Special offer

We Didn't Have The "Green Thing" Way Back When

By
Real Estate Agent with Assoc. Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, Broker/Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Huntsville AL

We Didn't Have The "Green Thing" Way Back When

I recently received this from my buddy Kenny up in Chicago and it does present another way of looking at the past and current trends in going "Green".  I'm not getting up on my soap box, but the next time someone slaps me in the face about me not being "Green" enough or the problems I left them to deal with, I'll get their email and send them this.

 

How Wasteful the Older Generation Was ... 

 

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?

Nick T Pappas

 

If you need a knowledgeable real estate professional in Madison Alabama or Huntsville Alabama area, why don't you let me Google that for you! I also know outstanding agents in all states and Canada should you need help relocating to a new area.

Posted by


Comments (9)

Jackie Connelly-Fornuff
Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Babylon NY - Babylon, NY
"Moving at The Speed of YOU!"

We didn't have a lot of things back then like we do today: seat belt law, smoking in public/indoors, no computers/internet, no cell phones, rode our bikes without helmets. The list goes on and on doesn't it Nick? :)

Jun 12, 2011 10:16 AM
Nick T Pappas
Assoc. Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, Broker/Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Huntsville AL - Huntsville, AL
Madison & Huntsville Alabama Real Estate Resource

Jackie-no we didn't and I know that it's a mixed bag, but the older generation doesn't have the corner on what's wrong with us today.

Jun 12, 2011 10:27 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Great post. Just goes to show.....

Jun 12, 2011 10:34 AM
Brian Madigan
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage (Toronto) - Toronto, ON
LL.B., Broker

Nick,

very good post and extremely well written. And, I apopreciate your sarcasm.

Brian

Jun 12, 2011 01:26 PM
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

I got this email today, too, and sent it to everyone I know...some seriously great points!

Jun 12, 2011 04:16 PM
Laura Giannotta
Keller Williams Realty - Atlantic Shore - Little Egg Harbor, NJ
Your Realtor Down the Shore!

Excellent Nick, some very good points here and all so true!

Jun 12, 2011 10:03 PM
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Hi Nick, reading this, I'm not sure whether I should think it's good or bad that I can actually relate to all of these things from personal experience.. :-) 

Jun 13, 2011 01:04 AM
Al & Peggy Cunningham, Brokers
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage - Brampton, ON
Our Family Wants To Help Your Family!

Wow, perfect!! And back then we didn't have paper towels and disposable floor wipes either! Look at all the ways we can help now Nick!

Jun 14, 2011 01:36 PM
Nick T Pappas
Assoc. Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, Broker/Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Huntsville AL - Huntsville, AL
Madison & Huntsville Alabama Real Estate Resource

Sheila-yep I thought it was interesting.

Brian-good, so few people appreciate sarcasm...I actually wallow in it sometimes.

Susan-I thought there were some good points that shouldn't just go by the way side.  As our life style changes it obviously must impact us in some way.

Laura-thanks and since I've been around for a while I certainly can vouch for most of the points made.

Al & Peggy-sure there are lots of ways...I know the issue with disposable diapers is a big problem...that would be a great place to start.

Jun 15, 2011 10:22 AM