Eco-tistical

I have witnessed and felt this view for a long time now. Companies have made it fairly easy to be superficially eco inclined. If the only thing you can do is educate, inform or influence its still one more step towards community involvement. Don't worry about being "ego-tistical". You are still making a difference.

I love the talking on the mic while driving. Classic.

In response to "Eco-tistical":

Thank you for bringing it to light that a movement aimed at saving the planet is starting to look more and more like a popularity contest. It's been said time and again that in American culture the car defines a person's identity, so a Prius does wonders for someone's "eco-ego". But I don't know anyone who feels "Oh, I drive a Prius. Now I don't have to do anything else for the planet because I've done enough."

The Prius is not the solution to climate change (global warming is an oversimplification). It is a short term first step in curbing our pollution, but more importantly it is a symbolic gesture that there is a market for eco-friendly products, and that taking care of the planet will not ruin the economy.

And for the celebrities who drive hybrids and promote themselves in other ways while drawing attention to the environment, thank you. As long as you're in the business of drawing attention to yourself I'd rather people be subjected to environmental awareness than how big your house is, how hot your girlfriend is, or how many blood diamonds you can fit on your body at one time.

The best line in this pod is definitely: "I just think it's easier to buy a car and let it do the work." This says a lot.

I don't agree with everything here. Still, good work

-Milo Kodiak

Is doing the right thing for the wrong reason bad?

and

Is there a word for people that criticizes others for doing things that make others think they are doing things that are good so the person criticizing looks even better?

Everyone isn't "doing enough" but every bit helps, and if is now fashionable to do something good, don't knock it.

When I was watching this I thought of the "smug" episode of Southpark (Histerical). But I agree. there are a lot of people out there, myself included, that would be interested in buying a hybrid but won't because first of all hybrids look terrible. Can't they come up with a hybrid that looks like a normal car and not like a 'look into the future' (like the ugly prius)?

Not everyone that buys a hybrid does it for the environment, some want to get better gas mileage...

check out treehugger.com they have articles about "greenwashing" which is where someone or something is only appearing to look green but really isn't. Such as Kentucky Senate Candidate Mitch McConnell, who released a new campaign commercial claiming himself as the "Godfather of Green." Or Those who claim to be "green" and buy all these "green" pieces of furniture with recyclable and sustainable parts, only to throw out all of their old furniture and creating more wastes.

WheresGore, I thought the same thing when I saw this on tv. That episode of South Park was hilarious.

I guess being eco-tistical is better than nothing though.

Hybrid cars are to global warming what low fat chips are to a health regime. They lull you into a false sense of security that your making a difference, which you are, it's just not enough of a difference.

It's important to be sure a growing trend of environmental awareness doesn't become just another fad in the market. Lets remember that mass consumer culture is largely responsible for the envirnomental challenges we are facing. Though I am convinced that the hybrid is a good first step toward an eco-friendly transportation infrastructure it's responsible choices and habits, not more consumerism, that can make the difference.

Nice clip. Real entertaining and yet informing. I manage a small business that uses green products. We are green because it's less expensive and we care about our customers health.

I in fact would like hybrids to look less mutant and more stylish. As far as I know, the difference in motor shouldn't affect the body style and look! Treehuggers like cool cars too...

I mean can't the same cool cat designers of other cars be involved in some of these design discussions? A throwing out of a couple pointers here and there never hurt anyone!

Ha! Funny. If people really care about the environment their next car won't be a hybrid, it will be a bus pass!

Funny stuff!

The word hybrid means "Something of mixed origin or composition." We have petrol cars so surely before we could have a *half and half* hybrid cars we should have had an electric car!... We did. Look for "who killed the electric car"
I think hybrids are just another way of keeping us oil dependent. And less phased by rising prices!

e7even good way to put it, i have often seen over weight people guzzling down diet coke with there super sized meal!

I wonder at what point people will start to realise there is a real problem thats no going away on its own!

There are lots of hybrid versions of other model cars(I think camry or corolla, highlander, some lexus suv, Tahoe, not that a hybrid suv gets great mpg anyways, but theres a bunch), Prius is just the most recognizable.
Molly 87- I would love an electric car, but i really don't have $100,000 on hand for a Telsa, so i will just have to settle for a Prius until some car company gets their shit together and starts making electric cars (back into) a reality. Yes, with hybrids we still are dependent on petrol, but they are still a step in the right direction (and a lot better on gas mileage). And bttbrulz, i would LOVE to be able to use mass transit, but the bus system in my city won't take me to my job. What the environment really needs is good city planners.

wow, definately know a few ecotistical people. Better to be ecotistical than care and not do anything at all though.

At least they have bought a hybrid... it is better than nothing!

I'm so glad you made this pod--I've actually been thinking about the same thing, except in terms of genocide, or other human atrocities. I've seen "Save Darfur" shirts at stores, and I doubt buying them would save Darfur, yet what do you know, people buy them. I think this is even more disgusting, because while driving hybrids actually help the environment, the shirts do nothing except make it seem like helping people around the world is a fad (and have you noticed there are only shirts about Africa, and not any other continents? Apparently we're not only bleeding Africa with making them dependent on aid, but we are also ringing them dry for our popularity). I know business must be done, but lets not make a product using others' suffering.

cheers,
Kev

you know, on the one part, we should care, right? their reasons... but, on the other, if they're doing good for the environment, does it really matter?

i've been "green" for a few years now, i'm not freak about it or anything, and i do have some non-green habits, but i do my best. and, i've bugged those around me to help out, as well.. so, i guess, as long as they help, their reasons are left on the backburner for me..

Funny -- Yet, every effort is worthy!

The solution is easy, buy a cheaper but equally as environmentally conscious 2009 Honda Insight and use the change (approx. $2200) to plant some trees.

I wish people cared about the animals used to test their latest mascara or shampoo as much as they claim they care about the earth.

Buy products NOT tested on animals *and* those good for the environment.

Ironic that the definition of an ecotist in the vid perfectly describes the owner of CURRENT, Al Gore.