Ten Worst Items Polluting Our Planet

I found a very interesting article/guide:

https://www.almostzerowaste.com/polluting-items/

from Zero Waste:

https://www.almostzerowaste.com/

That gives lots of food for thought on what should become a list of priorities for World Cleanup and where we need to focus on development of healthier alternatives—some solutions already exist, we should start implementing them now. We should all spread the word and do whatever we can within our spheres of influence to move faster on producing as close to non polluting items as possible.

Quote by Ironic

Many of the eco-alternatives don't easily fit into my work schedule. but the reusable water has worked for me for more than a year now.

looking at the suggestions and i don't see anything that would require cutting into a work schedule - i mean, should i just translate this as 'i don't care enough about our planet to bother doing anything about pollution'? honestly, most of these suggestions are really easy.

for example - buy a couple of reusable straws. keep one in your car, one in your house.

when you go shopping and you're buying veggies, bring mesh veggie bags - you can buy them in grocery stores and reuse them over end over instead of putting veggies in plastic bags - way easier to do, too - those plastic bags are a pain https://www.altcookinghub.com/products/reusable-produce-bags?variant=31480230674474&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_campaign=gs-2019-09-20&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign&gclid=CjwKCAjw04yjBhApEiwAJcvNoXR-dHmqfcvF9QWRIxWafK9NQ1LEHQeNi3QNZ0cb59VB9Z1-_IJHvBoC9XIQAvD_BwE

Quote by Ironic

Maybe it works for you, but it's not practical for me to bring reusable containers or stainless steel coffee mugs to the different locations where I work. So, no, you shouldn't 'just translate this as 'i don't care enough about our planet to bother doing anything about pollution'." You shouldn't jump to conclusions.

why not? how do you get to those sites? if you drive, just keep them in your car. if you use other means of transportation, a small backpacks work.

And yes, before you ask, we've been doing a lot of these things for years and once you get used to it, it's actually pretty painless and easy.

Quote by Ironic

I'm sure you think you've got all the answers, even though you know nothing about my work life.

nope. i don't have all the answers. so, tell me about your work life. what about it makes it impossible to so, oh, like 3 of these things. not all of them. 3. hell, the mesh bags i suggested doesn't even cut into your work life. it's something you could do when you shop for groceries. zero work. simply bring your own bags for groceries and some mesh bags for produce. they don't take up much room. i just shove them in my purse when we go.

Quote by Ironic

As you're aware, I do some, too, just not all the ones you want me to.

has nothing to do with what i want you to do. has everything to do with doing what you can to protect our home planet and leave it in better shape for everyone else and those who come after. like i said, just pick three -you already do the water thing, you said. 3 more besides that.

i will even help you out. buy the mesh bags - i put up a link, but it's not the only place you can get them. carry a metal straw in your car and a couple of sets of cheap silverware - keep them in the glove box or something. there, that's 3. see? i really am trying to help

Quote by Ironic

Actually, I do use reusable shopping bags. Not mesh, but cloth. Insulated for the cold items.

cool - now, do you use the plastic bags they supply for your produce?

this is why we should all try to cut down on plastic, btw - the pacific ocean + plastic =

Quote by Ironic

Different people do what they do using their personal priorities. Nobody knows anybody else's priorities better than the others. I don't feel a need to virtue signal to anybody since that's not one of my priorities.

so your priorities don't include trying to find ways to pollute less. got it. and i don't think it's virtual signaling to try to take care of issues with effect EVERYone living on our planet. if that's what you think this is, ok.

Quote by Ironic

The interrogation is now over.

shrugs if that's what you think this is, that's on you. listen to suggestions or close your ears and ignore the issues.

Quote by Ironic

^^^ That's ^^^ true!

so.. don't you want to try to not add to it, just a little?

Quote by Ironic

You already know I do. Just not as much as you want me to.

no i don't. here is what you said.

Many of the eco-alternatives don't easily fit into my work schedule. but the reusable water has worked for me for more than a year now.

i came in and give you a bunch of ideas, but you said that most of those don't fit into your work schedule (here's a link to collapsible and reusable metal straws, btw, that you can carry on a belt look or in your pocket).

https://www.amazon.com/Funbiz-Reusable-Collapsible-Stainless-Telescopic/dp/B086D7Z5SD?th=1

Quote by Ironic

That's how you come off.

to you, perhaps, and to anyone else who doesn't care enough to try to make a difference. i'm okay with that. i don't have time to be nicer about it these days. maybe it won't convince you to do anything more, but someone else reading might go... hmm.. mesh bags. i didn't know you could get those. and the metal straws. yeah, neat. YOU will either try harder or not - i have no control over that. i may come of as virtue signaling, but at least no one can say i don't care. can you say the same?

