4 ms·

The compounded impact from multiple people is not negligible.

TeMPOraL 10y ago
Of course it isn't. But the marginal impact is. That's the difference between "go vegetarian" vs. "convince millions to go vegetarian". I'm asking for things a skilled individual can do that would have larger marginal impact that changing one's own dietary habits.
- bamboozled 10y ago
  Sadly, this attitude has been the problem for too long now, it might be our undoing. The common individual waits for some authoritative direction, without taking any immediate action or responsibility of their own. The individual somehow believes they won't have an impact, failing to realize they're part of the same system as everyone else and, it's the sum of all our behaviour that has got us to this crisis point. If the old way isn't working, why not try something new? Don't forget the power of influence. It's monkey see, money do with us humans!
  - TeMPOraL 10y ago
    I'm not saying don't make the individual-level changes. Do them, sure. But that - talking about personal responsibility - is exactly the "old way" that isn't working. I'm looking for impactful things that one can do beyond personal changes. > Don't forget the power of influence. It's monkey see, money do with us humans! Sure, marketing / propaganda / public outreach is a very good example of things I'm looking for! However, I assume most people here are better at building than talking, so that's why I asked for examples in which one can apply engineering skills.
    - bamboozled 10y ago
      This doesn't mean marketing, bragging or propaganda. It's about making an effort. Take divesting your savings from banks that fund non-renewablecenergy projects, for example. Actually doing it is effort, it's something you can do, and it will have a positive impact on climate change, even if it's small, it's a start; However, here's the kicker, actually doing it is the key. You will see how others respond to this action, it's different to just making a suggestion. It's leadership. Honestly, making changes on an individual level (sometimes this can mean some sacrifices) is probably a much stronger catalyst for change in others than you might think. This quote from Ghandi is great, it's just not always easy, I hope you enjoy :) Be the change that you wish to see in the world
      - TeMPOraL 10y ago
        Thanks for reminding me of the quote :). Also, interesting example with banks; this has never occured to me. I'm not denying that individual efforts and "leading by example" is worthless. It's powerful when in aggregate, and for that very reason it's worth doing. My question is generally - after one does the individual-level changes, what else can one do that could help with the skills that one has?
- noselasd 10y ago
  As the problem is really a compound of millions of people and not any one indivdiual, the answer is then really nothing - bar more unrealistic options such as becoming a dictator and banning fossil fuel, or become a genie and invent an engine running on water. The more realistic approach is to change ones own behavior where possible - get an electric car, demand your electricity company switch to clean tech, switch to getting electric from non-fossil fueled power, fly less miles, use a bike, and so on - and try to convince others to do so too. If noone does anything, it's pretty certain nothing will change either.
  - TeMPOraL 10y ago
    I disagree. There is a whole spectrum between "change your own behaviour" and "become a global dictator". It's a spectrum of influencing people around you. Marketing and persuasion are ways to directly influence people, but there are also many more ways to do that indirectly - e.g. creating / improving technologies that change the default behaviour of people for the better. To use a simple example - switching to renewables would not possible without people inventing ways to economically extract power from renewables.
- ogrisel 10y ago
  You first need to go vegetarian to convince others to do the same.

Of course it isn't. But the marginal impact is. That's the difference between "go vegetarian" vs. "convince millions to go vegetarian". I'm asking for things a skilled individual can do that would have larger marginal impact that changing one's own dietary habits.

bamboozled 10y ago
Sadly, this attitude has been the problem for too long now, it might be our undoing. The common individual waits for some authoritative direction, without taking any immediate action or responsibility of their own. The individual somehow believes they won't have an impact, failing to realize they're part of the same system as everyone else and, it's the sum of all our behaviour that has got us to this crisis point. If the old way isn't working, why not try something new? Don't forget the power of influence. It's monkey see, money do with us humans!
- TeMPOraL 10y ago
  I'm not saying don't make the individual-level changes. Do them, sure. But that - talking about personal responsibility - is exactly the "old way" that isn't working. I'm looking for impactful things that one can do beyond personal changes. > Don't forget the power of influence. It's monkey see, money do with us humans! Sure, marketing / propaganda / public outreach is a very good example of things I'm looking for! However, I assume most people here are better at building than talking, so that's why I asked for examples in which one can apply engineering skills.
  - bamboozled 10y ago
    This doesn't mean marketing, bragging or propaganda. It's about making an effort. Take divesting your savings from banks that fund non-renewablecenergy projects, for example. Actually doing it is effort, it's something you can do, and it will have a positive impact on climate change, even if it's small, it's a start; However, here's the kicker, actually doing it is the key. You will see how others respond to this action, it's different to just making a suggestion. It's leadership. Honestly, making changes on an individual level (sometimes this can mean some sacrifices) is probably a much stronger catalyst for change in others than you might think. This quote from Ghandi is great, it's just not always easy, I hope you enjoy :) Be the change that you wish to see in the world
    - TeMPOraL 10y ago
      Thanks for reminding me of the quote :). Also, interesting example with banks; this has never occured to me. I'm not denying that individual efforts and "leading by example" is worthless. It's powerful when in aggregate, and for that very reason it's worth doing. My question is generally - after one does the individual-level changes, what else can one do that could help with the skills that one has?
noselasd 10y ago
As the problem is really a compound of millions of people and not any one indivdiual, the answer is then really nothing - bar more unrealistic options such as becoming a dictator and banning fossil fuel, or become a genie and invent an engine running on water. The more realistic approach is to change ones own behavior where possible - get an electric car, demand your electricity company switch to clean tech, switch to getting electric from non-fossil fueled power, fly less miles, use a bike, and so on - and try to convince others to do so too. If noone does anything, it's pretty certain nothing will change either.
- TeMPOraL 10y ago
  I disagree. There is a whole spectrum between "change your own behaviour" and "become a global dictator". It's a spectrum of influencing people around you. Marketing and persuasion are ways to directly influence people, but there are also many more ways to do that indirectly - e.g. creating / improving technologies that change the default behaviour of people for the better. To use a simple example - switching to renewables would not possible without people inventing ways to economically extract power from renewables.
ogrisel 10y ago
You first need to go vegetarian to convince others to do the same.