Two Thirds of Americans Would Refuse to Give Up iPod – Even if it Ruined Environment

I noticed flushable toilets weren’t on that list…

We so tied to techologies that one day we found ourselves very frustrated when we loose some of it. We enslave nature but in such way we enslave ourselves.

Uncle B says, the great comeuppance is about to sneak up on the American people and snuff the “American Dream” of the wild eyed advertising propagandists! China cloned a mouse today, from the skin of another mouse, who remained alive! They have done something in medical science we hardly can conceive, never mind equal, or even duplicate! We are so far behind and so full of Shiite it is hard to believe!The great republican depression was a warning shot across our bow, a wake up call, and China has served notice on Timmy Geithner and the Obama administration: No Trillion Dollar Loans for the conservation of the American Dream!, in fact Timmy Geithner was laughed at when in Beijing, as he spoke about his economic plans for the world! We are no longer “The” superpower in the world, and we may struggle to keep from third-worldship in the near future as Asian technologies outstrip our own, medically, militarily, and economically! One day you may have to try to eat your goddamn i-pod device in a tent in a “Hooverville” eating hand-outs from the local church organizations, because so far, even with the glimmerings of better times, we have rampant unemployment of 21st century unemployable folks bred for the 1950’s smoke-stack era of the industrial U.S.A. which has now moved off-shore to Asia! Most America’s unemployed are “Legacy” workers of this age witch has gone East! Good luck with your doo-dads, I hope they ease the pain from here to the coffin some, but economically you are dead on the water folks!

Still not reading the article, I see. IT WAS A HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED TO A SELECT GROUP OF PEOPLE. NO ONE IS SAYING GIVE UP ANYTHING OR THAT THE IPOD IS DETRIMENTAL TO THE ENVIRONMENT. THERE ISN’T EVEN ANY FINE PRINT AND STILL, ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF COMMENTATOR’S ACTUALLY READ THE ARTICLE AND UNDERSTOOD IT. WHY IS DUMB AND IGNORANT SO EFFIN’ HABITUAL?! what’s sad is that there are those commenting saying that they DON’T care even if scientific proof were produced leaning toward dire environmental effects. I wonder if they’d take that stance if it was scientifically and medically proven that they had cancer. They’d jump right into “Care Mode” then. and NO, I’M NOT BASHING PPL WITH CANCER, for anyone who selectively reads my comment.

Hey Dennis – It took excessive lawmaking to come up with scoialism.

Have fun losing the technological advancements we’ve been working for centuries to develop because it might ‘hurt’ the environment.

Who exactly is this a surprise to?

“Well if we kill off say 75% of the earth’s population that would accomplish the same thing right? Lower economy, CO2 into the air etc.”

Good point. And I have a better idea.

Let ALL the people in the world to commit suicide within the next 24 hours, the mother earth is surely be saved, and no further pollution. Sounds good?

The title alone is yellow journalism, and the whole article has an agenda.

what does the ipod have to do with anything besides ruining peoples ears?..sheesh..

We are doom. If people can’t give up something as petty as a Ipod, the end is coming soon!!!

i wouldnt give up anything!

The manner in which the environment would be harmed is irrelevant; the question is hypothetical. The degree of hypothetical damage is, perhaps, relevant; though I have serious concerns about someone who can rationalize partial harm to a fragile and interdependent ecosystem, but balk at “environmental ruin.” Don’t they know one leads to the other? The hypothetical statement exposes our attachment to the physical acoutrement of our lives, it is not meaning to highlight any actual damage any particular item on the survey does. It is mindless to prioritize convenience over sustainability, unless, for example, you don’t find breathing very convenient!

im 35 and dont own a car,a/c,dishwasher,no i-phone. but have the cellphone,tv,microwave,and computer. i also changed to the new lights,shower head,electric by wind,no dryer,3in 1 washer,unplug appliances when not in use. next year put in green flooring,toilets,and more green products.

Hair dye is the worst

toxic and proven cancer cause.

You nature Nazi’s won’t be satisfied until we are all living in a yurt reading the want ads by the light of a VOC free candle while waiting for our tofu to finish heating up on the solar stove!

thank God! thought every one in the U.s. had turned into a great big green wuss!

I wouldn’t give my iPod up but after reading this, I’m not sure why that’s bad. What exactly does it do that harms the environment?

The mere fact that so many people in the comments are confused by the survey can only depict how many of the respondents were confused by the questions. If the questions are misleading or confusing, a survey is inaccurate and worthless. And that is exactly what this survey is. A hypothetical situation is difficult to understand, exactly because it is hypothetical. And “damaging the environment” is an extremely loose term that is meaningless. If the hypothetical question asked were, “if you knew that the act of buying your iPod killed 10 Polar Bears, would you still buy it?”, then the results would be much more accurate, and I would say no one would buy one.

This is a loaded poll that has the sole objective of saying Americans aren’t green enough. An eight grader could have made a better poll.

I could very easily live without an iPOD…like Russ, I wouldn’t live it even if you gave it to me.

the same goes for a cellphone and car and depending on where I’m living AC and Heater (heater for water too) could go too, there are so many things that are un-necessary that people use just because it’s popular or convinient it’s sad……

I noticed flushable toilets weren’t on that list…

Who are these people who take the survey? If you go ahead and ask the worst people, of course it’s going to come out this way. I can kind of understand a computer since so much infrastructure depends on it, but an iPod?

Well, I wouldn’t give up any. I have an iPod, a dishwasher, an AC, a microwave, a laptop PC, a cell phone and a TV…

those are all things I like and there’s a reasons why I will not do without those things.

Well, I wouldn’t give up any. I have an iPod, a dishwasher, an AC, a microwave, a laptop PC, a cell phone and a TV…

those are all things I like and there’s a reasons why I will not do without those things.

humanity is doomed if this crap is neccessary

humanity is doomed if this crap is neccessary

I’m sure all those who actually said that they can live without these things are just talking crud so they feel good about themselves but they wouldn’t give it up if it wasn’t hypothetical.

