Comments on: Do you ever get embarrassed?

By: m

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 02:26:17 +0000

I remember bringing a cloth bag grocery shopping and the bagger not knowing what to do. it’s not that hard. that was back in the day when using cloth was completely unknown. i was self-conscious but not embarrassed. but when at first you’re embarrassed or self-conscious but later people come to see/be your way you feel empowered. so the next time you feel self-conscious you don’t let it stop you because you know the reward of doing the right thing, and that maybe, eventually others will come around to seeing what you see.

and i hate when baggers use your cloth bag(s) and don’t pack it well and then try to pack the rest in a plastic bag. it gets annoying. i’m not embarrassed to just butt in and bag my own stuff now. they don’t seem to get the point about reusable bags…

By: Emily

Emily — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:14:00 +0000

Heh – I have found that now that I feel the embarassment but am more easily able to let it roll off my back with the hopes that maybe one in ten people out there will say hey… that’s a good idea… I’ll have to try that.

I use cloth diapers on my daughter and I have had other mom’s scoff “oh – you are crazy using those” but I have gotten used to it. In general, most people will ask more questions. I actually know of one couple I have inspired to use cloth diapers who had started out by calling me “crazy!”

Also, I am an avid coupon clipper, however I can’t bring myself to get the Sunday paper… so I dig in the recycling bin. I can get multiple coupon inserts this way. The transfer station guys don’t mind at all.

By: Martin

Martin — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:57:00 +0000

I swear that I hadn't read you post before I wrote my 'then they laugh at you' post.

I would have to say that I do get embarrassed fairly often, but I am only 39 and 3/4 years old :)

I recently decided to do regular beach surveys combined with a bit of volunteer cleanup. My first photo session there was no embarrassment because there were no onlookers.

By: CindyW

CindyW — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:48:00 +0000

I actually got to talk to my mother about this. I personally have never had the nerve to bring my own container for meat, or other stuff. My mom gave me a look, “not to long ago, like about 30, I never used a plastic bag. I’d take my bottle to get soy sauce, vinegar or sugar.” My mother grew up in a different culture and it seemed perfectly normal for people to bring their own containers to store, though she shops just like everyone else these days. Perhaps it is because she has lived many years when BYOC was just a part of everyone’s life.

I am trying to not care about what other people think of me :)

By: Fake Plastic Fish

Fake Plastic Fish — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:51:00 +0000

Clif — love the photo!

By: Steph @ Greening Families

Steph @ Greening Families — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:59:00 +0000

I’ve found the internet so helpful in this regard. Whether it is living below my means or greening my life, the internet has allowed me to discover others who have come to the same conclusions I have.

I’ve found this enormously comforting. When I feel like I am “the only one,” I keep running through my decision making to make sure I haven’t missed or misinterpreted something. Once I know that others have reached similar conclusions, I don’t have a problem being the only one in an area because I know there is a community out there, just not where I am at the moment.

By: Tanya Seaman

Tanya Seaman — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:48:00 +0000

I do get embarrassed when I do things like ask for a real glass or real silverware because essentially I’m pointing out to the other person that they are wasteful and not very conscious when they provide throwaway stuff. I wish to find a more comfortable way to ask so that I don’t seem like an annoyance.

Your blog helps me express myself so that it’s about ME, not them, while still encouraging others to internalize what I’M doing. Thanks!

By: Clif

Clif — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:13:00 +0000

This is a test to see if HTML can be inserted for links so people don't have to cut and paste.

bike air bag

By: Clif

Clif — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:42:00 +0000

You are not alone in transporting shipping popcorn by bike. Please view this example of my doing the same. If folks ask what I am doing, I tell them it is an airbag for a bike.

http://cbplace.com/airbag1.jpg

By: The Minimalist

The Minimalist — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:42:00 +0000

I would think stores would embrace people using their own containers as it would save them money. The cloth bag thing is so weird because I have had other customers give me a smug look or comment like, “Soon the green police will be after us all.” I was embarrassed but then the checker said, “Wow, what’s her problem, we want you to use our reusable store bags!”