Shamu Posted August 2, 2011 Member ID: 715 Group: **- Inactive Registered Users Followers: 8 Topic Count: 418 Topics Per Day: 0.07 Content Count: 2178 Content Per Day: 0.38 Reputation: 1183 Achievement Points: 16606 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 1 Joined: 11/09/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 2, 2023 Birthday: 11/04/1943 Posted August 2, 2011 The Green Thing In the line at the store, thecashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags becauseplastic bags weren't good for the environment. The woman apologized to him andexplained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my day." The clerk responded, "That's our problem today.Your generation did not care enough to save our environment." He was right -- our generationdidn't have the green thing in its day. Back then, we returned milkbottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them backto the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the samebottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the greenthing back in our day. We walked up stairs, because wedidn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to thegrocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we hadto go two blocks. But she was right. We didn'thave the green thing in our day. Back then, we washed the baby'sdiapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line,not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar powerreally did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothersor sisters, not always brand-new clothing But that old lady is right; we didn'thave the green thing back in our day. Back then, we had one TV, orradio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screenthe size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the stateof Montana. In the kitchen, we blended andstirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything forus. When we packaged a fragile itemto send in the mail, we used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, notStyrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up anengine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran onhuman power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health clubto run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right; we didn't havethe green thing back then. We drank from a fountain when wewere thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had adrink of water. We refilled writing pens withink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razorinstead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn'thave the green thing back then. Back then, people took thestreetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead ofturning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet ina room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And wedidn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.. But isn'tit sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were justbecause we didn't have the green thing back then? Pleaseforward this on to another selfish old person who needs a lesson inconservation from a smartass young person. The GreenThing
baldie Posted August 2, 2011 Member ID: 607 Group: *** Clan Members Followers: 76 Topic Count: 246 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 3367 Content Per Day: 0.59 Reputation: 2718 Achievement Points: 34252 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 12 Joined: 10/21/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: Tuesday at 08:25 PM Birthday: 09/16/1966 Device: Windows Posted August 2, 2011 SHAMU that is so true mate nice one Awards
sabreeyes Posted August 3, 2011 Member ID: 1642 Group: **- Inactive Registered Users Followers: 22 Topic Count: 72 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 900 Content Per Day: 0.17 Reputation: 241 Achievement Points: 6952 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 08/05/10 Status: Offline Last Seen: June 3, 2016 Birthday: 07/30/1958 Posted August 3, 2011 good one
TBB Posted August 3, 2011 Member ID: 989 Group: *** Clan Members Followers: 25 Topic Count: 290 Topics Per Day: 0.05 Content Count: 20436 Content Per Day: 3.65 Reputation: 22495 Achievement Points: 147666 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 392 Joined: 01/07/10 Status: Offline Last Seen: 3 hours ago Birthday: 01/27/1946 Device: Windows Posted August 3, 2011 Right on! Awards
Masterlixx Posted August 3, 2011 Member ID: 285 Group: *** Clan Members Followers: 3 Topic Count: 69 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 290 Content Per Day: 0.05 Reputation: 20 Achievement Points: 2204 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 09/06/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: April 7 Birthday: 11/04/1965 Device: Windows Posted August 3, 2011 Yup those were the good old days.. although i have to admit the diaper thing wouldnt have been my choice a few years ago with my 6 year old. Awards
Merlin007 Posted August 3, 2011 Member ID: 2068 Group: +++ COD5 Head Admin Followers: 71 Topic Count: 1127 Topics Per Day: 0.21 Content Count: 8583 Content Per Day: 1.64 Reputation: 7548 Achievement Points: 76573 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 67 Joined: 12/25/10 Status: Offline Last Seen: 2 hours ago Birthday: 05/23/1973 Device: Windows Posted August 3, 2011 Nice post Shamu. A lot of truth in there. Awards
NickTheGrip Posted August 3, 2011 Member ID: 177 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 16 Topic Count: 145 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 1669 Content Per Day: 0.29 Reputation: 281 Achievement Points: 10581 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 1 Joined: 09/02/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: June 27, 2023 Birthday: 05/08/1961 Posted August 3, 2011 Definitely true Awards
Shamu Posted August 3, 2011 Member ID: 715 Group: **- Inactive Registered Users Followers: 8 Topic Count: 418 Topics Per Day: 0.07 Content Count: 2178 Content Per Day: 0.38 Reputation: 1183 Achievement Points: 16606 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 1 Joined: 11/09/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 2, 2023 Birthday: 11/04/1943 Author Posted August 3, 2011 I sort of got a kick out of it because I made a lot of spending money returning used soda bottles to the store for the bottle refund. Well, it was a lot from a kid's point of view.
JohnnyDos Posted August 3, 2011 Member ID: 77 Group: Fallen Members Followers: 111 Topic Count: 1018 Topics Per Day: 0.18 Content Count: 7527 Content Per Day: 1.31 Reputation: 9175 Achievement Points: 69486 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 47 Joined: 09/02/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: January 8, 2020 Posted August 3, 2011 Oh yeah Shamu that's how I got some spending money myself.Collecting and returning pop bottles.I actually did and see all the things you mentioned in your post.We even had a milk man who delivered milk from a horse drawn cart filled with ice to keep the milk ,butter and eggs fresh.Actually were good times a lot less hectic and easier to keep your sanity.Great post Shamu.