Quote by Ironic

Yes, that's right. Many of them don't. The ones that do, I do.

which ones don't?

Quote by Ironic

Since I do try, you've got no reason to give me a hard time, which is what your interrogation has been. Yes, you aren't nice, but your lack of time doesn't justify being unpleasant to other people.

Since you know I try, you know I care. Just not the way you think I should.

how am i being unpleasant? just because you don't like what i have to say?

Quote by Ironic

I told you the interrogation's over.

aww. the old 'i can't justify it so i'm just not going to answer it' line. you've been taking lessens from Crysesist.

Quote by Ironic

Also sprite:

" i don't have time to be nicer about it these days."

You'll probably have more success in getting results if you stop giving people who don't share your opinions a hard time.

i didn't say "nice". I said "nicer". i think i'm plenty nice. sure, i could sweet talk you into doing the right thing, but sometimes guilt is a great motivator too, and it really didn't sound like anything i said was going to give you any kind of a push to change your behavior - and when you find yourself tilting at windmills, you just kind of stop trying to be diplomatic.

Quote by Ironic

Also sprite:

" i don't have time to be nicer about it these days."

You'll probably have more success in getting results if you stop giving people who don't share your opinions a hard time.

if you shared my opinions, you probably wouldn't have copped out with "my work schedule doesn't allow me to do most of those things'. news for you - my daily schedule is pretty crazy too, but i still manage.

Quote by Ironic

You need to be nice to become nicer.

something you should realize, you only know me from my posts in TT. am i nice here? not particularly, but look at the people i have to deal with and maybe you'll get why. Trolls and bigots and racists (i'm not calling you any of these, btw) and misogynists and some downright nasty people - oh, and don't forget all those folks pretending to be gals with more than one account. seriously. so yeah, news to you, people who actually know me, know that i am nice. like i said, you don't know me. want to hear something funny? i assume you're nice too - just misguided.

Quote by Ironic

It wasn't and isn't a cop out.

if you say so. lol

Quote by Ironic

You know nothing about my work life and feel entitled to criticize me. Thats funny!

ok, so tell me about it - tell me what you do and then maybe I'll understand why you can't carry a reusable coffee cup and a set of utensils around with you. you'd not like a professional scuba diver or something, are you? this is mine, currently, btw.

Quote by Ironic

And you know nothing about my work life and still feel entitled to criticize me?

yep. ball has been in your court for a while to explain how your work schedule makes it impossible to be eco-friendly.

Quote by Ironic

And you know nothing about my work life and still feel entitled to criticize me?

here, i'll help you - i'll go first. i'm a social worker. i work with victims of domestic abuse - spouses as well as families - technically, i work 9-5 out of an office. it's very hands on, though, and the hours are very flexible - i do a few evenings a week, some weekends, some overnight work as well. yes, i have a car and an office to keep my stuff in - i don't do a lot of traveling from place to place. like i said, i carry reusable utensils, straws, cups, bowls, and plates - i have a kitchen i can use to wash them with, but sometimes i just shove them in a bag and take them home and do it.

i don't smoke, so no worry about cigarette butts - use my own bags for produce and groceries - they go with me at any place i shop, not just for groceries. keep them in the car trunk. am i perfect? nope. do i try? yep. that's all anyone needs to do - try. it's so simple that it really astounds me that not everyone is doing it.

not like anyone's asking you to pick up after someone else - just take care of your own stuff. you know, control what you can. we all do that, the world is a better place - isn't that kind of a cool goal to be a part of? to achieve?

Quote by Ironic

You know nothing about my work life and feel entitled to criticize me. Thats funny!

Ohoh, I know nothing and I'll happily criticize anything.

Quote by Ironic

That's a pretty mug.

