experiment: writing consumer emails

After reading that NY Times story on high tech toys for little kids, I decided to leave a comment on the website. I noticed that neither the story nor the 50 reader comments that followed talked about the massive toxic waste all those toys are going to generate. For some reason, the comment feature was shut down, so I thought I'd just try writing the reporter directly. It was so easy (his email was right there. Come to think of it, I'll send the same email to his co-author too) and so satisfying. Instead of stewing about it and getting depressed, I just asked him to contemplate doing a follow up story on what happens to the e-waste generated by these toys. Took me five minutes. He might completely ignore me, but that doesn't even matter. It's just the act of doing it that feels great, asking our reporters to take responsibility for the consequences of the messages they're delivering. And if he does listen, his deeper investigation into the issue could impact the nation's conversation about buying electronic toys for kids. I'm struck by how easy and painless it is to say your thing to the big dogs via email.

Today, I did it again. I went to the store to buy some Pyrex containers and realized how cool it would be to walk in and pick up a Green Kitchen Kit with a bunch of containers of different sizes, a measuring cup and some tips on how to go green in the kitchen. Especially if the containers were made of recycled glass. Something like that could make going green easier for people looking for it, and introduce the idea to people that aren't. So I just wrote and told them about my idea. Took me another five minutes and it was fun. They might ignore me too, and that's ok. Because now I'm on a roll!

Let me know if you have any email projects you'd like others to help out on and I'll post them here:

> NY Times: Tech Toys Story needs to address the e-waste fallout
> Pyrex: How about a Going Green Kitchen Kit?
> Trader Joes: Why are you selling garlic from China?
> REI: Get rid of the toxic Nalgene bottles

experiment: the gift that keeps on giving

Today Sadie had a birthday party. Last week, I would have run out to the toy store to buy a gift bag, tissue paper, a card and some random gift probably made out of plastic for a kid we don't know very well. Today I tried something new. Sadie's friend was having a dinosaur party, so I looked through our stuff to find something dinosaur-related. I found a big cool dinosaur encyclopedia in our book collection that we've never read, made a necklace out of beads Sadie got as a gift for her birthday and wrapped everything up in wrapping paper made from a brown paper bag. As the gift chooser, I felt much more connected and thoughtful about the process of giving than I usually do. It also felt great not to consume gas to go buy a bunch of stuff no one (neither us nor the birthday girl) really cares about. And then there's the meta gift of saving those resources for another day. I think I might actually start looking forward to birthday party "shopping", especially if it's in our playroom.

It was interesting to notice my thoughts and discomfort as I trolled through our stuff: "They're going to know it's used and be offended. This is rude. You're supposed to give people new things. You're supposed to impress people with the things you give them." And then to wrap the book up in that paper bag and give it anyway. The whole experience was so liberating! I've been such a good dutiful consumer, so well versed in the American way. So now I'm wondering what else is rattling around in that subconscious of mine. Guess I'll find out with each new step I take.