deerejon Posted August 3, 2011 Member ID: 842 Group: *** Clan Members Followers: 62 Topic Count: 278 Topics Per Day: 0.05 Content Count: 3715 Content Per Day: 0.66 Reputation: 3153 Achievement Points: 28472 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 4 Joined: 12/06/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: Yesterday at 07:57 PM Birthday: 05/04/1965 Device: Windows Posted August 3, 2011 JohnnyDos We even had a milk man who delivered milk from a horse drawn cart filled with ice to keep the milk ,butter and eggs fresh.Actually were good times a lot less hectic and easier to keep your sanity.Great post Shamu. How OLD are you??? lol... Shamu...all true man....I often worry that this latest generation is the one thats going to take "care" of me whan I am old..... Awards
Hunter1948 Posted August 3, 2011 Member ID: 1850 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 98 Topic Count: 328 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 8620 Content Per Day: 1.62 Reputation: 4222 Achievement Points: 55994 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 5 Joined: 09/29/10 Status: Offline Last Seen: November 29, 2023 Birthday: 06/19/1948 Posted August 3, 2011 JohnnyDos Oh yeah Shamu that's how I got some spending money myself.Collecting and returning pop bottles.I actually did and see all the things you mentioned in your post.We even had a milk man who delivered milk from a horse drawn cart filled with ice to keep the milk ,butter and eggs fresh.Actually were good times a lot less hectic and easier to keep your sanity.Great post Shamu. Me to +1 Awards
DEEJAYKEG Posted August 3, 2011 Member ID: 1238 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 35 Topic Count: 1207 Topics Per Day: 0.22 Content Count: 6083 Content Per Day: 1.10 Reputation: 4985 Achievement Points: 50728 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 11 Joined: 03/12/10 Status: Offline Last Seen: April 11, 2024 Posted August 3, 2011 An interesting piece of creative writing comparing the "good" old days with modern times, certainly. I guess we shall have to overlook the burning of fossil fuels in our homes to heat them rather than the energy-efficient combi boilers of today. Likewise, we'll ignore the tons of lead spewed into the atmosphere by 1950s and 1960s vintage motor transport before the advent of unleaded petrol (gasoline). I always thanked the previous generation for their biggest "gift" to the world - radioactivity - as that is a gift that doesn't go away during ones lifetime. I don't know about recycling efforts across the Atlantic but nearly everything we use in the house, these days, gets recycled and we have a collection of bins and boxes outside to hold the material until it's collected. Even food waste gets composted now. Awards
JohnnyDos Posted August 3, 2011 Member ID: 77 Group: Fallen Members Followers: 111 Topic Count: 1018 Topics Per Day: 0.18 Content Count: 7527 Content Per Day: 1.31 Reputation: 9175 Achievement Points: 69486 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 47 Joined: 09/02/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: January 8, 2020 Posted August 3, 2011 JohnnyDos Oh yeah Shamu that's how I got some spending money myself.Collecting and returning pop bottles.I actually did and see all the things you mentioned in your post.We even had a milk man who delivered milk from a horse drawn cart filled with ice to keep the milk ,butter and eggs fresh.Actually were good times a lot less hectic and easier to keep your sanity.Great post Shamu. I am younger than Shamu and 1 of my sons is the same age as Rugger.I will be 60 this DEC.I know it's the milk truck thing.That was in the 50's LOL
NickTheGrip Posted August 3, 2011 Member ID: 177 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 16 Topic Count: 145 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 1669 Content Per Day: 0.29 Reputation: 281 Achievement Points: 10581 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 1 Joined: 09/02/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: June 27, 2023 Birthday: 05/08/1961 Posted August 3, 2011 DEEJAYKEG An interesting piece of creative writing comparing the "good" old days with modern times, certainly. I guess we shall have to overlook the burning of fossil fuels in our homes to heat them rather than the energy-efficient combi boilers of today. Likewise, we'll ignore the tons of lead spewed into the atmosphere by 1950s and 1960s vintage motor transport before the advent of unleaded petrol (gasoline). I always thanked the previous generation for their biggest "gift" to the world - radioactivity - as that is a gift that doesn't go away during ones lifetime. I don't know about recycling efforts across the Atlantic but nearly everything we use in the house, these days, gets recycled and we have a collection of bins and boxes outside to hold the material until it's collected. Even food waste gets composted now. Recycling in the US is a joke at the best of times, regardless of what people think. I saw a statistic a few years ago that the entire country of Germany (West Germany at the time) makes less non-recyclable waste as one medium sized US city. There are 81 million people in Germany, and a medium sized city in the US is less than 1 million people Awards
Shamu Posted August 3, 2011 Member ID: 715 Group: **- Inactive Registered Users Followers: 8 Topic Count: 418 Topics Per Day: 0.07 Content Count: 2178 Content Per Day: 0.38 Reputation: 1183 Achievement Points: 16606 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 1 Joined: 11/09/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 2, 2023 Birthday: 11/04/1943 Author Posted August 3, 2011 I will be the first to admit that we here in the states are terrible recyclers. I do try my best but even at my house it is a chore to keep my guests from just throwing recyclable material in the regular trash. Shame of it is our trash collectors have made real easy. Before we needed to separate glass, plastic and paper, now we can just put it all into one recycle container and they sort it out at the facility. There is just no excuse not to recycle.
MooseBird Posted August 9, 2011 Member ID: 2107 Group: **- Inactive Registered Users Followers: 1 Topic Count: 7 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 69 Content Per Day: 0.01 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 417 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/07/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: March 7, 2012 Birthday: 09/13/1950 Posted August 9, 2011 So true, and we were very happy.
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