Left hand, right hand?

[undyingking]

We got our gas bill this morning (no, do read on, it's not [quite] that boring) and included was a leaflet from Southern Electric suggesting we switch to one of their variant supply plans.

• One option is they plant 6 trees each year on your behalf, to notionally absorb the CO₂ produced from your burning gas.
• The other option is to be given 300 + 100/yr free AirMiles as a reward for being their customer.

Now is it just me, or does this seem to be sending a slightly mixed message?

Comments

[ar-gemlad.livejournal.com]

Ah, maybe you should take the AirMiles but then campaign to airlines to plant trees to neutralise the carbon dioxide spent by flying.

Right hand wins!

[liriselei.livejournal.com]

campaign to airlines to plant trees to neutralise the carbon dioxide spent by flying.

that would be one heck of a lot of trees !

< wanders off muttering about aviation fuel & subsidies & tax breaks >

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Somehow I've never managed to use any of the odd AirMiles I've managed to accumulate over the years -- I tend to end up giving them to charity -- so I'm not sure that would be much of a benefit. It seems like you need an awful lot of them to get a free flight, and the (few AirMiles + lots money) deals always seem to end up more expensive than the ways I normally fly.

What I've just noticed though is that the tree option actually costs slightly more than what I'm paying at the moment! -- double gah!

[celestialweasel.livejournal.com]

Nothing wrong with mixed messages. It is giving you a choice, kind of like Tesco's selling rabbit food and rabbit based cat food. 'Pet or pot'.

What I hope to see one day is a sign for someone complaining about mobile phone masts with a 07xxx number on it.

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

This is a theme I see all over the place these days - the idea that moral behaviour is just a consumer choice like any other.

"I like music"
"I like pink"
"I like saving the environment"
"I like my SUV"
etc...

It's like the Care Bears from back in the 80s, except now we can all play. (And they've removed the tiresome requirement that you actually care.)

Are you going to be Plant Trees Bear or Air Miles Bear ?

[cardinalsin.livejournal.com]

It's like the Care Bears

<looks confused>

Are you going to be Plant Trees Bear or Air Miles Bear ?

<looks slightly less confused>

[cardinalsin.livejournal.com]

PS that wasn't supposed to indicate that I had never heard of the care bears. I'm just not sure what the link is!

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

At this rate I shall soon be Change To a Different Supplier Bear.

[al-fruitbat.livejournal.com]

Bear With Us While We Try To Connect You?