NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.earthhour.org/home/

In a few hours we are encouraged here to turn off our electrical appliances and lights where possible and sit around in repentance for an hour. As you can tell, I'm not a big fan. I acknowledge that human activity produces externalities which are, as far as I can tell, accelerating global climate change. I think there have to be policies put in place to account for these externalities effectively.

I don't believe that we are looking at a Doomsday scenario (in the developed world, anyways) and I certainly don't believe that this requires a fundamental change in every single person's life. But that's beside the point. My issue is more with the idea of this token event itself.

The actual savings in emissions from this Earth Hour are miniscule, and the sense of self-satisfaction apparently derived from foregoing some personal comfort for some greater greater good which consists purely of "sending a message" and "showing support" is questionable in my eyes from just about any angle.

But what do you think?

I think it's a useless feel-good event, whose overall effect will be effectively zero in light of the amount of hours that are not Earth hours, and do nothing to curtail the overall usage of electricity.

Ugh. Pointless. Symbolic. It's like the 'gas embargos' that have been pulled here in CA. Where a bunch of (hippies) people decide to stick it to The Man by not buying gas... for a whole day. I see a similar lack of understanding here, about how the economics of these things work.

Well in my family we are turning on all the lights. This is because we are strong standers in not believing the biggest lie ever told (gore-bull warming)

I think it's a useless feel-good event, whose overall effect will be effectively zero in light of the amount of hours that are not Earth hours, and do nothing to curtail the overall usage of electricity.

^^ This

The actual savings in emissions from this Earth Hour are miniscule, and the sense of self-satisfaction apparently derived from foregoing some personal comfort for some greater greater good which consists purely of "sending a message" and "showing support" is questionable in my eyes from just about any angle.

This is just a feel good move so people can feel as if they have made a difference.

I love all the companies that will be doing it to show consumers that they too want to hep the environment. When if they really wanted help out to do this they wouldn't keep the lights in their offices and their computers on 24 hours a day. Of course they could do more but I think not needlessly wasting power could be a good start.

And no I won't be participating in this I have better things to do than sit around in the dark for an hour.

You know, I was just thinking that what we need are more pointless empty gestures that will give people a temporary self-righteousness fix while doing absolutely nothing of any significance whatsoever and voila, I hear about 'Earth Hour.'

What about an Earth Week, or Month? Why don't we just live like Amish?

We could create an Amish Paradise! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsfVw9xxoNY)

You know, I was just thinking that what we need are more pointless empty gestures that will give people a temporary self-righteousness fix while doing absolutely nothing of any significance whatsoever and voila, I hear about 'Earth Hour.'

Because Esurance pushed Earth Hour in their commercials, just means I will never buy insurance from them.

Pfff. Yeah...symbolic gestures, what a waste! "Raising awareness..." HA! I mean, it's not like you guys are sitting around talking about the issue because of it or anything...yep, total waste of time...

Now that I've heard of it, not only am I not going to participate, I'm going to turn extra lights on.

Anything I can do to save the economy from global warming wackos, I'll do. ;)

Well in my family we are turning on all the lights. This is because we are strong standers in not believing the biggest lie ever told (gore-bull warming)

:hail:

Because Esurance pushed Earth Hour in their commercials, just means I will never buy insurance from them.

They were plugging that in their commercials during Friday Night Smackdown. I'm not sure which I find more aggravating, them or the "Truth" anti-smoking commercials.

Why don't we just live like Amish?

Because we're all to old to be grounded? "That's it young man, I've heard enough out of you! Go to your room! This weekend, you are Amish! Do you hear me?!"

Pfff. Yeah...symbolic gestures, what a waste! "Raising awareness..." HA! I mean, it's not like you guys are sitting around talking about the issue because of it or anything...yep, total waste of time...

Yeah, but we're all sitting in heated homes with the lights on, using computers and massive wads of electricity to do it.

I'm not going to participate.

Pfff. Yeah...symbolic gestures, what a waste! "Raising awareness..." HA! I mean, it's not like you guys are sitting around talking about the issue because of it or anything...yep, total waste of time...

