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There's a fallacy with this type of thinking. It's something to the effect that "the big bad wolf is causing the trouble, therefore, I'm powerless to do anythin

There's a fallacy with this type of thinking. It's something to the effect that "the big bad wolf is causing the trouble, therefore, I'm powerless to do anything" The reason corporations do what they do is because they are providing a service to millions of customers at the lowest cost and the highest profits for them. We, consumers, like to shift all the blame to someone else, it lets us continue as we have without guilt. We need to feel we are powerless so we don't feel bad about not doing anything about the problem. The fix can come from the producers or the consumers or both. Saying that consumers are powerless just continues the inaction until the fix is forced onto all of us by nature. Reducing power consumption and reducing the number of items we buy and eventually throw away is a start. Pushing politicians to make the hard choices is also part of the fix. But saying someone else has all the power, therefore, I can't do anything or I saying I can only do a little therefore I won't bother is not.

pdimitar 8y ago
I, and many others, can definitely do a lot -- but other people have done the math and concluded that we don't amount for anything but a blip in statistics. There is a link in this thread giving the same perspective as well. I'd like the world to start attacking the source of issues top-to-bottom and not bottom-to-top. Can the citizens help? Absolutely. Will they amount for much unless corporations start taking action? No.
- ElBarto 8y ago
  A very effective way to make corporations take action is citizens making them to. Are you willing to?
  - pdimitar 8y ago
    Very broad and vague question. I'm not throwing away my PC, or MacBook, or iPhone, or iPad, or 35" 144Hz display that consumes 200W. I actually need them and they actually help me live a better life. But sure, I do use less napkins compared to 5 years ago. And I don't have a car (which is insane to have when you live in the center of a city anyway). You'll have to clarify what do you have in mind with your question though.
- veli_joza 8y ago
  Corporations cannot change anything on their own if they operate in capitalistic economy. They are doing exactly what's expected of them to maximize the profit. If you change your lifestyle significantly, you are not just a blip in statistics. Your actions rub off on other people, your vote supports the right people, and with enough time you help the right mindset to prevail. Besides, presuming you are not climate change skeptic, what other rational choice do you have?
  - pdimitar 8y ago
    The only truly effective thing I do is to hold on to tech for as long as it's viable -- to send the message that I'm not okay with planned obsolescence. But no, I'm not gonna go out of my way to religiously pursue smaller CO2 footprint at all costs. I try to make small differences but anything that severely inconveniences me is a no-no and always will be. At least I'm not pretending for the sake of feeling good about myself.
Pica_soO 8y ago
Divided and Conquered this political view has .
oppzixi00 8y ago
> We, consumers, like to shift all the blame to someone else, An analogue: committing a crime is punishable, inciting it in some cases may be. It is the companies who dig up fossil fuels and use them --- "consumers told me to do it" is not an excuse that absolves from responsibility. Those trading in fossil fuels do what they do on their own accord, for financial gain, and hence carry the responsibility.
- mapleoin 8y ago
  As long as all the world requires increasingly more energy, there will be political support and policies which allow the extraction of fossil fuels. This is the situation we have now. The companies digging up fossil fuel would go out of business if there was no demand for fossil fuels. The problem is that the change in behaviour that this demands is great: ever thought about selling your car? or paying twice as much for a new electric car?
  - sverige 8y ago
    Go further: ever thought about turning off your computers and not carrying a smartphone that requires charging every day? The internet and related hardware consume an ever-increasing percentage of total electrical output. We could just turn it all off if we were serious about climate change. Nothing really bad would happen. Seriously.
    - michaelt 8y ago
      In the UK, to fully charge an iPhone twice a day for a year takes £0.70 of electricity annually; the average 3- or 4-bedroom home uses £500+ of electricity a year. Anyone who has told you smartphones are a significant consumer of power doesn't know what they're talking about.
      - sverige 8y ago
        Sure, but how many servers are running to ensure that Big Tech can maintain 24/7 surveillance through those phones?

pdimitar 8y ago

I, and many others, can definitely do a lot -- but other people have done the math and concluded that we don't amount for anything but a blip in statistics. There is a link in this thread giving the same perspective as well. I'd like the world to start attacking the source of issues top-to-bottom and not bottom-to-top. Can the citizens help? Absolutely. Will they amount for much unless corporations start taking action? No.

ElBarto 8y ago
A very effective way to make corporations take action is citizens making them to. Are you willing to?
- pdimitar 8y ago
  Very broad and vague question. I'm not throwing away my PC, or MacBook, or iPhone, or iPad, or 35" 144Hz display that consumes 200W. I actually need them and they actually help me live a better life. But sure, I do use less napkins compared to 5 years ago. And I don't have a car (which is insane to have when you live in the center of a city anyway). You'll have to clarify what do you have in mind with your question though.
veli_joza 8y ago
Corporations cannot change anything on their own if they operate in capitalistic economy. They are doing exactly what's expected of them to maximize the profit. If you change your lifestyle significantly, you are not just a blip in statistics. Your actions rub off on other people, your vote supports the right people, and with enough time you help the right mindset to prevail. Besides, presuming you are not climate change skeptic, what other rational choice do you have?
- pdimitar 8y ago
  The only truly effective thing I do is to hold on to tech for as long as it's viable -- to send the message that I'm not okay with planned obsolescence. But no, I'm not gonna go out of my way to religiously pursue smaller CO2 footprint at all costs. I try to make small differences but anything that severely inconveniences me is a no-no and always will be. At least I'm not pretending for the sake of feeling good about myself.

Pica_soO 8y ago

Divided and Conquered this political view has .

oppzixi00 8y ago

> We, consumers, like to shift all the blame to someone else, An analogue: committing a crime is punishable, inciting it in some cases may be. It is the companies who dig up fossil fuels and use them --- "consumers told me to do it" is not an excuse that absolves from responsibility. Those trading in fossil fuels do what they do on their own accord, for financial gain, and hence carry the responsibility.

mapleoin 8y ago
As long as all the world requires increasingly more energy, there will be political support and policies which allow the extraction of fossil fuels. This is the situation we have now. The companies digging up fossil fuel would go out of business if there was no demand for fossil fuels. The problem is that the change in behaviour that this demands is great: ever thought about selling your car? or paying twice as much for a new electric car?
- sverige 8y ago
  Go further: ever thought about turning off your computers and not carrying a smartphone that requires charging every day? The internet and related hardware consume an ever-increasing percentage of total electrical output. We could just turn it all off if we were serious about climate change. Nothing really bad would happen. Seriously.
  - michaelt 8y ago
    In the UK, to fully charge an iPhone twice a day for a year takes £0.70 of electricity annually; the average 3- or 4-bedroom home uses £500+ of electricity a year. Anyone who has told you smartphones are a significant consumer of power doesn't know what they're talking about.
    - sverige 8y ago
      Sure, but how many servers are running to ensure that Big Tech can maintain 24/7 surveillance through those phones?