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I live rurally where the only traffic is a few locals, and then a bunch of suburban people who drive 20-30mins to get out here in groups who haven't adapted to
by motohagiography 3y ago
I live rurally where the only traffic is a few locals, and then a bunch of suburban people who drive 20-30mins to get out here in groups who haven't adapted to norms around loitering and privacy - or littering. My property abuts a scenic corner that started to attract people over covid. Given it's one group of recent arrivals, objectively there is a cultural factor in attitudes to litter that needs to be a part of integrating newcomers from urbanized societies who aren't familiar with the conservation of nature. It's an education thing, and unless you are from here or somewhere with nature, you don't learn it. Living in opposition to the natural environment is practically the definition of being poor.
After going out and talking to the people about it a lot, I just bought a drone to send out instead and it has been less civil but more effective. The numbers are down this year, and the litter has reduced significantly, as the people who encounter the drone don't return. The solution to litter is education and being forthright in your stewardship of the places you live, and recognizing that asserting norms is a constructive way to help people integrate instead of silently resenting and isolating them.
- wharvle 3y agoOh wow, different kind of rural than I’m used to and that post went the opposites direction from what I was expecting. I’m used to rural folks who scoff at conservation and dump entire trash bags by the side of the road, among other things. Must be a regional difference. You imply your area’s got nice natural areas and not just farmland, so maybe that’s it.
- motohagiography 3y agoPoor farmers will dump trash too, successful ones don't. Litter is the effect of many people doing a little of it. Where I live is not "just farmland," but if you leave a gate unlocked, you can get some criminals from the city dumping a truckload of dirty fill in your field, but that's another group who have integrated enough to become that bold.
- jaredhallen 3y agoI have similar experience. I also love in a rural area. I work at a ski resort, and I can't tell you how many times I've seen a fancy car pull into the parking lot, open the door, and Immediately set a whole bag of fast food trash right on the ground next to the car. And along the highway, groups stop to sled in the snow. And when they leave, the pile of busted sleds, used diapers, and food trash looks like a homeless camp. And then the campsites... I don't typically like to make broad judgments about groups of people, but culture is a real thing, and urban folks seem to be the worst offenders by far.