Thu 12 Feb 2009
I don’t think it fits in the true definition of ironic because after finding out that Google bought a defunct paper mill I would have expected they would change it into a data center. What would have been ironic is if they had continued to make paper. No this is not ironic but it is highly symbolic – something which I am sure was not lost in the decision to buy the mill. When we look back in better days at the sudden economic downfall, we will be saddened by the upheaval and toll it took on many lives, but we will also be buoyed by the fact that with every great shift comes positive change. Hopefully we will be looking back from a world that wastes less and has more opportunities for all those living in it.
February 12th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
A couple of problems:
1. “with every great shift comes positive change”? Not really. There are lots of shifts that just shit on huge portions of the world. Calling it positive change is pretty close to offensive. The arrival of europeans in north america would definitely qualify as a great shift. Some of my ancestors would not consider it positive change.
2. There’s nothing which says we will have better days to look back from. The current debacle could cripple our economy and plunge us into a world wide resource war. What fun!
February 12th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Seth
1) Sorry if my silver lining and hopeful attitude has offended you but it is part of my personal philosophy that you can always find good things, however small, that come out of the bad. That is not to say it was good that the bad happened only that bad things are inevitable and if you can take lessons from it you can make sure the future looks better. For instance the issues we face now are forcing us to be more resource concious and green technologies are being funded to create jobs.
2) I said I hoped not guaranteed. Sure it could all suck balls but then there was always that chance. If it happens you deal with it but there is no sense in expecting it.
The point was a highly wasteful industry symbol (a paper mill) was taken over by company trying to reduce the use of paper. Hopefully when we look back we will see more silver linings and have a better world because of them.