To think using paper plates is the height of lazy.

[TheDarkHouse]

I keep seeing reels and videos of people, mostly (if not all) Americans serving up dinner on either polystyrene plates or paper plates.

AIBU to think that’s laziness/time saving/convenience too far? Most videos these people have decent kitchens so presumably can house a dishwasher. Not that hard, nor time consuming to stack plates.

Disposable tableware for day to day dining seems the height of laziness.

Clearly from the experiences shared on this thread it isn’t just disabled people doing this. It’s common practice in the US.

So 8 billion people (or ppl) on the planet using paper plates every meal will have no impact what so ever on the planet or have you not considered the wider implications?

This is really greedy capitalist consumerist behaviour. We need to look beyond our own needs once in a while and see the bigger picture.

So does everyone have a way of knowing who is and isn't disabled? This is not something I was aware of!

Are you suggesting hotels employ this method because their staff are disabled?

I'm intrigued to find out what everyone is eating off their paper plates? If I've cooked a meal the easiest part of the washing up is the crockery.
If it's just something like a sandwich and you don't want to use crockery, why bother with a paper plate? Why not just eat it over the table?

Just in case anyone is wondering, I'm not a fan of disposable, for the dining experience as much as anything. I hate the feel of a paper cup when I'm drinking a hot drink and don't even get me started on the smell of wooden cutlery.

I'm disabled. Really aggressive RA in my hands, arms, legs, neck, spine... multiple replacements. Waiting for a wrist replacement and elbow replacement. Had 3 in my legs and having another knee in April.

I'm obviously not talking about disabled people. No where have I said it's lazy. In fact I admitted to eating cake off kitchen roll.

But regardless of all the above, it is terrible for the planet.

My kids daycare in the US used paper plates for their meals. I hated it. Surely it would be cheaper in the long run to buy a set of plastic kids plates and wash them?! But presumably they had their reasons!

I’m disabled with autoimmune conditions and a chronic illness. I use them sometimes when I am tired and/or weak

As for the environmental angle, I don’t have a car, take any flights or have kids, so I think a few paper plates and cups and some wooden cutlery from time to time is alright.

I don’t eat at the table, I don’t have room for one in my flat, so I wouldn’t want to eat food without a plate sat on the sofa as I wouldn’t want crumbs and sauce etc to drip onto me or the furnishings.

Doesn't the sauce start to soak into the plate?

Sorry would you mind please pointing out where you refer to only their use in hotels
I seem to have missed this.

Because I don't think you were referring to hotels ore restaurants only. None of the other replies seem to think this either. So that's a bit odd that we've all missed it. Still if you can point it out I'm happy to concede as I thought we were also talking about domestic use.

I'm terms of domestic use. If something is an independence aid and we can't indeed know who is using it for that purpose. I just think it's best to not pass judgment because I could indeed be judging an ill or disabled person for something which supports their independence.

But I must say I do care about being ableist as I do understand ill health and disability. I did though have this understanding and empathy prior to this experience.

Obviously these concerns of ablism and feelings of understanding and empathy are not something which trouble you. Which must be a horrible way to live in the world. How unfortunate for you.

I think that it totally understandable.

Being disabled or in extreme circumstances, these things are ok.

I used paper plates and plastic cutlery when our kitchen was being re done. The thought of having even more things to wash up in the bath would have sent me over the edge.

I don't have a problem with lazy. I embrace lazy. But I do quite like the planet.....

I don’t know as I’ve never actually tried using paper plates, had never thought of doing it before this thread but I have just ordered some off Amazon to try and will report back!

probably americans on tiktok. don't think it's a thing in uk because we can't get rid of the rubbish

I always have paperplates in. I work long shifts, out the house for 15 hours (13 hours shift, hour commute each way) and my teens are home alone. 4 days on the trot, i dont want to spend the next day off cleaning every plate and bowl we own. Makes my life easier, i honestly dont care if that makes me look lazy.

The problem is, people forget the respurces used to create all these products, and for them.to be used just once, means the negative effect on the earth is massive. Even if composted correctly, it is still worse for the planet.

People also forget - the planet will last without humans, it is our own demise we are bringing on, and a good number of animals etc, but more will evolve to take their place. Humans won't survive though

Are you insane?

You don't shower every day? Minging

I'm assuming that is taking the piss?

I’ve noticed this to with Americans videos. Shocking really. Lazy & an absolute fuck you to the environment. Just wash your bloody plate up and re-use it! It’s not hard?! Totally different for parties etc when you wouldn’t even have enough plates to go around… like once/twice a year. But they seem to be literally plating dinner every night on paper plates… just, why?

No @K0OLA1D

It affects everyone's life if we are tearing down trees because lazy slobs can't be bothered to wash their plates.

THIS!

It’s so lazy and no need. A thread a while ago was about people who ‘liked to go for a drive’ and I got a load of stick got saying what an environmental waste going for a pointless drive is and got told I’m a fun sponge, they never fly on holiday, I probably have more children than them etc etc. and then we wonder why the planets burning.

I’m not bothered how lazy they are, that’s up to them.

But it is wasteful and environmentally damaging and that does affect all of us.