i've been accused of being a tree hugger (in a negative sense) many times in here and in the real world. i guess it's because i'm pagan and care about the environment. how is this a bad thing? if nobody cares for the environment, then life will cease to exist. well not entirely, cause life will find a way. it will evolve into something completely different i suppose.
anyway, i want to help protect the earth. i respect all life and think i am part of nature, not above it.
i'm not asking you to believe what i believe, and i'm not asking you to mock my beliefs, i am only asking why being a tree hugger is often seen as a negative thing. thanks.
2007-06-28 02:23:07 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
bugsey - i better clear that up then - i bathe, don't use drugs and own a mini van lol
2007-06-28 02:30:28 · update #1
pangel - are you referring to my "live will evolve into something else" statement? LOL yes, i guess that gives off the atheist vibe!
2007-06-28 02:32:58 · update #2
I proudly embrace the term whenever its used in reference to me. I think that we should respect and care for the environment, and I don't know why more Christians disregard this aspect of life.
My friend grew up in Oregon and apparently "tree hugger" was a derogatory term for environmentalist over there. It referred to the radicals who chained themselves to trees and made pipe bombs and did stuff like that. She is an environmentalist but hates the term because she sees it as referring to the environmental fundies.
2007-06-28 02:32:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Being a "tree-hugger" isn't a bad thing. Its the "fluffy bunny tree huggers" that have given us a bad reputation. Now for all you non-pagans, lol, a fluffy bunny is the type of person who loves nature, preaches about light and love, and how everything is wonderful, gets all worked up over one tree being cut down, even if it is being cut down because it is dying and they want to plant new trees there. Fluffy Bunny's tend to ignore the darker, more negative aspects, which makes them look flakey, when someone uses the term "tree hugger" in a negative aspect, I believe they are refering to those flakey, irrational, and zeolot like people.
I am a tree hugger, and lover of all life, and honour and respect nature and the life around me. But I also recognize the darker side of things, and the cycle of life. If a group of trees need to come down to put something in its place, like a hospital, or homeless shelter, or such, then let the chainsaws sing, but if its only coming down to make way for some high priced condo's, or a mall, ya ok I may have an issue with that.
Anyway, if they call you a tree hugger, positively or negatively just smile, and say thank you, and be proud that you are.
2007-06-28 09:54:04 · answer #2 · answered by Lupa 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
1. Not following the status quo is BAD.
2. Most people have no concept of how things we do now affect the future.
3. People see changing the way we do things so that we do less harm to the environment to be a nearly insurmountable task. Again, they have a hard time envisioning the future.
4. "Love" and other positive emotions are not seen as normal anymore. You are either some crazy hippie or gay if you put more emphasis on positive things and caring about the world.
2007-06-28 09:30:07 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
it's derision at the projected welfare claiming unwashed unhoused lifestyle of the "tree hugger" it the same negativity aimed at the supposed degeneracy of the hippies.
it's to ridicule the idea of thinking that hugging a tree imparts the same reciprocation of love as hugging a human does, when it's truly a metaphorical act if at all actually done by "tree huggers"
this tension reducing derision reduces the inner guilt they feel for not activerly giving a toss about any of the environmemtal issues when they damned well know they should.
.
2007-06-28 09:40:56 · answer #4 · answered by . 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Who knows why people are the way they are Riegan? Apparently they have "more important issues" to tend to...
I was once told when feeling irritable restless and discontent to go to a tree, lean my back up against it, close my eyes and just breathe. You can feel the love and the energy and it is a great way to get grounded.
Besides, as i have said before, the greatest gift i have ever received was the knowledge that What Other People Think of Me Is None of My Business!
Keep Doing What You're Doing
Blessed Be
)o(
2007-06-28 10:21:30 · answer #5 · answered by trinity 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There is nothing Wrong with it and everything Right about being a tree hugger !
We still live in a world with societies based on belief systems
(paganism being one) those that believe differently tend to
condemn the beliefs of others in attempt to impress that their
belief is the right one.
Someday we will all come to realize these belief systems served to keep us in our dualistic separatism...as we learn
that we are all One because physics proves all matter and all space between matter consists of a inner-connected inner-active Consciousness Energy. We all will learn to respect the Plant Kingdom as being one with us, different but equel to us in this universe of Consciousness energy. we are stewards of the planet as we are the best suited form to accept that responsibility, in no way does title stewardship indicate superiority.
2007-06-28 09:38:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because a lot of people believe that tree huggers are against development and growth. When in fact they don't realize we need trees and we need green space. We need to stop polluting the earth.
EDIT: AND without nature we can't exist so I'm thinking it's more important to protect nature.
2007-06-28 09:27:50 · answer #7 · answered by Janet L 6 · 9⤊ 0⤋
I am not a pagan, but I do hug trees!
Seriously I love trees! :) They are soo majestic, and beautiful!
It is said that trees like humans are the highest forms of life in their classification. Not sure if that is true but it makes sense!
Just wanted to share you are not alone! Hold your chin up, some people feel the need to burst other peoples bubbles, cause they don't have any of their own!
2007-06-28 09:37:53 · answer #8 · answered by Delighted 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
From a purely scientific factual perspective, more people should consider themselves part of nature and not have the ignorant, old-fashioned attitude of 'mastering nature', which is successfully destroying our environment along with all living creatures, humans included. To have this as part of your spirituality is indeed enlightened or 'divine', as it displays a theist's (& non-theist;s) love of ' the divinely created' with a common-sense respect of our life-sustaining 'geosphere. Critics are just displaying their lack of education, knowledge & spirituality.... so don't let the turkeys get you down.
:-)
2007-06-28 17:55:24 · answer #9 · answered by J9 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe 'tree hugging' is a good thing. Most who disapprove of being environmentally aware are not even espousing their own viewpoint of it but are parroting the viewpoint of some ultra conservative reactionary talking head...this is even the reason they use the term 'tree hugger', they don't even know what it means.
2007-06-28 09:31:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