Comments on: car, flags, repairs, spirals, flowers, ¡baboons! http://blog.adrianbischoff.com/2009/09/28/car-flags-repairs-spirals-flowers-baboons/ all the cool kids... Mon, 06 Sep 2010 06:37:58 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: adrian http://blog.adrianbischoff.com/2009/09/28/car-flags-repairs-spirals-flowers-baboons/comment-page-1/#comment-98529 adrian Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:31:01 +0000 http://blog.adrianbischoff.com/?p=2105#comment-98529 Well, whether the system makes it advantageous to be wasteful or not doesn't matter. I know it's a more extreme case, but were people who were cruel under a cruel system like apartheid still cruel? I'd say yes. And, yes, there are individuals and areas and segments of the American population that aren't wasteful and should be applauded, but in general, I would agree with the assessment that Americans are wasteful. Well, whether the system makes it advantageous to be wasteful or not doesn’t matter. I know it’s a more extreme case, but were people who were cruel under a cruel system like apartheid still cruel? I’d say yes.

And, yes, there are individuals and areas and segments of the American population that aren’t wasteful and should be applauded, but in general, I would agree with the assessment that Americans are wasteful.

]]> By: Colin http://blog.adrianbischoff.com/2009/09/28/car-flags-repairs-spirals-flowers-baboons/comment-page-1/#comment-98527 Colin Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:45:13 +0000 http://blog.adrianbischoff.com/?p=2105#comment-98527 I don't think it's accurate to say that Americans are wasteful. As you point out, the cost structure here encourages wastefulness but I think that most non-Americans, if confronted with said cost structure, would also replace rather than repair. I enjoy living at MIT because, with the reuse email list and <a href="http://www.swapfest.us" rel="nofollow">SwapFest</a>, there are plenty of opportunities to give away or sell broken electronics so they won't just go into a landfill even if you do wind up buying a new item to replace a broken one. I finally just gave away the broken DVD player I mentioned <a href="http://blog.colinashe.net/2008/06/26/electronics-going-belly-up/" rel="nofollow">here</a>. I also sold a bunch of old electronics at SwapFest a week ago. I actually sold my N64 to a young African family. They drove a hard bargain. I don’t think it’s accurate to say that Americans are wasteful. As you point out, the cost structure here encourages wastefulness but I think that most non-Americans, if confronted with said cost structure, would also replace rather than repair.

I enjoy living at MIT because, with the reuse email list and SwapFest, there are plenty of opportunities to give away or sell broken electronics so they won’t just go into a landfill even if you do wind up buying a new item to replace a broken one.

I finally just gave away the broken DVD player I mentioned here. I also sold a bunch of old electronics at SwapFest a week ago. I actually sold my N64 to a young African family. They drove a hard bargain.

]]> By: Lauren http://blog.adrianbischoff.com/2009/09/28/car-flags-repairs-spirals-flowers-baboons/comment-page-1/#comment-98526 Lauren Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:54:02 +0000 http://blog.adrianbischoff.com/?p=2105#comment-98526 I went to those gardens when I was there, too- it was a really restful place to spend an afternoon. Of course, my visit would have been better if I had seen the baboons! sign... I went to those gardens when I was there, too- it was a really restful place to spend an afternoon. Of course, my visit would have been better if I had seen the baboons! sign…

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