... because it's only a matter of time before someone posts it and the comments get flooded.
Carrie, this post would have benefited from some cross-linking to Wise Bread posts on low-cost strategies for eating well and exercising. And from some recognition that not only does obesity cause some economic squeezes, it is also a very visible side effect of being economically disadvantaged. There's a reason urban activists are pushing for decent grocery stores and greengrocer carts in poor neighborhoods.
That said, there are some salient observations here. Fat people do end up paying more for clothing because they don't have the benefit of being able to hit thrift stores and retailers know they can charge more to an audience that is desperate for wearable clothing. (Just look at the comments over on Jezebel about this yesterday.) Fat people are discriminated against in hiring and compensation. So if you're fat because your office job collided with your slowing metabolism and you didn't adjust your eating and exercise habits accordingly, then you do have motivation to pare off the excess weight. Your own actions are hurting your pocketbook and your health.
But if you're obese due to medical and genetic factors that you genuinely cannot control, then it's not fair to sing, "Ah, well, quit the cupcakes! You get what you deserve!" Overt workplace discrimination is wrong and all of us should fight it.
I struggle with my weight too, and obesity is common on both sides of my family, but come on - it IS usually as simple as calories in and calories out.
Of course "simple" does not mean "easy." It's HARD to restrict caloric intake, and it's HARD to increase caloric output in our culture. We have long communtes, sedentary jobs, sedentary hobbies like TV and video games, and ready access to all kinds of cheap, yummy, unhealthy foods.
There's no reason to shame overweight people, but come on - we all know that genetics isn't why people are overweight (which is why gastric bypass surgery works), and we all know that it's much healthier to be thin than obese.
Hey-why not rejuve a battery pack with a conductive epoxy instead of soldering? I think JB weld would do the trick, and they make a quick set version. JB weld is used for repairing engine blocks, so you should keep the rest of the tube for any engine repair. Many years agone, back in the winter of the great snow, a friend helped me patch an old exhaust manifold that couldn't be welded due to heating driving out the carbon or some such. Worked fine, lasted a long time.
Check my claims-the manufacturer should be able to confirm if it's suitable for this application.
And the content of this video has been removed-wassupwidat?
I didn't realize what a brave post this was until I waded through the vitriol in many of the comments. You made your point gently and intelligently. I fear so many overweight people have had to deal with so much negative attention and condescension that it becomes hard to distinguish between an attack and a simple accounting. (For example: I don't think you ENDORSE discrimination against overweight people simply by pointing it out.)
Keep your chin up.
Another thing I really like about public transportation is not having to park a car. Living in SF, parking can be a real nightmare. I work near Pier 39 (a main tourist attraction) and all-day parking ranges from $20 to $35 depending on which lot you pick. Street parking is even more troublesome. I often say that I take MUNI (city bus system) just to let the drivers do the parking.
You should really do your research before posting a blog so full of half-truths. This is the first article on wisebread that has really displeased me. Allow me to join my fellow poster in removing this from my daily reading.
"Stay Thin and Save". Catchy, but wait a minute--that assumes that all people "get fat" by choice. There are all the arguments about genetics and so forth that people make, but for many people they grew up fat and it is very hard to lose weight. It's not a problem of just maintaining your natural, ideal state.
Also, I have to really ding you on the idea that it's cheap and easy to eat in a way that promotes thinness. Tell that to people who work all the time, who live in places so shoddy and poverty-stricken they don't have full kitchens, who don't have access to any fresh produce. Even if all the poor people in America went vegetarian they wouldn't necessarily have the time or facilities to cook their lentils and rice.
I don't need this kind of well-meaning advice in my life, so I think I too will unsubscribe. I don't mean to be nasty, but seriously, life's too short to count every freaking penny and to be told that being a size 14 is now ruining my health, my social life, my employment prospects, everyone else's aesthetic experience, and now my wallet.
Sorry. Carrie, in Southern Speak you can't call your husband "fluffy". That would cast aspersions on his manhood. "Fluffy" is reserved for women and cats. Men and dogs are "substantial". Rodents, lagomorphs and poultry can legitimately be called "fat". Everything else can be covered by "big ol'". And my husband is more substantial than your's. Just sayin'.
A quick google search would've helped to prevent the misinformation and myths in this blog.
All fat people are NOT lazy and all fat people are NOT unhealthy. And please tell me you don't honestly believe that all fat people are sweaty and hot all the time?
I am an obese woman who takes the stairs every day at work and parks wherever the hell I want. I am active, energetic and HEALTHY.
