Scientists and historians may find it difficult to pinpoint the exact moment that the American Dream became synonymous with 'Buy as Much Crap as Possible and Throw it Away to Make Room for More Crap we Absolutely Have to Buy', (more commonly known as 'Consumerism'), but I would suggest the moment was sometime around August 1960, when the following ads appeared in an issue of House Beautiful.
'Sure,' you're probably thinking, 'This looks wasteful, but it's no worse than using tissues.'
And you may be right. Many people seem to have some issues with re-using cloth handkerchiefs. And they don't notice how wasteful it is because, unlike people with hayfever, they don't really have to blow their noses too often.
People with spring-summer-fall allergies (like me) learned by about age 10 that tissues are the most ridiculous inventions ever - not to mention how expensive they are! I can blow (hah!) through a travel-pack of tissues in a single spring day. Simply imagine how much trash I would be creating if I didn't have my rotating supply of handkerchiefs.
And you may be right. Many people seem to have some issues with re-using cloth handkerchiefs. And they don't notice how wasteful it is because, unlike people with hayfever, they don't really have to blow their noses too often.
People with spring-summer-fall allergies (like me) learned by about age 10 that tissues are the most ridiculous inventions ever - not to mention how expensive they are! I can blow (hah!) through a travel-pack of tissues in a single spring day. Simply imagine how much trash I would be creating if I didn't have my rotating supply of handkerchiefs.
This is like having a disposable table cloth. Or disposable plates and silverware (although some people do actually use these items in the home, regularly).
How filthy and/or lazy does a person have to be to get to the point where they are actually seeking out disposable clothing items?! Keep in mind, also, that in 1960 simple and convenient home washing machines not only existed but were commonly owned. They also had bleach.
How filthy and/or lazy does a person have to be to get to the point where they are actually seeking out disposable clothing items?! Keep in mind, also, that in 1960 simple and convenient home washing machines not only existed but were commonly owned. They also had bleach.
This is my personal favorite.
These apparently solve "an ever-present problem for the summer-hostess."
What on earth could this problem be? How many showers are her guests taking that it is too much trouble to wash and dry the bathmats?
On top of how wasteful this is, the very idea of touching my bare, wet skin to paper fills me with dread. It is a most disagreeable sensation.
No comments:
Post a Comment