A good friend of mine mentally bitch-slapped a know-it-all Prius owner in a gas station while fueling his "dirty" diesel. He schooled her in the reality of the "carbon footprint" in an even, measured tone while she was foaming at the mouth and yelling while he fueled up his diesel truck.
"Did you know that humans, animals and plants are carbon-based life forms? In fact, one of the reasons we may not have found life on other planets is because we limit our view to the idea that life can only exist with carbon."
*more screaming about soot belching from his stacks*
"Do you know why we expect to find life where we find water? Because carbon-based life forms need water. Carbon absorbs and retains water in all its forms. Have you noticed that the state most strict about its 'carbon footprint', California, is also the only state in the union constantly struggling with drought?"
*screaming about carbon dioxide ensues*
"My catalytic converter is right there! [he pointed at a tree]. Plants breathe CO2 and release the oxygen we need to survive. What happens to the carbon? The plant uses it to survive. Have you forgotten 7th grade science class?"
"YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY NOT GOING TO REALIZE THE DAMAGE YOU'RE DOING!"
"No, I'm just not going to let some government agency tell me that everything I learned in 16 years of school is now incorrect so they can control energy prices. Have a nice day." He got back in the truck and we left.
Of course, by the time the conversation was over, I was curled in the fetal position on the front seat of his truck with tears streaming out of my eyes from laughter. She was still standing there doing a slow burn, staring at us until we were out of sight.
"Did you know that humans, animals and plants are carbon-based life forms? In fact, one of the reasons we may not have found life on other planets is because we limit our view to the idea that life can only exist with carbon."
*more screaming about soot belching from his stacks*
"Do you know why we expect to find life where we find water? Because carbon-based life forms need water. Carbon absorbs and retains water in all its forms. Have you noticed that the state most strict about its 'carbon footprint', California, is also the only state in the union constantly struggling with drought?"
*screaming about carbon dioxide ensues*
"My catalytic converter is right there! [he pointed at a tree]. Plants breathe CO2 and release the oxygen we need to survive. What happens to the carbon? The plant uses it to survive. Have you forgotten 7th grade science class?"
"YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY NOT GOING TO REALIZE THE DAMAGE YOU'RE DOING!"
"No, I'm just not going to let some government agency tell me that everything I learned in 16 years of school is now incorrect so they can control energy prices. Have a nice day." He got back in the truck and we left.
Of course, by the time the conversation was over, I was curled in the fetal position on the front seat of his truck with tears streaming out of my eyes from laughter. She was still standing there doing a slow burn, staring at us until we were out of sight.