Maybe this is just bias from 2024, but I reqd the metric article as a mockery of individual efforts to address things like climate change or the housing crisis. I *can* start taking the bus every day, but what does that matter when highways will still get built? In many cases, institutions have to change first, then individuals follow.
And units of measurement can be fascinating! One of my favorite historical footnotes is metric time and the revolutionary calendar.
I don't remember if that sort of discourse was as common in 2004. That's definitely how I would read it today though. But other articles indicate that public opinion hadn't turned away from individual actions yet?
Maybe this is just bias from 2024, but I reqd the metric article as a mockery of individual efforts to address things like climate change or the housing crisis. I *can* start taking the bus every day, but what does that matter when highways will still get built? In many cases, institutions have to change first, then individuals follow.
And units of measurement can be fascinating! One of my favorite historical footnotes is metric time and the revolutionary calendar.
Interesting. I can see that. Maybe it's both?
I don't remember if that sort of discourse was as common in 2004. That's definitely how I would read it today though. But other articles indicate that public opinion hadn't turned away from individual actions yet?
https://theonion.com/how-bad-for-the-environment-can-throwing-away-one-plast-1819571260/
As always, interesting to think about how context changes how satire is read