What’s In a Name
May 19, 2008
Posted by CindyC in : Opinions & Thoughts , trackback
In response to my musings and ensued discussions on Plain & Simple, one of my friends sent me this story. In addition to Environmentalists, Eco-friends, Green or Hippee, there’s a new name (actually acronym) in town – YAWNs.
These Young And Wealthy (but) Normal are folks who choose to live below their means in order to lighten their footprints on the planet and change the world. Some YAWNs drastically change their lives, profession and homes to inspire change. Others do more mundane things like support local growers, resist over-consumption and reconnect with their community. The article implies that YAWNs are mostly motivated by environmental concerns, which is great. However, I know others who just want to free themselves from consumer debt and living paycheck to paycheck. Or still others who just want to regain their sense of community and spiritual sanity.
Perhaps it is a backlash against the materialistic hoarding of the 80’s and 90’s. Perhaps the current economic conditions have folks think twice before spending. Perhaps more have woken up to the grim future awaiting us if we continue to treat our resources and community like an endless roll of toilet paper. I guess I don’t really care what names are used or what their motivations are, as long as these Eco/Green/Hippee/YAWNs continue to grow in number.
CindyC at Organicpicks
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Comments»
It’s so wierd, but I was just thinking about this this morning, before I read your post. I realized that the Craftsman movement of the early 20th century came as a response to industrialization. Then the Hippy movement came as a response to the the post war work-a-holic and nationalism of the Cold War. Now there is a new Simple Living movement in response to the “me generation” of the 80s and 90s. It does seem like we cycle through these times of correction, and I think it is a good thing. The main thing is to remain humble instead of condemning the previous generation, who were surely just doing things the best they knew how.
Have you heard the new one? http://greenbeandreams.blogspot.com/2008/05/apple-of-worlds-eye.html I can’t say I have a problem w/either one. I will say I never considered myself wealthy or affluent but I do live a good life! BLESSED is probably a better word. Anyway - just wanted to share a little of what I’ve been reading…
At greenbean’s and arduous’ blogs, they have come up with an alternative name APLS (Affluent People Living Sustainably) to counter the yawn-inducing acrynym YAWNs.
Yes, that is because I actually think the act of naming is important, even if old Bill Shakes (or Juliet) disagrees with me. But I have Salman Rushdie and LM Montgomery and probably Charles Dickens on my side.