I’ve been thinking about how and whether to write this post for a couple of weeks now. And I think I’m going to go for it - hopefully I won’t offend anyone tonight.
It seems that lately there’s been a bit of “I’m more sustainable” or “I’m localer” than you going around the blogosphere. And while I agree that certain choices are fundamentally more sustainable, others are not so clear cut. And the comparisons and somewhat competitive nature that has been coming out makes me uncomfortable.
Not just because I probably lose the debate, after all, we’re still working our way through a paper napkin supply from the year we got married and we still use paper towels and Mike doesn’t always drink local beer and I’ve got a soft spot for chocolate and store bought salad dressing. But also because I think it’s a self defeating discussion.
I’m not saying that we shouldn’t talk about what sustainability means or which choices are more sustainable or which are shortsighted. More that we should be careful not to make each other and our fellow citizens feel like we think we’re superior or that our way is the only way.
The truth is that there are a lot of ways to live sustainably and there are a lot of choices to make that have far flung ramifications.
Where we choose to live, how much we drive, what we eat and what we choose not to consume and why are all relevant and powerful choices and discussions. But when we position the choice we made as the only choice we set ourselves up to alienate the rest of the world.
Living in the city can be a sustainable choice, but it has ramifications. Living on a small farm or ranch can be a sustainable choice, but it has ramifications. Giving up your car can be sustainable but on the flip side there are reasons why you might trade the use of gasoline for the other, greater, benefits it can deliver.
We should be honest about the downsides of our choices, about the hidden and not so hidden costs. About why it’s right for us but not necessarily right for someone else.
I’m ready and willing to talk about my choices and what I think of them. To talk about the tradeoffs I’m making and the ramifications of them for me and the rest of the world. Are you?
Over the next month or so I’m going to make an effort to focus on some of the negative aspects of our move to the country in addition to my usual focus on the positives. Stay tuned.
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Hi Laura,
I find it interesting that people are actually feeling righteous enough to be making any of those types of claims. I had noticed very recently an air of being “forced to change” coming to the fore where previously it felt much more like they were taking action because they “want to change”.
Everyone that is trying to step more lightly makes compromises be they conscious or unconscious based personal circumstances. I agree that in allowing yourself to lose sight of that fact puts you on a slippery slope indeed.
Kind Regards
Belinda
You know… I think we must be out of the “sustainable bloggers loop.” If there is such a thing! LOL
We basically read the Hennery and Elements in Time and that’s about it anymore. Well… of course we bounce around here and there through links from those two sites… but those are our two main sites. Maybe that’s why I’ve missed this side of things??
We actually think finding each new little way to move closer to sustainability Nirvana is fun. The best part has been these challenges that make us think a little more outside the box. Definitely helped motivate us to develop a lot of what we do.
I think we’ll stick to this line of thought and stay away from the decidedly slippery slop of sustainability self righteousness. Thanks for the thoughts though, Laura. Once again challenging me to see something in a new light.
talk to you soon…
The Shibaguyz
Like Shibaguyz, I hadn’t noticed this, either. Its too bad, because I think you are right, Laura, that righteous attitude is a big turnoff. Remember the 70’s oil embargo? (Well, maybe you don’t.) Good thoughtful post.
Ali
Right-o, Laura! This is exactly the kind of thing that I think makes people believe that moving toward sustainability is hopeless, so why bother at all…it can’t be all or nothing.
Baby steps, people, baby steps!
I think a ton of blogging is “Look What I Can Do,” and I guess I am okay with all that navel-gazing. I agree it’s a fine line, but the one thing you brought up many times in this post, Laura, is choice. If there’s one thing I would like to stress to everyone is we at least HAVE a choice to do certain things, or not do them. I’m concerned of course that people who have the luxury of choice are not choosing to do enough, quickly enough, but then that’s just me. I actually have stepped way far away from talking about all the reductions we have made because I do feel I am moralizing, or can be perceived of being high-minded! Maybe we should at least try to not preach but just act…and hope we’ve nudged people to consider their own lifestyles.
I’m so glad you are going to have this discussion. We’re really thinking about moving to a farm away from our very urban home–and while our thinking has more to do with some other things, we keep flip-flopping on the sustainability issue.
And DITTO to El! Some days I am full of thinking and talking about what I have done myself–not really meaning other people should make those choices, but it must come across that way. Other days, I’m almost embarrassed and talk almost exclusively about non-personal things. Funny: I don’t feel nearly as weird about bragging about knitting or cooking as I do about talking about parenting or sustainability….
