Since I've started visiting BF2S.com, I've noticed that this site's forums has one of the most conservative populations of any online community I've ever visited. This was a bit of a surprise to me since I live in Boston and I'm used to liberalism (despite the fact that some of my immediate and especially extended family is extremely conservative). I'm also usually involved in online "communities" (i.e., forums) which contain people with mostly liberal viewpoints. I say all that to say, I would like to ask the people here (liberals, conservatives, and everyone in between) what their thoughts are on environmentalism, especially in relation to the world's rising concerns about global warming. I'm especially curious about about why it seems that conservatives are traditionally opposed to the idea that global warming is in fact real and happening right now.
This question was inspired by the fact that I just was looking at another thread on here called "What do you drive?". The first post had a picture of a gas-guzzling SUV (and claimed it did 16MPG). The post said something to the effect that Americans love "BIG" vehicles. It may be worth mentioning that the poster's title (the words under a poster's name) read "Redneck". So it got me thinking, do conservatives mock the idea that these kind of vehicles (among a million other factors) could actually result in a speedier demise of the human race? For that matter, do they believe that IS the case, but simply do not care? Do any of you (liberals or conservatives) feel that you have a responsibility to the environment to do what is within your power to not exploit natural resources more than necessary? I don't mean becoming a hippie and/or sitting in trees that are under threat of being cut down. I'm more referring to, say, buying gas-efficient vehicles, recycling, using public transportation if/when available, etc.
Just to explain where I'm coming from: I never thought I could ever be what some would dub an environmentalist. I always inwardly mocked "tree huggers," believing stereotypes of people in tae-dye t-shirts and long hair smoking weed and protesting that people were destroying their world. But then I turned 12 (just kidding). Seriously though, as I've grown older I've heard more and more about the observations scientists are making about the effect factories, cars, and other such pollution-producing centers have on the ozone layer and the earth's health in general. There are very few voices lending any credibility to the idea that these observations are wrong or flawed, and there are far more voices that tend to agree with the belief that our planet is, in fact, in some level of danger (what level tends to vary from voice to voice). There are also some who say that the globe's observable warming is simply part of a huge cycle the earth goes through that may last several hundred (or thousand) years. (In my opinion, though, one cycle could mean the end of a species, and in this case the unfortunate species could very well be the human one.)
So here's the way I see it now: Even if the situation is being exaggerated somewhat, or even if some people are trying to exploit fear of doom for personal gain, there is still plenty of reason to make some effort to reduce the "footprint" I leave on the environment through my lifestyle. Even if we are in a huge cycle of the earth, and even if that cycle will inevitably result in the end of the human race, couldn't we at least make an attempt to extend our cycle a bit longer by being responsible? I really don't care if my being "manipulated" by scientists gives them an ego trip as long as my being concerned about the environment does the world good. My feeling is, you live for about 70 years and then your time on earth is done. So during those 70 years, will your overall effect on the earth be positive or negative? Will you exploit animals and nature for your personal pleasure (and maybe for the sake of being "manly," as seems to be the motivation of some), or will you have done your part to reduce the harm done to the earth? I don't think any one person can really change the world, in terms of getting EVERYONE all at once to comply and just BE environmentally friendly; instead, the only way to turn around the pollution problems we're having (if they are indeed real) is for people to take responsibility on an individual-by-individual basis and adjust their own lifestyle as necessary. So for example, if I'm ever rich enough to be able to afford this luxury, you still won't see me wearing a coat made of real fur, or driving a super-sized SUV (unless it is absolutely necessary for the sake of carpooling, in which case it may actually be more fuel-efficient than several people driving different cars), or living in luxury but paying for "environmental credits" like Al Gore so hypocritically does. Even if there isn't much truth to the idea that the earth is facing impending doom and destruction, I DO think that it is pretty much undeniable that harm is being done to the planet when massive forests are being cut down for paper, or unrecyclable products like Styrofoam cups and plates are being produced and discarded at such a fast pace. All this luxury and waste seems unnecessary and foolish.