We actually aren't, we're just commenting on how stupid it is.

They were plugging that in their commercials during Friday Night Smackdown. I'm not sure who is more obnoxious, them or the "Truth" anti-smoking commercials.

Yea, they don't even make worth toys advertisement anymore.


Because we're all to old to be grounded? "That's it young man, I've heard enough out of you! Go to your room! This weekend, you are Amish! Do you hear me?!"

Hehe, true.

Although I wouldn't mind making my house as eco-friendly as possible. My faith believes in living in harmony with nature, so I'd like to try to achieve that without going completely Amish.

Hey, I still gotta have my high tech toys! lol.

Pfff. Yeah...symbolic gestures, what a waste! "Raising awareness..." HA! I mean, it's not like you guys are sitting around talking about the issue because of it or anything...yep, total waste of time...

Raising awareness indeed. Like someone who hasn't ever heard of the issue is going to be intrigued and enthusiastic after learning what "Earth Hour" is - namely, stupid. We already have Earth Day, and at least that's in the calendar - what, are we now too fast-paced to have a whole holiday, now we need holihours? That'll go in nicely with our TV schedules, I guess.

And it's obvious to anyone how useless one hour (by participating Hourists) will actually be. It will be counterproductive as a result, turning people away from the issue. Those who haven't already heard of it or made their minds up, that is.

I am not even discussing the issue, and it's insulting that you suggest I am only made "aware" of the issue because of the holihour.

The Holihour is more reminiscent of a media-sponsored spiritual ceremony than anything else. For the great global warming/environmentalism/liberalism/democracy religion/conspiracy/myth, you see. (I'll bet New Mitanni points this out, or else smack himself in the head for not having pointed it out.)

As we speak my street is in darkness that is except for my house which is brighter than normal. I imagine people are talking about my household over candlelight as i enjoy my multiple artificial suns.

As we speak my street is in darkness that is except for my house which is brighter than normal. I imagine people are talking about my household over candlelight as i enjoy my multiple artificial suns.

My house is out in the middle of no where surrounded by woods. So, no one cares about what I do.

So, no one cares about what I do.

Yeah, but that has little to do with where you live...



sorry, couldn't resist.

My house is out in the middle of no where surrounded by woods.

You're lucky.

Don't care, don't care, don't care.

Useless gesture is useless. Plus, it's pretty awful trying to toast fruit bread with the lights off, amirite?

As we speak my street is in darkness that is except for my house which is brighter than normal. I imagine people are talking about my household over candlelight as i enjoy my multiple artificial suns.

What are you, thirteen? And further more, only one country just finished Earth Hour.

Not participating. What happens when you shut off the lights for an hour? You turn them back on again. If everyone participated in this during a high electricity usage time (mornings or evenings) then when they all turn the lights back on, it would seriously mess up the power grid for a little while. Tends to be a bad idea...

My house is out in the middle of no where surrounded by woods. So, no one cares about what I do.

Mine is sort of on the edge of nowhere. I've got my privacy and a good bit of land, but I've also got a fair sized town nearby that I can go into.

Now that I've heard of it, not only am I not going to participate, I'm going to turn extra lights on.

That's what I did last time round.

Well in my family we are turning on all the lights. This is because we are strong standers in not believing the biggest lie ever told (gore-bull warming)

Turning off the lights won't actually do that much. Computers, microwaves, TV's, ect. all use allot more energy.

TBH I'm kinda sick of all this hippie crap, one person turning off their light for an hour makes no difference. People buy into it because they feel like their doing something good, when really an hour means fuck all.

Turning all your light off for Earth hour is almost as silly as turning all your lights on for Earth hour, if you ask me. Symbolic ction might make people feel good, but we need something more than that to cut carbon emissions.

Wow... did NOT expect this much vitriol against this idea. The particular hour specified was uber inconvenient for me, so I did it an hour early. And yeah, I know it does nothing. I know it's going to make precisely zero difference to AGW. But the thing is, global warming isn't going away, and it's not any less important because the global economy has tanked. It's a good way of bringing it back into public consiousness.

