Why is plastic a problem? It's getting into your fish and screwing with your fish-eating lifestyle.

Today, I decided to open up my Facebook feed. I know, right? What a face-palm moment.

Since joining Steemit, the quality of work I'm now seeing on a daily basis (because of the high grade Steemit contributors I follow, not the hot or trending posts) means I've got used to a certain, let's say, calibre of work. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy sharing my occasional Steemit post on there (getting no recognition or comments), but reading cringeworthy posts lacking the punctuation skills of a second grader is nauseating.

This evening's contribution is simply some commentary on one such Facebook post.

You'll see it first hand yourself in a moment. It's written as though it's being spoken which is happening increasingly more often instead of written as a piece to be read, and clearly, I wasn't the intended audience. Anyone with a basic moral compass gets that plastic isn't so much a good thing anymore.

For the privacy of the author, I've left their details out of it. That couldn't be said for Taranaki Farm. That was a very fun article to write! Share it around. The more people exposed to the silliness of "humane animal agriculture" the better. I digress.

The message isn't so bad.

The author's purpose is to discourage people from using plastics.

From a person who loves arguing (and isolating myself because of it), there are ways to do it, and ways how not to do it.

1. People judge your credibility based on fundamental things like punctuation (and overuse of emojis).

2. Get your facts right (Part 1). I actually had to check this just to be certain there wasn't some ancient way of making synthetic plastics. Plastics aren't two thousand years old. They were first manufactured/synthesized in the early 20th century in New York State by a Belgian-born chemist by using phenol and formaldehyde as reagents to produce bakelite. It was the year 1907. It's on Wikipedia. Check it.

3. Getting your facts right (Part 2). Plastics are recyclable. There's a whole industry around it. That yellow bin is for plastics, metals, glass and paper.

4. Don't bother clarifying anything. How will plastics "soon cease the reproduction of humans amongst many other species"? Let's be brutally honest, here. I'm not into infanticide, but humanity is the most destructive force on this planet. It won't surprise me if it's our own doing that eventually forces our extinction. I just never thought it would be plastic in fish. Whodda thunk it? Lucky I don't eat fish!

5. Insult your audience. She asks, if you enjoyed your fish at your fancy restaurant. Apparently anyone who eats at a fancy restaurant doesn't care about plastics.

The list stops here, because who has the time?

Here's the post in it's entirety.

Ahhhhh I can’t share this shit enough

• stop using plastic straws
• stop buying plastic bottles
• reusable is the way to go!!
  Plastic that was invented 2000 years ago still exists here on earth here TODAY, plastic is not biodegradable or recyclable. Where do you think that plastic waste goes? Back to the Ocean... Enjoy your fish filled with plastic at that fancy restaurant you just ate at? This same plastic that will soon cease reproduction of humans, amongst many other species ✌🏻enjoy your filtered pure water you just purchased from the shop/servo that water from a plastic bottle made from oil ever lasting and polluting our oceans 😔 it’s great for ones future generations 🙄 Say no to Plastic!!!

This is basically a plea to switch from fossil-fuel synthesized plastic to a plant-based version. I shouldn't be critical about those who want to improve our situation here on Earth. Getting rid of this kind of plastic is a good thing. But why focus on plastics, when you could do so MUCH MORE good (I'm assuming she wants to do a lot of good for as little effort as possible - as we all do) elsewhere?

Why not end the needless deaths of hundreds of animals a year by simply not eating them?

Why not crush the cruel dairy industry by drinking rice, soy, almond, hazelnut, cashew, oat or coconut mylk instead?

Fight the good fight. Just fight the most effective fight.

Going vegan will do a hell of a lot more good than focusing all your mental energy on plastic straws.

Who's to say you can't do both? Good for you!

All the best,

Nick.

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All content is original and belongs to @nickmorphew. [29 June 2018]

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