Why does civilization create lawns?

Discussion in 'Human Science' started by Exterminate!!!, Apr 15, 2009.

  1. Exterminate!!! Registered Member

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    There are some obvious answers, of course. Sports, activities, a place to park your broken-down Bronco, etc. But what is the point of having a well-manicured, sprawling, utterly useless lawn past pride? How did they even come to exist?

    Come to think of it... when did they come to exist.

    This thread ought to be as exciting as watching grass grow.
     
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  3. cosmictraveler Be kind to yourself always. Valued Senior Member

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    It makes jobs for many people. Lawn mowers, edgers, fertilizers, weed control sprays, insect control sprays and on and on. Think of a lawn as a business then you will understand them better.

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  5. codanblad a love of bridges Registered Senior Member

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    lawns are better than dirt or concrete, aesthetically and to play/walk on. well manicured lawn is a statement of pride, efficiency etc.

    we should definitely aim for some bigger issues.
     
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  7. codanblad a love of bridges Registered Senior Member

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    good point, how interesting lol.
     
  8. Exterminate!!! Registered Member

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    sorry. it's past midnight here, i'm zoned out on sleeping pills, and it just seemed like a valid question. And I did learn a bit.

    I declare this thread exterminated!
     
  9. Oli Heute der Enteteich... Registered Senior Member

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    OMG!! That's it!
    The whole of evolution has been directed toward satisfying a lawnmower's need for a few hours in the sun.
    There is a god and his name is Flymo!
     
  10. codanblad a love of bridges Registered Senior Member

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    it does give us an excuse to have another bladed power tool with a combustion engine.
     
  11. cosmictraveler Be kind to yourself always. Valued Senior Member

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    Oh lets bring back the good ol' days when human powered push mowers were the only way to mow!

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  12. Exterminate!!! Registered Member

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    I think my main hang up is why it had to be a lawn itself if someone didn't use it. why not some sort of garden?

    But i'm thinking in a very narrow-minded sense
     
  13. Giambattista sssssssssssssssssssssssss sssss Valued Senior Member

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    Narrow? Asking why people would want an expanse of mostly useless green carpet instead of a practical and more visually pleasing garden, vegetable and/or flower, is not stupid. Thinking you have to do as everyone else and slave over a lush green lawn (some people really get kind of crazy about it) is narrow minded.

    Of course, there is a difference between front and back yards. I think a small amount of lawn is acceptable in the appropriate areas. It's the going overboard that gets to me.
     
  14. takandjive Killer Queen Registered Senior Member

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    I'm largely guessing here. On a level of semiotics, I'm guessing a smooth, even lawn says something about social class. If we show we have something utterly unnecessary we can make perfect, it probably goes towards saying how high we rank. Maybe.
     
  15. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

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    The answer is that Americans are reproducing the landscapes of English gentility. Britains created carefully manicured lawns as a sign of wealth. Only rich people could afford to have lawns instead of fields of crops.
     
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2009
  16. Orleander OH JOY!!!! Valued Senior Member

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    yep, that's what I thought as well.
     
  17. Xylene Valued Senior Member

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    Excellent display of conspicuous consumption, in that case, according to the rules set down by Thorstein Veblen--i.e. create something as near to totally useless as possible, literally just to show your neighbours that you're rich enough to afford the expense of doing so.

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  18. Asguard Kiss my dark side Valued Senior Member

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    i keep reading this thread as "Why does civilization create laws?" and thinking what a stupid question

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  19. madanthonywayne Morning in America Registered Senior Member

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    I'm not so sure. I think we'd be better off with more lawns and fewer laws!
     
  20. Exterminate!!! Registered Member

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    hmmmm.... maybe it's a lateral leap. I think my question is equally stupid.
     
  21. Exterminate!!! Registered Member

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    it might turn out that fewer laws would create fewer lawns with the added aspect of major potheads using their lawns to grow crops of marijuana.

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    :m:
     
  22. Xylene Valued Senior Member

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    Wait 20 years, and everyone will be doing it.

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  23. Orleander OH JOY!!!! Valued Senior Member

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    I'll buy a goat before I use a mower like that
     

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