Show the respondents a youtube video or video proof of how their gadgets are destryoing the environment and you might get a more favorable response. Better still, have the presentation given by an attractive man or woman (or both) and see how that affects the response. We’re very visual, and very shallow. (Duh. I think the results of the survey speaks to this point.) So in theory I can play up a conclusion any way I want by just positioning the presentation differently. And asking more susceptible people.

iPod – never bought one

Dishwasher – rarely use it

Microwave – gave it away years ago

Cellular phone – this I keep in car for emergencies

Air conditioning – never use it

TV – killed it two years ago and don’t miss it

Computer – This I would love to give up, but need it

Car – look forward to doing without this

I believe most of our society has been programmed to believe their identity and importance is based on the labels of the THINGS they own (or make payment on). This makes me a little sad. Too many people are slaves to their debt….

iPod – never bought one

Dishwasher – rarely use it

Microwave – gave it away years ago

Cellular phone – this I keep in car for emergencies

Air conditioning – never use it

TV – killed it two years ago and don’t miss it

Computer – This I would love to give up, but need it

Car – look forward to doing without this

I believe most of our society has been programmed to believe their identity and importance is based on the labels of the THINGS they own (or make payment on). This makes me a little sad. Too many people are slaves to their debt….

Everything’s cool guys, Al Gore is on Apple’s Board of Directors.

Everything’s cool guys, Al Gore is on Apple’s Board of Directors.

I am all for recycling and reducing waste, but don’t tell me we are killing the Earth because that is a big lie. The purpose of the psycho environment movement is to control every aspect of individual freedom.

Climate Change is a lie.

Ever since grade school, loonies have said we are doomed from global freezing, global warming, global flooding, global volcanoes, global quakes, global heterosexual aids, and none of it has happened. Don’t abuse the Earth as it makes good sense, but I will not give up my A/C or V-8 SUV. Only from my dead hands.

I am all for recycling and reducing waste, but don’t tell me we are killing the Earth because that is a big lie. The purpose of the psycho environment movement is to control every aspect of individual freedom.

Climate Change is a lie.

Ever since grade school, loonies have said we are doomed from global freezing, global warming, global flooding, global volcanoes, global quakes, global heterosexual aids, and none of it has happened. Don’t abuse the Earth as it makes good sense, but I will not give up my A/C or V-8 SUV. Only from my dead hands.

Ithink they should stop wasting money on stupid polls, surveys and studies like this.

The main culprit in all of those things being harmful is their plastic content. Takes lots of energy to make it, it can be (paradoxically) both fragile and durable, and with all the permutations of formulas, no single convenient way to recycle it.

Reminds me of a classic story from The Onion:

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/31049

The main culprit in all of those things being harmful is their plastic content. Takes lots of energy to make it, it can be (paradoxically) both fragile and durable, and with all the permutations of formulas, no single convenient way to recycle it.

Reminds me of a classic story from The Onion:

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/31049

thats true tho i could never live without my ipod

You people are dumb. The reason they don’t say any causes for iPods destroying the environment is that there aren’t any. The whole thing was a poll, not to show that iPods are harmful, but to show what Americans are and aren’t willing to give up. The poll asked how many Americans would give up iPods IF!!!! they found out it damaged the environment. Never said anything about iPods actually doing so. The other things on the list are obvious, however.

You people are dumb. The reason they don’t say any causes for iPods destroying the environment is that there aren’t any. The whole thing was a poll, not to show that iPods are harmful, but to show what Americans are and aren’t willing to give up. The poll asked how many Americans would give up iPods IF!!!! they found out it damaged the environment. Never said anything about iPods actually doing so. The other things on the list are obvious, however.

save us Obama

save us Obama

If that isn’t a customer testimonial, I don’t know what is!

Sorry iPod lovers. I do not even own an iPod—they are one of the most overrated items out there today.

But I do agree the poll question was unclear how exactly it harmed….

Sorry iPod lovers. I do not even own an iPod—they are one of the most overrated items out there today.

But I do agree the poll question was unclear how exactly it harmed….

It doesn’t matter how the ipod or any of the other devices would ruin the environment. The article is asking the hypothetical question: if *such and such* a device would ruin the environment (ruin, harm the environment in any possible way) would you still use *such and such* device?

The people surveyed don’t care what kind of harm an ipod would or could do. They would continue to use it regardless of the harm it caused.

PEAK OIL, JERKS!

Enough of this green extremism. I mean really, it is like a pagan religion these days.

Andrew Williams is just another example of a writer that makes a survey that is ambiguous enough to make the American public look rude and stupid. He is just another reason why certain journalists are viewed as generally self-serving rather than objective. He or the survey writer should have been specific in what is termed as “ruined”. A certain group in Yahoo management is just as stupid for providing the link to this article (I imagine not all Yahoo employees and management are as prown to promote a survey soley based on a “glittering generality” – – you journalists should know what I mean by that jargon.

Andrew Williams is just another example of a writer that makes a survey that is ambiguous enough to make the American public look rude and stupid. He is just another reason why certain journalists are viewed as generally self-serving rather than objective. He or the survey writer should have been specific in what is termed as “ruined”. A certain group in Yahoo management is just as stupid for providing the link to this article (I imagine not all Yahoo employees and management are as prown to promote a survey soley based on a “glittering generality” – – you journalists should know what I mean by that jargon.

I would not give up anything on that list because I love my planet. And if you have half a brain you know that “going green” really means making the planet comfy for humans and the animals they rely on and think are cute.

If you really loved your PLANET you would know it doesn’t give a damn. It is resilient as f*ck and does nothing but thrive… before, during and after our ‘blink of an eye’ stay on it.

I don’t care if my iPOD had a carbon footprint the size of Al Gore’s mansion and private jet combined. I’ll give it up when only when Nancy Pelosi swears off facelifts.