Plus, we sat around as a family and played a board game. We never do that. It's really not such a bad novelty idea for reasons completely irrelevant to global warming.

I think it's a useless feel-good event, whose overall effect will be effectively zero in light of the amount of hours that are not Earth hours, and do nothing to curtail the overall usage of electricity.

n-th-ed.

no thank you.

-snip OP-

Just to be a pisser, I'm going to turn on every piece of electrical equipment I have. Just because I'm mean. :mad:

I'm going to turn all the lights on, crank up the TV and X-box, and enjoy.

Seriously, they expect me to not use power while the New England / New Jersey game's on? To heck with that.

If you want to stop global warming and carbon emissions that's fine. But spend your energy on meaningful crap, like getting high-profile people to quit using private planes, expanding the rail system and intermodal capacity so we can get 18-wheelers off the roads and converting power plants to more efficient and less polluting types like Nuclear and Hydroelectric.

http://www.earthhour.org/home/

In a few hours we are encouraged here to turn off our electrical appliances and lights where possible and sit around in repentance for an hour. As you can tell, I'm not a big fan. I acknowledge that human activity produces externalities which are, as far as I can tell, accelerating global climate change. I think there have to be policies put in place to account for these externalities effectively.

I don't believe that we are looking at a Doomsday scenario (in the developed world, anyways) and I certainly don't believe that this requires a fundamental change in every single person's life. But that's beside the point. My issue is more with the idea of this token event itself.

The actual savings in emissions from this Earth Hour are miniscule, and the sense of self-satisfaction apparently derived from foregoing some personal comfort for some greater greater good which consists purely of "sending a message" and "showing support" is questionable in my eyes from just about any angle.

But what do you think?
It's stupid, feelgood, and pointless, like a lot of activities of this nature. It's just enough to make people think they've done something and gets it off their mind, so they can think "Okay I did my part" and go on with their lives exactly the same as before.

We are going to have make a fundamental change in our society, and that's a change to be more efficient with everything. The cool thing is, this is actually rather easy. You just avoid wasting a lot of stuff and use only what you need for the task at hand. You can accomplish a lot more than you might think with fewer materials than you would have thought possible, for all kinds of daily tasks.

For example, if you have something like shredded cheese spilled on the counter, don't take a paper towel to wipe it up. Just wipe it off onto your hand and dump it in the trash that way. (You can actually do this sort of thing for a lot of really minor spills of all sorts of stuff by wiping it up with your hand and rinsing your hand off.) Or if you're brushing your teeth, you don't leave the water running in the sink the whole time. You only turn it on when you need it.

Really, it's easy if we develop the habit to watch for waste. The cool thing about this is that not only is it beneficial from an environmental standpoint, but it ALSO saves people a lot of money over time, and I think everyone would appreciate that. :)

It would be nice if the city and businesses participated in Earth hour. It could double as a star gazing hour. Instead, there are still streetlights.

I might be participating. It depends whether or not I get some candles at the store today. Also, I'm totally not unplugging my clock because it takes too long to reprogram with the different alarms and all this. I'll probably just sit around and play guitar by candlelight (or streetlight since those will still be on).

I don't think it will make a difference, but I think it wouldn't hurt to do and well, I actually don't mind blackouts and the like.

Oh, but I'm not too bad for general ecological impact (well, compared to others in my society). I don't drive, I walk/bus/bike/train almost everywhere, I'm not much of a consumer (and well, I try not to be), I try to buy food locally...

Myself and my family are taking part, mainly for the wildlife concerns more than global warming really.

like getting high-profile people to quit using private planes,

Good luck with that.

http://www.earthhour.org/home/

In a few hours we are encouraged here to turn off our electrical appliances and lights where possible and sit around in repentance for an hour. As you can tell, I'm not a big fan. I acknowledge that human activity produces externalities which are, as far as I can tell, accelerating global climate change. I think there have to be policies put in place to account for these externalities effectively.

I don't believe that we are looking at a Doomsday scenario (in the developed world, anyways) and I certainly don't believe that this requires a fundamental change in every single person's life. But that's beside the point. My issue is more with the idea of this token event itself.

