Nalgenius

I’d never call myself trendy. I know I own black-framed glasses and am particularly fond of sweaters, but I don’t orient my life around the latest fads. Honestly, I don’t. I bought my pea coat before the craze and have been a fan of Regina Spektor for a while.

It’s not that I’m afraid of being seen as cool, or in, or hip, or stylish. In fact, if you think I’m any of those things, I’m quite all right with it. I’m just nervous that someone, somewhere, will think I’m a conformist.

You see, in college, conformity is the worst of sins. Although I’ve been consciously trying to avoid it for some time, I can’t help but feel like it’s already too late.
Take my Nalgene bottle, for instance.

I carry it with me everywhere, sneaking sips in and between classes. I bought it last year in an effort to become “more healthy,” which, I now see, was a quest to drink more water and tell others about it so I would feel good about myself.

I decided to buy a Nalgene brand bottle because it seemed like the ultimate fusion of style, purpose and social responsibility. And everyone else had one.

My environmentally conscious friends were particularly supportive of my decision, and I was beginning to care about people thinking I cared about nature.

I bought a blue bottle because I like that color, and the narrow mouth because I frequently spill when drinking from large mugs. I’ve used it for more than a year now, and I have to admit, I feel in touch with youth culture every time I unscrew the black plastic lid.

I think I feel this way because I’m supposed to. Nalgene Outdoor and its remarkable marketing staff have gone to great lengths to ensure that. I’d read on Nalgene’s Web site that they’re “not just about making things” but are really focused on “helping people simplify their lives while being kind to the environment.” 

I’d visited FilterForGood.org, a Web site launched by Nalgene in cooperation with Brita, where anyone can take a pledge certifying his or her commitment to reducing water bottle waste. It seemed like the right thing to do. 

In fact, the company claims that more than 170 million water bottles have been kept out of landfills thanks to its efforts and the commitment of Nalgene users.   
Wait, 170 million bottles? Maybe my conformity isn’t so bad after all.

I know it’s the charge levied against the frat bros (or is it brahs?), sorority sisters, honors students, campus Christians, campus atheists, hipsters, yuppies, scene kids, English majors – basically any group with a shared set of ideas.

Critics seem particularly upset when a like-minded group advertises and markets its ideas. Leave my beliefs alone, they say, mocking anyone who does something because someone else does.

But isn’t that what learning is? Monkey see; monkey do. Repeat what works.

When it comes to saving the environment, trendy plastic bottles are simply Nalgenius.