7 ms·

That still happens in America. See pictures of Washington DC the day after 4th of July. Or Golden Gate Park in SF after a big festival. So many people leave the

That still happens in America. See pictures of Washington DC the day after 4th of July. Or Golden Gate Park in SF after a big festival. So many people leave their trash looks it like a dump. Compare to say Cherry Blossom watching in Japan where a large park will be entirely covered in people but when it's over they will have all cleaned it up. It's a cultural issue. I have no idea how to influence western cultures to care as much. I've see similar things in most European countries (trashing places).

mgkimsal 10y ago
2 weeks ago on my way to work, I watched a guy pull off to the side of the road. He opened his car door, and just dumped trash out - a few small bags of trash. He had just driven past a gas station and convenience store - both with publicly accessible trash cans to throw stuff away - you don't even have to get out of your car. It's a bizarre mindset some people have - let me drive past the driver-accessible trash cans in a paved parking lot, then pull off on to grass and dirt to dump my crap out of the car. There are some aspects of the US which are great, but this large segment of the population which has less than zero regard for public space is... truly crappy.
- 13of40 10y ago
  Counterpoint: I went on vacation to the Dominican Republic a few years back, and went to one of the more remote villages where there was a river outlet. There was a guy there who wanted to take us out on his boat, but we looked in the water and about half of it was covered with an opaque drift of plastic jugs, pieces of styrofoam, etc. I think in the US we have some antisocial assholes roaming around like the one you saw, but it's not like everyone does it by default.
- Kluny 10y ago
  That's awful. I'm fairly sure here in Canada, people would pick the trash up and chase you down the road with it. I've never seen it happen though.
  - mgkimsal 10y ago
    I tried to get a picture of his car, but the sun was at too difficult of an angle. Another thought that made me pause about confronting him was guns. Yay, thanks rampant gun ownership - you certainly prevented an ugly confrontation there, as the idea that I might be shot for confronting someone about trash dumping prevented too much action on my part. I'd posted in our local facebook community page, and 2 other interesting stories came up. 1. someone posted they'd seen something similar a few weeks earlier. They'd confronted the person, and the other person pulled a gun out and threatened them. I do not know if the original person involved police after that. While it might sound far-fetched to some, I live in the rural south of the US. 2. someone else posted a similar story, and had taken a picture of the person dumping trash in public and posted it to the facebook group. that poster was harassed online, with many people complaining that they were "violating the other person's privacy" by posting their picture online without consent. I get truly demoralized at time by living in this area (we're planning a move, but possibly not far enough away).
    - ThrwyAct 10y ago
      > rural south of the US That's the problem. Get out of there ASAP. It has no redeeming qualities. Best move of my life. Unless you have deep roots there and you want to take on the monumental task of actually making your own part of it a better place. Maybe join the city council of a town near a place like Atlanta or Tuscaloosa, and try to spread their civilization a little further into the wilderness.
      - Neliquat 10y ago
        Wow, you dont like the south, but stop being a bigot. You are demonstrating the EXACT blind hatred you imply you are against. STOP.
        lenocinor 10y ago
        Agreed. As someone who has spent most of his life in various parts of the South, there are good and bad parts, same as anywhere else.
- J-dawg 10y ago
  It is utterly bizarre. This stuff angers and confuses me in equal measure. It's like a complete refusal to participate in society, just the expectation that someone else will come and tidy up after you. How do these people behave elsewhere in their lives? One example I keep seeing is people who buy a pack of cigarettes, rip off the plastic film covering and just drop it on the floor. It sends me into a silent rage every time.
  - all_usernames 10y ago
    If you've spent your whole life feeling victimized by society then you do whatever little things you can to give a big middle finger back. If you're a Black single mom that has to work two jobs to get by, maybe it's easy for you to justify throwing your McDonald's wrappers on the parking lot ground.
    - fao_ 10y ago
