Are You And Your Significant Other Green Compatible?

Everyone knows there are three big topics that should not be brought up on a first date: religion, politics and finances. These subjects can be incendiary and destroy a budding romance before it even has a chance to begin. Eventually once two people get to know each other better, several dates down the road, these things should and must be discussed and couples have to either agree on the subjects or have a healthy ability to agree to disagree. Over the past few years it has become increasingly clear there is now a fourth hot button topic: being green.

Couples now have one more thing to argue about: are both parties on the same page about being eco-friendly? "He never thinks to buy organic detergent!" "She refuses to use her thermos and instead wastes paper cups." "He harps about leaving the toaster unplugged in order to save precious energy! Give me a break!" When different views on politics and religion and financial matters arise things can get ugly and often result in a lot of yelling and no listening to the other's point of view. These fruitless fights are now happening about a person's shade of green.

Like political views, there are moderates and extremists when it comes to being green. There are those who drive Hummers and those who drive Prius. Some don't drive at all for fear of leaving too big a carbon footprint. Some people use canvas bags at the grocery store, when they remember to take them out of the trunk. If they forget they decide on plastic and then recycle those plastic bags at home by using them as bathroom garbage bags, or some such similar thing. Other people would never ever forget the reusable bags and would rather carry the items one at a time than use a landfilling, marine mammal killing plastic bag. If these two people end up on a date, can the relationship survive?

Dating sites such as OK Cupid have a litany of questions about people's recycling habits because soda can disposal compatibility is now just as important as being a smoker or a non-smoker. And there are specific dating sites popping up for green singles to meet other like-minded people.

Similar to being religious, being green has thousands of different variations depending on the individual's own belief system, and those beliefs are usually felt quite strongly. Some people are super green and super smug, looking down on those who don't have water saving toilets, organic furniture and solar panels on the roof. This smugness will probably not attract a lesser eco-conscious mate. Others want to convert non-greens and share their knowledge of how to save Earth from Styrofoam cups, gas-guzzlers and dry-cleaning toxins. If done lovingly, this approach might open up an eco-ignorant person to becoming environmentally conscious. Many people just do the best they can without drastically changing their lives. They switch out energy sucking light bulbs, turn off the water while brushing their teeth, and recycle the newspaper.

Everyone has the responsibility of caring about the planet just a bit, but if you find yourself falling in love with someone a lot less or a lot more green, try to listen to his or her different point of view. If you just can't bring yourself to separate aluminum from glass or you can't accept eating off of a plastic fork every now and again, perhaps it's time to meet someone who is closer to your shade of green.