The actual savings in emissions from this Earth Hour are miniscule, and the sense of self-satisfaction apparently derived from foregoing some personal comfort for some greater greater good which consists purely of "sending a message" and "showing support" is questionable in my eyes from just about any angle.

But what do you think?

ewww... turning off all of the hosptial's electrical devices??? not good. so no.

ewww... turning off all of the hosptial's electrical devices??? not good. so no.

But it cuts down on human population, which cuts down on carbon emission, which is good for the environment yay!

Why do you hate cute woodland creatures? :(

Okay, so I'm not participating because, well, just because I'm not...however...

How big of a tool do you have to be to turn all your lights on during Earth Hour? I mean, really? Seriously? What are you achieving? Are you really thinking, "That'll show them!" Show them, what, exactly? Your functional maturity?

Or maybe that you're so simple minded that you think the act itself is about reduction and not the discussion. The only people stupid enough to think that the act itself is any effort toward reduction are the knuckledraggers saying, "You know, one hour won't reduce anything," 'cause even the Earth Hour folks aren't peddling that snake oil (http://earthhour.us/about-earthhour.php)-

People across the world will turn off their lights and join together in creating the vital conversation about the future of our precious planet.


Boy, that sure failed, huh? I mean, you're not sitting around discussing it or anything. "But oh noes, we're panning it, so, you know...that's different...I don't have a fish hook in my mouth, that's a piercing..." Sure...

Don't participate if you don't want. Hell, I support efforts to clean shit up and I'm not. Be against it if you feel like it. Have that discussion (but do it honestly, don't attribute your simple minded goals to the event because you lack the capacity to understand anything more complex than direct, naked action/reaction-though that might be the key to your problem understanding the nature of climate change...). But seriously, turning on all your lights as if 'your showing them'...really just shining a giant spotlight on yourself saying, "Here Be a Tool."

Didn't it used to be "Earth Day"? How did we get from "Earth Day" to "Earth Hour"? I guess the planet isn't important enough for a whole day anymore...

Whiny snip

I realise they're only doing this to get a message across, but as you can see, most people already know about Global Warming, and doing this won't change their opinions, except maybe their opinions about the idiots who organised this.

Didn't it used to be "Earth Day"? How did we get from "Earth Day" to "Earth Hour"? I guess the planet isn't important enough for a whole day anymore...

Earth Day's different, I think.

Earth Day's different, I think.

It was a joke, son.

I realise they're only doing this to get a message across, but as you can see, most people already know about Global Warming, and doing this won't change their opinions, except maybe their opinions about the idiots who organised this.

Swing and a miss.

But no, your tantrums are so much more justified. Grab your juice box and enjoy.

It was a joke, son.

Oh FFS that's twice in 2 days now.

But no, your tantrums are so much more justified. Grab your juice box and enjoy.

I'm not going on a tantrum. It's you branding people as tools. Seriously, you're one of the most boring, condescending and rude people I've ever had the displeasure of conversing with on NSG.

I'm not going on a tantrum. It's you branding people as tools. Seriously, you're one of the most boring, condescending and rude people I've ever had the displeasure of conversing with on NSG.

Thanks for your contribution.

Does anyone else find it funny that Cannot Think of a Name and No Names Left Damn It are having an argument?

I do.

Does anyone else find it funny that Cannot Think of a Name and No Names Left Damn It are having an argument?

I do.

Not particularly, but I find him rather amusing.

you're one of the most boring,

but I find him rather amusing.

Geez, dude, make up your mind.

Geez, dude, make up your mind.

Your more recent posts have been funny, but not on purpose. You've still got a rod up your ass though.

Your more recent posts have been funny, but not on purpose. You've still got a rod up your ass though.

As flattering as this all is, this thread isn't about me.

As flattering as this all is, this thread isn't about me.

It could be though. So, tell us more about this rod, what is it made out of?

It could be though. So, tell us more about this rod, what is it made out of?

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/5127/rod.jpg

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/5127/rod.jpg

Isn't it dangerous to have a rod of uranium up your ass?

Isn't it dangerous to have a rod of uranium up your ass?

