My 3 year old has visited 32 countries AMA

[Dinoswearunderpants]

No doubt I'd get a load of shade about 'bragging' but that's not the intention. If anyone is interested in asking any questions about travelling regularly with a little own, feel free to ask.

I often travel just the two of us as his Dad can't get as much time off work as I do.

I guess it’s degrees of misery. People living with floods and fires are probably a lot more miserable than I am by not flying. I am not miserable about it because I wouldn’t enjoy it as much now I know the facts so it’s lost its appeal. I did initially find it hard though. But I focused on the people being hit first and worst by the climate crisis.

I think as food scarcity becomes a more and more prominent issue we will all be more miserable too.

There’s a massive difference between ‘can’t even use a plane’ and the sort of travel described in this thread.

I think that excess of anything often does come across badly, that’s not trying to have a go at the OP specifically but generally maybe we are just designed to see excess as in poor taste and be a bit uncomfortable with it. It’s probably the reason that being overweight is a bit frowned upon, if we’re being really frank. The problem is that it does come over as bragging, and then you end up with the sycophants and the scornfuls posting in opposition to the other with one party accusing the other of jealousy and the other party claiming moral superiority.

Both are probably a bit dogmatic and a bit cringe to read, although if forced to take a side I’d go with moral superiority, not that my own morals are perfect but I will admit that this thread has made me think, which can’t be a bad thing.

Errr where have you lectured?

Maybe with the whole 'i allowed' thing...

For ME! I’m talking about how I feel, what I do and what I allow myself to do. Because I have my own set of values that I follow. Everyone has different values. That’s life. I totally get that some people don’t care about the impact the climate crisis is having on people or might not know. Lots of people aren’t fully informed about what is yet to come (and some are but understandably stick their head in the sand because it’s petrifying). That’s up to them.

Why?

You don't get the whole thing about when people feel attacked that it can make them kick back? I've talked about it a lot before.

I get fed up green washers and I get fed up of those going on about 'allowed'. So both ends of the scale really.

Both wind me up and turn me off from wanting to engage on the subject.

I find the whole picking on certain things can be really just about picking and choosing what suits and it being laiden with judgement and virtue signalling rather than actually being rational. If you chuck that emotive stuff in there too, you will alienate.

You have to go the slow drip feed to logic, not the emotive shite to make meaningful change.

I have been consistent on this point over many issues. Doesn't matter what the subject is really the same holds true.

And there are times when everyone reaches their limit on it.

I have to say I find green evangelicals some of the most insufferable of all political campaigners tbh. I think this is something a few would be wise to take on board, because as a rule I'm open to ideas and listening.

I haven’t ‘attacked’ anyone. I have only just talked about my feelings having read the thread and what I ‘allow’ myself given my personal set of values. I’ve then given ideas in response to a question.

Calling people ‘green evangelicals’ and saying they are ‘insufferable’ is, however, attacking language.

The green evangelists are very tiresome I agree. Most of us are actually trying our best and do give up things of reasonable difficulty on a regular basis, even with all the personal troubles we have going on in our lives. But we can’t do everything, especially when there are so many inconsistencies. Get an electric car if you’re rich enough to afford it. Great! Actually lithium batteries are even worse for the environment. Only buy products that aren’t covered in single use plastic. Great! They’re just much more expensive and in stores that you need to drive to get to or have been imported from other countries. By a PLANE. Give up your entire dream/need for existence by not having kids. Great! Now there is a care crisis and general population crisis. There’s always something. Absolutely everyone on this thread who thinks they’re being wonderful in some way is doing something else.

And those who are determined we should give up frequent travel? Let me guess - either you’ve had many years of enjoying it yourself or you’ve never liked it/could never afford it anyway.

Pretty much how I feel about it.

I can't get over the puritanical joylessness of it all tbh.

EVs, if you do the research, despite the problem with initial materials and battery recycling, are, over their lifespan far lower carbon footprint. The gains happen more quickly if the battery is made in Scandinavia using renewables.

You can't even see it!

I wouldn't be saying it, if I didn't think you were on the attack! Why would I? I literally have zero motivation to do so.

That's part of the issue.

The total lack of awareness of when you are doing it.

I think she is part of the problem, because she's encouraging other people to do the same. She details her travels on social media and it becomes something that a certain cohort of the population then aspire to. You can see it on this thread - there are lots of people saying what a great idea, you've inspired me etc.

My life isn’t puritanical or joyless. Had two amazing holidays over summer. Soooo much fun and joy.

Unless you grow all your own food, make your own clothes, shoes, house, furniture etc from what’s around you and never go anywhere, no one can be carbon free.

For me, I started to reduce my carbon footprint one step at a time. Flights were by far the heaviest carbon use in my life so it was a no brainer. Once I knew the facts I still had a couple of holidays by plane but cut down and no more short haul weekend breaks. Then as more and more information came in and once I’d had my DC I decided I could no longer do the odd holiday by flight. It just didn’t sit right for ME.

But we still have fun holidays and days out. And treats. We don’t wear hair shirts and whip ourselves if we have a cheese toastie 😂

I keep quiet a fair bit in RL as get that it annoys people. I wish I didn't care either, it exhausts me having it as permanent brain wall paper

Show me the direct quote that shows I’m being attacking. I will then apologise unreservedly.

If you feel attacked then I think that might be more about something going on internal to you. I am just saying what I feel, what I have done and do. I’m not perfect and don’t always choose the greenest option but I do my best. If me saying that the OPs thread depresses me, makes you feel attacked then I think that’s a you thing, not a me thing.

calling someone ‘evangelical’ and ‘insufferable’ is way more attacking than anything I have written.

I understand your point, and your anxiety about how serious this is, but the bigger picture is how to achieve an orderly transition to a more sustainable way of doing things that feels possible and fair.

Likewise. I rarely mention it. And if I could erase the knowledge from my brain and carry on unknowingly into oblivion I would!

The dogs thing is a bit of a red herring. Yes, they do eat a lot of meat, but it's generally the bits of the carcass that humans don't want to eat and would otherwise be incinerated - udders, noses, organs etc - rather than fillet steak that is going into dog food. Very few cows and sheep are being reared for the pet food market.

It’s a huge issue and we have left it dangerously late sadly.

My PIL have looked into this and dog and cat ownership is apparently one of highest carbon expenses in the U.K. We don’t have pets so I’ve never looked into it personally.

Misses entire point.

This is another one. Those who hate anyone having kids or having more than their ‘replacement’ kids being all smug in their happy lifestyle with all their dogs.

No. I didn’t intend to reply to the main point. Just wanted to provide correct information about EVs as there is a lot of misinformation about. 😊

My perspective on your whole point is that none of us are perfect in anyway. We all have different values. We all do our best. For me flying was a very clear ‘win’ in terms of my aim to reduce my carbon footprint which is an important value for me.

Do you mean I was being smug? I don’t have pets not out of any forethought. Just never did it. But I was just saying that my understanding is that they are a large part of many people's carbon footprint as far as I’m aware, in response to a post suggesting they are not.

Perhaps you could explain why the sneering is necessary when just not engaging in a thread focused on someone who is living a lifestyle you disapprove of is an option? Rather than trying to dismiss it as some inevitability that’s above questioning, or trying to deflect?