Oh and its in the 90s today and I'm wearing a jacket because I'm freezing. My partner often catches me at home with an electric blanket in the middle of summer because I'm *gasp* a cold-natured fat person.
Read the junkfoodscience blog that was linked above, as well as anything you can find on HAES: Health at Any Size. Medical studies are coming out every day proving that weight doesn't contribute to the diseases we have been trained (mostly by the diet industry) to believe they contribute to.
The only parts of my size that cost me more are due to ignorance and discrimination, which this post unfortunately perpetuates.
I do believe that being healthier can help save on doctor bills, etc. But the idea that it has anything to do with size is a complete marketing fallacy.
I don't drink soda, consume high fructose corn syrup or eat processed foods. I cook every single night--mostly with food from my local farmers market--for myself and my partner and I take my dog for walks on a regular basis.
My doctor (whom I see maybe once/twice a year for a cold) is pleased with my health.
Oh and one more pearl of wisdom for anyone who struggles with weight. If you let go of the guilt and self-loathing that family, friends, the diet industry, advertising, ill-informed doctors and ill-informed bloggers feel the right to unload upon you because of these myths, you'll discover one fantastic health benefit:
The ability to be truly happy. There ain't a thing in this world healthier or more frugal than that.
The morbidly obese will save money in the end by dying early. While the scrawny bourgeoisie are working 60 hours/week amassing millions in IRAs and 401ks for retirement (part of which they are likely to be obliviously senile), the obese can enjoy eating.
Half of your weight is determined by your genetics. And there are a lot of emotional variables that come into play with your weight, as well as how you were taught to eat as a child.
I think all overweight people know the facts you have posted in this article. Does that help us? No. People who are not and have never been overweight always think they have the easy solutions.
I'll start by saying you have now earned your way off of my RSS feed.
Obesity is much more complex than a simple calories in/calories out equation. It's very easy to paint those who are fat as simply not having the self control necessary to lose the weight. Unfortunately, there's much more to it than that.
But, let me get to my particular arguments with your post here:
1) People who are fat are unhealthy. Studies have shown activity level has more to do with unhealthiness than weight. If you are thin and inactive, you will have more health problems than someone who is fat and active. And believe it or not, a lot of fat people are active. We are out hiking, biking, swimming, and otherwise enjoying our lives. Don't assume that because a person is fat that they are living an unhealthy lifestyle.
2) Fat people use more utilities than thin people. I assume you have a study to show this validity? Or is this just an assumption because you know one fat person who happens to be hotter than others? I'm fat, and you know what? I tend to be *cold* all the time. That's right, cold. I'm sitting here in August in sweats because I'm cold. Yes, I know fat people who are hot all the time. But I know some thin people who are hot all the time as well.
3) Lack of employment - you say it's wrong to discriminate but then give reasons why people should be discriminated against. You say flat out that we have decreased mobility and energy. How do you know? Are you fat? I know a lot of thin people with decreased mobility and energy. You can't make a sweeping generalization like that. Some fat people, like some thin people, have mobility problems. But not all do. You are playing into the mindset that causes this discrimination to start with!
Shame on your for reinforcing the mindset that the obese should be ashamed. And shame on your for reinforcing the mindset that is driving people in our society to eating disorders in droves. And shame on you for enforcing everyone's image of fat people as slow, slothful, depressed, and unhealthy.
Do us all a favor. Do some actual research before you post about obesity again.
Buying printer ink used to be a problem. They just cost very expensive. But here in Philippines, we used refillable ink cartridge from Korea. This way, we get to save mother earth by not throwing the cartridge, but just refilling it with precious ink juice. The quality is not bad by the way.
Regarding the idea of putting tape to do the trick, that's a new one. Will try that. Awesome hack by the way!
The blog Junkfood Science may not directly take industry funding, but the Competitive Enterprise Institute, for whom Sandy Szwarc has done extensive (and presumably paid) work, is funded by several corporations and tobacco companies, and many of these tobacco companies also have food subsidiaries that sell a great deal of junk food. As a result, that blog is certainly not the first place I'd look to for accurate information on obesity or food science. The author's conflict of interest is too great. Her previous non-blog articles suggest she toes the food industry line on every issue.
In contrast, Marion Nestle writes a great blog on food issues, and is widely recognized as reputable.
eat healthy, work out, burn more calories than you take in. It doesn't get simpler than that.
I do really like the idea of applying a 'frugal mindset' to your eating habits.
