The Wheaton Eco Scale, created by Paul Wheaton, permaculturist and runner of Permies.com, Rich Soil, and Wheaton Labs, is a handy reference point for where you are in the quest for sustainability. It also serves in thinking about how to relate to others that are 'elsewhere' on the scale from you.
"...I wish to first share two critical observations about this scale. The first observation is that most people find folks one or two levels above them to be pretty cool, but people three levels up seem a bit nutty. People four or five levels up seem downright crazy. And people six levels up should probably be institutionalized for their own safety and the safety of those around them. I find the latter reactions to be inappropriate. If people seem crazy they might just be advanced on the same path you're following. The second observation is that most people find folks one level back to be ignorant. And people two levels back seem like assholes. Any further back and people start to think that the person should be shot on sight for the betterment of society as a whole. I find that ALL of these reactions are inappropriate. People will not change if you yell at them or hit them with sticks. But they WILL change if you tell them about the cool stuff that's just a little bit ahead of where they are now and skip the stuff that is far ahead of them."
