"Treehugger" is an offensive term.

It is normal and natural for Homo sapiens to hug trees. So is walking upright.
We do not have a term for people with a tendency to walk upright, therefore the term "treehugger" indicates an extremist position, and it offends me to be called one.

Treehugger is the name of one of our members....

Badger wrote:Treehugger is the name of one of our members....

Every rule has exceptions.

Badger wrote:Treehugger is the name of one of our members....

Not mine

yes, my OH actually!

Hairyloon wrote:It is normal and natural for Homo sapiens to hug trees. So is walking upright.
We do not have a term for people with a tendency to walk upright, therefore the term "treehugger" indicates an extremist position, and it offends me to be called one.

Is there any link between those statements or is this game of non sequiturs?

In what way is it normal to hug trees? What has that to do with walking upright?
How is the term 'treehugger' connected with walking upright, and how would it be different if such a term existed?
What extremist position is indicated by the term "treehugger"?
Why are you offended by something you consider to be normal? Are you inferring that the term implies you are unable to walk upright?
Had you consumed something that renders you unable to walk upright before writing this?

Sometimes it is very calming to hug a tree & feel the bark & smell that wonderful woody smell.

polgara wrote:Sometimes it is very calming to hug a tree & feel the bark & smell that wonderful woody smell.

My point precisely. But that doesn't make you a treehugger.

Hairy I don`t mind being called treehugger at all.

polgara wrote:Hairy I don`t mind being called treehugger at all.

That is up to you of course. I'm just trying to get a decent row going (or at least a warm up for a proper one) .

not from me you won`t

I teach children ( and sometimes adults) to hug trees...you can get a good idea about how old a tree is, from its girth...

I must be ancient then

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Me too!

Hairyloon wrote:

polgara wrote:Hairy I don`t mind being called treehugger at all.

That is up to you of course. I'm just trying to get a decent row going (or at least a warm up for a proper one) .

I think we're all too laid back here for a decent row.

If you don't want to be called "Tree hugger" what do you want to be called then?

Compostwoman wrote:I teach children ( and sometimes adults) to hug trees...you can get a good idea about how old a tree is, from its girth...

We did a nature walk with Chilli-head Jnr, which had a quiz sheet to fill in - one of the questions was to guess how old a partiicular oak tree was. We got quite close by picking him up and using him as a measure to gauge the girth of the tree - he loved it

Compostwoman wrote:yes, my OH actually!

Hah! I was suggesting to my OH he should join this foum...but he would be more inclined to be called Tree Murderer at this time of year. To be fair he loves trees and wood, he just gets all "manly"(?) when the chainsaws are out!

....It is good grounding to lean against a tree. Hugging them you may be able to feel their "life force" which is refreshingly different to us oxygen consuming mobile creatures.

Now the snow is mostly out, my chainsaw is being tuned and serviced and sharpened. I think it is a man thing Zoe, I too get all butch when I have my chainsaw in hand...

I do however, feel a deep affection for trees, these wonderful solar powered air machines.

Zoe wrote:

Compostwoman wrote:yes, my OH actually!

Hah! I was suggesting to my OH he should join this foum...but he would be more inclined to be called Tree Murderer at this time of year. To be fair he loves trees and wood, he just gets all "manly"(?) when the chainsaws are out!

....It is good grounding to lean against a tree. Hugging them you may be able to feel their "life force" which is refreshingly different to us oxygen consuming mobile creatures.

Compostman's reply was that he likes hugging trees...but at this time of year he does it with a chainsaw... [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

I like my chainsaw as well....does that make me "all manly" ? [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

although, tbf, I prefer using my very old ( TFSR) billhook [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] No noise and no fumes...

Compostwoman wrote:Compostman's reply was that he likes hugging trees...but at this time of year he does it with a chainsaw... [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

See, that is the thing: "Treehuggers" are the types that don't want chainsaws going near trees; even when the trees are DDD.

Ah

now is this about the ranking thingy

I chose them all at random because I hate progressive ranking, that assumes importance based on number of posts.

But..if we don't chop down some trees, we will have to heat our house with nasty oil instead...

AND if I haven't got some clear space in the wood, how will I plant new Carbon sequestering trees...?

I do coppice a lot as well but a mamnaged woodland needs some felling to open up the ground to light ( and thus fresh diversity)

I have had this discussion many times before, I am afraid...

Ah! Badger I think you may be on the right track there.....

Not so simple a question.

There are terms for (groups of) people that are seen as offensive by both those using the term and themselves. There are terms for (groups of) people that are seen as offensive by those outside the group applying the term but positiviely by those inside the group. There are terms which start out in one of those categories but over time switch to the other.

I think the term "tree hugger" would fall into the second of those categories. It is used by "antis" as a pejorative term but tree huggers are proud to be such, self identify as such, think it's a good thing. Will never forget once at work I described Penny as a "hippie" (she was actually an actual hippie as opposed to the many following as a "clothing style") and a very straightlaced co-worker replied "you shouldn't say something bad about your wife like that." Taken aback a bit.

So I would say it depends on who is saying it.

Badger wrote:I must be ancient then

Compostwoman wrote:[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Me too!