I've already told you some of what I do to reduce my pollution input. I've already told you the interrogation's over, but you refuse to stop asking me to explain what I do or don't do, as if you get to decide how I should change to be more the way you think I should be. Most of what you've posted to this thread has been critical of what I'm doing to help. You feel entitled to criticize me for not doing what you think is enough. There's nothing I can do to prevent you from doing that, but I think you should take a step back and think about your choices.

The only way I can know you is through what I read. Thats why I think you're nasty. You've explained away your nastiness towards me by blaming it on all the people you deal with here that don't share your opinions. OK. I'm sure you're right. But that doesn't entitle you to give me a hard time because I don't do all the eco-friendly things you do or you think I should.

thanks - a gift from my wife. i'm kind of a Disney-head. what you can't really tell from the picture is that it has a bit of a sparkle to it, too. it's also themulated - lol - that is SO not a word, my brain is freezing right now - it keeps hot things hot and cold things cold. mostly use it for my teas - ices and hot. apple juice sometimes, too. yep, i do - my advice? do what i do - ignore me when you're tired of the conversation. it's perfectly fine, won't hurt my feelings. i don't have anything to respond to, i won't respond, simple as that. you give me an opening, though, and i'm going to bull my way in. i've learned over the years that being quiet just means you don't get heard.

and the thing is, i DO feel entitled to criticize anyone who i think isn't doing enough - i also welcome people who are doing far more than me to criticize me - fair game - i could do more, and if you tell me how, i will probably take it to heart. at present, i try...

here's the thing. if you were just messing up your own place - not dusting, tossing cigarette butts on the carpet, i wouldn't care. this is our world. it's the only one we have. i live here too - so what you do, or don't do, affects me. that's why - those mesh bags? i see someone using the plastic ones at the market, i'll give them a few - not out of the goodness of my heart, btw, but because i'm selfish and i like our planet and i've heard that Mars is cold and kind of barren.

well, here's the thing - i'm all over the site with posts - the only way you know me by reading TT posts. go check out my posts in Rumps, or the mental health posts, or ANY posts besides this one - thing is, all i have to judge YOU (and most of the other TT regulars is... TT posts where people don't come off as very nice (remember Damon X? despite being in agreement with him on most issues, he was NOT very nice - hell, even at my least nicest i am way nicer then he ever was lol

so no, i don't blame "my nastiest" (i'm not, that's your opinion) on people that don't share my opinions - not just them, at least - Felix shares my opinions too, and i'm always happy to call him out when he's being an ass. if the old threads were still available i'd hunt down all the past threads where i was actually being reasonable and people responded in ways that make me look like a saint - some pretty horrifying name-calling and threats, etc. some bad enough that people got banned for it. so yeah, i stopped being "nice".

i do step back and think about my choices. that's why i do a lot of the things i do. like i said, not perfect, but it's why i am a vegetarian, why i recycle, why i shop at thrift stores, why i bring my own bags, etc etc. i even gave up reading physical books (which kills me still) because kindle doesn't use the same physical resources and we've started cutting down on using amazon cause dude, freaking packaging materials are off the charts with them. and yes, we still DO use them, and i wish i could say differently, but it's convenient, so see, I totally get it. i try to assuage the guilt by cleaning up my act in other ways.

so yeah, little things add up. there are too many people on this planet and we are using up resources and polluting it at an alarming rate (don't even get me started on climate change - you'll regret it lol) i would rather try doing something now than waiting until it's too late do to anything, dig?

Quote by IMPURETHOUGHTS

Ohoh, I know nothing and I'll happily criticize anything.

lol as long as you don't mind hit back when you do

Quote by Ironic

I don't need to explain to you why I don't do as much as you think I should. And since you already know I make an effort, your comment about how my work schedule makes it "impossible to be eco-friendly" isn't true.

no, you don't, but that just makes you seem like you're making excuses because doing something positive is inconvienient and you don't want to. like, you could simply say, i'm a truck driver, so doing this is impossible because... and i'd go, okay, i get that and then maybe make a suggestion, like why don't you try this? wouldn't be telling anyone any personal information, really - unless you're a spy for the Italians, in which case maybe not say that in public?

Quote by Ironic

I do something positive, and you know I do, so suggesting I'm not isn't true.

Never said you didn't. What I did say is that you could do more, but don't. Because it's inconvenient. That's an argument that has been used through history as an excuse and it's just kind of tired. I will give you points for doing some things if that helps.

Coal Mining