1/ I immigrated to the US 20 years ago, and I don't regret the decision. The people, the opportunities. It really *is* a wonderful country.
But downsides exist and they can basically all be summarized by the leafblower.
A thread... 👇
But downsides exist and they can basically all be summarized by the leafblower.
A thread... 👇
2/ What is a leafblower? It's a motorized wind generator that moves light outdoor particles (leaves, twigs, dirt/dust).
Facts about the common leafblower and its typical use:
Facts about the common leafblower and its typical use:
3/ It's gas-powered with a 2-stroke engine.
That means it's incredibly loud and incredibly smelly. You can't mistake the odor. It's an crappy-machine solution to a pseudo-problem.
That means it's incredibly loud and incredibly smelly. You can't mistake the odor. It's an crappy-machine solution to a pseudo-problem.
4/ It doesn't *fix* the "ugly leaves in my yard" problem, it merely makes it someone else's problem. Usually the neighbor, sometimes the street.
Of course, the most efficient way for the neighbor to remove their leaves is to blow them back into your yard.
Of course, the most efficient way for the neighbor to remove their leaves is to blow them back into your yard.
5/ This is individualism at its worst: act as though collective action is impossible or undesirable, and then ignore or complain about the resulting arms-race-to-the-bottom the individualism creates.
6/ It creates long-lasting swirling clouds of smelly dust. In addition to its use being zero-sum from the leaf-location perspective, it's actually negative sum taking into account the kicked up dust, noise and pollution.
7/ Then there's the class aspect. I've yet to see a leafblower wielded by a wealthy homeowner. It's invariably a contracted gardener (typically an immigrant) who has to endure the machine up-close.
8/ I'll let y'all draw your own analogies, but IMO the leafblower can teach us a lot.
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