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There are some who say that going green is just a fad. They claim that the economic downturn will tear the green movement asunder. They say no one will want to pay an extra dollar for organic food, and no one will buy solar panels anymore. When people stop shopping for these green products, the green revolution is at an end. And in fairness, going green has elements of a fad to it.
Recently, Brian Merchant wrote a very good post about how not to be a pretentious ass. This post really struck a chord with many people including myself. Why does there seem to be so many pretentious people in the green movement? Does going green go hand in hand with pretentiousness? I don't believe that recycling or driving a hybrid makes someone pretentious. Insecurity is usually the root of pretentiousness.
Are people in the green movement insecure? Yes. Probably. I am insecure. I don?t want you to know that I often waste energy and make other green blunders. But I do make mistakes, and I have a carbon footprint. There, I said it.
It probably stands to reason that if I am insecure about my own greenness than others who care about the environment are also self-conscious about their own less-than-green activities. So some might become pretentious to cover for their own insecurities.
Here's another thought to throw into the mix. Going green is, in part, a fad. So you end up with hipsters who just want to ride the fad bandwagon. They are more concerned about looking good than actually doing anything constructive. So they criticize the efforts of others trying to go green in order to make themselves look good. Really, it is a form of intellectual intimidation. These hipsters are bullying folks, so the hipster's motives and lifestyle won't be questioned. And, of course, they only do this because they are insecure that people won?t like them for who they are. (And we would like them if they?d stop being bullies.)
Fads are an important part of American culture. According to Joel Best, Professor of Sociology at the University of Delaware:
American society has a strong belief in progress and perfectibility, and that makes us vulnerable to any idea that promises both of those qualities. Cultures and institutions that are more controlled by tradition and ritual are less susceptible to fads.
Here is how Mr. Best defines a fad.
It's a short-lived enthusiasm, which follows a three-part cycle of emerging or beginning, then surging in popularity, then purging or collapsing. That's different from a genuine innovation that surges to its peak of popularity but then, instead of dropping abruptly out of favor as a fad does, levels off and remains in common use.
There might be faddish tendencies to going green, but at its heart, going green is genuine innovation and will remain in common use. But it has fad elements that need to be removed.
Here are few ways that we can separate the green innovation from the green fad.
- Stop Labeling
Don't tell people that you're an environmentalist. Just be an environmentally minded person. The labels creates an "us" and "them." That's how they start wars.
- Be Confident for the Environment
If you are really interested in helping the environment, using a defense mechanism like pretension isn't going to solve anything. It's just going to make people mad. It's OK to not know something. The planet will be all right if you have a carbon footprint. No one is going to think less of you if didn?t offset that flight. We?re all muddling through this thing together.
- Buy Nothing and Still Go Green
Going green is popular. Advertisers have sure taken a liken to that fact. All this marketing may have convinced you that you can't go green unless you buy product A and widget B. Nope. The best ways to go green are the cheapest: Repairs, Reducing, Reusing, Proper Maintenance. You can't sell these things, so they have really bad marketing behind them.
- Be Part of the Solution
I'm glad that you live in a hut by the river, but you're not really doing anything for society. As members of society, we are responsible for it. To remove yourself from society does nothing. Jesus said "be in the world not of the world." And no matter your religion, that's some of the best advice you can get. You have to show up to make a difference.
Remember, just walk the walk. Talk is cheap.
