'Garbology And Summary Of The TV Show Hoarders'

In Matt Porter’s video, “Freegans: Creative Living Outside of Capitalism” a gentleman states, “Our waste can feed a nation.” In this case, some of America’s waste is feeding the scavengers. Homelessness can lead to dumpster diving for a means of survival. These people dig through thrown out items that can still be eaten and used. One man’s discarded garbage, in turn, can become another man’s lifeline. “Almost everything I have now has already been cast out at least once, proving that what I own is valueless to someone,” (362) Eighner confessed about some of the treasures he has gathered from dumpster diving. Because the general public missuses its resources, dumpster finds are either used for personal gain, such as eating, or they will be

When Jeanette suggests that their family should apply for Welfare because half the people on Hobart street were on welfare, her mom states, “‘...you can get cold for a while, but you always warm up. Once you go on welfare, it changes you. Even if you get off welfare, you never escape the stigma that you were a charity case. You're scarred for life.’” (188). Even if people on Little Hobart street had welfare, Rex and Rose Mary were opposed to the idea. The fact that someone else would be helping their family live was indigestible. Jeanette, on the other hand, craved for new clothes and a constant supply of food. However, with her stubborn parents, she eventually learned how to adapt and gain the most out of what she had. In fact, they were also very poor and couldn’t afford to pay the money for the trash-collection fee. They decided to dig up a hole, which at first was for the foundation of the Glass Castle, but used it to fill up trash. She explains, “But since we couldn't afford to pay the town's trash-­collection fee, our garbage was really piling up. One day Dad told us to dump it in the hole” (155). The Walls were low on money, so they used the hole Jeanette and Brian dug, for the trash. Using the most of what a person has is the key to achieving goals. Although that was not it’s original use, they found a way to fix the problem with what they had. Besides being resourceful with

their belongings behind and only take what they thought they would need. The Price family

Eighner states, “I have learned much as a scavenger... beginning with the practical art of Dumpster diving and proceeding to the abstract.” He begins here as introduction to his text, just before he states that it's, “an urban art.” Showing his views about the activity more as a craft than something gross. Later on, Eighner proceeds to say, “But in the case of discards from student apartments, the answer may be that the item was discarded through carelessness, ignorance, or wastefulness.” Eighner explains that dumpster diving isn’t all bad because there can be use of someone else's trash. As the old saying goes, “One's man's trash can be another man's treasure.” Eighner’s purpose of this text is point out that even though dumpster diving may sound gross there is a plus side to it.

When is excessive pride considered Dangerous? That is the question people have been asking throughout history. Based on your beliefs, one may deem that their actions on this earth is worth far more than the consequences you could receive in heaven. On the other hand, The Puritans were strong believers of the total opposite Ideology. During the 1600s in Salem Massachusetts the majority of the population were Puritans, who believed that their solitary goal in life was to please God to secure their place in heaven. In order to secure his place in heaven, John Proctor committed an honorable act to hang instead of admitting to any relation to Satan.

The essay “On Dumpster Diving“, by Lars Eighner is based on a man who speaks of his survival as a homeless man accompanied by his dog named Lizbeth. Not only does he explain his strategies living out of dumpsters, but also the lessons he has learned as a scavenger. Most importantly I think the true message he was trying to get across is that we waste way more then we think we do, it’s in our nature.

The word hoarding was originally used to describe the behavior of animals storing food for future use, and then moved into use as a descriptor of human behavior. There are also different types of hoarders. These include Clinical compulsive hoarding, OCD or perfectionist hoarding, animal

Heather Roger claims our current garbage disposal methods are short term and etiquette. Rogers’s position is clear that we need to minimize the use of landfills and create better means to discard trash. In supporting Rogers’s environment views I think that we need to create a more economic and environmental friendly garbage disposal system. Heather Rogers and Lars Eighner both acknowledge the issue with society’s throwaway mentality. Eighner proves that we throw away perfectly working stuff, having survived off others discarded materials. Eighner argues against excessive waste we create but does not have any prospected solutions. Whereas Rogers acknowledges the obvious need to minimize our consumption of waste but argues the need

A quote often used is, "One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” This describes Eighner’s feelings perfectly. At one point he stated, "People throw away perfectly good stuff, a lot of perfectly good stuff."(384) This proves the point that once someone throws something away, it doesn't mean it is trash, just ready for a change of ownership. Eighner few dumpster diving as an art because of all the cool stuff he finds on a regular. Things such as: clothes, type writer, love letters, ragdolls et cetera. He mentioned that he hardly ever pick up things without envisioning the

Yesterday I threw out an old jar of peanut butter with only about an inch left. It no longer served a purpose, as I had purchased a new and improved jar. As I began to toss the jar towards the garbage, I was reminded of an essay I had just read. In his essay Dumpster Diving, Lars Eighner suggests that when we throw away items, homeless people can find a way to make use out of whatever it is. Therefore, if we don't want there to be bums on the street, it is inferred that we shouldn't throw anything extra out. I myself was not supporting the homeless community, or being wasteful, I was just trying to make room in the cabinet. If I would have kept that inch of peanut butter, it wouldn't have made the world's population of homeless people try

During the 1930s the average American that was 15 years or older would drink seven gallons of pure alcohol a year, three times more than the average American drinks now!1 Prohibition was sparked by women since they were the ones who suffered the most. Women did not have many rights, so when they got abused by drunk men it was seen as a small issue. Women and other groups eventually got 46 of the 48 states to ratify the 18th amendment on January 16,1919.2 The 18th amendment on article one says "...the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited."3 The first article on the 18th amendment is saying that the sale, making, or even bringing liquor into the United States or any of the United States' territory will now be illegal. Prohibition began to show its weakness right away when the United Sates government did not show much support. After the first year of prohibition the American people started to show less support and even led to organized crime. In 1933, the United States Constitution was amended to repeal the 18th amendment in the form of the 21st amendment.4 Even though prohibition seemed like a great idea it failed due to lack of support, illegal operations, and alcohol addictions that the American people had.

A. Compulsive hoarding is a common and potentially disabling problem, characterized by the accumulation of excessive clutter, to the point that parts of one's home can no longer be used for their intended purpose

What caught my attention while reading this profile is, not only did someone make the conscious decision to live in a dumpster but that someone is a dean and professor of a University. I found his dumpster living profile interesting for many reasons. This is a person who could afford an apartment or a house, yet they chose to live in a dumpster. Another interesting point that drew me in was that he didn’t immediately renovate the dumpster to make himself comfortable. He was “dumpster camping” as he called it, slept on cardboard, no heating or cooling unit, and without electricity or water running to the dumpster. He’s slowly customizing his space, he’s added an AC unit, installed a false floor, an air mattress and added some decorations.

vi. Hoarders have hundreds of animals living in their home living in filth including garbage and layers of feces.

In today’s society, there is an abundance of waste. This is clear in observing how people live, we often throw out items because we want something better. Lars Eighner, author of "On Dumpster Diving," writes about his experiences being homeless and how he survived on the waste of others. This provides insight on how the phrase "one man's trash is another man's treasure," is true. Jeremy Seifert, who directed the documentary Dive!, also talks about how he survives off of other people's waste, but this was a decision he made. As they tell of their experiences, Seifert and Eighner both come to the conclusion that society is wasteful. While both individuals provided good information, I believe Seifert presented the better argument. Both of