It appears that its a bit of a reference to a 1930's boxing coach, and has been in the sports lexicon ever since. I hate imprecise and "wrong" language as much as the next guy, but this case looks to be a pretty appropriate use of the expression.
We recently switched to refillable cartridges for our Epson printers. Because the original cartridges are really hard to refill, we bought (for about $6) new cartridges that are designed to be refilled. One advantage of these is that they're made of translucent plastic. So we don't have to rely on the printer to tell us when a cartridge is empty. Also, with these, if we remove them and reinsert them, it resets the "counter", fooling the printer into thinking that the cartridge is now full again.
So we're saving money, and we're able to use the ink up completely. Turns out Epson is a good printer for refilling, because the ink cartridges don't include the print heads, so they're pretty simple.
Martha, I will no longer affectionately refer to my hubs, with his 40-inch waist, as tubby. Nope, he's now "fluffy," thanks to you.
Fat Guy, there are a few posts on Wise Bread about eating healthy in a more affordable way. While you're correct that you can buy calorie-dense food for cheap, personally I don't think buying fresh veg, fruit and whole grains is THAT expensive. I'm feeding a family of 4 on $80 a week in the Chicago area, and we buy very little junk food.
And Sarah -- If you're lucky enough to NOT be tormented by babylust (i.e. wanting children, not being a pervert), you are truly lucky checkbook-wise. I'm sure that not having kids would save way, way more money than losing weight. If only I wasn't so attached to these expensive little buggers.
and it breaks my heart to see my daughter's classmates. A good 50% of them are overlarge for their size. Many have to have their uniforms altered to accomodate their size (see #3, above). The parents of these kids, almost without exception, are similarly sized. I know genetics plays a factor but the traditional diet and the social acceptability of overweight in the South makes "fluffiness" (we don't say "fat" down here) heartbreakingly common. At least kids don't get teased for being big here (but the skinny kids do get grief).
First, I'd like to commend the author for taking a tactful stance on this issue. I'd packed on pounds through 3 pregnancies and had no luck losing it with Weight Watchers, Zone, etc (was SOOOOOO ravenous). Three months ago, I decided to approach the problem like any other frugal problem, small nips and tucks until I reach my goal. It's not a DIE-IT. It's simply good frugal sense to only eat enough to get full and losing any weight, even if not 100% of it, is healthier than losing none.
People overestimate how much they can accomplish in a short period of time taking drastic measures, but vastly underestimate how much they can accomplish over a long period through minor course corrections. One pound per week by paring down "problem areas" (such as portion size and late-night snacks) is an easy goal, and if you continue long-term eventually you'll lose the weight. No pain, no DIE-IT.
Now I've got a new problem, my clothes are too loose, but I have more weight to lose. THRIFT SHOP ... here I come!!!
This is slander. Junkfood Science receives NO funding from any industry or special interests. I am a medical professional with more than 30 year experience and more than a decade in obesity research. I have written this blog and worked without a salary for years because it is important people hear the science and not continue to be taken advantage of by special interests. You do not see advertisements for bariatric surgery there, as you do at this blog. You will find the Health Care Blogger Code of Ethics at JFS - look it up.
I don't understand what makes phone books so difficult to recycle? Am I missing something, or isn't just as easy to throw an unwanted book in the recycle bin as the garbage?
Paul, the poll at your office doesn't prove anything (again, limited scope). A significant portion of the U.S.'s population is retired. Statistically, there are more people under 50 using the internet than over 50. (And they hold a significant portion of the country's wealth and spending power). Besides, even computer and internet-literate people still prefer the phone book out of habit.
I like the idea of opting out of getting a phone book, but I have to think that the people who deliver the books don't have a master list of addresses to avoid. In Canada, we only get one or two books a year (at most), but they aren't addressed to our homes. I live in an apartment, so we just receive a batch of books in the lobby.
It seems to me that registering for a service like this (if it was available in Canada) doesn't do my any good... It's just a means for someone to collect my personal information.
I would love to see a petition to produce less books. I think that would make a difference.
promoting the "junkfoodscience" site. Junkfoodscience is a blog sponsored by several big fast food companies, made solely for the purpose to keep people eating their unhealthy stuff. Everything said there should be treated as extremely biased and in my experience mostly incorrect or outright lies.
... because it's only a matter of time before someone posts it and the comments get flooded.
Carrie, this post would have benefited from some cross-linking to Wise Bread posts on low-cost strategies for eating well and exercising. And from some recognition that not only does obesity cause some economic squeezes, it is also a very visible side effect of being economically disadvantaged. There's a reason urban activists are pushing for decent grocery stores and greengrocer carts in poor neighborhoods.