SHOOT YOUR I POD WITH A GUN

SHOOT YOUR I POD WITH A GUN

SHOOT YOUR I POD WITH A GUN

Man this just shows how damn stupid humans are. They say they wont give up their Ipods even if it destroys the earth but what gave you that Ipod? Where do you get the air from to enjoy that Ipod? The damn earth. If the earth is gone then there will be no Ipods. Damn I hate being a human and I will always hate humans. We are parasites for this beautiful earth. I hope all humans (including me) die down the road. We are a worthless species that rather rape the world then be in tune with it like everything else on the world.

Regarding what was said by Adam. The question is plain enough for people to understand. Would you give up your Ipod to benefit the earth? That should be the only thing that pops in your head. You need to stop and read yourself. It says even if they KNEW it was seriously damaging the environment. It might be happening now and might not. Either way humans are idiots. And I do not base this on IQ’s and test. I base this on how we treat the earth we come from. And why would it be different if earth was replaced with 1,000 people? Everything people buy in this world funds the military complex that rules this world. You buying your PC/laptop kills people. So do the things that I buy but I see that the majority of humans do not care so why should I waste my time trying to speak out. W/e cant wait till we all die so the earth can live as it was suppose to. The earth does not need humans in anyway.

Man this just shows how damn stupid humans are. They say they wont give up their Ipods even if it destroys the earth but what gave you that Ipod? Where do you get the air from to enjoy that Ipod? The damn earth. If the earth is gone then there will be no Ipods. Damn I hate being a human and I will always hate humans. We are parasites for this beautiful earth. I hope all humans (including me) die down the road. We are a worthless species that rather rape the world then be in tune with it like everything else on the world.

Regarding what was said by Adam. The question is plain enough for people to understand. Would you give up your Ipod to benefit the earth? That should be the only thing that pops in your head. You need to stop and read yourself. It says even if they KNEW it was seriously damaging the environment. It might be happening now and might not. Either way humans are idiots. And I do not base this on IQ’s and test. I base this on how we treat the earth we come from. And why would it be different if earth was replaced with 1,000 people? Everything people buy in this world funds the military complex that rules this world. You buying your PC/laptop kills people. So do the things that I buy but I see that the majority of humans do not care so why should I waste my time trying to speak out. W/e cant wait till we all die so the earth can live as it was suppose to. The earth does not need humans in anyway.

What I think some people here are missing the point of the article and survey. It does not state that the iPod is actually environmentally dangerous. The survey said ‘if’ you knew your iPod environmentally dangerous, would you give it up, and the survey reveals that in this hypothetical that 62% of people would keep it knowing it damages the environment. Certainly an iPod is more environmentally sound when compared to records/tapes/cd’s.

If environmental restoration/recovery/conservation is the real objective, a more encouraging direction would not be to give the option of “giving up” but to first “reduce usage of”. It still provides all the comforts and conveniences people have come to expect, while actually still making a difference.

– Make less car trips to do/carry more each trip,

– Use AC more sparingly, grow a tree outside to cool you home’s surrounding air by a few degrees if able,

– Pool larger washes for the dishwasher/clotheswasher

– Get a TV one size smaller than you had preferred and make sure it’s not a CRT

Anyway, from the headline, it appears to just be hitting at the issue of how stubbornly dependent Americans are on selected gadgets rather than anything remotely environmental, so we’re commenting up the wrong tree…

If environmental restoration/recovery/conservation is the real objective, a more encouraging direction would not be to give the option of “giving up” but to first “reduce usage of”. It still provides all the comforts and conveniences people have come to expect, while actually still making a difference.

– Make less car trips to do/carry more each trip,

– Use AC more sparingly, grow a tree outside to cool you home’s surrounding air by a few degrees if able,

– Pool larger washes for the dishwasher/clotheswasher

– Get a TV one size smaller than you had preferred and make sure it’s not a CRT

Anyway, from the headline, it appears to just be hitting at the issue of how stubbornly dependent Americans are on selected gadgets rather than anything remotely environmental, so we’re commenting up the wrong tree…

exactly, dey dont kno yet, itz cuz itz not damaging it!!

i would NOT give up ma ipod, cel, tv, pc or ma car….

i would NOT give up ma ipod, cel, tv, pc or ma car….

Yes the head line is catchy, the basic principle is true, “Going green must not interfere with comfort or convince.” Going green has many meanings, and for those wishing to live an alternative life style that’s great. But for the mainstream American the above principle will hold true. That is what this article is really about.

Americans buy SUV’s for the perception of 4×4 and freedom. They want the option, in reality, rarely if ever will a soccer-mom shift to 4weel drive or go off-road. For the same reason all electric cars will not sell, this is because who wants a car with a 120 mile range and 12 hours to re-charge. When in fact most cars on average are driven less then 120 miles a day and parked for 12 to 14 hours at home. Americans want option not restriction.

I believe that we can go GREEN and keep our “comfort and convince”.

But first we as Americans must change our precipitation about some things.

First energy production is the number polluter.

The solution is to augment the power grid with wind and solar. This is done on large scale and at the average home, over 70% of our electric usage is during daylight hours.

For instance adding large (100 meter diameter) slow speed wind turbans is a great way to supplement the electric grid, and like any power plant the “but not in my backyard” rule applies. To be truly effective the wind turbans need to be close to the load (communities) they will serve. Also if every home in America placed 4kw of solar-voltaic on their roof we could cut domestic energy usage by over 50%. Solar is 2 to 3 time more expensive then wind.

Second transportation

Cars (dah) to solve this issue, an electric car needs to have a 300 mile range and a 20 minute re-charge time with a price tag under $30,000. When these operation parameters are met Electric cars will sell.

Third Plastics

Petroleum is too valuable as a plastic to be burned as fuel.

Bio plastics should be used for disposable products. Examples include water bottles, product and food packaging, Disposable diapers.

Petroleum plastics should be reserved for durable goods.

To help reach these ends I am a graduate student working on the Solar/wind solution for home owners.

