Going Green Shouldn't Hurt

Most people have had some sort of contact with a Green Crusader who not only tries to force everyone to conform to their definition of being Green, but, appear to want that "going green" to hurt. They proclaim, or grumble, "If it doesn't hurt, you're not doing it right.", or they bask in the egotistical pride of their personal suffering to live a Green Lifestyle. People like that are perhaps a bigger threat than those who refuse to adopt a Green Lifestyle.

Adopting a Green Lifestyle is more about finding alternatives for things that people already do than having them conform to the myopic moral, or ethical beliefs, of certain sub-cultures or individuals. Some people, or certain sub-cultures, think that by deceptively linking their beliefs to living a Green Lifestyle they can some how force a shift to their respective belief systems or personal beliefs. However, all this deception really succeeds at is creating barriers that inhibit the adoption of a Green Lifestyle by those who view these various sub-cultures, or individuals, negatively. Some individuals acting for these sub-cultures have psychological issues that get in the way of promoting Green Living in a rational or effective way.

It's Our Future, Not a Sado-Masochistic Fetish Ball

The sub-culture of Sado-Masochism is not among the sub-cultures I was referring to previously. Unfortunately some in those respective myopic sub-cultures, and select individuals, inappropriately behave as if Going Green is a Sado-Masochistic Fetish Ball. For the purpose of this article I need to shift focus to two types of people for a moment.

First, there are those people who sit in condemnation of others while admiring the glory of their own suffering in name of the planet. These people have obvious psychological issues and as such should seek professional help. I am being completely serious about this, and would like to ask everyone who is excessively involved in promoting a Green Lifestyle to exam themselves truthfully to see if they are exhibiting signs of this illness. Inwardly you my believe yourself to be helping the Green Cause, however, outwardly you may be hindering it. Most people in the world do not like egotistical masochists.

The other type of people are liked even less, these are the egotistical sadists. These people are often psychologically ill, or misguided, they believe that every change has to hurt. They love to inflict pain, physical or mental, on others as they attempt to instruct them on living Green. I think this type of behavior, when not consensual, needs to be viewed, as and dealt with, like any other form of abuse.

As people promoting a Green Lifestyle, we all need honest self examination to see if we are acting in this way. At a Fetish Ball, Sadism and Masochism are acceptable if consensual. Sadism and Masochism have no place in promoting Living Green for the most obvious reason of scaring people away, because they make "Going Green" seem like a miserably hard thing to do, and the lifestyle impossible to bare. We don't have time to scare people way!

Gifts, Not Weapons

If we view the knowledge we impart to others on "How to live a Green Lifestyle", as gifts, to help them as individuals, instead of as weapons to force them into living green, as if they were just another member of the human herd, we will get faster results. We need to suggest alternatives that fit each individuals needs, wants, and tastes, for food, shelter, transportation, or even entertainment. You may mistakenly think their needs would be the most important part of this equation. If you concentrate on their tastes and wants, and base your suggestions on those, you will get better results. Everyone has needs, but talking about needs can be uncomfortable or boring. Besides, if we really strip down everyone's "needs", we find that they are not the major barrier to converting to Green Living, "wants" are. By suggesting Green Alternatives to fit peoples' "wants", based on their tastes, we open up discussion and hopefully adoption of a Green Lifestyle.

Stop Making it Hard and Harsh

I am all for informative television shows that promote a Green Lifestyle, however, there are two such shows that I can not palate. The names of these shows are not important, as television shows come and go. How the information is presented, is what is important.
On one show, the star, who is in a profession that allows more daily freedom than most professions, promotes ideas for being Green that would seem blatantly ridiculous to most people. Someone who has spent all day on their feet does not want to come home and pedal a bike to watch television or make toast. Stop making going Green seem harder than it really is or look silly!

The other show has a host who has one of the harshest voices and demeanors on television. Everything this person says sounds like an insult and they act more like a dominatrix than a Green advisor. To make matters worse she commands that people should consume less but her own personal appearance would leave many believing her to be a hypocrite. This host may not be able to control their personal appearance, but, should be able to tone down their harshness. People are just going to laugh at her, or the humiliation she dishes out in Gestapo fashion, on those she deems in violation of a Green Lifestyle. Stop being grotesquely harsh as people will only shut you out! As a side note, appearance does matter when you represent yourself as an authority on any subject. IE: If you tell people to consume less you need to look like you follow your own advice. People are not likely to accept excuses or even facts about your medical problems if you are throwing harsh commands and condemnations at them. That is just a fact of life.

Did I Forget Something?

You may be wondering when I am going to list the various sub-cultures I eluded to earlier. This article is not about sub-cultures. Just as I mentioned in regards to Green television shows, sub-cultures will come and go. There will always be a new one to contend with. Listing one, or all, by name in this article only shifts focus to them and off the issue I choose to tackle, which is the issue of people making Green Lifestyles seem difficult and out of reach of some people. I have been guilty of doing this in the past, and I am sure I may fall into making that mistake in the future, if I don't keep myself in check. Everyone who claims they are helping to educate people on Living Green needs to be aware of the potential to make it appear harder than it really is. It is better to suggest small changes, or rational alternatives that have the individuals that you are trying to reach in mind.