NCR: Littering

[Azonic]

Ok, I'm not mentioning color as it should make no difference. This goes across the spectrum.

 

So I'm standing at the bunch yesterday morning, a few minutes before the bunch was to depart. So this dude stands near the bus stop, waiting for the taxi with a few other passengers - while chowing his pack of Cheese-Naks. No problem. Ten meters behind him at the bus stop, there is a nice big blue garbage bin with a sticker on that asks people not to litter. I stand there watching this, knowing exactly what's going to go down. Just as he finishes his chips, the taxi pulls up. Instantly his hand goes limp and there goes the empty chips packet.

 

So right there my brain disconnects and I tune him "Pick up that foking packet!!!". He gets a skrik while the other passengers walking to the taxi starts to giggle, not sure if its at him or me. So he just a little half-harted run after the packet, running just slower than what the wind is blowing it away - and gives up after 5 meters of trying. His aim turns back to the waiting taxi and as he walks past us he throws this little toi-toi-jive, extremely arrogantly. I felt like shoving my crankarm up his ass without taking the pedal off.

 

Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez, is it just me?!?

 

The guy standing behind me goes: "Anarchy... that's what's waiting for us here". I couldn't agree more.

 

 

 

[Joe Low]

If a crisp packet gets you this excited, what do you do when something important happens?

[Dirtbreath]

You watched cyclists at a race. WE ARE PIGS!

[Azonic]

Fully agree. At the Herald MTB and Road races, the amounts of energy gels laying in and next to the road baffles me. Wish I could give okes that do it a huge slap upside their heads.

 

There should actually be a rule that says you can lay a complaint after a race and the oke needs to pay a fine.

 

[Guest Big H]

If a crisp packet gets you this excited' date=' what do you do when something important happens?

[/quote']

 

It has nothing to do with the crisp packet........ figure that out yourself, or has Afreeca de-sensitized you as well??????????

[slowpoke]

bigH, i think the point being proven here is that some people just don't "get it". as azonic said, skin colour is irrelevant.

 

[Joe Low]

If a crisp packet gets you this excited' date=' what do you do when something important happens?

[/quote']

 

It has nothing to do with the crisp packet........ figure that out yourself, or has Afreeca de-sensitized you as well??????????

 

My dear H - if I'm going to shout, swear and confront people over every piece of litter I see dropped, the risks of assault and/or heart attack will give me a very short life expectancy. I'm sensitive to that.

[Buffwhack]

If a crisp packet gets you this excited' date=' what do you do when something important happens?

 

[/quote']

 

Hey Joe Low - hope this is a wind-up on your part. I see this as part of the problem. An apparent blase attutude "its only a crisp packet". It either bothers you or it does'nt. I can never ever get used to the state of our environment. I do not think one can be desensitized to this - if one starts seeing little things like this as acceptable, I see it as a personal failure as your standards are slipping. Just like the standard of driving, I can not accept it. I live with it but complain about it as I cannot accept rules being ignored. In my eyes if I ignore these actions my standards are going down too.

 

Respect is something one should be taught from an early age - from your parents and also drummed into one at school. In this case respect for the environment. Last week the venue that hosted the Fast One MTB race was disgusting. The amount of litter around, note before the cyclists hit there, was appalling. During my time at school we would never have got away with it. Chicken parade is what it was called. We combed the grounds, every inch picking up litter and heaven help us if the principal was not satisfied. I am afraid that this part of education also seems to have slipped. However saying all this, many and I say many, cyclists show the same lack of respect for the environment. Having to tell grown men, probably fathers themselves, not to litter winds me up. Not to mention the verbal abuse should you dare pluck up the courage to confront them. It does not matter that it seems a small issue, it is about principles and respect for your environment and whatever living creature we share this planet with.

 

[intern]

Guys I have noticed that the very best way to deal with littererereres (and every race I do I see a few) is to ride on over, say hello howyadoin, then ask really nicely, please don't litter, if we all put our stuff in our pockets, won't things look a bit better?

Staggeringly obvious, I know, but if you let people know that it is unacceptable, in the nicest, politest way, they feel ashamed and probably won't do it again.

The angry approach gets met with a 'f*ck you' response...I've tried it and chunky tried to tear me a new one.

(unsuccessfully, I'm pretty good at wars of words).

 

[Azonic]

Usually people that litter weren't taught that its wrong from a young age. Look at the average township, extremely dirty/filthy. Lots of voices cry about living in poverty, but hey, its your fault this place looks like this. This joins back up with BigH's respect thread. No respect for themselves and/or their living conditions.

 

People littering at races... I'm not a very politically correct person neither suttle. The friendly approach I just can't do.

 

[javadude]

Its called the broken windows theory, may as well be called the "littering with crisp packets" theory:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixing_Broken_Windows

 

[intern]

hahah Azonic, I am about as subtle as a hand grenade usually, but some of the VAs are quite a lot bigger than me so I decided on the polite route to avoid being bliksemed. Discovered that it achieves the end far better than the angry man approach. And that's really what you want to achieve...

 

 

[Guest Big H]

I stopped at a robot a few years ago and a full taxi rolled in next to me. I could sense they were talking animatedly about me. Just before the lights changed the cool dude in the front seatasked me "Are you Eugene Terrebanche!!!!??????" I said "Definitely NOT!!!!" and all in the taxi laughed. They rolled in next to me at the next robot, and I start to check the cool dude up and down....... just before the lights changed I asked him "Are you Bantu Holomiza????!!!!!" The whole taxi burst out laughing and I suspect some of them understood!!!!!!!!!!

[Joe Low]

If a crisp packet gets you this excited' date=' what do you do when something important happens?

[/quote']
Hey Joe Low - etc......

 

Hi Buffers - it's more the inappropriate level of anger and hostility (imo) I'm pointing out.

 

If I was in a similar situation and I could I'd prolly pick the thing up and put it the bin myself.

 

Didn't swear at the bunch litterers 2day either - but I did stop a guy in our group from drafting a lorry by quietly saying to him "don't be a w@nker" - does this put me back in the good standards club?

Joe Low2009-02-08 09:51:05

[Wyatt Earp]

@BigH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My favorite thing to do is when i get asked "are you a racist"

 

This often happens when a que gets jumped and similar offenses.

 

When I say something I get that glass eyed stare and then a mouth full of teeth and I end up witnessing the face of a mad person which could easily be confused as a serial killer.

 

The little voice says "are you a racist"

 

I simply answer YES.Summit Cycles2009-02-08 09:52:47

[jeremyd]

 

I've also decided to change tack and stop ingnoring things. Other day, no parking close to shops, Landrover pulls into disabled parking. As I walk past the guy and his wife, I yell out "IT'S A MIRACLE YOU CAN WALK!" couple of people stare and he doesn't know where to put himself. His wife splutters and mumbles some excuse. Did he move his vehicle, well he was thinking about it (he kinda stopped and half turned to move out and then thought better of it), so I pushed the issue "hope there are no disabled people looking for a parking tonight". and then I must confess I had to go off. Will it make a difference who knows but I wasn't prepared to stand around and do nothing! (word of caution, make sure that the person you are in fact shouting at is not disabled as someone has tried that before and was chased down the road by a guy with a false leg (true story))

jeremyd2009-02-09 00:46:17