Of course people aren’t going to give up those things if they hurt the environment. The truth is as long as people and animals are on earth there will always be pollution is some way, shape, or form. Even if we had no technology we would still pollute. Even if companies made their products better people would still buy the newer, better one and toss their old one in the trash. Another thing is its so hard to recycle some things. For example, the garbage company told us we can’t put any sort of Styrofoam out with the recycling, the closest place that will take it is 25 miles away. Now we would have to drive 50 miles round trip to dispose of something the right way so now it just goes in the trash. The same with curtain types of plastic bottles. If the recycling truck would take almost anything recyclable there would be less pollution.

I also hate when they pass laws to make products more “environmentally friendly.” The products never work as good as the old stuff. For example, I have heard that eventually the US is going to force the use of water based paint on cars. Gee, that is going to hold up to the road salt well. Cars may be ready for scrap in just 5 years.

They call it green, I call it unbalanced and stupid.

Of course people aren’t going to give up those things if they hurt the environment. The truth is as long as people and animals are on earth there will always be pollution is some way, shape, or form. Even if we had no technology we would still pollute. Even if companies made their products better people would still buy the newer, better one and toss their old one in the trash. Another thing is its so hard to recycle some things. For example, the garbage company told us we can’t put any sort of Styrofoam out with the recycling, the closest place that will take it is 25 miles away. Now we would have to drive 50 miles round trip to dispose of something the right way so now it just goes in the trash. The same with curtain types of plastic bottles. If the recycling truck would take almost anything recyclable there would be less pollution.

I also hate when they pass laws to make products more “environmentally friendly.” The products never work as good as the old stuff. For example, I have heard that eventually the US is going to force the use of water based paint on cars. Gee, that is going to hold up to the road salt well. Cars may be ready for scrap in just 5 years.

They call it green, I call it unbalanced and stupid.

What a silly question or do they know something we do not. I would think my IPOD has saved hundreds of CD’s and cd cases from being made so unless they all explode simultaneously and cause the world to implode I would think they would do more good then harm and hence would not give up.

What a silly question or do they know something we do not. I would think my IPOD has saved hundreds of CD’s and cd cases from being made so unless they all explode simultaneously and cause the world to implode I would think they would do more good then harm and hence would not give up.

I would love to see the survey sample. It strikes me as being pretty narrow or focusing on one demographic. Maybe the survey was misleading. I, for one, do not even own an ipod, dishwasher, air conditioning or car. These numbers seem a little high. They are probably intentionally looking for a good headline.

I bet they casually asked people on the street in affluent suburban areas “would you go green if it meant you couldnt use your ___?” And then interpreted the anonymous and spontanious answers as “scientific results”

How is this survey astonishing? These numbers seem about right…

How is this survey astonishing? These numbers seem about right…

False dilemma! I call false dilemma!

The reason so many people answered “no” is because they’re actually smart enough to realize that the proffered “choice” has little to do with “ruining” or “saving” the earth. It’s not as if my giving up any one device that I use in my daily life could have a significant effect on climate change, or even if everyone in the US or the whole Western world decided to drop down their resource usage to that of the average third-worlder–you still have about 5 billion people trying to enter the industrial revolution so that they can sell cheap crap to westerners!

Yes, we should use energy more responsibly (say for example, listening to iPods through headphones instead of gigantic boom boxes with tons of flashing lights and six speakers–oh wait, we’ve already all done that), but we should also encourage responsible behavior in the majority of the human species–the poorest and most numerous part of it. There is no reason for us to be promoting abstinence only sex education in countries with exploding populations, for example.

How is this survey astonishing? Wouldn’t everyone expect these numbers?

Climate change… rofl….. how about santa claus and the easter bunny? There is more proof for santa than “climate change” . People will believe anything! You could make up a religion and 1 year later have thousands of die hard followers! Why? People don’t think for themselves, they are told, heard it on t.v., basically people are stupid! Enjoy yourselves… I will listen to my iphone, drive my BMW, eat steaks and live life. 100 years from now they will have a whole new made up problem and no one will even know what “climate change” is!

Climate change… rofl….. how about santa claus and the easter bunny? There is more proof for santa than “climate change” . People will believe anything! You could make up a religion and 1 year later have thousands of die hard followers! Why? People don’t think for themselves, they are told, heard it on t.v., basically people are stupid! Enjoy yourselves… I will listen to my iphone, drive my BMW, eat steaks and live life. 100 years from now they will have a whole new made up problem and no one will even know what “climate change” is!

Yeah so how does the ipod affect the enviroment. It’s kind of a BS article. I can put any type of product into that article and it would still come out the same. I was at least expecting facts on how it affects the environment compared to lets say other devices like the zune or something.

Little hoakey. Considering the iPod is the greenest portable music player. Aluminum and glass, ROHS and NO LEAD or toxic chemicals used to make it. The ZUNE however IS the worst of them all. Sansa comes in at a close second but they are leaving the market. Aluminum costs MORE to make, but produces LESS CO2 than plastic. Cars pollute but in the US where one state is larger than all of Britain it’s a little hard to give up. Your choices are Taxi’s which is a car, Trains that crash, planes that fall and other Metro devices run by the government that have no clue how a watch works or they’d be on time.

iPod was thrown in there to make headlines…

Not even one mention of meat. Something Americans refused to even THINK about giving up for it’s environmental impact. This didn’t even make up their list of “conveniences”. Don’t believe me? Check out some facts on http://www.letsactnow.org

Not even one mention of meat. Something Americans refused to even THINK about giving up for it’s environmental impact. This didn’t even make up their list of “conveniences”. Don’t believe me? Check out some facts on http://www.letsactnow.org

I think I’m going to go out and get an extra ipod so I can always have a spare fully charged… can just swap ‘em out, you know?

So sick of these climate change pinheads.

I believe Apple can modify the iPod and make it much eco-effecient. And allow if to use half or even less energy than its last. That would suit everyone much better.

I believe Apple can modify the iPod and make it much eco-effecient. And allow if to use half or even less energy than its last. That would suit everyone much better.

Duh.

While you’re at it, please feel free to report that water is wet, the sky is blue, day follows night, and the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

Oh, this just in, dogs have fleas.

Duh.

While you’re at it, please feel free to report that water is wet, the sky is blue, day follows night, and the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

Oh, this just in, dogs have fleas.

