> And over the long run, sharing lawnmowers wouldn't even reduce total lawnmower production. The shared lawnmowers would run more hours per week and need replacement sooner.

This is only true if people fully utilize their personal lawnmower before discarding it. I doubt this is the case. It seems that sharing would result in less discarding of under-utilized lawnmowers, and thus reduce the number of lawnmowers needed. Of course, I'm not saying anyone should be forced to do this.

Working lawnmowers get sold and used, not discarded. So that has virtually zero impact on the number of lawnmowers needed.

I feel like I am the only person around me who maintains (changes oil, rebuilt carb etc.) equipment and people seem to treat lawnmowers the worst. I swear I think people throw them away because they're out of fuel sometimes.

Unused working lawnmowers can rust and stop working.

Lawnmowers rust if they're not properly maintained, regardless of use. There's no evidence that shared lawnmowers would rust slower. Probably the opposite because when people own their own lawnmowers they're move like to maintain them properly. So no, sharing wouldn't reduce the net demand.

I understand the point you're making. (lawnmowers are simply a single example of a resource people do not wish to share)

But, they're also a great example: we shouldn't have lawns which add nothing to the ecosystem and require resources to maintain.

[edited]

Most things won't pass your "test" on worthiness. You might be in a lonely group thinking it's a great test.

I'm not sure what you mean.

Most of us have a lot of things which add nothing to the ecosystem and require resources to maintain. Why single out lawns?

Because each yard out there could in principle support at least a little biodiversity: at least some plants, some insects. Curated lawns tend to the opposite.

But plants are "weeds" and insects are "pests." So people spray neurotoxins, and see how much biodiversity they can destroy.

There's no shortage of biodiversity where I live, and my kids sure seem to enjoy the lawn. If there's a problem with certain lawn care chemicals then address that through the appropriate legislative process.

I'm glad to hear it. I'd much rather be wrong on the internet, and have it turn out that you guys have some nice plant and animal life.