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Fri Dec 11
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| posts about #environmentalism more → |
Guest Op/Ed: Toxics, Electronics and Why Consoles Matter |
McDonald's Interactive Grows Up and Leaves Home (Update) |
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Kotaku 
08/27/09
I must say though, while I respect that some people may not agree with the way Greenpeace conducts itself as an organisation, the issue they are raising - decreasing toxic waste - is difficult to logically argue against. Clearly,the less toxic waste being produced, the better off we are.
It seems many of the opposing views to the article are simply focused on their hatred of Greenpeace.
08/26/09
I want to thank you for your well-written article. The angles you cover are helpful and comprehensive. You -do- offer solutions (keeping a company in charge of their own recycling especially makes a great deal of sense). I found myself wishing people would require and listen to articles like these instead of soundbyte commercials, as I honestly found the soundbyte version offensive and annoying, and ignored them. Understanding the deeper story, however, made the issue mean a whole lot more.
08/26/09
I believe that to solve these issues, mature, well-reasoned dialogue is needed, which is why I am happy to see Guest Op-Eds such as this on occasion on the Kotaku site. I certainly consider such posts a much better solution to reaching active consumers than pithy, immature, and illegal antics like the ones Greenpeace recently pulled on HP.
I believe that solely focusing on negative publicity about companies and corporations will not do much to win over gamers. The industry is taking steps towards greener solutions, such as lower power consumption and digital distribution, which is worth acknowledging.
I believe that we can ultimately find solutions to these issues if we all work together and keep a level head. And I do believe it is important to keep looking for new ways to innovate.
08/26/09
[current.com]
60 minute episode on ewaste and China. This really shouldn't be a conservative/liberal issue. We need to take care of our home.
08/26/09
Then I started reading Kotaku comments. :D
08/26/09
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08/26/09
And I do believe "people eeking out a living by scavenging smoldering mountains of our castaway technology" takes some sort of artistic license. Sounds like me working in my home office.
08/26/09
That line about people eeking out a living from mountains of castaway technology is probably literally true. It's true about a lot of places and about general trash, not just electronics. And its true about places a lot closer than Asia too boot.
08/26/09
08/26/09
..oh wait. You're not listening, are you? Never mind.
08/26/09
08/26/09
Kotaku reported on something that Green Peace did regarding video game consoles. Green Peace found out about the angry response from dipshits like you. Green Peace sends a letter to Kotaku as a gesture of goodwill and explains their methodology. Kotaku receives the letter and obviously has to report it because of this thing called the Journalist's Creed (or the Journalist's Code of Ethics).
That said, I'd really appreciate it if Kotaku could ban you from ever commenting here again.
08/26/09
Banning someone for stating a disagreement is not exactly conducive to the free thinking intelligent mindset I'd presume you'd prescribe to yourself but quickly dismiss regarding the OP with whom you disagree.
08/26/09
But ignorant, clearly flamebait comments suggesting that poverty is "artistic license" or calling Chinese citizens "charlie chans" IS ban-worthy. There's "different opinion" and then there's "wrong"
Tone, here, is clearly in the wrong.
08/26/09
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08/26/09
oh well ok then...
Thank you :}
08/26/09
08/26/09
-1
I'm so glad Kotaku has Star Commenters such as dowingba to enrich all our lives.
08/26/09
08/26/09
08/26/09
triple stamped, no erasies.
08/26/09
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08/26/09
It is a little exploitative to tag an article about environmental practice in manufacturing onto a heart-wrenching story about child poverty, but the author is absolutely not making the sensationalist claim that that console design is at the root of that poverty.
08/26/09
Oh no, no, we don't know how to replace them. No, I wasn't aware that you already sell every one of your consoles at a loss. Yes, but maybe you could just spend a few million figuring out how to replace all the toxics on your own.
Yes, I know you're a company, but that doesn't mean you can't also care about the environment. No, I didn't realize how many employees that count on the money you're already making to feed their families. Well, the money could come from some of the employees who make more money. Oh, you have to give them a larger paycheck to give them incentive to work for you and not your competitor? Oh, I see. Well, maybe you could just charge more for the console itself.
No no, I already told you. We don't have any idea how to actually solve this problem. We just want you to fix it, then we can add you to our victories page! It's very nice: did you know we stopped toxic waste? Yes, and whaling. No, I don't know how many businesses we completely annhilated and people we've sent to the poorhouse over some of these: why do you ask?"
08/26/09
08/27/09
Get a fucking sense of perspective already. Unless someone starts the ball rolling it will never become cost-effective to be environmentally friendly.
One suspects you would have a different view if you were living in one of the developing countries that are the oh-so-lucky recipients of our toxic trash.
08/26/09
1) Yes, the less toxic compounds in electronics, the better. However, we should also pursue longevity in these devices as well. There is evidence that these replacement compounds are causing the devices they are used in to die quicker and therefore pushing MORE waste into the "recycling" system.
2) We should also be pushing for our own technology to recycle our own waste. That would release us from the culpability of the photo above that is meant to invoke guilt. Either that or make responsible the governments that allow that type of filth to happen in their country.