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The story of stuff (storyofstuff.com)
4 points by daviday on Jan 22, 2008 | hide | past | favorite | 6 comments



Please see reddit for your anti-capitalist green ranting needs.

"You can't run a linear system on a finite planet indefinitely." I'm going to drop that one at a cocktail party and count how many people nod versus sigh.


I would not say it's Reddit stuff. Rather, I would say it conveys a message in a clever manner, based on facts.

And it is not an anti-capitalist message. She is not saying that capitalism is the problem. She just sheds light on the fact that lots of the externalized costs of production are both harmful and hidden from view.

I personally think she makes a really good point in saying that one needs to see the "big picture".


I saw your comment on the newcomments page and got excited to rebut the quote. Then I saw it was 50 days old and I already had.


I know it's old (50 days), but I discovered the "the story of stuff" only recently, and I felt compelled to write a line or two, as I didn't agree with the existing comments thread.


>You can't run a linear system on a finite planet indefinitely.

We're doing rather well running an exponential system on a finite planet. These people always forget about that enormous ball of radiation continually bombarding us, feeding us, and creating us.


Your survey will be confused by people who know what entropy is, and thus aren't sure how to react because your statement will be literally true. Also, people may be distracted by the fact our planet isn't a closed system.

If you do it, also try making the reverse statement to a different group of people. You might find the majority of people nod, in both cases: people often make an effort to be agreeable.




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