Do you hate the word "enviros"? 13

Greg Artzner of Takoma Park, Md., does. He wrote in this week to reprimand us Gristers for frequent use of the abbreviated moniker:
Boy, I wish you and all environmentalists would STOP using the term "enviros." Don't you all realize that our avowed adversaries use that term as a pejorative to describe us?  It's their ad hominem dismissal of us as wackos. I have heard it used in personal conversation by Mark Rey, undersecretary for natural resources and environment (known as "Darth Vader" of the forests to those of us working to save the trees). He and many others who stand in direct opposition to what we believe routinely insult us by using that very term. Please stop using it.  

Sincerely,
Greg Artzner, environmentalist

I and my colleagues at various green-focused journalistic enterprises have used the word enviros with frequency over the past decade, with no intent to belittle or demean. Really, I just think it's kinda fun. And it's a damn sight shorter than the overly syllabic environmentalists. As for whether the greenies or the pollutocrats coined the term, I can't say -- anyone care to share their etymological theories? (Oh, wait -- is greenies demeaning too?)

Still, as enviro(nmentalist)s think about (re)framing their message and burnishing their image after this month's election, is it time to give this label a second thought, or even the heave-ho? I'm not yet convinced that it is, but not dead set against it either. A few other perspectives on the matter here.

Cast your vote on whether the word enviro sucks or rocks, in the upper right-hand corner of the Grist homepage, through Monday, Nov. 15.

Lisa Hymas is Grist’s senior editor. You can follow her on Twitter.

Advertisement
Advertisement

  1. kellymayk Posted 8:02 am
    19 Nov 2004

    What's in a name?People really do have associations with both "enviro" and "environmentalist," often negative. The challenge is to change people's definition of the word or get a new word all together. Either way it way it takes a lot of coordinated effort and, really, marketing. Think KFC. Do we want to be "Kitchen Fresh" (a clean environment = healthy!) or "Kentucky Fried" (enviros are greasy hippies!)? Don't believe that people will notice? If you say something enough times it becomes true in the minds of the public (see election 2004)...

    Permalink

  2. mindless Posted 8:59 am
    19 Nov 2004

    what about "conservative"?Whatever name we give ourselves, our opponents are going to spin it. That's politics. Look at what they call themselves: conservative. Many enviros I talk to think of "conservative" as a bad thing, linking it to the likes of Bush, but "conservationist" as good, linking it to enviros. So, even if we drop "enviro" and adopt some new label, most likely less homie, it will still be looked down on by our opponents. If we are going to reform things in the enviro movement, let it not be that which we identify with.

    Permalink

  3. petersgene Posted 2:54 pm
    19 Nov 2004

    "Enviros"

    If "Enviros" is a disparaging term in the minds of the anti-environmentalists, then we should consider it a compliment and a badge of honor.

    Gene Peters

    Permalink

  4. Lonna Posted 4:24 pm
    19 Nov 2004

    Is "enviro" a good or bad term?I think "enviro" is a good term.  It certainly sounds better than some we've been called.  Also, it's easier to type out than environmentalist.  I say we should stick with "enviro" and truly wear it as a badge of honor.

    Lonna Lisa Williams offers free selections from her books and photos at http://www.lonnawilliams.com

    Permalink

  5. jim Posted 12:09 am
    20 Nov 2004

    envirosI don't think it should matter what they call us, or what we

    call ourselves. No matter what name we choose to go by,

    we will be ridiculed by those that do not understand our

    passion. There is only one thing we should be concerned

    about in the wake of the "election": We have to show the

    Bush administration that we will fight as hard as we must

    to derail his anti-environmental agendas; We have to make it clear that he does not have the mandate that he and Mike Leavitt think he has.

    Permalink

  6. ValerieFrances13 Posted 4:10 am
    20 Nov 2004

    "enviros"Greetings,
    I don't personally have a problem with the abbreviation "enviros", but I do think some reframing would be helpful.
    I think "liberals" equally refer to right-wingers as a "wacko" as well. Don't take these things personally and equally don't resort to personal attacks in life. It accomplishes nothing.
    A non-wacko right wing conservative friend of mine introduced me to another friend of his as an "environmental conservative". I really appreciated what he had to say and I thought he was offering me considerable respect by referring to me in this way. It gave me a new language for myself and allows me to appreciate "fiscal conservatives", etc in a new light.
    Valerie

    Permalink

  7. Stentor Posted 10:15 am
    20 Nov 2004

    too reactive?I've always thought "enviro" was silly-sounding, so I'd vote to change it on that basis. But I'm wary of being too reactive to the other side's framing -- "if they want to call us 'enviros', then we have to do the opposite!"