It'll give you super powers. Try it.

Okay, enough of all that...on with the show...

Isn't it dangerous to have a rod of uranium up your ass?

Not a nuclear technician, but isn't that Plutonium?

I'm definitely doing it.

And for all of those who are complaining about how it's an insignificant gesture, I agree with you.

It's a good thing I do more than that for the environment. Maybe you should also do more, if you feel that this isn't enough.

Get rid of your car. Recycle. Compost. Buy local food. Buy second hand. Put your money where your mouth is.

But it cuts down on human population, which cuts down on carbon emission, which is good for the environment yay!

Why do you hate cute woodland creatures? :(

AH, but for each death, there would be a burial. thus the need for more land space.

if cremation is your thing. then you still emitting carbon into the air. :p

Well in my family we are turning on all the lights. This is because we are strong standers in not believing the biggest lie ever told (gore-bull warming)

Now that I've heard of it, not only am I not going to participate, I'm going to turn extra lights on.

That's what I did last time round.

Just to be a pisser, I'm going to turn on every piece of electrical equipment I have. Just because I'm mean.

Mary , Mary , quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row.

See, the thing is at least the Earth Hour folks are making an admittedly useless gesture for a good reason. You people are doing it just to prove what rebellious, mean, badass iconoclasts you are. You might even have a point, except here you are all doing the same thing just like the rest of the sheople. You're like goth kids, trying to be different... by being the fucking same.

trying to be different...

Actually, I do it to skew the results, making it appear (however marginally) less successful.

Now that I've heard of it, not only am I not going to participate, I'm going to turn extra lights on.

Anything I can do to save the economy from global warming wackos, I'll do. ;)

Still pretending that science isnt science, eh Rush?

Actually, I do it to skew the results, making it appear (however marginally) less successful.

As I said, a useless gesture. It's a useless gesture in response to a useless gesture. It's uselessness compounded.

You're like goth kids, trying to be different... by being the fucking same.

To be fair, the Goth kids I knew dressed like that because they liked the style and thought the clothes were comfortable. It didn't really have to do anything with being "different", and more about self expression.

To be fair, the Goth kids I knew dressed like that because they liked the style and thought the clothes were comfortable. It didn't really have to do anything with being "different", and more about self expression.

Oh, thats a load of bull. Thats just what they say, when in reality its totally about being 'different'. Even all my friends who were former Goths admit that.

Meh, call me when theyve come up with a way for my electricity to not hurt the planet, and ill come...

Oh, thats a load of bull. Thats just what they say, when in reality its totally about being 'different'. Even all my friends who were former Goths admit that.

Yes, because you've talked to every Goth people everywhere right?

Yes, because you've talked to every Goth people everywhere right?

No, I just dont believe your friends. Every Goth says theyre doing it because they 'like the style', and so far, every one IVe met was lying.

No, I just dont believe your friends. Every Goth says theyre doing it because they 'like the style', and so far, every one IVe met was lying.

Goth you know =/= Goths everywhere.

Goth you know =/= Goths everywhere.

Yes, well, I have no reason to believe that the Goths you know are any different when they say the exact same fucking thing.

Yes, well, I have no reason to believe that the Goths you know are any different when they say the exact same fucking thing.

anecdotal evidence is not real evidence. So, we're actually arguing over something stupid since we both can't prove our side. Let's go back to the execution thread, shall we?

Goth you know =/= Goths everywhere.

All the Goths I've met are how KoL describes them.

No, I just dont believe your friends. Every Goth says theyre doing it because they 'like the style', and so far, every one IVe met was lying.

I find it harder to believe that they didn't like the style yet continued to dress in it. There are many avenues they could have chosen to be different, it seems illogical that they would chose one that dislike.

Further, you are talking to 'former' goths who are addressing something that they've passed to someone who obviously has a bias against them. My current attitude about my former mullet does not match the attitude I had about it when I didn't think (know) there was anything wrong with such a ridiculous hairstyle. Certainly there is a desire now to disown the haircut I clearly chose on purpose at the time.

