Growing up in hippy Oregon, this was a pretty normal thing to do. We recycled, we conserved water, we rode our bikes wherever we could, we saved the trees for the Spotted Owl, and we cut up the soda can chokers. We did our part, man. Peace, love and environmental protection!
Someone recently saw me cutting one up and thought it was weird. It really threw me off. They thought I was going a bit overboard, and I couldn't convince them that it was an important thing to do for animal kind.
I cut it up anyway. I just couldn't NOT.
You never know if it's YOUR soda can holder thingy that's choking the poor penguin on the news. I figure, better safe than sorry.
Especially after Happy Feet.
But it made me think, is this actually a weird thing to do? Am I the only person doing this?
Me! Me! Ooh, me! I do it.
ReplyDeletePeople laugh at me too. I don't care.
I don't do it, but only because we don't buy anything that uses them.
ReplyDeleteHowever I think it's awesome that you are so aware!
Last summer we had to have a duck rescued from our pond that had a "choker" on. We were all so worried about him but after hours of work chasing him down a wildlife specialist was able to capture him and remove it. We were all so relieved and happy for the little guy.
By posting this you are making people more aware of the hazzard. You go girl!
We rarely buy soda, but I'm with you, I gotta cut them, I don't care if people think I'm crazy!
ReplyDeleteNo you are not the only one and I have never thought it was a weird thing to do....of course, I am still a semi hippy living in Oregon
ReplyDeleteDude I totally do it, but I also sort recycling and make sure all the caps are off the bottles and stuff...yea I am from the NW...Dang is it that obvious?
ReplyDeleteWe always do it, too. I grew up in Missouri and we were always taught that the poor duck or swan could get choked. As an animal lover there is no way I wanted to think about doing that for some soda! :)
ReplyDeleteI started doing it a few years ago. I go a little loco about it too- I have to make sure that every single possible place anything could get stuck is cut. I probably look a bit demented in action.
ReplyDeleteThanks for spreading the word! It's a good habit to have.
i totally do it, and if anyone has ever given me the stink-eye for it, i don't actually remember cuz i probably just didn't care what they thought.
ReplyDeleteI totally know what you mean! I grew up in a house that recycled everything. If it wasn't recyclable plastic, we kept it and reused it. We didn't even have paper towels in the house. Ever. We totally cut up all the plastic chokers on things like that.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, then I moved here, and the city doesn't even have a recycling program at all. It's totally a change...
You so are not the only one - I grew up in New England and we always cut our soda holder thingies. :) I think your friend is the weird one, not caring about animals.
ReplyDeleteWe don't normally have soda but if we do we cut them. Doesn't everyone? And if not, why not?
ReplyDeleteI cut 'em when I have 'em. I can't remember the last time we bought a six pack of soda though. We sometimes get the 12 packs in the cardboard box/fridge mate thing. But yes, that is what you are supposed to do!
ReplyDeleteuhm pretty sure the weird looks should have gone the other direction!!
ReplyDeletewho doesn't not cut them up??
I used to do it when I was a kid and had stopped but then last year in my daughter's Kindergarten class, the teacher taught the kids how to do it so they wouldn't choke the wildlife- so either she is living in the past too or it is still part of the curriculum- either way, we do it now.
ReplyDeleteps. I like your blog design- it's purty.
Hey, we do that too and we don't live anywhere NEAR Oregon!
ReplyDeleteI'm a california hippie and I TOTALLY do that. I'd rather kill a tree than choke a bird anyday...although, I AM working on bringing my own bags to the grocery store, so I'm not killing quite as many trees...
ReplyDeleteOf course I do it! I don't know anyone who doesn't do it! However, I would have given strange and nasty looks to the person who thought I was crazy.
ReplyDeleteThen, after explaining why . . .
Karma, baby, Karma. It will get you every time!
I didn't even know that they used those soda things anymore! But anyway that is very nice of you, Laural! :)
ReplyDeleteI don't do it, but after reminding me of the Happy Feet thing, I'm going to!
ReplyDeleteI have always cut them when I have them - We don't have them much, but have always done it!
ReplyDeletePeople pretty much laugh at me whatever I do....
ReplyDeleteI currently have a freezer full of corn husks, coffee grounds, banana peels, and other biodegradable refuse for the next time I go out to the country to visit my Mom's (the thing is, I was there last weekend and forgot to take it--it's getting to be a crisis....)
Raising my hand--I do it, too. Let 'em laugh. Plus, it really soothes the OCD part of me. ;)
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever bought a six pack, so no. Happy Feet makes me remember how much I really didn't like that movie though. It was SOOOO long and boring.
ReplyDeleteI am with you!
ReplyDeleteSo do it
ReplyDeleteYes, yes I do this too for the sake of the ducks. I saw a duck once with one stuck on its mouth. Now I always cut.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting me.
I've never seen that but now, every time I see one of those plastic thingies, I think about this picture.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Oregon and I always cut them too.
ReplyDeleteI've been called many things, but never "penguin choker." I want to keep my record clean.
I'm from Maryland (not too hippy) and we were taught to do this. I don't typically buy those types of packs but when I do I always cut them up. I definitely don't want to be responsible for the poor choking penquin.
ReplyDeleteMy husband had never seen such a thing. He too shreds them to itty bitty pieces now!
ReplyDeleteI do it....hasn't everyone seen "Happy Feet?"
ReplyDelete;)
No, I have never seen Happy Feet, but I do do this. In fact, I've even been known to them in other people's trash and pick them up and cut them. So glad I'm not the only one!
ReplyDelete