The survey is just not well done. Is it saying in this hypothetical that your iPod is singlehandedly ruining the environment, or is it saying that it’s just a major polluter? On the level of what, a running SUV, or a coal plant? If my mp3 player was polluting like an SUV, I’d use it sparingly. If it was ruining the environment, I’d toss it of course.

Yeah because clearly those 1000 people reflect ALL Americans. Give me a break.

Maybe people realized the Media is beating a dead horse with this global warming myth and we are just getting sick of it?

The survey is just not well done. Is it saying in this hypothetical that your iPod is singlehandedly ruining the environment, or is it saying that it’s just a major polluter? On the level of what, a running SUV, or a coal plant? If my mp3 player was polluting like an SUV, I’d use it sparingly. If it was ruining the environment, I’d toss it of course.

i couldnt do without my cell phone

Yeah because clearly those 1000 people reflect ALL Americans. Give me a break.

This whole going green gaga agenda is ridiculous. The only ones who are “benefiting” from this going green stuff are manufacturers and manufacturers only. Not the people and certainly not the “environment” or “ecosystem”.

I think you guys are missing the point. It said would you give these things up IF you knew they were harming the environment. It’s not a question of degree. However, I’m thinking that anyone who didn’t know American’s are slave to convenience must have been living under a rock for the past few decades.

I think you guys are missing the point. It said would you give these things up IF you knew they were harming the environment. It’s not a question of degree. However, I’m thinking that anyone who didn’t know American’s are slave to convenience must have been living under a rock for the past few decades.

How is an IPOD killing the environment anymore than any other device? I would think it would be better than buying a bunch of CD’s that eventually go into the trash. Why not just make all of our music and movies digital and not even have the option of buying a plastic disc? That would help the environment more. Oh and while they are at it, stop making so many new products every few months that only change 1 or 2 features that inevitably make society go nuts trying to go out and buy the latest gadget to begin with, whether it’s an IPOD, car or cell phone. I bought an inexpensive MP3 player. Still plays the music I want to listen to so I don’t get what the craze is over having some nano IPOD that if it got any smaller you wouldn’t be able to find the on button.

They asked the questions under the assumption that man-made global warming is real.

Tell me, if we get rid of all the CO2 what will the plants live on? Nothing – they’ll die and then we’ll all be dead.

Idiots.

They asked the questions under the assumption that man-made global warming is real.

Tell me, if we get rid of all the CO2 what will the plants live on? Nothing – they’ll die and then we’ll all be dead.

Idiots.

OK, to the people responding so far…you must be morons it was a HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION! I think the biggest problem that faces the environment, is general human stupidity. None of the things on this list are by any means a necessity, when did the US get so full of spoiled lazy stupid people?

OK, to the people responding so far…you must be morons it was a HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION! I think the biggest problem that faces the environment, is general human stupidity. None of the things on this list are by any means a necessity, when did the US get so full of spoiled lazy stupid people?

If getting rid of all these folks who wouldn’t give up their ‘toys’ would help the environment, I have some duct tape and big moving boxes…if I cna catch them where can I send them??? LOL

america-spolied land of the pretentious, home of the entitled

Do these items actually harm the enviroment, or was this just hypothetical. Perhaps the answers are because people realize that using an ipod is better for the environment than buying 1000’s of discs and tapes.

But…. I like my iPod… awww man, I dont want to get rid of it!!!!

The article is based on a hypothetical survey, not designed to produce any real facts, but more to project the future participation in “green” projects. If anyone comments with “HE DIDN’T SAY HOW IPODS ARE RUINING THE ENVIRONMENT!”, then it’s quite clear you didn’t read the five and a half paragraph article closely enough. iPod’s are not the subject, just the headline. And there’s also the big 2-letter word – IF. Read, people. Read between the lines. It’s by not reading properly and completely that we get ourselves into trouble in the first place (when it comes to things that need to be read, that is)

The article is based on a hypothetical survey, not designed to produce any real facts, but more to project the future participation in “green” projects. If anyone comments with “HE DIDN’T SAY HOW IPODS ARE RUINING THE ENVIRONMENT!”, then it’s quite clear you didn’t read the five and a half paragraph article closely enough. iPod’s are not the subject, just the headline. And there’s also the big 2-letter word – IF. Read, people. Read between the lines. It’s by not reading properly and completely that we get ourselves into trouble in the first place (when it comes to things that need to be read, that is)

Get off the Al Gore crazy train will ya people. Start thinking for yourself and relize there is no global warming. It the biggest hoax of all

yeah living in the imperial valley with no ac,ur crazy with temps getting over 120f yeah right…

yeah living in the imperial valley with no ac,ur crazy with temps getting over 120f yeah right…

yeah living in the imperial valley with no ac,ur crazy with temps getting over 120f yeah right…

I’m not giving up ANYTHING! I don’t care a thing in the world about being “GREEN”. My goal is to leave the biggest “carbon footprint” possible.

I’m not giving up ANYTHING! I don’t care a thing in the world about being “GREEN”. My goal is to leave the biggest “carbon footprint” possible.

A couple of things to consider here. First, about the iPod . . . why do so many people feel a desperare need to have music playing wherever they go? Maybe because the world around them seems so ugly that they really do feel it necessary to tune it out.

So here’s an idea. Let’s work on ways to make the world more humanly attractive, and then maybe more people would willingly give up their tune-out toys so they can tune in. Worth a try.

The other thing: studies have shown that the greatest threat to our environment is neither iPods nor even vehicles–though they both do harm. It’s meat-eating.

So getting Americans to cut down on their meat-eating would help the environment tremendously. I think that would be the first step, and we can work toward the other things from thre.

im confused…the title say that americans would NOT want to part with their ipod even if it harms the environment, but the data showed that 38% “would be willing to do without it” the statement before that says “well under 50 percent of those polled were prepared to give up the following items:” hey…has nobody noticed this ? XD please edit this page xd

A couple of things to consider here. First, about the iPod . . . why do so many people feel a desperare need to have music playing wherever they go? Maybe because the world around them seems so ugly that they really do feel it necessary to tune it out.

