The theory behind the riding mower

[Steve B]

In the fifties, there was a groundswell among consumers to do work in less time, and take that extra time to go fishing or spend quality time with the family.

So, in comes the riding mower. The idea was that what once took you four hours to do with inefficient tools would now take one hour, net gain three hours for napping or fishing or golfing, or whatever.

Didn't happen.

Net result of riding lawnmowers?

You could have more grass.

Same with most "labor saving" devices. You don't save time, which is then squandered on frivolous pursuits. You can do more work in the same amount of time, so now you can have and maintain more "stuff."

Steve

[Kyle Boatright]

You are so right. Consider the modern washer and dryer. In the old days, only the wealthy could afford to change clothes several times a day and have the dirty ones cleaned. Now, it is *easy* to wash and dry clothes, so we just wear more different items and wash clothes more frequently. We probably spend just as much or more time doing laundry today as ever...

Computers are another time consumer. Used to be we spent an hour figuring up something (say business options) using paper and pencil. Today, we invest the same hour but get ten times the number of options, figured down to the

2nd decimal place. The extra options are generally non-starters, and figuring guesstimates down to the 2nd decimal place is pretty much a waste of time...

[Jeff]

Yeah I never could figure out why folks want really large yards that are all grass. Often driving through the country you see houses on about five acres all grass. Oh well, each to his own.

[ds549]

i remember when mowing on a riding tractor seemed relaxing ..now the zero turns with more horepower and manuverability make it a quick as you can chore. (by choice i know) i remember when i was growing up hearing that in the future with all the new inventions to come,life would be easy,and there would be alot more spare time. .........but in reality, as far as work goes, they push you just as hard to get more done. guess your gettin old when you say.."i remember when....."... lucas

[Richard J Kinch]

A lawn is the price of some privacy from the rest of the world. More lawn is more privacy, but the area grows as the square of the separation distance.

[Harry K]

Well, sorta. In reality space is the buffer, i.e., more room between you and the next guy. The undesireable IMO result is lawn as you have to do -something- with that vast expanse or you have a jungle or a hayfield.

Harry K

[RobertM]

When you have 5 acres of lawn, you have enough money to pay someone else to mow it.

Bob

[Chris Lewis]

According to Harry K :

Plant trees. Less effort in the long run, far more effective in producing privacy (and sound deadening).

[10 acres, less than 1/4 acre needs to be mowed.]

[TaskProperties]

"Jeff" wrote in news:Fw9ag.64226$ [e-mail]:

Because the crazy laws in the town demand people have grass.

[Bob G.]

================================ I can not figure out why some people want to live in a home with a small yard..

So I guess you are correct ...to each his own....

Bob G..

[David Martel]

Steve,

There was a good article in Scientific American back in the mid 80s which made this same point about labor saving devices and "woman's" work. More time is now spent cleaning the home because the standards of cleanliness rose. Of course women do spend less time chopping wood for the stove nowadays.

Dave M.

[Goedjn]

That's insane. A HEDGE is the price of privacy. The lawn should be big enough to serve as a fire-break and any yard-based games/work you've got to do, and beyond that should be gardens, orchards, meadow, ponds, tree-farm, or something. Large expanses of lawn are a symptom of an ego problem, a paucity of imagination, or someone who needs a clear field of fire.

[Goedjn]

I don't think so. Judging from my grandmother, you had to keep an extra person in the house full time, just to sweep. That's the REAL purpose of extended families.

[Larry Bud]

I've got a robot that cuts my lawn. Apart from the couple of hours that was first required to set it up 3 years ago, I spend about 60 seconds cutting my lawn.

Some time saving devices actually do save time.

[Richard J Kinch]

If you can't afford the space, a fence/wall/hedge/etc is the next best thing. But proximity is incompatible with privacy. Especially in the age of machines and electronic amplification.

[me]

What model is it?

[Goedjn]

Did you even think about that before you posted?

[Mac Cool]

Goedjn:

amen

[ameijers]

Never seen the opening like you describe. I did a house years ago for a man who owned a window company. He had a double set of single glazed windows installed one on the inside and one on the outside. They slid up to open. This installation was LONG before double glazed windows were common in the south west.

[Dick Adams]

There nothing like getting out at the crack of dawn, turning on your riding mower, putting a cooler of Lawnmower Ale in back, and start cutting. It takes about two and a half beers per acre. When you're done, you clean up the mower, go inside, mention how tired you are, and crash. It's terrific.

Just make sure you leave your wive a list of every thing you need for your Sunday morning two six-pack project!

Dick