An American Self-Portrait

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Comments

  • Cosmo
    Cosmo Posts: 12,225
    polaris wrote:
    what kind of political correctness would that be? ... wouldn't it further just allow the viewer to not look at themselves and their ways of life? ... there are plenty of avenues by which one can feel good about their homeland ...

    juxtaposing the two would make it seem like they offset each other ... the reality is our appetite for goods far outweighs necessity by a long shot ... it's a ticking time bomb ... it needs to be curbed ...
    ...
    I understand that... that is the statement the artist is making. you look at the picture and you see yourself and what you can do about it, right?
    Like, that picture of the telephones. To me, I see a massive waste.... probably because I really don't care for cell phones... sure, they come in handy at times, but I'm not one that always has to be in a phone conversation. But, to the guy that sells cell phone at the Costco... it looks like money. I can only control what I can control... so, that is what I do. i try to make sure I'm doing my part to keep my little square in this world nice.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • polaris
    polaris Posts: 3,527
    Cosmo wrote:
    ...
    I understand that... that is the statement the artist is making. you look at the picture and you see yourself and what you can do about it, right?
    Like, that picture of the telephones. To me, I see a massive waste.... probably because I really don't care for cell phones... sure, they come in handy at times, but I'm not one that always has to be in a phone conversation. But, to the guy that sells cell phone at the Costco... it looks like money. I can only control what I can control... so, that is what I do. i try to make sure I'm doing my part to keep my little square in this world nice.

    absolutely ... if we all had that attitude - maybe we wouldn't be so fucked ... but the reality is that there are many who live lives of excess and sorry to say - north americans lead the way ...
  • Cosmo
    Cosmo Posts: 12,225
    polaris wrote:
    absolutely ... if we all had that attitude - maybe we wouldn't be so fucked ... but the reality is that there are many who live lives of excess and sorry to say - north americans lead the way ...
    ...
    Completely agree with you here.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • Alex_Coe
    Alex_Coe Posts: 762
    THC wrote:
    interesting. just goes to show how much we've become consumer's over human beings of late.


    Then I guess you don't create any garbage at all, do you?
  • Cosmo
    Cosmo Posts: 12,225
    Alex_Coe wrote:
    Then I guess you don't create any garbage at all, do you?
    ...
    We all do. The point is excess. The question should be... How much excess garbage do you generate?
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • callen
    callen Posts: 6,388
    polaris wrote:
    absolutely ... if we all had that attitude - maybe we wouldn't be so fucked ... but the reality is that there are many who live lives of excess and sorry to say - north americans lead the way ...
    Its easy to blame Americans...but I think its more of a human thing....and the resources that are available. Humans are simply "its all about me"....Americans, Europeans, Asians...Arabs...in general we're all the same. Some will think of this wonderful planet we live on...but most are concerned for themselves. If and when I see a vehicle with a "D" or a "GB" or an "I" white oval sticker on the back of their cars in the US, good chance they're in a large SUV. Why???? well here they can afford the gas, the cost of the vehicle, corresponding taxes......its not because they're Eurpeans..its because they can. Do Europeans bring they're own bags to the grocery stores in the US. No, do they refrain from drinking water out of plastic bottles..no.........we're all simply selfish human animals that adapt to our environment and will consume what we can.
    10-18-2000 Houston, 04-06-2003 Houston, 6-25-2003 Toronto, 10-8-2004 Kissimmee, 9-4-2005 Calgary, 12-3-05 Sao Paulo, 7-2-2006 Denver, 7-22-06 Gorge, 7-23-2006 Gorge, 9-13-2006 Bern, 6-22-2008 DC, 6-24-2008 MSG, 6-25-2008 MSG
  • polaris
    polaris Posts: 3,527
    callen wrote:
    Its easy to blame Americans...but I think its more of a human thing....and the resources that are available. Humans are simply "its all about me"....Americans, Europeans, Asians...Arabs...in general we're all the same. Some will think of this wonderful planet we live on...but most are concerned for themselves. If and when I see a vehicle with a "D" or a "GB" or an "I" white oval sticker on the back of their cars in the US, good chance they're in a large SUV. Why???? well here they can afford the gas, the cost of the vehicle, corresponding taxes......its not because they're Eurpeans..its because they can. Do Europeans bring they're own bags to the grocery stores in the US. No, do they refrain from drinking water out of plastic bottles..no.........we're all simply selfish human animals that adapt to our environment and will consume what we can.

    you're right for the most part ... but if we are going to generalize which is what we are doing - then americans are by far the worst ... i've been all over the world and there is no comparison ...

    in many countries in europe they mandate the amount of garbage you can produce ... here - people will cry bloody murder and that it's your inhibiting their freedoms if you do that ... the mentality is completely different ...