That said, there are some salient observations here. Fat people do end up paying more for clothing because they don't have the benefit of being able to hit thrift stores and retailers know they can charge more to an audience that is desperate for wearable clothing. (Just look at the comments over on Jezebel about this yesterday.) Fat people are discriminated against in hiring and compensation. So if you're fat because your office job collided with your slowing metabolism and you didn't adjust your eating and exercise habits accordingly, then you do have motivation to pare off the excess weight. Your own actions are hurting your pocketbook and your health.
But if you're obese due to medical and genetic factors that you genuinely cannot control, then it's not fair to sing, "Ah, well, quit the cupcakes! You get what you deserve!" Overt workplace discrimination is wrong and all of us should fight it.
I struggle with my weight too, and obesity is common on both sides of my family, but come on - it IS usually as simple as calories in and calories out.
Of course "simple" does not mean "easy." It's HARD to restrict caloric intake, and it's HARD to increase caloric output in our culture. We have long communtes, sedentary jobs, sedentary hobbies like TV and video games, and ready access to all kinds of cheap, yummy, unhealthy foods.
There's no reason to shame overweight people, but come on - we all know that genetics isn't why people are overweight (which is why gastric bypass surgery works), and we all know that it's much healthier to be thin than obese.
Hey-why not rejuve a battery pack with a conductive epoxy instead of soldering? I think JB weld would do the trick, and they make a quick set version. JB weld is used for repairing engine blocks, so you should keep the rest of the tube for any engine repair. Many years agone, back in the winter of the great snow, a friend helped me patch an old exhaust manifold that couldn't be welded due to heating driving out the carbon or some such. Worked fine, lasted a long time.
Check my claims-the manufacturer should be able to confirm if it's suitable for this application.
And the content of this video has been removed-wassupwidat?
I didn't realize what a brave post this was until I waded through the vitriol in many of the comments. You made your point gently and intelligently. I fear so many overweight people have had to deal with so much negative attention and condescension that it becomes hard to distinguish between an attack and a simple accounting. (For example: I don't think you ENDORSE discrimination against overweight people simply by pointing it out.)
Keep your chin up.
Another thing I really like about public transportation is not having to park a car. Living in SF, parking can be a real nightmare. I work near Pier 39 (a main tourist attraction) and all-day parking ranges from $20 to $35 depending on which lot you pick. Street parking is even more troublesome. I often say that I take MUNI (city bus system) just to let the drivers do the parking.
You should really do your research before posting a blog so full of half-truths. This is the first article on wisebread that has really displeased me. Allow me to join my fellow poster in removing this from my daily reading.
"Stay Thin and Save". Catchy, but wait a minute--that assumes that all people "get fat" by choice. There are all the arguments about genetics and so forth that people make, but for many people they grew up fat and it is very hard to lose weight. It's not a problem of just maintaining your natural, ideal state.
Also, I have to really ding you on the idea that it's cheap and easy to eat in a way that promotes thinness. Tell that to people who work all the time, who live in places so shoddy and poverty-stricken they don't have full kitchens, who don't have access to any fresh produce. Even if all the poor people in America went vegetarian they wouldn't necessarily have the time or facilities to cook their lentils and rice.
I don't need this kind of well-meaning advice in my life, so I think I too will unsubscribe. I don't mean to be nasty, but seriously, life's too short to count every freaking penny and to be told that being a size 14 is now ruining my health, my social life, my employment prospects, everyone else's aesthetic experience, and now my wallet.
Sorry. Carrie, in Southern Speak you can't call your husband "fluffy". That would cast aspersions on his manhood. "Fluffy" is reserved for women and cats. Men and dogs are "substantial". Rodents, lagomorphs and poultry can legitimately be called "fat". Everything else can be covered by "big ol'". And my husband is more substantial than your's. Just sayin'.
A quick google search would've helped to prevent the misinformation and myths in this blog.
All fat people are NOT lazy and all fat people are NOT unhealthy. And please tell me you don't honestly believe that all fat people are sweaty and hot all the time?
I am an obese woman who takes the stairs every day at work and parks wherever the hell I want. I am active, energetic and HEALTHY.
Oh and its in the 90s today and I'm wearing a jacket because I'm freezing. My partner often catches me at home with an electric blanket in the middle of summer because I'm *gasp* a cold-natured fat person.
