Saddened

[elkoholic]

Every time I see an article spelling out the total disrespect for the environment, or nature in general, I am disheartened about the future.

As an example:  https://www.foxnews.com/great-outdoors/officials-glacier-national-park-tourists-trash-allegedly

Then, to top it off, it becomes some sort of political jousting match.  It has nothing to due with republicans vs democrats, or liberals vs conservatives, or where you're from.  Most of the shot up Forest Service signs and gates and empty beer cans along the roads I travel are the work of conservative halfwits, while a large proportion of littering I see in campgrounds and along tourist meccas seems to be the work of liberal simpletons.  It doesn't matter their ethnicity or place of origin.  The problem is a lack of respect.  I'm not sure they are even there to enjoy it, but just to take a picture to prove they were there.  As for the mylar balloons that I find in the mountains, there is certainly no way to stop this form of littering short of banning the sale of them.

There is just too many of us and we are destroying the planet.  Our national parks are overcrowded, our waterways are overcrowded, our campgrounds are overcrowded, and even our streets are overcrowded.  The sad part is that instead of an increase in respect for nature and the other living inhabitants we, as a whole, seem to be showing less.

My thoughts are these.  Choices and consequences.  Rights and responsibilities.  This is why I trek the mountains alone.

Rant over.  I'll end with a quote from a Neil Diamond song "And wept when it was all done.  For being?  Done too soon."

[Ravin R10 man]

We see that along our Town Road ditches, appliances just dumped off, we have a collection at many recycling centers for that!  Oh, but it cost a couple of bucks to do so!  Balloons, you would not believe how many of those we find on our logging jobs. I keep a plastic bag on my steering column for any trash I may end up with while driving. When I fuel and gas up, I dump it in the bin by the pump.  Its amazing how much trash the people gather every spring along our highways! BAGS full just in a mile

[Ultradog]

No offense Elk but I think you are being a bit pessimistic.

Since the 50s or 60s when we as a nation starting becoming aware of our capacity for environmental destruction we have come a Long way towards caring for our environment.

I could write for days about "that was then, this is now" and how much we have improved in our care for the environment.

Yes, there will always be those who simply don't give a damn and blithley pollute, litter and destroy. But by far, the greater majority feel as we do and try to be good stewards of our planet.

The old addage states that one can not prove a negative. Likewise, we can not see how much litter and pollution there COULD be. Because it isn't there.

[elkoholic]

7 hours ago, Ultradog said:

No offense Elk but I think you are being a bit pessimistic

I like to think I'm more of a realist, and the reality is that even if the percentage of those who do not care is small, their numbers still increase as the population grows.  One particularly disturbing thing I see is that there are more people than ever not willing to take responsibility for their actions and who think someone else will take care of it.

Yes, there is a great environmental awareness, but that has not slowed habitat loss or the pollution increases.  Well, it probably could be worse, and I quess that is some consolation.

8 hours ago, Ultradog said:

The old addage states that one can not prove a negative. Likewise, we can not see how much litter and pollution there COULD be. Because it isn't there.

A drive through any large city will show you what it could and, I'm afraid, will be.

[wtnhunt]

Dunno, seems to me that generally speaking there are no shortage of those out there in this day and age who are very quick to want to pat themselves on the back or get likes on social media all the while being total hypocrites. I tend to agree that there is a lack of respect even though there is better awareness, no shortage of people out there who just give a rats rear less about anything but themselves.  Goes with the lack of common courtesy, just don't see it as much in today's world as you used to.  It is indeed sad.

[Ultradog]

"

"A drive through any large city will show you what it could and, I'm afraid, will be."

Yes.

That's why I support the guy who recently said that Philadelphia is a 3rd world hell hole.

He's right.

But,

Humans are pretty adaptive and inventive. We will invent ourselves out of this and civilization will still manage to keep the lights on.

We always have.

Security will come at the cost of liberty but that is the choice of the next generation, not ours.

Your lifestyle won't be affected much by all that.

You're old, you're in a remote region of the US.

It sounds like you worked hard all your life. Probably set something aside.

You'll be alright. It changes slowly and you'll be gone before the elk are gone so no worries.

 

[elkoholic]

On 7/30/2019 at 7:11 PM, Ultradog said:

You'll be alright. It changes slowly and you'll be gone before the elk are gone so no worries.

Yeah, I figure with my family history I'm more than likely in the last 5-10 years of my life.  Hopefully I die on a mountain somewhere trying to pack out an elk quarter and not picking up trash some slob dumped on the ground.  I will die ashamed at how "civilized" humans are leaving the earth for their/my children and grandchildren.

“There is a sadness that only hunters know, a moment when lament overshadows any desire for celebration. Life is sustained by death, and though going to the field is an act of taking responsibility for that fact, the killing is not easy, nor should it be.”
― David Joy

“I hope to die with dignity and not be on my death bed pondering the afterlife wearing a diaper named Depends.”
― Stanley Victor Paskavich