Comments on Crunchy Chicken: No Impact Man: Eco-stunt or eco-sincerity?

I'm a little late to this discussion, but just...

2009-10-04T19:08:17.489-07:00

I'm a little late to this discussion, but just having finished the book, "No Impact Man," I often wonder why people comment on things they haven't read nor experienced (previous poster included).

What strikes me about folks who sound off against those who try to push the envelope is that they are reacting from a place of fear. Nothing else, just fear. They are afraid and intimidated so they lash out at the perceived source of their fear. Yet, if they did as Colin Beavan suggests at the end of his book - look at their own lives - they would realize that it is their own inadequacies that are fueling their attacks on others. And, they might just be tempted to work on themselves, where all real change starts.

I'm sorry but Colin Beavan is disgusting - not...

2009-09-09T06:07:46.789-07:00

I'm sorry but Colin Beavan is disgusting - not taking a shower or wiping his butt for a year is all kinds of nasty! And forbidding his wife to bathe - bordering on domestic abuse! And not bathing his child for a year - outright child abuse (if he was poor and Black he'd be in prison for that)!

If I was one of his neighbors, and was paying expensive Lower 5th Avenue rent to live next to him with his fly infested internal compost pit, I would have my lawyer sue him!

I gotta say I really like anyone who can make savi...

2009-08-31T15:58:33.641-07:00

I gotta say I really like anyone who can make saving the environment interesting and amusing. When I try to talk about it to my friends their eyes glaze over and they stop listening. So stunt or not there is some great information being shared in both blogs/books. Sure they didn't do a perfect job but they are helping to bring awareness to the large numbers of people who read their blogs and books who live in urban settings.

To have no impact on the environment, well we'd have to be dead and I don't think we'll find many people ready to give up life to save the environment, although I could be wrong.

The world needs saving. If getting people thinking...

2009-08-31T08:18:09.244-07:00

The world needs saving. If getting people thinking and off their asses involves such "stunts" as these, then so be it. Bravo Vanessa and Colin for your efforts and honesty (neither thinks they are prefectly green).

I would really like to know exactly what Kolbert does to be green. I believe that small acts of green matter just as much as large activist-type acts.

Did she not attend a protest (stunt) just to get a story??? hmmm

I'm with Kolbert. To me, the stunts emphasiz...

2009-08-30T19:45:56.685-07:00

I'm with Kolbert.
To me, the stunts emphasize the wrong point, which is that you have to be a fanatic to do some good. Of course, a book about a person making sensible choices won't sell, which leaves us with books about stunts. But does that really teach those of us who aren't trying to make our living by living green?

I'm totally late the convo here, but one thing...

2009-08-30T10:35:31.455-07:00

I'm totally late the convo here, but one thing I want to say is, "Not So High Impact Man" -- WORST TITLE EVER!! OK, but seriously, I do want to say that it was never my intention to get a book deal out of my challenge. The year-long thing of making a change every day was something I did because I know NOTHING about the environment and figured doing these little things and writing about them was all I was capable of doing. The blog was an outlet for me because I can only write with so much creative freedom in the National Post, and to be honest, when my dad's friend (the literary agent I ended up with) suggested turning it into a book, my first response was: No way. That's the lamest idea ever.

Eventually, that changed, but please know that I was not in this for a freakin' book deal.

I am also in the camp of folks who wouldn't be...

2009-08-28T07:45:24.242-07:00

I am also in the camp of folks who wouldn't be here, or a personal environmentalist, without both blogs.

In Colin's defense, he did explain the "no" part of his name. He acknowledged that he still used electricity and other resources, but also sought out ways to add value and overcome those "withdrawals" to reach a zero balance. Did he reach zero? Of course not. Since when was a bit of hyperbole a sin?

Frankly, I think they're "years" wer...

2009-08-27T20:35:38.129-07:00

Frankly, I think they're "years" were publicity stunts and that they embarked on those changes with the intention of writing a book. The year long blogs were designed to generate interest.

That doesn't mean, though, that their experiments weren't extremely valuable. That they didn't touch many many people with their blogs and subsequent books and that they didn't learn, change and grow enormously from their experiences. I think they did all of those. So much value was added that it doesn't matter whether the original intent involved garnering attention.

I think that the environmental movement needs peop...