(Yes, I had a mullet. And as a little toe-headed kid I had a rat tail, too. This, I feel, is why I started balding before I was 20, because my hair felt if that was the kind of thing I was going to do with it, I did not deserve to have any.)

Finally, it is important to make the distinction between being different from every other person on the planet and being different from you.

More pirates! The answer is more pirates!

I'm not going on a tantrum. It's you branding people as tools. Seriously, you're one of the most boring, condescending and rude people I've ever had the displeasure of conversing with on NSG.

I find this hilarious given the source. I happen to think you just described yourself there, chief, and certainly not CToaN. CToaN, while I don't always agree with him, is far more interesting and open-minded than you are.

And the simple fact is, he's right. That sort of reaction is immature and idiotic. What are they proving by doing that? They only prove that they miss the point.

I myself have labeled the act stupid and pointless from the aspect of a feelgood half-motion, but only because most view it that way. People ought to be discussing this all the time regardless of some particular "Earth Hour" anyway.

Excuse me, I'm rambling.

More pirates! The answer is more pirates!

HE's RIGHT!!! THE END TIMES ARE UPON US!!!

http://benfry.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/piratesarecool4.gif

As I said, a useless gesture. It's a useless gesture in response to a useless gesture. It's uselessness compounded.

We can graph this as a function:

y = u^2

0 = u^2

HE's RIGHT!!! THE END TIMES ARE UPON US!!!

http://benfry.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/piratesarecool4.gif

That chart doesn't make any sense, not even in connection with the "we need more pirates" hypothesis.

That chart doesn't make any sense, not even in connection with the "we need more pirates" hypothesis.
And it doesn't include the most recent data, showing the committed effort Somalia is making towards testing this theory and reducing climate change.

And it doesn't include the most recent data, showing the committed effort Somalia is making towards testing this theory and reducing climate change.

God bless those Somalis. I bet THEY are participating in Earth Hour :p

Apparently I'm not participating as it should be now.

I did do my usual "turn off the other lights in the apartment" though. Go me.

I'm turning on every light in my home, cranking the heat and the A/C, and if I had an extra tire, I'd set it on fire. I'm going to leave my car idle overnight just for good measure.

Fuckin' hippies.

I'm turning on every light in my home, cranking the heat and the A/C, and if I had an extra tire, I'd set it on fire. I'm going to leave my car idle overnight just for good measure.

Fuckin' hippies.

That'll show 'em.

Well despite me saying I would not be participating in Earth Hour I did. Simply because come 8:30 I was at a mates place and thus no one being at my house the lights were turned off. The house next door turned their lights off at 8:30 but left their TV on somehow I don't think they knew quite what was going on.

Well despite me saying I would not be participating in Earth Hour I did. Simply because come 8:30 I was at a mates place and thus no one being at my house the lights were turned off. The house next door turned their lights off at 8:30 but left their TV on somehow I don't think they knew quite what was going on.

That's about how I half participated. I was watching Of Mice and Men on PBS and never turned the lights on after the sun set, so until about 10pm there were no lights on. Of course, my tv was blaring and I was still on the computer, so I didn't really participate, plus it didn't even occur to me that it was 8:30, an really the only thing that was off was the the compact florescent bulbs which of the three things that could be on was the thing that draws the least...so in spirit, not at all. Movie was good, though.

That chart doesn't make any sense, not even in connection with the "we need more pirates" hypothesis.

Yes it does. And we need to teach it as an alternative to all those established theories in schools. Teach the controversy - or walk the plank !

And there was a football match here at the desired time. And no, people did not watch that in the dark.

Earth Hour slipped right by without any acknowledgement from me. Not that I ignored it, I simply missed it. Although, had I thought about it, I'd have ignored it anyway. If I turned everything off to acknowledge a specious event, do you know how much energy I would have wasted resetting everything?

Yesterday was, however, hug-a-friend Caturday. I hugged several people.

Wow, I didnt know NSG had so many fucking children on it.

Wow, I didnt know NSG had so many fucking children on it.

Im trying my best here, but there are just so many! :p

Wow, I didnt know NSG had so many fucking children on it.

You have been on NSG how long?