I love the argument up until the end
I posted this as a reply a week or two ago, but by that stage I assumed everyone had seen it (It's been posted on my facebook thing at least 5 times).
I guess I was wrong.
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gronkpan @vomitinglarry.bsky.social, Fri 16 Nov 2007, 9:39,
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Also, he's done a follow up
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF_anaVcCXg
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gronkpan @vomitinglarry.bsky.social, Fri 16 Nov 2007, 9:43,
Reply)
I prefer the followup
.. there should be more teachers like him.
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a username Tue 30 Mar 1971 til, Fri 16 Nov 2007, 9:59,
Reply)
I think this is the one to watch
as the notes he posted against the video above are:
"DON'T WATCH THIS VIDEO. I'm serious. This message isn't a hack (I'm the guy in the video), and it's not a ploy to get you to actually watch it (reverse psychology).
It's just that there's a hole in this argument big enough to drive a Hummer through because of an assumption I didn't realize I had (isn't that just the way with assumptions. . .), and the argument has been UPDATED to address this hole."
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Fetid Mimsy Bouncing Back!, Fri 16 Nov 2007, 13:17,
Reply)
He turns into a whiny pussy.
He also approaches the story a little too dogmatically for my liking.
His very valid argument will be disregarded by people that don't agree with him, so it turns into a video that preaches to the converted rather than helping anything.
If people think they've helped out by forwarding a youtube video, they won't feel as guilty about the amount of electricity, food or water they've used up every day.
If they got out and devoted some time to their local community (ask the council if there's a vacant lot that could be turned into a park, or a park that could have some work done on it, they're happy to get volunteers for all sorts of things), they might actually cause a bit of change.
"Spreading the word" is something that happenned in the 80s. If we're still pretending that all you have to do is throw a big concert and remind everyone that they're wasting resources, we're never going to get anywhere.
All you have to do is help out a bit. The more people that want to plant trees and have nature strips, the more it will be an issue to local council members. That's how things actually get changed. You have to start first, then the government will follow.
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gronkpan @vomitinglarry.bsky.social, Fri 16 Nov 2007, 10:04,
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Totally agree with this.
Reuse.
Recycle.
Rethink.
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Christian Bale of Hay in a field, Fri 16 Nov 2007, 10:07,
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The problem with slogans is that it's very easy to get sarcastic with them.
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gronkpan @vomitinglarry.bsky.social, Fri 16 Nov 2007, 10:12,
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I see.. and agree.
and I'm sure he would too.
But the most important point behind his video is to spread the "which is the greater risk?" meme as its the only way of convincing the fence sitting - "oh well, its not proven" - public to get off their arses and do something in the first place.
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a username Tue 30 Mar 1971 til, Fri 16 Nov 2007, 10:24,
Reply)
I prefer to take the approach of "Fuck global warming, isn't it nice to have some trees about the place?"
Even in the middle of London, there are plenty of busy roads that could have tress down the middle instead of concrete barricades.
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gronkpan @vomitinglarry.bsky.social, Fri 16 Nov 2007, 10:44,
Reply)
Right, that makes more sense,
because I reckon even if every city in England covered every available square inch with foliage it wouldn't make much of a dent in our CO2 output.
What I find interesting is that earlier you said that people wouldn't listen to this video if it disagreed with their own ideas. I guess that's probably been proven true by yourself - even though you say some positive things about the video, you also say "fuck global warming" and actually care much more about having trees around. Which means, all his arguments in the second video about global warming being more important than other concerns fell on deaf ears with you. Sadly you're one of the most positive responders to this guy.
(, Sun 18 Nov 2007, 16:36, Reply)