2009-08-27T17:08:24.850-07:00

I think that the environmental movement needs people to angle for attention. It's a very effective way to get the public to notice and re-consider their own lives. And if someone can go from an average sort of a lifestyle to extremely eco-conscious in a year, what better example can you set? It's a great way to appeal to the silent majority, and show them the changes they can make in their own lives.

The irony, of course, is that by being critical Kolbert is probably angling for attention, too. As are most journalists, since it's their job.

I haven't read No Impact Man's blog, but I...

2009-08-27T14:22:26.548-07:00

I haven't read No Impact Man's blog, but I did read Vanessa's and took a lot of suggestions from it, many of which I use. I and others appreciated her blog because she was a regular person trying to make small, manageable changes that she could continue. I felt she was up front about her struggles--and believe me, commenters kept her pretty honest with their own suggestions and barbs. I liked reading it because I don't have the time, money, or other resources to be an Ed Begley, Jr.: I cannot afford to put solar panels on my roof or buy a Prius (yet). So I now use a handkerchief, I try to buy local food and ride my bike more often, and I now keep a cloth napkin and a bamboo silverware set in my purse so I don't use paper or plastic, etc. I took a lot of those ideas from Vanessa and her commenters.

Kolbert has valid points but, as many pointed out, she misses the main points of No Impact Man and Thistle. Some of the green movement has become more fashionable than true to life, but I don't think these two people deliberately set out to join that bandwagon. Not every person has a capitalistic agenda.

They have inspired my life in ways I never thought...

2009-08-27T13:42:08.981-07:00

They have inspired my life in ways I never thought possible. And they didn't make a dime off me.

I think it was a very clever idea and i believe Co...

2009-08-27T12:39:19.728-07:00

I think it was a very clever idea and i believe Colin did it as much for himself and for anyone watching.

As for self-promotion, who really cares? Everyone self-promotes at some point in their lives: on a job interview, when you're trying to impress a date, etc.

I give him credit for a great idea.

oops- sorry I meant to say 'new yorker' :)...

2009-08-27T11:43:36.776-07:00

oops- sorry I meant to say 'new yorker' :)

Did anyone else notice the similarities between th...

2009-08-27T10:57:57.784-07:00

Did anyone else notice the similarities between the criticisms of No Impact Man and Sleeping Naked and Julie and Julia? I would say that at least some of the irritation at "stunt blog books" is because this had become a new formula.

i agree with everyone else here too- doesn't m...

2009-08-27T09:33:06.908-07:00

i agree with everyone else here too- doesn't matter the reasons, but that the NY Times writer missed a key point: what happened afterwards.
Regardless of the reasons, did she take into account how many people Colin and Vanessa have affected through their 'stunts'? If she had a way to measure the eco-changes that they brought about in their readers (large or small) what kind of impact would that equivalent for our planet?
it's interesting to see the backlash occurring, just like every other movement, hiding behind insidious 'objective' journaling/science/whatever. And just like every movement, those individuals in the public eye, self proclaimed 'leaders' or not, are always the easiest targets (i.e. Al Gore...).

As some of you probably know, early on I was somet...

2009-08-27T09:18:19.240-07:00

As some of you probably know, early on I was something of a critic of Colin's. I've come to really respect him - in part because what began as a "stunt" became a lifestyle. I think Kolbert misses a lot here, about both writers.

That said, however, what I do think deserves some critique is the "stunt as book" model that has become so powerful - do a year without doing X - buying things, eating food from far away, making a major ecological impact, disobeying any biblical commands - and publishers are fascinated. Offer a life lived that way, consistently, however, and that's not as compelling.

I don't think Colin could have gotten a book contract without the stunt element, and I suspect that's probably true of Vanessa - the "do it for a year" model engages us more than "do it for a lifetime" and that's something I think that does deserve more criticism than Colin or Vanessa.

Sharon

Who cares if it is was a stunt? It's real now...

2009-08-27T09:03:16.515-07:00

Who cares if it is was a stunt? It's real now. And even if it wasn't/isn't real(I don't believe that though). How many people do they both inspire everyday to make changes of their own? I think that's whats important and what really matters.

I feel the same way about this as I do about Earth Day. Lots of people scoff at the fact that people are only "trying" one day out of the whole year. But you know, at least we're getting one day from some of these people instead of no days. These people could easily just continue that day like all their other days. And I'm sure every earth day there are people who decided that they are going to be a different person and make a change.

People need motivation, and someone along side them. Colin and Vanessa are those people. Because if they can do it, why can't I?

To me the New Yorker article reeks of preconceived...