    Permalink

  8. holte Posted 1:07 pm
    20 Nov 2004

    the name enviroI think it's time we quit being nice and understanding  and start standing up for ourselves-I mean being assertive and quit taking hits like an abused person does. Apologizing , trying to understand the other view, etc. It's like trying to understand the other view that some people believed there should be slavery. There is no compromise or understanding.Let's use the word CONSERVATIVE because we want to conserve the earth.  Silly us. We want clean water and air.  What a wild and morally depraved concept-not.  

    Permalink

  9. Bren Posted 6:06 am
    22 Nov 2004

    EnvirosI don't hate the word enviros, but I also find it nondescriptive and not terribly useful, a bit tainted and it does not roll out of my brain easily. I do like the idea of "Environmental Conservative", but it is unwieldy. EnviroCon? Sounds a lot like an energy company - Republicans like those!

    The Big Brother approach to word-use of the "Compassionate Conservative" big spenders of today's administration is a scary one (DoublePlus UnGood), and one I'd rather not play one-upmanship with... but then again, Environmental Traditionalist?

    Permalink

  10. Elle Posted 4:20 am
    23 Nov 2004

    Combating "NeoSpeak"Those who control language, also control public perspective.
    Even with this knowledge, some of us still tend to bend a bit from the wind created by those who have the biggest bullhorn.
    To combat this, whenever someone flings something they think of as an insult in my direction, I simply smile with warmth and gratitude and say, "Yes, I'm a tree hugging, liberal, thank you for noticing".
    Of late, I've taken to thinking of myself as an "Earth Guardian".

    For me, it represents more closely, what I feel about myself in relationship to this magnificent satellite.
    I think I'll start working on some bumper stickers and/or window signs using this concept.

    Anybody want to try it on for size with me?

    Permalink

  11. liquideve Posted 4:26 am
    23 Nov 2004

    "Enviro" AppropriationI find the brevity and simplicity of "enviro" to be preferable to a lot of terms - "environmentalist" (too long), "green" (too many political associations), and my personal fave, "eco-freak" (sure, it rolls off the tongue, but...). But I think a contest to find a better term is a great idea. If Grist readers can come up with "pollutocrat," I'm sure they can knock this one out of the park.
    But I think it's more interesting to consider the whole concept of language appropriation. Minorities and marginalized groups have frequently been the target of disparaging monikers used by the elites. One response is for these marginalized groups to begin using those terms to describe themselves.
    The theory being, once a group has embraced a label, that label loses its power to hurt and disparage and instead becomes a term of empowerment. It may not be PC to list examples but think about some of the terms used to describe blacks, gays, women etc. in the past that are still used now, but used by the very groups they were intended to denigrate.
    So if our "adversaries" try to smack us around by calling us "enviros," maybe the best solution is to appropriate the term and call ourselves "enviros" with pride and fondness. It wouldn't be a very useful weapon against us after that.

    Permalink

  12. ourearthmusic Posted 7:26 pm
    10 Dec 2004

    Do you hate the word "enviros"?Hmmm, Elle, you may be onto something with "Earth Guardian".  I like it, although "enviro" is shorter.  Perhaps a contest would be a good idea!  Also, whatever happened with the poll?  I missed the posting of the results.

    Permalink

  13. Chris Schults Posted 3:23 am
    11 Dec 2004

    Poll ResultsAsk and you shall receive:
    The word enviro is: (672 votes)

    Demeaning = 19%

    Endearing = 18%

    Who cares? Rome is burning! = 51%

    What the heck is an enviro? = 12%

    Support Grist: http://www.grist.org/support

    Permalink

Add a Comment

You are not logged in. Thus, you cannot post a comment. If you have an account, log in. If you don't have an account, well, by all means go make one! Meet you back here in five.

Hello, Visitor!    Why not register?

Viewed
More
Commented
More
Advertisement