Tree hugger?

Question

Why is being called a tree hugger seen as offensive or just plain wierd?

Answer 1

Tree hugger:

"An environmentalist, especially one who supports the preservation of forested land and the restriction of logging."

Second link traces back the etymology of the word.

It's like the word "liberal" is used in and of itself as an insult and so now liberals want to use the word "progressive" instead. This is an explanation by way of analogy but I can be more clear than that. Being called a tree hugger is seen as offensive or just plain weird by people who oppose deforestation and environmental protection groups because it is a word launched at them by supporters of big business, logging industry workers, and other non-environmentalist groups. So it is all a matter of perspective. One who is neutral may or may not think of it as an insult really. If you are a logging company you fear being attacked by maniacal left wing lunatics and this fear leads you to launch some type of insult at these groups in fear of your physical safety.

Answer 2

It's a term that is used to dismiss environmentalists as being overzealous, alarmist, ridiculous, trouble-making ....

Personally, I take it as a compliment. I think it tells more about the person using the term than it does about the person being called a tree-hugger. Makes me want to go hug a tree right now. Oh, yeah. It's dark and it's cold. Maybe I'll just stay in the house and dream up some other radical Earth Mother, holdover hippie, Sierra psycho, Greenpeace gal activity for tonight.

Oh, and to those who think tree-huggers are loony, .... I'm teaching your children.

Answer 3

First Tree hugger is a slang term used in Dungeon and Dragons and Shadowrun type games. It is an insult towards elves. Secondly it's weird because it's not used every day.

Answer 4

In the absence of evidence to substantiate claims that global warming is false some people adopt schoolyard tactics of name calling. Hence, instead of disputing the science those who seek to dispute global warming resort to calling names such as tree-hugger, chicken little etc.

Any name-calling is only offensive if the person is offended by it. I'd have thought most people who were responsible enough to be concerned for the welfare of the planet and the people on it are intelligent enough not to be offended by such a name.

Answer 5

I hate timber: "there is unrest interior the woodland there is hardship with the timber For the maples choose extra photograph voltaic And the o.ok. ignore approximately their pleas the hardship with the maples (and that they are particularly confident they're ideal) they say the o.ok. are only too lofty and that they grab up each and all of the sunshine however the o.ok. won't be able to help their emotions in the event that they like the way they're made and that they ask your self why the maples won't be able to be happy of their coloration there is hardship interior the woodland And the creatures all have fled because of the fact the maples scream 'Oppression!' And the o.ok. only shake their heads So the maples shaped a union And demanded equivalent rights 'The o.ok. are only too grasping we are able to cause them to provide us easy' Now there is not extra o.ok.oppression For they exceeded a noble regulation And the timber are all stored equivalent by using hatchet, awl and observed"

Answer 6

i am a tree hugger it is because they think it will stop them so trees can be exstink but that is not going to happen tree haters

Answer 7

my brother calls me a tree hugger all the time...i take no offence in it, its pretty much true.

Answer 8

I take it as a compliment.