shouldn't be anyone else's decision. I'm not big on vegetables and dislike almost all fruit. I'm huge on grains, potatoes, rice, breads, and that sort of thing. Meat... well, I'm pretty indifferent. I don't go out of my way to eat meat, but if it's there, I'll eat it. My "grain-centric" diet must work for me, since I haven't been to a doctor in at least 15 years and only a couple of times in the past 30 years. And never to the hospital (other than a badly cut finger that got stitched) in my entire adult life.
Is there such a thing as a "grainitarian"? If so, I'd be proud to be counted among the ranks. We've shunned that nasty fruit... Well, okay, I DO like blueberries... and apricots.
Location: Visitation between Wal-Mart & Home Depot
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chi-town Native
Those aren't environmentalists. I think the OP is talking about the defensiveness that so many people display when someone is living life differently than the status quo.
My dad STILL cannot get over the fact I'm a vegetarian, even though it's been 20 years, and several of my close friends are the same way. I don't give them any grief for eating meat, I'm not preachy, but so many of them feel a need to defend their lifestyle/attack mine it's funny/absurd.
My gut feeling is that people don't like the pangs of guilt that can accompany being around people who have made a commitment to change their behavior. I believe you lead by example, I can count at least a half dozen friends who have at least tried going vegetarian because they said they liked how healthy I seemed and that it must be a factor.
That seems a little egocentric. I know well the phenomenon you are describing and I think that most of the time it is less related to guilt or shame and more related to simple misunderstanding and/or cultural disconnect. Your dad probably has some preconceived notions about diet and, particularly, vegetarians that stem from his generational culture and experience over the years. If you are in fact a non-preachy, non-judgemental, educated vegetarian who is confident in his dietary discipline, then your dad is unlikely to be guilted by his dietary choices and more likely concerned that his son is "one of those California hippies" that he has somehow associated with a vegetarian lifestyle. It's not his fault, he's slowly turning into a dinosaur just like you and I will.
If you are a wild-eyed, frothing, ethical vegan who decries the evil, planet-killing folly that is the global beef industry - then your dad still isn't likely to be guilted over his dietary choices.
By the way, you're right - those aren't environmentalists
*EDIT*Note: I fully recognize that there is nothing about choosing a vegan lifestyle that predisposes one to frothing, wild-eyedness, preaching, decrying or anything that could be interpreted as judgemental conduct, speech or thought. No offense was intended to anyone unless you are an actual wild-eyed, frothing, decrying, diet nazi who hates me.
Last edited by jimboburnsy; 07-16-2010 at 10:33 AM..
Reason: Disclaim, disclaim, disclaim!
If someones beliefs are supporting the ending of an activity that puts money in the pockets of others there is bound to be some friction between those people. This is what's at the crux of the entire environmental debate. Very few would argue the merits of any action taken by the so called environmentalists if money or self interests of some kind weren't at stake. There really is no debate over the environment per se, it's about the money not the trees or wildlife. As far as using terms like "eco terrorist", it would be less than honest not to include those who are engaged in the "extractive" industries when using such terms. We are all involved with our environment when we breathe, eat, work or are engaged in any activity that puts us in the realm of nature. The constant arguing over who has the right to protect or utilize the natural resources is tiresome and non productive, we all should find ways to use what nature provides without advocating for the overuse of any of our resources.
A lot of what happens on our planet is ultimately up to the human to regulate, failing to do so has already had some not so desirable consequences, urban sprawl and it's traffic comes to mind, as does many other things that we collectively complain about. I live in logging country and it is a common sight to see the signs that proclaim "this family supported by timber dollars", now these folks surely must understand that the rambunctious cutting of our national forests has led to the possibility of unsustainable employment being the eventual outcome of such policies, but they don't take that long view of things, and therefore become allies in their own demise.
The idea of tree farming was started here in Washington state, to drive by the areas of clear cutting is to see the ultimate damage done by an industrial method of resource extraction, it aint pretty. Mining is another sector of resource extraction that looks pretty gruesome at times, very few would choose to live in these areas of industry that do so much damage to the land, those that do are inevitably drawn to the monetary aspects of these industries and become advocates of the methods used therein. The fact that our survival is tied to the things that nature provides should make environmentalists of us all, and there is room at the table for even the most extreme views, extremist and terrorist were the tags used by the Royal Brits to describe the colonists who advocated for a different political paradigm, when the earth no longer can stand the weight of this huge human population it will respond in ways that make the deeds of the so called eco terrorists seem tame.
I'm naturally a fairly "earth-friendly" type of person. I naturally consume far less than most people. I naturally see that our modern culture is inefficient, overconsumptive, and destructive to the environment in many ways.
So without verbally advocating your way of life to others what do you think when some people call you a "tree hugger" due to your earth friendly lifestyle?
Those aren't environmentalists. I think the OP is talking about the defensiveness that so many people display when someone is living life differently than the status quo.
My dad STILL cannot get over the fact I'm a vegetarian, even though it's been 20 years, and several of my close friends are the same way. I don't give them any grief for eating meat, I'm not preachy, but so many of them feel a need to defend their lifestyle/attack mine it's funny/absurd.
My gut feeling is that people don't like the pangs of guilt that can accompany being around people who have made a commitment to change their behavior. I believe you lead by example, I can count at least a half dozen friends who have at least tried going vegetarian because they said they liked how healthy I seemed and that it must be a factor.
A true environmentalist probably would not have behaved in that manner. We're not talking about them though. Tree huggers need more attention. As for guilt, gimme a break. Chances are my lifestyle is far more green than theirs. The only utility we use is electricity, when we go into town we run as many errands as possible instead of making multiple trips, I grow and can most of our vegetables pesticide free and we recycle most everything we can. It's just that some people have no respect for boundaries and they think that being 'tree huggers' should give them free access. Well,I have 3 dogs and a 30-30 that say otherwise. I also have the sheriff on speed dial and the game warden's home number.
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