Read the junkfoodscience blog that was linked above, as well as anything you can find on HAES: Health at Any Size. Medical studies are coming out every day proving that weight doesn't contribute to the diseases we have been trained (mostly by the diet industry) to believe they contribute to.
The only parts of my size that cost me more are due to ignorance and discrimination, which this post unfortunately perpetuates.
I do believe that being healthier can help save on doctor bills, etc. But the idea that it has anything to do with size is a complete marketing fallacy.
I don't drink soda, consume high fructose corn syrup or eat processed foods. I cook every single night--mostly with food from my local farmers market--for myself and my partner and I take my dog for walks on a regular basis.
My doctor (whom I see maybe once/twice a year for a cold) is pleased with my health.
Oh and one more pearl of wisdom for anyone who struggles with weight. If you let go of the guilt and self-loathing that family, friends, the diet industry, advertising, ill-informed doctors and ill-informed bloggers feel the right to unload upon you because of these myths, you'll discover one fantastic health benefit:
The ability to be truly happy. There ain't a thing in this world healthier or more frugal than that.
The morbidly obese will save money in the end by dying early. While the scrawny bourgeoisie are working 60 hours/week amassing millions in IRAs and 401ks for retirement (part of which they are likely to be obliviously senile), the obese can enjoy eating.
Half of your weight is determined by your genetics. And there are a lot of emotional variables that come into play with your weight, as well as how you were taught to eat as a child.
I think all overweight people know the facts you have posted in this article. Does that help us? No. People who are not and have never been overweight always think they have the easy solutions.
I'll start by saying you have now earned your way off of my RSS feed.
Obesity is much more complex than a simple calories in/calories out equation. It's very easy to paint those who are fat as simply not having the self control necessary to lose the weight. Unfortunately, there's much more to it than that.
But, let me get to my particular arguments with your post here:
1) People who are fat are unhealthy. Studies have shown activity level has more to do with unhealthiness than weight. If you are thin and inactive, you will have more health problems than someone who is fat and active. And believe it or not, a lot of fat people are active. We are out hiking, biking, swimming, and otherwise enjoying our lives. Don't assume that because a person is fat that they are living an unhealthy lifestyle.
2) Fat people use more utilities than thin people. I assume you have a study to show this validity? Or is this just an assumption because you know one fat person who happens to be hotter than others? I'm fat, and you know what? I tend to be *cold* all the time. That's right, cold. I'm sitting here in August in sweats because I'm cold. Yes, I know fat people who are hot all the time. But I know some thin people who are hot all the time as well.
3) Lack of employment - you say it's wrong to discriminate but then give reasons why people should be discriminated against. You say flat out that we have decreased mobility and energy. How do you know? Are you fat? I know a lot of thin people with decreased mobility and energy. You can't make a sweeping generalization like that. Some fat people, like some thin people, have mobility problems. But not all do. You are playing into the mindset that causes this discrimination to start with!
Shame on your for reinforcing the mindset that the obese should be ashamed. And shame on your for reinforcing the mindset that is driving people in our society to eating disorders in droves. And shame on you for enforcing everyone's image of fat people as slow, slothful, depressed, and unhealthy.
Do us all a favor. Do some actual research before you post about obesity again.
Buying printer ink used to be a problem. They just cost very expensive. But here in Philippines, we used refillable ink cartridge from Korea. This way, we get to save mother earth by not throwing the cartridge, but just refilling it with precious ink juice. The quality is not bad by the way.
Regarding the idea of putting tape to do the trick, that's a new one. Will try that. Awesome hack by the way!
Sam
Fix My Personal Finance
http://fixmypersonalfinance.com/
The blog Junkfood Science may not directly take industry funding, but the Competitive Enterprise Institute, for whom Sandy Szwarc has done extensive (and presumably paid) work, is funded by several corporations and tobacco companies, and many of these tobacco companies also have food subsidiaries that sell a great deal of junk food. As a result, that blog is certainly not the first place I'd look to for accurate information on obesity or food science. The author's conflict of interest is too great. Her previous non-blog articles suggest she toes the food industry line on every issue.
In contrast, Marion Nestle writes a great blog on food issues, and is widely recognized as reputable.
I'm going to check that out. Thanks for reading.
eat healthy, work out, burn more calories than you take in. It doesn't get simpler than that.
I do really like the idea of applying a 'frugal mindset' to your eating habits.