2009-08-27T08:54:52.085-07:00

To me the New Yorker article reeks of preconceived notions. Besides which, ANY writer who uses the word "disingenuous" is demonstrating their lack of ability for original thinking. Ew. It's the pseudo intellectual buzzword of the decade.

Yes, Colin started it all in a rather commercial mood; but the changes that followed were quite real. Vanessa did not set out to write a book, or make a movie- just to write a blog. And she was ALWAYS completely upfront about her emotions and feelings. And I have always been VERY impressed with the depth of her research and her analyses. This is one very intelligent lady.

I also find it intriguing that the author chose to attack two "newbies" to the ecologically aware lifestyle. Why not interview some who have been in it for decades? There are many thousands of us.

And, anybody who discounts Thoreau's experiment is, clearly, an idiot.

A good question to ask; in 1 year, which of the three will still be being read? Vanessa? yes. Colin? yes. Whatserface? nope.

I agree with Karine. Easy to lob mudballs. Hard ...

2009-08-27T08:38:45.954-07:00

I agree with Karine. Easy to lob mudballs. Hard to do something positive oneself.

One thought, eatclosetohome: although someone ori...

2009-08-27T08:22:29.485-07:00

One thought, eatclosetohome: although someone originally bought items on the secondary market new, it doesn't mean that when someone purchases it second-hand, they are the last person to use that item. The children at my daughter's daycare continually recycle clothing--when one child outgrows something, it passes on to the next biggest child, and then to the next, and so on. And I often re-thrift things I orginally bought second-hand if they're still in good condition and I no longer have use for them.

I blogged about this, too. I've read Colin...

2009-08-27T08:19:59.461-07:00

I blogged about this, too. I've read Colin's blog faithfully for more than a year, and frankly, I found Kolbert's article unfair, and I agree that it seems like she's read very little of the content of his blog. (I haven't followed Vanessa, so I can't speak to her book or blog).

I know I've read dozens of post by Colin about his own activism and encouraging activism in others. I know I've been inspired by him, and I've learned new ideas to adopt in my own life. Yes, some of his way of life is limited to circumstance, but quite a few of us are working professionals living in urban areas--for us, who better to imitate?

Also, I note the criticism of him using public resources of energy. The fact is, that's more sustainable than each of us using such resources individually. I think of the July heat wave here in the Puget Sound, during which many libraries, stores and community centers declared themselves "cooling centers," where people without air conditioning could come to cool off. I'd much rather have us continue to pursue similar community solutions than for people in this area to start buying AC.

I agree that "NO" Impact Man might be a ...

2009-08-27T07:56:01.667-07:00

I agree that "NO" Impact Man might be a bit of an overstatement. After all, his having no impact relies heavily on others having too much impact - e.g., shopping at resale. Somebody had to buy new, and buy new again when there was still life left in that item, for Colin to buy it used. And many of his strategies only work in his specific circumstances (urban area, 2-income family, temperate climate)

But I still think that whatever the initial motivation, the project was very worthwhile. I'm glad he did it, and I'm glad he's getting word out about what it takes to make these changes, and honestly, I'm glad he's making a buck doing it. I think of it as payment for a year's worth of research that I had neither the time nor money to conduct.

I think you hit the nail on the head- "he has...

2009-08-27T07:43:47.825-07:00

I think you hit the nail on the head- "he has become a huge advocate in the environmental movement and does a tremendous amount of activism. How Ms. Kolbert didn't grasp this is beyond me, but I suspect it's mostly due to her lack of research"
It's easy to be critical, questioning Colin and Vanessa's motives. But I for one am glad they did their challenges, and wrote about them. I say kudos to them and anyone else who tries.

Even if the two blogs were only for self-promotion...

2009-08-27T07:27:27.926-07:00

Even if the two blogs were only for self-promotion in the beginning, they both DID the year-long changes in their lifes. What did the reporter do? She must have done something better to earn the right to criticize others...

Old-Novice, I'm still here and I'm still l...

2009-08-27T07:24:14.622-07:00

Old-Novice,
I'm still here and I'm still living the life. We still struggle with some areas, have other areas under control, and have spent more time lately doing things on a local level.

I still blog, but the focus changes and shifts just like my life.

I wasn't sure about Colin at first. But he seems sincere. I think anything that draws real attention to the problems we face is good. It is funny, but people around here think that because I am "green" I must know all these other "green" people. It sure opens up discussions!

Kim