General Discussion

jeff47

(26,549 posts)

126. They just responded to market forces.

Tue Feb 19, 2013, 09:54 PM

Feb 2013

The companies would have happily produced non-disposable products like razors.....in fact they still do. I've been using them since shortly after I started shaving about 20 years ago. Sure, I'm tossing out a cartridge with blades instead of just a blade, but the blades are also much smaller - probably works out to about the same amount of waste.

Consider what happened with glass bottles - people felt deposit containers were great for saving money. Then they were too much of a pain to return for the small savings so they went away. Then we decided we'd like to encourage recycling, and created new, refundable taxes in order to encourage recycling.

All that came from "the people" and what they wanted. Yes, there were individuals who did not like each step in those trends, but those steps were what most people wanted.

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'Checking out at the store, [View all] elleng Feb 2013 OP

One change I'd make. silverweb Feb 2013 #1

My thoughts EXACTLY! lobezen Feb 2013 #85

+100 GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #105

Not aware of the profit motive in disposables? Really? Raksha Feb 2013 #128

People buy water in plastic bottles randr Feb 2013 #184

I really don't understand the point of this oft-repeated e-mail forward. antigone382 Feb 2013 #2

+1 TDale313 Feb 2013 #6

+1. The minute the generational warfare crap starts up, I check out. n/t winter is coming Feb 2013 #20

Very well stated. HERVEPA Feb 2013 #9

It's divide-and-conquer crap. HughBeaumont Feb 2013 #12

I don't think so. I think there's genuine annoyance there and for a good reason. GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #103

+1 snort Feb 2013 #167

All while dumping toxic chemicals in the back yard LOL snooper2 Feb 2013 #193

Well, it definitely wasn't me, even if I am an early-vintage Baby Boomer. Raksha Feb 2013 #131

Bush 43 marions ghost Feb 2013 #202

Enough non-thinking idiots voted for him so that the theft could commence. HughBeaumont Feb 2013 #209

Corruption won marions ghost Feb 2013 #211

I think the point is that younger folks can learn how to do "green" things from their elders. backtoblue Feb 2013 #19

Thanks, backtoblue. elleng Feb 2013 #24

I think if your original had stated it was a chain email... Phentex Feb 2013 #32

"especially from a smartass who can't make change"... perhaps the negative replies are in response Luminous Animal Feb 2013 #33

It's DU, elleng... Sekhmets Daughter Feb 2013 #35

THANKS, Daughter! elleng Feb 2013 #36

You're welcome... Sekhmets Daughter Feb 2013 #39

I'm sorry if my responses TDale313 Feb 2013 #38

I'm sorry if I came off as negative towards you, elleng antigone382 Feb 2013 #71

Thanks for the explanation, antigone. elleng Feb 2013 #74

I think the piece asks genuine questions... druidity33 Feb 2013 #182

I, for one, didn't willingly "adopt" plastic bottles Art_from_Ark Feb 2013 #221

Cause dismissing them all TDale313 Feb 2013 #25

Yes, it could be worded softer but come on. It's not generational warfare as some are stating. backtoblue Feb 2013 #44

Good point. Blanks Feb 2013 #62

"The Greatest Geberation" were horrible polluters obamanut2012 Feb 2013 #42

Not true personally. Industrially, yes, but they didn't have much choice about that. GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #101

I would agree if it didn't have the snarky smartass comment at the end. progressoid Feb 2013 #59

a few changed words and this could be a great read. backtoblue Feb 2013 #63

+1 pengillian101 Feb 2013 #220

And no one on DU every makes a smart ass comment about the older generation? GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #104

Sure they do. And it's wrong then, too. n/t antigone382 Feb 2013 #107

You've got an interesting OP there. GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #109

Did I say that? progressoid Feb 2013 #133

Precisely. llmart Feb 2013 #139

I'm glad you wrote that. GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #142

From the elders that switched to "disposable everything"? jeff47 Feb 2013 #76

Depends on the age group. It was the late-60s and 70s that really brought "disposables" GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #108

It was plastics, recall that famous line Carolina Feb 2013 #117

Yes! I had forgotten The Graduate! GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #119

For diapers. But the email has lots of other disposable products jeff47 Feb 2013 #127

And the returnable glass bottles for milk and soda, the walking everywhere (especially to school and GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #143