      The race of the person was not mentioned, it was interesting that you assumed that they were black -- although I do not disagree with your point.
      - louhike 10y ago
        It was an example of a kind of person being victimized by society.
    - J-dawg 10y ago
      This is an interesting way of looking at it. I wonder if this really is the psychology of people who do stuff like this. If this is the case, it would be interesting to find out whether there is some correlation between wealth inequality and rates of littering.
      - 2muchcoffeeman 10y ago
        A counter point would be all the smoking middle class people I see everyday that throw their butts on the ground.
- all_usernames 10y ago
  There's absolutely no visible consequence of leaving your trash in the park in a big city. The city workers will be by later that day to clean it up, or more likely in San Francisco where I live, scavengers will pick it up for recycling within minutes. Out of sight, out of mind. And why not? We certainly pay enough taxes to support those services.
  - ionised 10y ago
    Please tell me this a troll.
    - pbhjpbhj 10y ago
      I think that is probably not an uncommon mindset.
rtpg 10y ago
Even in Cherry Blossom season, or at fireworks, there's random bits of trash that are flying around. Though they also make sure to make huuuuge trash cans for the events so that it's not a major pain to throw stuff away. Most people don't want to litter, after all. The main reason for the cleanliness afterwards are all the extra staff during those periods that go through and pick this stuff up.
- megablast 10y ago
  > Though they also make sure to make huuuuge trash cans for the events so that it's not a major pain to throw stuff away. I have never been to a festival where these were not full of rubbish to overflowing.
tonyedgecombe 10y ago
http://www.keepbritaintidy.org/japan-fans-clean-stadium-after-world-cup-loss/2308/2/1/999/3 http://www.keepbritaintidy.org/japan-fans-clean-stadium-afte...
hollander 10y ago
With big festivals with thousands of people gathering in park or square, you can expect this in Europe. Problem is that you buy a drink in a plastic cup or bottle, maybe a sandwhich or fries with it, and you need to dispose of the plastic or paper. Where do you leave it? There simply are not enough trash cans around or nearby. In a big crowded place it's not easy to move around, you can get lost etc. So people throw their garbage on the ground. By the way, all available trash cans are full and have a pile load of garbage next to them. So even if they are full, people still use them to keep the trash together. I don't see the problem here. Afterwards cleaners come and clean the square, streets, whatever. It's part of the game. On normal days, people here keep the cities, parks and streets rather clean.
- 2muchcoffeeman 10y ago
  Simple, carry the thrash until you find a non full trash can or dispose of it at home. You're just making excuses for the lazy and inconsiderate.
- akamaozu 10y ago
  > I don't see the problem here. Afterwards cleaners come and clean the square, streets, whatever. It's part of the game. You think this is a game??
- buzzybee 10y ago
  I remember noticing a more deliberate approach to trash in European cities when I visited. Not just throwing it anywhere but setting used cans etc. in the corner, out of the way.
  - ginko 10y ago
    There's a deposit on cans and bottles in many places in Europe, so they're left where homeless people may find them.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
- willyt 10y ago
ekianjo 10y ago
Japan is very dirty too. Right after fireworks in summer you are basically walking on garbage on the way back. Go to the mount Fuji for a hike and you will see mountains of trash on the hiking trails. its only clean because they clean a lot. not because people dont throw stuff.
pycal 10y ago
I think part of the issue is cultural, and part of it is education. Japanese society is rooted in Confuscianism, with an emphasis on social harmony. I don't know how we change or improve our cultural technology in the West to move away from ideas like "protect yourself", "look out for number one". The Japanese also make their school children clean their own school. I think there's obvious value in teaching children to take care of their environment / community. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2001/11/30/lifestyle/kids-get-down-to-classroom-clean-ups-2/#.WKRG4RIrJE4 http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2001/11/30/lifestyle/kids-g...
- ThrwyAct 10y ago
  Well thank goodness we have Betsy Devos on the case.
- gheijfnfd 10y ago
  What about China then ? Its Confucianism when it works.
stuaxo 10y ago
In London, saw someone drive out the garage under my flats, go about 10 metres then chuck some litter out the window and keep going. Was perplexed more than anything.

