Is “Going Green” the New “Atkins Diet”?

Remember the Atkins Diet?
Remember how Madison Avenue started pimping Atkins-friendly EVERYTHING?
Remember how everybody got sick of it?

Well, I predict a similar backlash against “going green”?

Why, do you ask?

Because the nitpicking is potentially endless and polarizing.

Consider this comment from a piece in today’s USA Today:

“At every (green) event that I’ve ever been to,” Goldfeld says, “somebody is pushing some kind of disposable item or things in plastic packaging. … There are always rules for exhibitors about no alcohol, no firearms — the legal stuff — but I’ve yet to see one that specifically says ‘Only bring earth-friendly materials.’ “

That’s right: many eco-friendly folks are now complaining that eco-friendly events are not eco-friendly.

Man, this is so sweet. Can you imagine all the new layers of “outrage” that can now be marketed?

As much as Americans are really psyched to “go green” these days, too much is always too much. While I am personally dedicated to recycling every week and not being a wasteful slob, I am officially sick of the word “green.” It’s EVERYWHERE. It’s trendy. It’s wanton. And it’s being run into the ground the same way all fads are. While there is a lot of good environmental science out there, there’s a lot of bad environmental science out there, too. Regardless of what environmental science we’re looking at, however, I think we should studying what the environmental scientists have to say about it, and not actors or politicians.

Vaya con verde.