Only when they were younger. They switched along with everyone else. (nt) jeff47 Feb 2013 #152

I am a boomer... love_katz Feb 2013 #155

You are so right--there really was no choice GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #160

The switch occurred in the late 60s and was largely unavoidable GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #156

Minor point, but... PotatoChip Feb 2013 #192

Re: Breastfeeding babies, your time frame is a little bit off. Raksha Feb 2013 #138

It might be a class issue GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #149

Disposable culture really took off circa 1970s-1980s. And the way it happened was that it made HiPointDem Feb 2013 #122

They just responded to market forces. jeff47 Feb 2013 #126

they responded to profit potential. there's more profit on disposables. i was there, and no HiPointDem Feb 2013 #130

It had everything to do with the customers jeff47 Feb 2013 #135

i don't think you were there. even then, the soda market was dominated by a few big players. HiPointDem Feb 2013 #137

However the number one cause of carbon use right now is truedelphi Feb 2013 #34

You can't mention the use of fossil fuels as the #1 carbon culprit on DU? NYC_SKP Feb 2013 #53

I am tallking about a process that truedelphi Feb 2013 #116

I know Clearlake, the highlands, the special sulfurous hot springs out in the middle of the lake. NYC_SKP Feb 2013 #118

+1 obamanut2012 Feb 2013 #41

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Feb 2013 #50

It was the current 80 year olds who started "disposable everything" starroute Feb 2013 #58

In a sense, but at the same time, that was specifically marketed to them. antigone382 Feb 2013 #111

Actually, they didn't start it: they were sold it. GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #114

+1 lobezen Feb 2013 #86

That was my impression customerserviceguy Feb 2013 #92

The point: that our grandparents' and great-grandparents' generation actually used less fossil fuel GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #100

i think though that younger people may not realize the degree to which recycle/reuse was built HiPointDem Feb 2013 #121

Yes, I've seen this on Facebook about a dozen times Lydia Leftcoast Feb 2013 #147

Yeah, the entire premise is false deutsey Feb 2013 #181

You can't find a hankerchief anymore. NYC_SKP Feb 2013 #3

Thanks, SKP. elleng Feb 2013 #5

Bandanas work fine for the purpose though. HERVEPA Feb 2013 #7

I find them with no problem. My husband and kids all use them... Phentex Feb 2013 #26

It might be a regional thing. I'm in Northern California. NYC_SKP Feb 2013 #30

Well you could have just called me! Phentex Feb 2013 #49

Macy's has them Starry Messenger Feb 2013 #83

My dad still has a few of them The Straight Story Feb 2013 #206

Terrific post! llmart Feb 2013 #4

This is a chain email, not an actual exchange between two humans. REP Feb 2013 #10

So? llmart Feb 2013 #14

No woman reminisces fondly about having no washing machine REP Feb 2013 #17

I missed the part about not having washing machines.... llmart Feb 2013 #22

That isn't true. truedelphi Feb 2013 #37

My MIL rode her horse to school in the 1970s Nevernose Feb 2013 #153

If you've never used one, you wouldn't have the chance to miss it. backtoblue Feb 2013 #56

But many women did hang their laundry out to dry. GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #112

Most of us can't even remember it, although we managed for years without dryers. Raksha Feb 2013 #141

Not hardly. Fuddnik Feb 2013 #162

That's the problem with the "story" progressoid Feb 2013 #69

You must be younger GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #113

50 progressoid Feb 2013 #129

No! LOL!! GiaGiovanni Feb 2013 #150

Yes, I am glad you posted this and it is the 450th time I have seen it. n/t RebelOne Feb 2013 #52

Thanks, llmart. elleng Feb 2013 #11

There were nine in my family.... llmart Feb 2013 #13

Nonnie, mom, sister, and me out on a farm. Good times. NYC_SKP Feb 2013 #23

And yes, old lady you got to stay home to to do all these things CBGLuthier Feb 2013 #8

When did people have drinking fountains in their houses? REP Feb 2013 #15

We didn't watch much TV. llmart Feb 2013 #16

Right; Good; Thanks! elleng Feb 2013 #27

+1 obamanut2012 Feb 2013 #43

K&R pinboy3niner Feb 2013 #18

You realize the vast majority of the things in this email pre-date the boomers, right? jeff47 Feb 2013 #64