So here’s an idea. Let’s work on ways to make the world more humanly attractive, and then maybe more people would willingly give up their tune-out toys so they can tune in. Worth a try.

The other thing: studies have shown that the greatest threat to our environment is neither iPods nor even vehicles–though they both do harm. It’s meat-eating.

So getting Americans to cut down on their meat-eating would help the environment tremendously. I think that would be the first step, and we can work toward the other things from thre.

A couple of things to consider here. First, about the iPod . . . why do so many people feel a desperare need to have music playing wherever they go? Maybe because the world around them seems so ugly that they really do feel it necessary to tune it out.

So here’s an idea. Let’s work on ways to make the world more humanly attractive, and then maybe more people would willingly give up their tune-out toys so they can tune in. Worth a try.

The other thing: studies have shown that the greatest threat to our environment is neither iPods nor even vehicles–though they both do harm. It’s meat-eating.

So getting Americans to cut down on their meat-eating would help the environment tremendously. I think that would be the first step, and we can work toward the other things from thre.

really? come on, cell phones? yes the plastic and what nots in those in bad for a plant or two, but convince? I’m not slave to my cellphone but for a lot of people it’s needed. work business, cross country social stuff.

poorly written story. i could do the same.

Personally the three things on that list that I couldn’t give up is the Computer, the A/C and T.V. The rest I can do without. Hell I don’t have a car or an iPod.

The greenwashing of humanity by the globalphobiacs is mindnumbing….Almost time to get in the SUV , go home and turnup the air

The greenwashing of humanity by the globalphobiacs is mindnumbing….Almost time to get in the SUV , go home and turnup the air

I am in the “none of the above” category. Each of those things are necessary for the average person, and no one will convince the 21% of people who chose to stay the same, to change.

I understand having energy efficient cars, or solar powered objects, but we shouldn’t give up our necessities or comforts of life completely, to please the extremely “green” people.

I’m with Adam….I don’t think an iPod is destroying the environment……and it’s great IF you can give up your car…..but most Americans can’t. And no matter how we push for public transportation, they keep telling us we don’t want it. And only people in places who don’t NEED A/C would give it up…..try living in Texas in August when it’s 104 and almost 100% humidity….you can’t do anything!

A better question would have been: would you stop dumping your used motor oil/paint/bleach down a storm drain?

Quit trying to blame regular Janes and Joes for the environmental pickle we’re in…..corporations use more resources in a day than some of us could use in a lifetime!

Duh. Americans–hell all people–are always enthusiastic about things that don’t cost or inconvenience them. As soon as doing something starts to interfere with your life, how quickly committment evaporates…

Duh. Americans–hell all people–are always enthusiastic about things that don’t cost or inconvenience them. As soon as doing something starts to interfere with your life, how quickly committment evaporates…

it is not hard to live without a dishwasher, microwave or AC. spend an extra 15 minutes each night to wash the dished by hand, heat up food on the stove instead of in the microwave, and use fans instead of the AC. come one, it’s not that hard.

it is not hard to live without a dishwasher, microwave or AC. spend an extra 15 minutes each night to wash the dished by hand, heat up food on the stove instead of in the microwave, and use fans instead of the AC. come one, it’s not that hard.

Whatout, the iPeople are going to be upset with this article.

One thing I cant have because id fel like a douche carrying it around looking for approval.

I agree with Adam. This is the stupidest survey I have ever seen.

I agree with Adam. This is the stupidest survey I have ever seen.

Americans are much like cattle or sheep. They are easily herded and believe everything they are told. GLOBAL WARMING is not so much from cars and CO2 as they have been told. It is clearly from the rushes of methane gasses from the beneath the ocean specifically in the Bermuda Triangle and also known to happen in the waters around Alaska. We are talking about 98% of “global warming” is from this event occurring. The Toyota Prius (the new ‘green’ car) gets less gas mileage than BMW M3 when driven side by side. What Americans believe tends to be nonsense and they should do a little research before just believing. THE WORLD IS NOT COMING TO AN END ANY TIME SOON. Enjoy Life. Be friendly to each other.

I agree with Adam..

this is an article based on illogical research. they give no backing to their “claims”. this survey seems to have been administered in a thoughtless manner. they could have added coloring books, crayons and alcohol to the list and gotten similar results.

it was just a list of things we wouldn’t want to give up. regardless if it had to do with the environment or not.

and the “green movement” will never take hold, because there is no way to show each individual the direct consequences of their decisions and actions. it will always be “another person’s problem” and never our own.

I agree with Adam..

this is an article based on illogical research. they give no backing to their “claims”. this survey seems to have been administered in a thoughtless manner. they could have added coloring books, crayons and alcohol to the list and gotten similar results.

it was just a list of things we wouldn’t want to give up. regardless if it had to do with the environment or not.

and the “green movement” will never take hold, because there is no way to show each individual the direct consequences of their decisions and actions. it will always be “another person’s problem” and never our own.

Stupid ?, stupid writer! It’s not causing the world harm so who cares?!

A very dumb survey. Of course people are going to decline giving up a small novelty such as an Ipod because they are going to ask “How the hell can an Ipod hurt the environment??” Instead of asking ‘what if’ questions in your surveys…ask them REAL damn questions instead.

For example since I am sure you are confused…would you cut your daily commute by more than half? An example of course.

And that’s not only directed at Adam but everyone else who think the author is saying that an iPod ruins the environment.

Adam — the article does not state that an iPod ruins the environment; it merely trys to explain what would people’s action be IF the iPod had the potential to ruin the environment. And damage is a synonym for ruin — look it up.

Just another Global Warming farce article.

Guys, it is a hypothetical question posed to .000002 of the population, not a statement saying these things hurt the environment (although they all do in their own right, even if it is just at the landfill). This was a test to determine what level of interest is there in becoming green and helping the environment, and what people would be willing to give up.

