Comments on: Eco-Bitch?

By: sustainelaine

sustainelaine — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:38:43 +0000

We all have loving, generous thoughts and vile, hateful judgments about other people’s behavior. How often do you enable that filter that sits between your brain and your mouth? I find I make no progress to change other people’s behavior when I let the hateful judgments out. Isn’t changing other people’s behavior the point of being frustrated about the state of the environment? Do you ever suggest an alternative that will have a benefit for the other person? Or just try to model eco-conscious behavior for others? Like “I don’t need a bag. I’ll just throw this in my purse.”

By: The Green Cat

The Green Cat — Tue, 20 May 2008 20:27:46 +0000

Whoops, I meant the trash bin is NEXT TO the recycle bin!

By: The Green Cat

The Green Cat — Tue, 20 May 2008 20:27:23 +0000

I hear you sister! It’s all I can do sometimes to NOT reprimand my co-workers who toss aluminum cans into the trash bin which is NEXT TO the garbage can.

By: N.

N. — Tue, 20 May 2008 01:49:05 +0000

I actually own the flip book that that cover comes from and display the less offensive ones at work. I realize that I can be btchy and having it on my desk reminds me to be less judgmental and have more fun.

By: CindyW

CindyW — Tue, 20 May 2008 00:55:46 +0000

I judge in my head quite a lot. I think it is harmless, but am not so sure.

We all judge in various areas, not limited to the environmental issues. One day I threw a rotten grape into the bushes in front me in the playground. A mom said to me, “you are setting a bad example for the kids.” I got mad because I thought it was better to let the grape bio-degraded than landfilled. And the nerve she had to lecture me!

But she was right – kids wouldn’t know the difference between throwing a grape into the bushes or throwing a plastic bottle there.

So I explained to her my thought process. She actually agreed that it was a good point and that she never thought of that.

So we both arrive to some sort of middle ground.

I think judging others and feeling superior are unnecessarily and ineffectively, but telling someone the reason(s) behind your comment maybe educational. Perhaps they just never thought about it.

Case by case?

By: Beany

Beany — Mon, 19 May 2008 22:18:28 +0000

The picture looks retro-y. I guess blue eye shadow was in vogue in the past as well?

By: Beany

Beany — Mon, 19 May 2008 22:17:03 +0000

I am quite the judgemental bitch too and I ride the high horse quite often (hee haw!).

I was recently judging a well dressed woman at the farmers market for using food stamps then found that she was working for cityyear and thus received a tiny stipend for living expenses. I was ashamed of myself. Thankfully I keep my mouth shut. Although I’d be mortified if people could read my mind.

I do think about how its been a journey for me as well. My cooking during the first year of marriage was boiling a pot of spaghetti and dumping tomato sauce on it. Now I cook everything from scratch and don’t judge those who buy much processed foods or buy ready made food or eat like I used to. I am trying to lead by example though in the hopes that I can finally be a trend-for-life setter.

By: eco 'burban mom

eco 'burban mom — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:23:24 +0000

Considering I bought actual paper plates over the weekend for my hubby’s 40th Bday, I am shamed into bitchiness-submission! )

By: Jen

Jen — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:33:56 +0000

I like to tell myself that it’s ok for me to be an eco-bitch because I’m even an eco-bitch to myself but the truth is I hate that I do it even as the judgment is running through my head or coming out of my mouth.
Jen, whose beer is from Belgium, still leaves the tv on when she leaves the room, and who hasn’t done a damn thing to figure out water usage or how to reduce it. Not to mention the new clothes I seem to keep buying.

By: organicneedle

organicneedle — Mon, 19 May 2008 12:33:59 +0000

Arduous…if I began to list all of the things in my life that are not perfectly eco-friendly there would be a power outage. Somehow I manage to rationalize the things I really want to do no matter what but seem to have no problem judging others for doing the same. A work in progress I guess.

Allie- I agree it is hard for the simple things. But honestly…I am discovering “simple” things everyday that I could be doing better. I must say Duhhhhhhhhh to myself at least 30 times a day.

I am really going to keep the eco-bitch in check. Nothing turns people off more to new ideas than a bad case of know-it-allism.