Lots of places still have deposit bottles. nt DevonRex Feb 2013 #72

Not Coke or Pepsi jeff47 Feb 2013 #73

We have milk delivery. Good grief. Where do you live? nt DevonRex Feb 2013 #75

Upstate New York. jeff47 Feb 2013 #77

I found a site that lists all the dairies that deliver in glass bottles DevonRex Feb 2013 #207

"How To Return Your Coke Bottles" DevonRex Feb 2013 #80

Not a deposit container. jeff47 Feb 2013 #81

We have 'redemption centers' all over the place. PotatoChip Feb 2013 #198

Our returnables include Coke and Pepsi. PotatoChip Feb 2013 #196

Deposit bottles are thingx boomers know well pinboy3niner Feb 2013 #78

My point is the chain email above whitewashes the situation jeff47 Feb 2013 #84

That's total BS pinboy3niner Feb 2013 #89

You are utterly missing the key word: jeff47 Feb 2013 #124

I'd love to know where someone gets bottle washing xmas74 Feb 2013 #159

We have had to bring our own bags to the stores, all of them including Wal-Mart, since January in Cleita Feb 2013 #21

There is more to that ban than just plastic bags in the landfill marions ghost Feb 2013 #208

I don't have any problems with using them. I just would like to see the Cleita Feb 2013 #217

They don't think that way... marions ghost Feb 2013 #219

Cute, but apocryphal. WinkyDink Feb 2013 #28

Why not just say outright that it's fiction? Mariana Feb 2013 #197

Plus, the oldsters of today started the "green thing" Waiting For Everyman Feb 2013 #29

Grumpy Old Man gives his "rant of approval". bullwinkle428 Feb 2013 #31

Well done. I remember those day clearly DainBramaged Feb 2013 #40

While I normally don't like things that pit one generation against another. NCTraveler Feb 2013 #45

Nicely stated. Phentex Feb 2013 #46

All true. But another thing, our meat was packed in JDPriestly Feb 2013 #47

One thing about clotheslines VS. clothes dryers. And I hung out clothes as a kid. raccoon Feb 2013 #48

I'm 32 and never use a dryer tabbycat31 Feb 2013 #96

K&R one_voice Feb 2013 #51

The time line here needs to be noted. colorado_ufo Feb 2013 #54

I can remember using fountain pens until about my freshman year in high school. Raksha Feb 2013 #146

Nice Parkers and Sheaffers are beautiful. Manifestor_of_Light Feb 2013 #212

Great post and thanks for the razor blade suggestion DaveJ Feb 2013 #55

Probably. elleng Feb 2013 #57

There's a ton of them where the head is the only "disposable" part. jeff47 Feb 2013 #61

Yeah that occured to me. DaveJ Feb 2013 #67

Don't be too hard on glass bottles watoos Feb 2013 #60

It's still probably better to wash and reuse them Mariana Feb 2013 #95

Where's that theKed Feb 2013 #65

not only glurge but bullshit glurge dmallind Feb 2013 #66

This is both greatly enlightening and highly ironic. It is also appreciated. Egalitarian Thug Feb 2013 #68

Yes. Right. Thanks. elleng Feb 2013 #70

Nice rant - and I fully agree. Every damn thing is disposable now. Gorp Feb 2013 #79

How do I scoop the cat litter? HockeyMom Feb 2013 #82

I miss milk in bottles KauaiK Feb 2013 #87

And what nearby stream did the bleach and effluence from this AtheistCrusader Feb 2013 #88

Surely, you aren't suggesting that disposable containers are more eco-friendly? NYC_SKP Feb 2013 #90

Difficult to compare 1:1 AtheistCrusader Feb 2013 #91

We are a more wasteful and consumeristic society than ever before. NYC_SKP Feb 2013 #94

Not true dmallind Feb 2013 #199

That data set is incomplete. NYC_SKP Feb 2013 #204

From a younger person's POV tabbycat31 Feb 2013 #93

My fol0ks are in their 70's. Mariana Feb 2013 #98

Check out some other Boomers stories marions ghost Feb 2013 #210

Thereby proving again that the only people who forward friggin' chain emails are really old. Warren DeMontague Feb 2013 #97

