Comments on: Returning the ball

By: theFIREstarter

theFIREstarter — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 08:40:19 +0000

Totally agree!

I'd like to think that in general people are still kind and charitable. Or at least it's 50/50 anyway :)

I think part of the issue is the way mainstream news is broadcast / printed etc, it's generally all about nasty stuff happening and how people are always on the take - look at the glut of recent "reality tv shows" about people on benefits etc. They pick out some of the most outrageously self entitled people to focus on the show to get the ratings up.

I avoid as much of that nonsense as possible and focus on what I see in real life and it is actually still a nice friendly world out there. Using Freecycle a few times was really good fun and shows you how giving and how grateful people can be (I accepted and gave a few gifts)

I hadn't heard about those other sites you mentioned above... will check them out, thanks!

By: Zoe

Zoe — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 20:54:54 +0000

No need to apologise Sandy, I know you weren't being negative towards me. Sorry if my comment made you think I was upset. Thanks for your kind words and I'm sorry to hear about your bad experiences.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 15:42:33 +0000

I would like to apologise. The above wasn't meant to read as negative towards you – any negativity was just general frustration at how we as human beings treat one another and the planet. It stirred up memories of when I was in desperate circumstances and the people that were supposed to help not only didn't but kicked me while I was down. Anyway… Life goes on. I really do believe the idea that change starts within ourselves (and by our example to our children). And I mean it when I say your blog is inspirational. You're already taking the steps which I see myself taking in the next months and years. I've already started making my own shampoo and laundry liquid and you've really made me think about packaging in a way I had not done before.

By: Zoe

Zoe — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 19:39:02 +0000

Thanks for your comment Sandy. I know I wasn't saying anything new, but I have had a shift in perception. I used to think that there was more value in giving my unwanted stuff to charity than in giving it away for free to someone directly. I felt the charities needed it more than anyone I knew. Now I would probably prefer to give my stuff to someone directly over giving it to charity to be sold, as if we all did that it could bring about massive cultural change. Yes I do realise it sounds very idealistic, but actually I think it is a realistic and necessary way forward if we want to keep on living on this planet. I have to hope that people will start to see that before it is too late and like you all I can do is try to change things. Season's greetings to you too!

By: Sandy

Sandy — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 16:19:50 +0000

A bit like 'love your neighbour as you love yourself'? There was this bloke about 2000 years ago who went around saying stuff like that. He's not all that popular nowadays (or back then, for that matter), and if I mention him in conversation people think I'm a total nutcase, even though many of them are (ostensibly) celebrating his birth tomorrow ;-)
That said, there was another bloke a few hundred years before that who said 'there is nothing new under the sun' and while I wholeheartedly agree with what you've written, I can't help but think that people won't change until it's too late. But it doesn't stop me trying and I take my hat off to you for trying. Never give up. You're inspirational. Season's greetings to you and yours x