OK, this post was really long and probably kind of disjointed. (I'm not about to read through everything I just wrote myself and edit it all, so if you did take the time to read it all... WORD.) But I hope I got my thoughts across. And I'd like to HEAR (read) thoughts from all sides also. So yeah, what are your thoughts about the current rising concerns throughout the world about global warming, how are YOU personally responding to it (i.e., adjusting -- or not adjusting -- your lifestyle as you see fit), how would you like to see yourself and others respond to these concerns, etc.?
- kingofkolt
This question was inspired by the fact that I just was looking at another thread on here called "What do you drive?". The first post had a picture of a gas-guzzling SUV (and claimed it did 16MPG). The post said something to the effect that Americans love "BIG" vehicles. It may be worth mentioning that the poster's title (the words under a poster's name) read "Redneck". So it got me thinking, do conservatives mock the idea that these kind of vehicles (among a million other factors) could actually result in a speedier demise of the human race? For that matter, do they believe that IS the case, but simply do not care? Do any of you (liberals or conservatives) feel that you have a responsibility to the environment to do what is within your power to not exploit natural resources more than necessary? I don't mean becoming a hippie and/or sitting in trees that are under threat of being cut down. I'm more referring to, say, buying gas-efficient vehicles, recycling, using public transportation if/when available, etc.
Just to explain where I'm coming from: I never thought I could ever be what some would dub an environmentalist. I always inwardly mocked "tree huggers," believing stereotypes of people in tae-dye t-shirts and long hair smoking weed and protesting that people were destroying their world. But then I turned 12 (just kidding). Seriously though, as I've grown older I've heard more and more about the observations scientists are making about the effect factories, cars, and other such pollution-producing centers have on the ozone layer and the earth's health in general. There are very few voices lending any credibility to the idea that these observations are wrong or flawed, and there are far more voices that tend to agree with the belief that our planet is, in fact, in some level of danger (what level tends to vary from voice to voice). There are also some who say that the globe's observable warming is simply part of a huge cycle the earth goes through that may last several hundred (or thousand) years. (In my opinion, though, one cycle could mean the end of a species, and in this case the unfortunate species could very well be the human one.)
So here's the way I see it now: Even if the situation is being exaggerated somewhat, or even if some people are trying to exploit fear of doom for personal gain, there is still plenty of reason to make some effort to reduce the "footprint" I leave on the environment through my lifestyle. Even if we are in a huge cycle of the earth, and even if that cycle will inevitably result in the end of the human race, couldn't we at least make an attempt to extend our cycle a bit longer by being responsible? I really don't care if my being "manipulated" by scientists gives them an ego trip as long as my being concerned about the environment does the world good. My feeling is, you live for about 70 years and then your time on earth is done. So during those 70 years, will your overall effect on the earth be positive or negative? Will you exploit animals and nature for your personal pleasure (and maybe for the sake of being "manly," as seems to be the motivation of some), or will you have done your part to reduce the harm done to the earth? I don't think any one person can really change the world, in terms of getting EVERYONE all at once to comply and just BE environmentally friendly; instead, the only way to turn around the pollution problems we're having (if they are indeed real) is for people to take responsibility on an individual-by-individual basis and adjust their own lifestyle as necessary. So for example, if I'm ever rich enough to be able to afford this luxury, you still won't see me wearing a coat made of real fur, or driving a super-sized SUV (unless it is absolutely necessary for the sake of carpooling, in which case it may actually be more fuel-efficient than several people driving different cars), or living in luxury but paying for "environmental credits" like Al Gore so hypocritically does. Even if there isn't much truth to the idea that the earth is facing impending doom and destruction, I DO think that it is pretty much undeniable that harm is being done to the planet when massive forests are being cut down for paper, or unrecyclable products like Styrofoam cups and plates are being produced and discarded at such a fast pace. All this luxury and waste seems unnecessary and foolish.
OK, this post was really long and probably kind of disjointed. (I'm not about to read through everything I just wrote myself and edit it all, so if you did take the time to read it all... WORD.) But I hope I got my thoughts across. And I'd like to HEAR (read) thoughts from all sides also. So yeah, what are your thoughts about the current rising concerns throughout the world about global warming, how are YOU personally responding to it (i.e., adjusting -- or not adjusting -- your lifestyle as you see fit), how would you like to see yourself and others respond to these concerns, etc.?
- kingofkolt
Last edited by kingofkolt (2007-07-24 19:24:38)