How old is 'really old,' in your opinion??? elleng Feb 2013 #102

You hit the Bulls-Eye ! MadamYes Feb 2013 #99

Exactly right, about brown paper bags at the supermarket! elleng Feb 2013 #106

K & R good stuff, brought back memories. nt littlewolf Feb 2013 #110

K&R Carolina Feb 2013 #115

Divisive glurge Warpy Feb 2013 #120

+1 Hissyspit Feb 2013 #136

Post removed Post removed Feb 2013 #123

I'm old enough to remember every one of those features of life in the 1950s, Raksha Feb 2013 #125

"We didn't feel especially deprived or inconvenienced" = exactly. interesting that disposables etc HiPointDem Feb 2013 #132

Well, there are some things a stay-at-home mom can do more easily than one who works. Raksha Feb 2013 #148

the economic necessity is kind of related to the women's movement though. double the labor HiPointDem Feb 2013 #154

I really hope you are not suggesting that the women's movement is at fault for ... love_katz Feb 2013 #161

I'm suggesting that increasing the labor supply = wage reduction. It's not controversial. HiPointDem Feb 2013 #164

My issue with that stance is that it plays into the hands of the 1%... love_katz Feb 2013 #168

I get that it's absolutely a fact that the entry of women into the workforce in a major way HiPointDem Feb 2013 #174

Women are not responsible for the depression of wages. love_katz Feb 2013 #175

THANK YOU, love! elleng Feb 2013 #165

You're making me feel old Smll_Ax3 Feb 2013 #134

You young folks and your penicillin! Hissyspit Feb 2013 #140

I agree with all of this except the confrontational tone and a focus on inter-generational butt-hurt limpyhobbler Feb 2013 #144

My grocer wrote the bill with carbon paper & pencil fadedrose Feb 2013 #145

Big difference . . . Richard D Feb 2013 #151

one of my biggest peeves Texasgal Feb 2013 #157

Right, more planned obsolescence. elleng Feb 2013 #158

Message auto-removed year of the cat Feb 2013 #222

The problem with the 'throw-away' kind of products is... love_katz Feb 2013 #163

I get a little peeved, and a little puzzled when... love_katz Feb 2013 #166

Thanks AGAIN, love_. elleng Feb 2013 #169

More than welcome. love_katz Feb 2013 #170

I've really appreciated your 'rants' here; elleng Feb 2013 #171

Thank you for speaking out. Yes environmentalism started in the 60s. DevonRex Feb 2013 #203

Oh, bright blessings to you, and thank you. love_katz Feb 2013 #205

This 'green thing' mass email has been talked about on the Snopes forum since bike man Feb 2013 #172

Lost it's way at the end... bl968 Feb 2013 #173

I do have to point out a few things dsc Feb 2013 #176

yay! generational conflict! fishwax Feb 2013 #177

my grandpa was composting. victory garden since the war. pansypoo53219 Feb 2013 #178

We also burned trash in backyard incinerators, and drove gas-guzzling boats... VOX Feb 2013 #179

And most of those smartasses cartach Feb 2013 #180

Pandora Radio only lets me pass on a few songs each hour demwing Feb 2013 #183

Things seem better back then, the simpler life, for sure. But, disagree that it was all Laura PourMeADrink Feb 2013 #185

Very Good Post Angry Dragon Feb 2013 #186

I would love to go back to the days of paper packaging, glass jars and bottles, returnable sinkingfeeling Feb 2013 #187

The young clerk responded, JayhawkSD Feb 2013 #188

What was old is new again... Javaman Feb 2013 #189

The idea that the "green thing" is an individual's choice is the problem jcboon Feb 2013 #190

Whew +++++ FINALLY +++++ Bingo Bingo marions ghost Feb 2013 #213

And we wore an onion on our belt, because that was the fashion at the time... AngryAmish Feb 2013 #191

This is the only response to the OP that is worth anything ajk2821 Feb 2013 #200

Thank goodness the old days are gone. I'm 65 and I remembered when I worked and southernyankeebelle Feb 2013 #194

The discussion should be- We didn't have 7 billion people back then. Gregorian Feb 2013 #195

But the baby boomers were the ones that invented all that disposable trash. Kablooie Feb 2013 #201

An environmentally sensitive lifestyle is a frugal lifestyle. lumberjack_jeff Feb 2013 #214

Okay... jmowreader Feb 2013 #215

still she should bring reuseable bags and recycle everything ThomThom Feb 2013 #216

Riding mowers are not easy!!! Don't knock them. Glassunion Feb 2013 #218