You may want to reconsider your critique of the expression "We wuz robbed."
http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?s=we+wuz+robbed&gwp=13
It appears that its a bit of a reference to a 1930's boxing coach, and has been in the sports lexicon ever since. I hate imprecise and "wrong" language as much as the next guy, but this case looks to be a pretty appropriate use of the expression.
We recently switched to refillable cartridges for our Epson printers. Because the original cartridges are really hard to refill, we bought (for about $6) new cartridges that are designed to be refilled. One advantage of these is that they're made of translucent plastic. So we don't have to rely on the printer to tell us when a cartridge is empty. Also, with these, if we remove them and reinsert them, it resets the "counter", fooling the printer into thinking that the cartridge is now full again.
You can see a picture of this cartridge here:
http://www.printerfillingstation.com/Ink_Refills/Epson/42E.htm
So we're saving money, and we're able to use the ink up completely. Turns out Epson is a good printer for refilling, because the ink cartridges don't include the print heads, so they're pretty simple.
Martha, I will no longer affectionately refer to my hubs, with his 40-inch waist, as tubby. Nope, he's now "fluffy," thanks to you.
Fat Guy, there are a few posts on Wise Bread about eating healthy in a more affordable way. While you're correct that you can buy calorie-dense food for cheap, personally I don't think buying fresh veg, fruit and whole grains is THAT expensive. I'm feeding a family of 4 on $80 a week in the Chicago area, and we buy very little junk food.
And Sarah -- If you're lucky enough to NOT be tormented by babylust (i.e. wanting children, not being a pervert), you are truly lucky checkbook-wise. I'm sure that not having kids would save way, way more money than losing weight. If only I wasn't so attached to these expensive little buggers.
I blog at www.shopliftingwithpermission.com.
and it breaks my heart to see my daughter's classmates. A good 50% of them are overlarge for their size. Many have to have their uniforms altered to accomodate their size (see #3, above). The parents of these kids, almost without exception, are similarly sized. I know genetics plays a factor but the traditional diet and the social acceptability of overweight in the South makes "fluffiness" (we don't say "fat" down here) heartbreakingly common. At least kids don't get teased for being big here (but the skinny kids do get grief).
First, I'd like to commend the author for taking a tactful stance on this issue. I'd packed on pounds through 3 pregnancies and had no luck losing it with Weight Watchers, Zone, etc (was SOOOOOO ravenous). Three months ago, I decided to approach the problem like any other frugal problem, small nips and tucks until I reach my goal. It's not a DIE-IT. It's simply good frugal sense to only eat enough to get full and losing any weight, even if not 100% of it, is healthier than losing none.
People overestimate how much they can accomplish in a short period of time taking drastic measures, but vastly underestimate how much they can accomplish over a long period through minor course corrections. One pound per week by paring down "problem areas" (such as portion size and late-night snacks) is an easy goal, and if you continue long-term eventually you'll lose the weight. No pain, no DIE-IT.
Now I've got a new problem, my clothes are too loose, but I have more weight to lose. THRIFT SHOP ... here I come!!!
This is slander. Junkfood Science receives NO funding from any industry or special interests. I am a medical professional with more than 30 year experience and more than a decade in obesity research. I have written this blog and worked without a salary for years because it is important people hear the science and not continue to be taken advantage of by special interests. You do not see advertisements for bariatric surgery there, as you do at this blog. You will find the Health Care Blogger Code of Ethics at JFS - look it up.
Oops. I meant that the over 50s are the ones with significant buying power.
I don't understand what makes phone books so difficult to recycle? Am I missing something, or isn't just as easy to throw an unwanted book in the recycle bin as the garbage?
Paul, the poll at your office doesn't prove anything (again, limited scope). A significant portion of the U.S.'s population is retired. Statistically, there are more people under 50 using the internet than over 50. (And they hold a significant portion of the country's wealth and spending power). Besides, even computer and internet-literate people still prefer the phone book out of habit.
I like the idea of opting out of getting a phone book, but I have to think that the people who deliver the books don't have a master list of addresses to avoid. In Canada, we only get one or two books a year (at most), but they aren't addressed to our homes. I live in an apartment, so we just receive a batch of books in the lobby.
It seems to me that registering for a service like this (if it was available in Canada) doesn't do my any good... It's just a means for someone to collect my personal information.
I would love to see a petition to produce less books. I think that would make a difference.
promoting the "junkfoodscience" site. Junkfoodscience is a blog sponsored by several big fast food companies, made solely for the purpose to keep people eating their unhealthy stuff. Everything said there should be treated as extremely biased and in my experience mostly incorrect or outright lies.