You hit on a topic that has been bothering me since we went to the Seattle Green Festival. It -should- have been an awesome place to get ideas and enjoy the multitude of options available. Instead, I came home feeling distinctly looked down upon because I wasn’t vegan, because we use biodiesel in our car (?!?!?), and so many other little ways that “they” are better than “we” are. Ugh.
I get that there is an ideal place to be, someday, but I don’t at all get looking down on the people who are taking any of the myriad little steps that lead from here to there. Anything anyone can do to reduce any of their impact should be celebrated, in my opinion.
Hey all - thanks for not throwing tomatoes.
Belinda & Shibaguyz - I amended my post to reflect that I really meant the web and media in general, not just the blogosphere.
Belinda - you’re right, the higher gas prices and rising food prices are bring a bit of the “woe is me” attitude to the front.
Shibaguyz - that’s totally the right attitude and exactly how I’m looking at changes that we’ve made and are making. Every new thing we try is interesting, exciting or fun in it’s own way.
Ali - missed the oil embargo but I hear your point.
Kim - exactly! Every little step is important. It’s like losing weight - if you focus on the whole goal it’s intimidating but if you focus on every small success it’s easy!
El - you’re right and I definitely self-censor what I say in real life and to a certain extent here on the blog. I don’t want to come off as self-righteous or superior because I’m not, but at the same time I’m excited about what we’re doing and want to share.
The Purloined Letter - happy to share! Don’t get me wrong, we still absolutely believe that we made the right decision for us, but there are real tradeoffs that are hard to see until you’re living them.
Denise - yep, that’s part of what I’m reacting to I think. I’m maybe I’m just feeling overly defensive that we’re not making every change possible all at once. But the feeling of being looked down upon because we eat meat and have to commute to work and still eat things like the occasional orange or California tomato is just a real downer when we should all be working together to encourage others to take the first steps toward change. You know?
I’m just feeling grateful now that someone else seems to have noticed. We’ve moved away from much of that self-sustainability type popular fad thing. It seems to have become such a competition now and not something folks are doing for personal reasons. Everywhere I go it ‘brag, brag, brag’ about what ‘we do, do, do to live more self-sustainably and not commercialized while buying local. ugh!
Some of these folks are even starting to sound like martyrs, as if they are choosing to be this way at a great sacrifice, but are willing to do it ‘to make a difference’.
I’m all for making a difference and trying to live a more simple life with efforts at being more self-sustainable, too. But the self-righteousness, competition, and bragging is a bit much. I agree.
I recently had someone completely cut down and criticize Walmart for their non-local produce and other foods, among other things. They even went so far as to say that all Walmarts should shut down.
Well, here in our rural outpost, Walmart is one of the only good paying jobs that comes with excellent insurance plans. My husband works for our Walmart, and though I don’t spend much money there shopping, just having the Walmart around helps us to be more self-sustainable by allowing us to save gas, shop locally, and support our community in taxes and job security.
Not everyone can grow all their own food, create their own heating or driving fuel. But I do think we can all make a difference, even in small ways.
Word! I feel the same way and I have been noticing the “I’m more sustainable than you” migration on green living blogs. It’s a journey, which means there is no end point - we can always do more. But we need to recognize even the small steps, like simply recycling, as a very important move in the right direction. We can find inspiration from those earth angels not treading a single carbon footprint, but we also need to be realistic in understanding that the every green living step we maintain is a huge accomplishment for the earth.
Good post. I worry about alienating people because I believe so strongly in our ability to cut our carbon bite by eating seasonally and locally but that is such a small piece of the whole. These days I’m asking friends what they’re doing, being curious and listening. And they’re all doing something which wasn’t the case a year or really even six months ago. But then maybe I hadn’t been paying attention.
Gosh, I hope I don’t come across as a braggert or a martyr. I’m doing this because the idea resonated with me from the moment I heard it. It turned out to be fun as well. I’ve met some really terrific people and I’ve been eating some of the best food I’ve had in my life. I’m learning so many new things (some of which used to be old things, like puttin’ by). My blog is a record of my adventures, shared lessons learned, and a database of my sources. I don’t live a perfect life and I really don’t intend to. It’s a shame if this turns into a competition. Why can’t everyone be like the people who participate in Laura’s challenges?!