mgkimsal 10y ago

2 weeks ago on my way to work, I watched a guy pull off to the side of the road. He opened his car door, and just dumped trash out - a few small bags of trash. He had just driven past a gas station and convenience store - both with publicly accessible trash cans to throw stuff away - you don't even have to get out of your car. It's a bizarre mindset some people have - let me drive past the driver-accessible trash cans in a paved parking lot, then pull off on to grass and dirt to dump my crap out of the car. There are some aspects of the US which are great, but this large segment of the population which has less than zero regard for public space is... truly crappy.

13of40 10y ago
Counterpoint: I went on vacation to the Dominican Republic a few years back, and went to one of the more remote villages where there was a river outlet. There was a guy there who wanted to take us out on his boat, but we looked in the water and about half of it was covered with an opaque drift of plastic jugs, pieces of styrofoam, etc. I think in the US we have some antisocial assholes roaming around like the one you saw, but it's not like everyone does it by default.
Kluny 10y ago
That's awful. I'm fairly sure here in Canada, people would pick the trash up and chase you down the road with it. I've never seen it happen though.
- mgkimsal 10y ago
  I tried to get a picture of his car, but the sun was at too difficult of an angle. Another thought that made me pause about confronting him was guns. Yay, thanks rampant gun ownership - you certainly prevented an ugly confrontation there, as the idea that I might be shot for confronting someone about trash dumping prevented too much action on my part. I'd posted in our local facebook community page, and 2 other interesting stories came up. 1. someone posted they'd seen something similar a few weeks earlier. They'd confronted the person, and the other person pulled a gun out and threatened them. I do not know if the original person involved police after that. While it might sound far-fetched to some, I live in the rural south of the US. 2. someone else posted a similar story, and had taken a picture of the person dumping trash in public and posted it to the facebook group. that poster was harassed online, with many people complaining that they were "violating the other person's privacy" by posting their picture online without consent. I get truly demoralized at time by living in this area (we're planning a move, but possibly not far enough away).
  - ThrwyAct 10y ago
    > rural south of the US That's the problem. Get out of there ASAP. It has no redeeming qualities. Best move of my life. Unless you have deep roots there and you want to take on the monumental task of actually making your own part of it a better place. Maybe join the city council of a town near a place like Atlanta or Tuscaloosa, and try to spread their civilization a little further into the wilderness.
    - Neliquat 10y ago
      Wow, you dont like the south, but stop being a bigot. You are demonstrating the EXACT blind hatred you imply you are against. STOP.
      - lenocinor 10y ago
        Agreed. As someone who has spent most of his life in various parts of the South, there are good and bad parts, same as anywhere else.
J-dawg 10y ago
It is utterly bizarre. This stuff angers and confuses me in equal measure. It's like a complete refusal to participate in society, just the expectation that someone else will come and tidy up after you. How do these people behave elsewhere in their lives? One example I keep seeing is people who buy a pack of cigarettes, rip off the plastic film covering and just drop it on the floor. It sends me into a silent rage every time.
- all_usernames 10y ago
  If you've spent your whole life feeling victimized by society then you do whatever little things you can to give a big middle finger back. If you're a Black single mom that has to work two jobs to get by, maybe it's easy for you to justify throwing your McDonald's wrappers on the parking lot ground.
  - fao_ 10y ago
    The race of the person was not mentioned, it was interesting that you assumed that they were black -- although I do not disagree with your point.
    - louhike 10y ago
      It was an example of a kind of person being victimized by society.
  - J-dawg 10y ago
    This is an interesting way of looking at it. I wonder if this really is the psychology of people who do stuff like this. If this is the case, it would be interesting to find out whether there is some correlation between wealth inequality and rates of littering.
    - 2muchcoffeeman 10y ago
      A counter point would be all the smoking middle class people I see everyday that throw their butts on the ground.
all_usernames 10y ago
There's absolutely no visible consequence of leaving your trash in the park in a big city. The city workers will be by later that day to clean it up, or more likely in San Francisco where I live, scavengers will pick it up for recycling within minutes. Out of sight, out of mind. And why not? We certainly pay enough taxes to support those services.
- ionised 10y ago
  Please tell me this a troll.
  - pbhjpbhj 10y ago
    I think that is probably not an uncommon mindset.

rtpg 10y ago

Even in Cherry Blossom season, or at fireworks, there's random bits of trash that are flying around. Though they also make sure to make huuuuge trash cans for the events so that it's not a major pain to throw stuff away. Most people don't want to litter, after all. The main reason for the cleanliness afterwards are all the extra staff during those periods that go through and pick this stuff up.

megablast 10y ago
> Though they also make sure to make huuuuge trash cans for the events so that it's not a major pain to throw stuff away. I have never been to a festival where these were not full of rubbish to overflowing.

tonyedgecombe 10y ago

http://www.keepbritaintidy.org/japan-fans-clean-stadium-after-world-cup-loss/2308/2/1/999/3 http://www.keepbritaintidy.org/japan-fans-clean-stadium-afte...

hollander 10y ago

With big festivals with thousands of people gathering in park or square, you can expect this in Europe. Problem is that you buy a drink in a plastic cup or bottle, maybe a sandwhich or fries with it, and you need to dispose of the plastic or paper. Where do you leave it? There simply are not enough trash cans around or nearby. In a big crowded place it's not easy to move around, you can get lost etc. So people throw their garbage on the ground. By the way, all available trash cans are full and have a pile load of garbage next to them. So even if they are full, people still use them to keep the trash together. I don't see the problem here. Afterwards cleaners come and clean the square, streets, whatever. It's part of the game. On normal days, people here keep the cities, parks and streets rather clean.

2muchcoffeeman 10y ago
Simple, carry the thrash until you find a non full trash can or dispose of it at home. You're just making excuses for the lazy and inconsiderate.
akamaozu 10y ago
> I don't see the problem here. Afterwards cleaners come and clean the square, streets, whatever. It's part of the game. You think this is a game??
buzzybee 10y ago
I remember noticing a more deliberate approach to trash in European cities when I visited. Not just throwing it anywhere but setting used cans etc. in the corner, out of the way.
- ginko 10y ago
  There's a deposit on cans and bottles in many places in Europe, so they're left where homeless people may find them.
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
willyt 10y ago

ekianjo 10y ago

Japan is very dirty too. Right after fireworks in summer you are basically walking on garbage on the way back. Go to the mount Fuji for a hike and you will see mountains of trash on the hiking trails. its only clean because they clean a lot. not because people dont throw stuff.

pycal 10y ago

I think part of the issue is cultural, and part of it is education. Japanese society is rooted in Confuscianism, with an emphasis on social harmony. I don't know how we change or improve our cultural technology in the West to move away from ideas like "protect yourself", "look out for number one". The Japanese also make their school children clean their own school. I think there's obvious value in teaching children to take care of their environment / community. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2001/11/30/lifestyle/kids-get-down-to-classroom-clean-ups-2/#.WKRG4RIrJE4 http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2001/11/30/lifestyle/kids-g...

ThrwyAct 10y ago
Well thank goodness we have Betsy Devos on the case.
gheijfnfd 10y ago
What about China then ? Its Confucianism when it works.

stuaxo 10y ago

In London, saw someone drive out the garage under my flats, go about 10 metres then chuck some litter out the window and keep going. Was perplexed more than anything.