Tree hugger?

Question

Why is being called a tree hugger seen as offensive or just plain wierd?

Answer 1

It's a term that is used to dismiss environmentalists as being overzealous, alarmist, ridiculous, trouble-making ....

Personally, I take it as a compliment.  I think it tells more about the person using the term than it does about the person being called a tree-hugger.  Makes me want to go hug a tree right now.  Oh, yeah.  It's dark and it's cold.  Maybe I'll just stay in the house and dream up some other radical Earth Mother, holdover hippie, Sierra psycho, Greenpeace gal activity for tonight.

Oh, and to those who think tree-huggers are loony, .... I'm teaching your children.

Answer 2

I take it as a compliment.

Answer 3

my brother calls me a tree hugger all the time...i take no offence in it, its pretty much true.

Answer 4

Tree hugger:

"An environmentalist, especially one who supports the preservation of forested land and the restriction of logging."

Second link traces back the etymology of the word.

It's like the word "liberal" is used in and of itself as an insult and so now liberals want to use the word "progressive" instead. This is an explanation by way of analogy but I can be more clear than that. Being called a tree hugger is seen as offensive or just plain weird by people who oppose deforestation and environmental protection groups because it is a word launched at them by supporters of big business, logging industry workers, and other non-environmentalist groups. So it is all a matter of perspective. One who is neutral may or may not think of it as an insult really. If you are a logging company you fear being attacked by maniacal left wing lunatics and this fear leads you to launch some type of insult at these groups in fear of your physical safety.

Answer 5

i am a tree hugger it is because they think it will stop them so trees can be exstink but that is not going to happen tree haters

Answer 6

First Tree hugger is a slang term used in Dungeon and Dragons and Shadowrun type games. It is an insult towards elves. Secondly it's weird because it's not used every day.

Answer 7

In the absence of evidence to substantiate claims that global warming is false some people adopt schoolyard tactics of name calling.  Hence, instead of disputing the science those who seek to dispute global warming resort to calling names such as tree-hugger, chicken little etc.

Any name-calling is only offensive if the person is offended by it.  I'd have thought most people who were responsible enough to be concerned for the welfare of the planet and the people on it are intelligent enough not to be offended by such a name.