this post was submitted on 03 Jun 2024
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[–] JovialMicrobial@lemm.ee 11 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Something similar actually happened with the crude oil industry.

Crude oil was discovered in 1859 and started being used in the form of kerosene for lamps. It put the whale oil industry out business. At the time it was considered this great new thing since whales were being hunted to near extinction and whale hunts were becoming increasingly expensive to do. Crude oil was that eras "environmentally friendly" alternative, though I dont think they thought about it that way. It was more convenience/availability than anything else.

Then crude oil became the environmental hazard with all the oil spills and many other problems it's causing/contributing to.

I guess my point is if you or anyone else wanted to write up your synopsis as a full story they could research how kerosene put the whale oil industry out of business, the marketing they used and the social/economic impacts it had at the time.