    SUV's would be a great example ... look at the model popularity vs. those living outside the US ...
  • Alex_Coe
    Alex_Coe Posts: 762
    Cosmo wrote:
    ...
    We all do. The point is excess. The question should be... How much excess garbage do you generate?


    I hope you're not talking to me personally, because my recycling habits pwn you. My mulch can bitch-slap your mulch.
  • Cosmo
    Cosmo Posts: 12,225
    Alex_Coe wrote:
    I hope you're not talking to me personally, because my recycling habits pwn you. My mulch can bitch-slap your mulch.
    ...
    No... it was a general you.. as in how much garbage do you (American person) generate?
    But, I'm glad to hear you mulch. And you're right... your mulch beats my mulch... if I mulched, because i live in a condo and i don't have room in my living room for a mulch barrel.
    ...
    P.S. Just a note... 'Own' is spelled with an 'O'.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • callen
    callen Posts: 6,388
    polaris wrote:
    you're right for the most part ... but if we are going to generalize which is what we are doing - then americans are by far the worst ... i've been all over the world and there is no comparison ...

    in many countries in europe they mandate the amount of garbage you can produce ... here - people will cry bloody murder and that it's your inhibiting their freedoms if you do that ... the mentality is completely different ...

    SUV's would be a great example ... look at the model popularity vs. those living outside the US ...

    once we run out of room like in europe it will be the same way here......just not the case..hence the government is not forced to inact such legistlations.......
    we're all humans, have the same motivations/fears...its easy to blame Americans...but again put a European in the US and they act just like another American....

    now don't get me wrong...I'd love to see gas go to $6.00 a gallon, ban plastic bags etc etc....just won't happen for a while in the US...thats all. Plus does it really matter.....till we stop breeding as a species this planets fked anyway.
    10-18-2000 Houston, 04-06-2003 Houston, 6-25-2003 Toronto, 10-8-2004 Kissimmee, 9-4-2005 Calgary, 12-3-05 Sao Paulo, 7-2-2006 Denver, 7-22-06 Gorge, 7-23-2006 Gorge, 9-13-2006 Bern, 6-22-2008 DC, 6-24-2008 MSG, 6-25-2008 MSG
  • polaris
    polaris Posts: 3,527
    callen wrote:
    once we run out of room like in europe it will be the same way here......just not the case..hence the government is not forced to inact such legistlations.......
    we're all humans, have the same motivations/fears...its easy to blame Americans...but again put a European in the US and they act just like another American....

    now don't get me wrong...I'd love to see gas go to $6.00 a gallon, ban plastic bags etc etc....just won't happen for a while in the US...thats all. Plus does it really matter.....till we stop breeding as a species this planets fked anyway.

    if you think so ... i disagree wholeheartedly ... my experience doesn't show that ...

    for sure there are huge problems/stresses facing the planet but one has to start somewhere ... and one has to be able to observe objectively when possible ...

    at the end of the day - whether you believe americans to be worse or better then any other people is secondary to the fact that wastage here is not acceptable - are we going to do something about it or do we want to just look for excuses to do nothing?
  • callen
    callen Posts: 6,388
    polaris wrote:
    if you think so ... i disagree wholeheartedly ... my experience doesn't show that ...

    for sure there are huge problems/stresses facing the planet but one has to start somewhere ... and one has to be able to observe objectively when possible ...

    at the end of the day - whether you believe americans to be worse or better then any other people is secondary to the fact that wastage here is not acceptable - are we going to do something about it or do we want to just look for excuses to do nothing?

    my experience says it is.....lived half my life in Europe and half in the US..and been to your wonderful country 4 times.....and can tell you we're all the same.

    We are though in agreement on all else...we do need to start somewhere...its just most humans are selfish..and care only for themselves..so unless they're forced..they won't make a change thats inconvenient....
    10-18-2000 Houston, 04-06-2003 Houston, 6-25-2003 Toronto, 10-8-2004 Kissimmee, 9-4-2005 Calgary, 12-3-05 Sao Paulo, 7-2-2006 Denver, 7-22-06 Gorge, 7-23-2006 Gorge, 9-13-2006 Bern, 6-22-2008 DC, 6-24-2008 MSG, 6-25-2008 MSG
  • Alex_Coe
    Alex_Coe Posts: 762
    Cosmo wrote:
    ...
    No... it was a general you.. as in how much garbage do you (American person) generate?
    But, I'm glad to hear you mulch. And you're right... your mulch beats my mulch... if I mulched, because i live in a condo and i don't have room in my living room for a mulch barrel.
    ...
    P.S. Just a note... 'Own' is spelled with an 'O'.

    "pwn" is shorthand for "pawn".

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