The amusing part to me is the lying 6% who said they would give up all of the above IF they harmed the environment. Well, we all know that the majority of this list definitely harms the environment, so those 6% better be bored & sweating it out at home after walking from work. My guess is those 6% have a car, AC, and a computer…

I don’t have an ipod (too expensive and I have better things to do with my small amount of free time than figure out how to use one)but yes, there are lots of things I wouldn’t give up for the sake of the environment, mostly time savers. Wash out a mayonnaise jar so that I can recycle it? Surely you jest. And I buy paper plates so I don’t have to wash dishes. It’s like charging people for taking a plastic bag when they buy groceries. It’s mostly the highly organized upper middle class who always has an environmentally friendly bag in their possession when they’re caught short without milk. On the other hand I DO think grocery stores should switch to paper bags WITH handles, for those of us who have to walk long distances carrying our groceries.

The whole save the planet movement should be listed in the DSM-IV as a pathological obsession! Bottom line, I represent 1/6,000,000,000 (that’s one 6 billionth) of the world’s pollution in round numbers. I am on this planet for 100 years if I am lucky and I plan on enjoying it and living as comfortably as possible. I am not going to go without any of those conveniences or luxuries and I advise you to do the same. Enjoy yourself how you see fit! I know I am.

I love listening to music. An ipod is a must. We only have 1 lifetime on this planet, might as well enjoy it with the technology that is out there.

This going green stuff is nothing but a scam!

HAHAHA!!!!

No WAY im giving up my ipod!!!!!!!

This is a horribly written article! No where in the article does it state how an Ipod ruins the enviroment..

How about giving up meat…the number one contributor to global warming…more than all the trains, planes, cars, boats combined! We’d rather take the easy way out and recycle our cans, buy an aluminum water bottle, change lightbulbs, buy a prius, but won’t give up that hamburger will we? Do it for the environment and…the animals and your health! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIjanhKqVC4

How about giving up meat…the number one contributor to global warming…more than all the trains, planes, cars, boats combined! We’d rather take the easy way out and recycle our cans, buy an aluminum water bottle, change lightbulbs, buy a prius, but won’t give up that hamburger will we? Do it for the environment and…the animals and your health! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIjanhKqVC4

Its so funny to think I only recently got an IPod… and I still barely use it. Seriously, people wouldn’t give up a fucking IPod? Ridiculous. Or even a dishwasher? Lots of people DON’T have those to begin with. God forbid you have to use a sponge…

The US is full of lazy morons.

I don’t have an ipod, but I do have a Sony Walkman MP3 Player and I feel the same way. I do not want to switch to “green” products unless it will be a technological or “creature comfort” improvement. I currently have a 15 year old sports car and until hybrid’s and other “green” autos have the same amount or better performance than my car, I won’t switch to them either. Many people are more concerned with gas mileage than anything, but real car enthusists such as myself look for performance. I haven’t heard any lashing out yet, but if it happens in the future, I will not apologize for my choices in products either.

I have given up nothing to this “cult movement” green movement is full of lemmings and idiots….

join the brown movement with me and crap all over the greenies….

How many people would give up our stupid politicians and “green” freaks when we find out that the Earth warms/cools in spite of CO2…when is the “fact” decided with very little scientific debate? What is currently causing the cooling?

I’m all for finding ways to reduce carbon usage, but let’s stop turning into a “religion” and taxing us to death….since when does ANY Government program solve a problem?

I wouldn’t give up any of those things if I thought it was harming the environment!!! Actually I wouldn’t give up anything if it was “harming” the environment!!

If one buys two of those killer ipods, is the effect exponential or linear? I would definitely opt for two if it affected >2000 people. I might even drive my car to the store with the a/c on while talking on my cell phone and surfing the internet on my laptop while eating canned tuna with extra porpoise pieces in it.

I agree with Adam. This is a sensationalist headline that doesn’t deliver what it promises.

Being given the choice between comfort, convenience and the environment is like being given the choice between apples, oranges, and the universe. If they don’t choose the environment is that supposed to mean that they want the planet destroyed? There are some serious wording issues in this article and its research.

Russ if you had an iPod you would understand. Me, I would have to have a dishwasher when ours broke and I washed dishes for 2 months I used more water doing them manually than with the dishwasher.

Just goes to show you what people truly value

Running a fully-loaded dishwasher is more efficient than hand-washing dishes.

But that would ruin some of the sensationalism of this article, wouldn’t it?

This article is a little ridiculous. To actually go green, we’d have to completely give up our way of life. No TV’s, no cars, no heat, no running water – every single bit of our lives would have to change.

I’m not advocating us doing this, it’s just the reality of the situation. So, yes, we humans aren’t willing to destroy our lives for some theoretical better world without technology or convenience.

(PS: I’m a geologist)

This article is a little ridiculous. To actually go green, we’d have to completely give up our way of life. No TV’s, no cars, no heat, no running water – every single bit of our lives would have to change.

I’m not advocating us doing this, it’s just the reality of the situation. So, yes, we humans aren’t willing to destroy our lives for some theoretical better world without technology or convenience.

(PS: I’m a geologist)

The reason most people answered this way is simple: they know the supposition that iPods will ruin the environment is too idiotic to be taken seriously! No one in their right mind believes that the little iPod will even slightly damage the environment. Of course protecting the environment is important, but honestly, I think we’re taking this “green” thing way too far!

The reason most people answered this way is simple: they know the supposition that iPods will ruin the environment is too idiotic to be taken seriously! No one in their right mind believes that the little iPod will even slightly damage the environment. Of course protecting the environment is important, but honestly, I think we’re taking this “green” thing way too far!

The irony is that wearing shoes, clothes made out of commercial-grade fabric, and living in a house also “ruins” the environment. Pretty much every job that exists has negative environmental impact, too. The only way to avoid causing harm to the environment is to live an aboriginal lifestyle, which, frankly, I sincerely doubt that anyone reading this misleading and biased article is likely to do.

I love my ipod.

I was listening to my iPod while reading this article!

