Why is it so difficult for the public to take good care of public spaces? Public restrooms, parks, and even the side in the roads have garbage just tossed anywhere and a lot of the times are just nasty. Do we have a civic responsibility to keep these area nice for everyone to enjoy?
I hate littering, it's one of my biggest pet peeves. I like to pick up litter when I go for walks. We have awesome metro parks here and people treat them like a dump
Because common spaces are reflective of the lowest common denominator, not the top or the average. A thousand people can walk by a space but if 1 of them tosses a cigarette butt on the ground, everyone else who passes by sees it and nobody wants to pick up after that person.
I feel like the culture in the united states has something to do with it, other countries I have been to take much better care of their public spaces, especially restrooms, pecause they respect that others need to enjoy it. Now of course some countries are worse, but most westernized modern countries have higher standars of what is acceptable in public.
We do, and I take this seriously by not littering and addressing anyone near if they litter. Sometimes I even pick up other people's litter, but obviously my circle of influence is limited. What do you propose?
I guess at the end of the day the only person's behavior I can control is my own and can only hope that others learn from my example. I have been known to go out of my way to wipe up a counter in a public restroom or pick up litter.
@JustinPalmer we actually do to! I live pretty close to the Muskingum Watershed area and Waterfalls and nearly every time we go out there we bring others trash out with us!
@Angelastras everything does seems to always make it to a water source. When I go kayaking I usually try and pick up a bag worth of trash. There's so much more than I could ever pickup on my own, I know I could probably fill a trash truck with all that is out there and what I remove is only a drop in the bucket. But I'm going to continue because I know it's the right thing to do. I love Ohio's lakes a streams and I want them to be a place were anyone can enjoy.
@JustinPalmer there are quite a lot of people working on this problem, in the UK we have these services: [bluebird-electric.net] But these look pretty cool too:
@girlwithsmiles we are in dire need of something like this in the states. I fear we lack the political will to make it happen.
@JustinPalmer sad to hear, it would create jobs too, well he're hoping the future holds more environmental progress for you.
After my heart, this post is. ~Yoda
I believe we all should consider others and take care of public places. I truly do not understand how people can be so inconsiderate. This situation arises daily, including at my office, where we have a shared kitchen and obviously restrooms.
When I see such ickiness, I want to make a sign that says something like - "Do You Do This At Home?"
In short, people have no respect for the environment or their surroundings. I have flicked a tossed cigarette butt back into a car, twice, while stopped at a light on my bike.
I often want to put signs up in urinals that read, "Scoot up some! It's not as long as you think it is..."
I like that. I always say aim like a Jedi not a stormtrooper.
Many humans have no regard for what they do, or how they treat anything.
Too many believe they're entitled to use public spaces in any manner they choose.
They think someone else will come behind them and clean up their mess.
They have no regard for anyone but themselves.
You say "many humans" like it is something ingrained into our DNA. But I feel like it's more of a cultural fault. Japan doesn't have this problem, it's a part of their culture to maintain public space for the public good.
@JustinPalmer You are correct. I should have said "many Americans'.
The sense of entitlement many Americans have is appalling.
I think it's cultural. You don't see this in Germany, Holland, Luxembourg, Switzerland, or Belgium. At least you didn't back in the 90s. But you did in Africa and South America....
And, it's pervasive in the United States.