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20
Apr
Take your green shit and shove it up your privileged ass
I was reading a newsletter today from one of my favorite cosmetics brands. I’m being frugal so that I can pay off my credit card debt. One of the few splurges I allow myself is for the occasional handmade bath product. We are talking $8 one use bath bombs, $15 lotion, and $30 shampoo all of which will get moldy within a few months because they don’t use preservatives.
Clearly, these things are not affordable for everyone.
I don’t buy them often, but when I do I consciously think about how lucky I am to be able to do so. I grew up very poor, didn’t have the usual childhood, and worked hard all of my life and continue to do so. Every day I think about how lucky I am and I keep working hard so that things will get better.
The advice column in their newsletter doesn’t appear to have this type of perspective. In fact, it positively set my temper aflame. I have to warn you now that I’m about to erupt into a string of creative expletives.
Here is what was said:
Q: Do you think that buying green and ethical products is a luxury? I used to buy organic…and I’d travel to farmer’s markets to get free range eggs…ethically sourced cosmetics…but now I’m not sure that I can afford it. Maybe I should be looking for bargains and saving my money up for the future. What do you think?
A: One thing about going green is that if you do it right, it really will save you money. If you buy vegetables in season, they aren’t expensive, even organic ones. How about growing your own? …As for cosmetics, why compromise? Come to :brand name deleted: …you’ll get very good value cosmetics and no bunnies will be harmed. It’s only when times are hard that you find out if you really have princiiples. Stick with it!
Let’s ignore the fact that the answer person’s job here is clearly to SELL SELL SELL luxury hippy products and that the question may have very well been written by one of their marketers (poorly) and break down the answer that was given in Real Life [TM}, shall we?
In High School, I hung out with a lot of nice hippies. I have great respect for vegetarians, vegans, and those who want to do well for the planet and animals. All of them were into PETA and natural products. It was notable that they did have a lot more money than I did at the time. I have tried to be “green” about 3 times so far. Back in High School when I lived below the poverty line I failed BECAUSE I COULDN’T AFFORD IT. I did manage to go over my hippy friend’s houses where they would fix me a good meal, but that was it. They all understood that my intentions were good, but I just didn’t have a life that would let me have the same things that they have and they respected me for trying as best as I could.
Fresh produce and cosmetics go BAD before you can use it all. If you buy in small quantities it’s not cost effective. If you are poor, you want a $1 shampoo that will last you 6 months, not a $30 ethical, green shampoo that will last you 3.
This lady suggests growing your own produce? OH COME ON GIVE ME A GODDAMN BREAK I LIVE IN NEW JERSEY. My apartment is the size of a large bathroom. WHAT AM I GOING TO STRAP A GARDEN TO MY ASS AND WEAR IT LIKE A BUTT PAPOOSE? How about evicting a homeless man from the local dumpster, pushing the used syringes aside and starting a jaunty garden there?
OH HELL NO.
Fake meat and handmade cosmetics are MORE EXPENSIVE and probably only available at a store that is an hour away from where you live as opposed to the local supermarket or fast food. I have known people who were middle class (not poor) who have managed to be vegan, vegetarian, organic, or “green”…but that is ALMOST ALL THAT THEY DID WITH THEIR LIFE BECAUSE IT TOOK ALMOST ALL OF THEIR RESOURCES. They needed to have the money to be able to do it as well as the ability to plan everything out ahead.
If one can get the cash together to support a green happy hippy lifestyle, you are faced with time. Poor people have to work. Sometimes they have to work long hours which leaves you with no time to prepare the food or drive an hour away to go to the fancypants organic green market. The products go bad, or you simply have no time to go and seek it out.
If one follows this idiot answer guru’s logic, you would think that all poor people are too stupid to realize that “going green” is cheaper than McDonalds and the local supermarket. POOR PEOPLE AREN’T STUPID THEY JUST DON’T HAVE ANY CASH. They go to McDonald’s and the local supermarket because it literally is the cheapest and easiest option. People pick the cheapest and easiest option when times are hard because THEY HAVE TO. FACT.
This answer guru has the most offensive, ethnocentric attitude I have seen in a long time. Oh my GOD.
Then of course she has to finish her “advice column” with a backhanded accusation that if this person can no longer afford to buy the $30 shampoo that she must have no principles.
In summary: The question was “I can’t afford this, what should I do?” Her answer was, “Keep buying luxury items, or you have no principles.”
I have an answer for this answer guru:
TAKE YOUR GREEN SHIT AND SHOVE IT UP YOUR PRIVILEGED ASS.