The simple fact is that the IPOD does not hurt the enviroment, and most would assume that it doesnt, and if it does, infact hurt it, a major chemical blows a cload of smoke out of its stack for 5 minutes in a day and does 10000 times the damage on person does in lifetime with there few luxuries they have.

What do they mean… “if they knew iPods were seriously damaging the environment”?

Polling on abstract/hypotheticals isn’t all that interesting. Attitudes and behavior can be influenced by specific data/messaging, but more importantly by the attitudes of friends/peers/celebrities/society. If using an iPod became the equivalent of wearing fur, I bet you would see attitudes over time change… or more likely new eco-products would be developed to serve that niche.

I’m all for a hard look at how selfish and short-sighted we’ve become as consumers, but this poll seems kinda light and not very meaningful.

P.S.

Who conducted this survey??? You don’t say and niether does the site you link to. That’s weak reporting, if you can call it that.

I wouldn’t give up any of the above. In fact I wouldn’t give up ANYTHING at all for the hoax that is mad caused global warming. I intentionaly don’t recycle because too many of the global warming lemmings recycle and i will do nothing to support this lie of global warming.

I only have 3-4 weeks a year when I slightly desire an AC… most of the rest of the time is fine. The vast majority of the rest of the world lives without one, and they seem to do pretty well. It adds about 20-25% to most people’s electric bills on average, and that’s a lot of additional electricity needed, and thus more pollution.

Washing dishes once or twice a day by hand just takes a few minutes. Easy. And not having a microwave is no inconvenience, really. Plus, choosing to bike or walk everywhere I go actually opens up my world in some fundamental ways. The area in which I live is more accessible and open to me. I don’t have to fight for parking. I stay in better shape. I save money. And I learn to adapt and live within the 4-5 miles of my part of the city. It’s a win/win situation.

Actually, I don’t have any of these things. While I do have a computer at my office for my work, that allows me enough time to do personal email and keep up with youtube/facebook such that I don’t feel any need to have one at home. Actually, if I had a computer or tv at home, I don’t think that I would read or bake or participate in community events like I currently do. as to a cell phone, I guess I’ve never felt a need for one, and continue to function just fine with my work phone and my landline at home. I’m not important enough to need to be available 24 hours a day, and that’s just fine with me.

The phrase “going green” makes me want to vomit. I wouldn’t give up any of those things if for no other reason that spite.

If people are that concerned with the environment, why not make the vehicles that are hybrid and produce less emissions more accessible. And available in the U.S. and everywhere else. I know there are some available, but the really astonishing ones are overseas in Europe. How does an electronic device harm the environment anyway? The only thing I can think of is when you disposed of it.

If people are that concerned with the environment, why not make the vehicles that are hybrid and produce less emissions more accessible. And available in the U.S. and everywhere else. I know there are some available, but the really astonishing ones are overseas in Europe. How does an electronic device harm the environment anyway? The only thing I can think of is when you disposed of it.

Wow, Mr. Adam has a lot of time on his hands. I guess it’s easier to write a long-winded, nonsensical diatribe than to seek answers on his own.

Some of us got your point Andrew, that a lot of people won’t take on green projects, or buy a green product if they have to go to a different store to find it or if it somehow takes away from their personal comfort… Oh yeah, you DID say that out right didn’t you?

(((03)))

This is one of those surveys that make you shake your head and wonder why someone took the time and effort to do this. Its not scientific at all. Your ipod is damaging the environment! But we don’t know how yet but we know it is! If this was the case would you still use it? What? Really? Someone got paid to do this?

This is one of those surveys that make you shake your head and wonder why someone took the time and effort to do this. Its not scientific at all. Your ipod is damaging the environment! But we don’t know how yet but we know it is! If this was the case would you still use it? What? Really? Someone got paid to do this?

That’s sad. It just goes to show how me first the US is.

adam IF IT RUINED THE ENVIRONMENT who cares how…what if it leached toxic gases that’s not ok but if it stayed in a landfill forever with radiation “we can’t have that”

The fact is WE will not change our lifestyle for any reason…until it’s too late…then we’ll find someone to blame for our problem…that’s the American way

The loaded question in there is would you give something up if it were to kill your children, grand-children, great grand-children etc. tehn people would ANSWER differently but this survey show how they really would behave.

sad

This is the problem we have in our country, WE are ALL spoiled and not willing to do without. We would rather blame it on the government than ourselves. Maybe we should all wake up and realize that we are our own problem.

I think some one should have stuffed Al Gore full of ice cubes 6 or 8 years ago and eliminated all the silly hype about Global Warming and let us all dye with happiness.

Give me convenience and unnecessary consumer goods or give me death!

OTOH – have already given up (6%)car I know as that does seriously harm the environment – causes climate change.

Maybe… they assume a little iPod does very little harm?

Were they told exactly what the problem was, compared with other alternatives?

Have to admit – my first thought was ‘how much harm could tan ipod do?

Well if we kill off say 75% of the earth’s population that would accomplish the same thing right? Lower economy, CO2 into the air etc.

This is really a loaded headline and rather stupid conclusion. “Two Thirds of Americans Would Refuse to Give Up iPod – Even if it Ruined Environment”

“Ruined” the environment? How so? No attempt is made to explain how it ruins the environment compared to any other consumer electronic device, which we use constantly in our lives. First the headline says “ruined the environment” then the follow-on link says “seriously damaged”, which one is it? They aren’t the same think, seriously damaging and completely destroying aren’t the same thing. And reading the actual link itself they simply say “If you thought these things were harming the environment”, harming is even a lessor degree of impact, than ruining, or seriously damaging” that the writer of this article states.

Maybe JUST maybe the reason for the slanted and misguided “results” are because the people really did’t know what question was being asked!

If they people were asked “If you knew that buying an iPod was killing a village of 1,000 people, would you still buy it?” The actual survey results would be MUCH different.

I Think Mr. Williams qualifications for being a writer on this site needs to be seriously questioned. And a retraction or “UPDATE” on this article is sorely needed.

I could never do without ac!

And I wouldn’t have one if you gave it to me – the hype around the thing is sickening.