When does “caring for the environment” go too far?
How about when a store refuses to give a customer a bag because “You can just put those in your pocket. I care for the environment and don’t want to add another bag to a landfill.”
Now, granted, this exchange happened at a health-food store and I only had a few things. But those few things were glass bottles (tinctures of Echinacea and such). Putting them in my pockets is fine, but there’s a balance. The store is in business to serve customers. I accept that there are trade-offs and businesses make decisions that reflect the ownership and employees attitudes. But that’s just too far for me.
Next time, I’ll order via the internet, which will mean they get packed into a box, stuffed with paper, put on a truck / plane / truck, in order to get to me. Then I’ll throw all of that packaging away (I don’t recycle much) Some people don’t think very far ahead.
I suspect this is one reason why some “movements” don’t get very far – they won’t accept “moderates”. Quite simply, I’ll make environmental choices if it is convenient and close in cost. But I’m not on a religious journey – I’ve got money to spend and things to do and people to share with. My happiness is paramount. Giaa will get over it. She always has. Heck, she spouts volcanoes that spew more crap in a day than all of human kind has in all of our time.
But I’m not comfortable having two clinking bottles in my pocket. If they break, I’ll have a nasty mess that looks like I wet myself. No thanks. I want the bag.
You do not even WANT to get me started on that. Oh. Man….makes my blood pressure rise just THINKIN’ about it….
Argh. That’s ridiculous. It really is a religion for some people.