Enforcement for remove it or lose it?

[ASH]

We walked the beach at first light this morning and I was really upset at all the junk out there. I usually don't walk in the morning and so wasn't aware of how much there was. And the holes left everywhere. Huge holes, it was an obstacle course just to walk.
How does education about the importance of protecting the beaches for turtles get elevated as high as it needs to be?

 

[scooterbug44]

Thinking about the lack of tagging issue and those throwing around the idea of home made tags I remembered "shame" is a powerful motivator. I was thinking along the lines of those judges who make convicted shoplifters and such wear "I stole from this store" signs outside the stores in lieu of serving time.

What about a similar tag for items left on the beach? Something like....

"Please excuse our mess. We left all our crap out last night because beach ordinances don't apply to us." - This message approved by the Big Brother Beach Patrol and baby turtles.

That is much nicer than my evil idea that involved hanging a rubber turtle from their crap w/ a note that read "thank you for killing me, love bob the baby sea turtle."

I figured that would be bad for tourism and that those kids have enough issues because they have parents who leave their crap on the beach - symptomatic of so many other bad decisions/attitudes. ;-)

 

[TNJed]

That is much nicer than my evil idea that involved hanging a rubber turtle from their crap w/ a note that read "thank you for killing me, love bob the baby sea turtle."

That must be right out of the PETA handbook. I think the kids would just play with the turtle and add it to the nightly pile.

I figured that would be bad for tourism and that those kids have enough issues because they have parents who leave their crap on the beach - symptomatic of so many other bad decisions/attitudes. ;-)

Agreed. And I would further add it is symptomatic of our ever increasing isolationist culture. ie text messages, emails, message boards (ahem ), family buses with tinted windows....

Technology provides some amazing conveniences but is individual convenience worth the cost of community?

"The price of anything is amount of life you exchange for it." - Henry Thoreau.

Okay, I digress but you got me thinking...

 

[scooterbug44]

Agreed. And I would further add it is symptomatic of our ever increasing isolationist culture. ie text messages, emails, message boards (ahem ), family buses with tinted windows....

I don't think of text messages, emails, or message boards as isolationist, but it's probably how I use them as opposed to how the general public uses them. ;-)

 

[TNJed]

I don't think of text messages, emails, or message boards as isolationist, but it's probably how I use them as opposed to how the general public uses them. ;-)

Yeah it's never me either; says one anonymous post to the other. ;-)

 

[scooterbug44]

Since we usually pass each other several times a week on 30-A, and it's been less than a week since I talked to many others on the board in person I don't think it's too isolationist! ;-)

 

[JustaLocal]

Yeah it's never me either; says one anonymous post to the other. ;-)

 

[TNJed]

You're absolutely right about SoWal.com. This board being community oriented is exactly how technology can be very very useful. Lumping my theories on this board is ironic as SoWal is one of a few exceptions to my rule.

Though I believe you have me at a disadvantage. It's no secret who I am (I don't think), but I'd love to know who a scooterbug is. Perhaps I do and didn't realize. We need a SoWal gang-sign to throw to one another. Maybe just a .

I've totally hijacked this thread...apologies all around.

 

[30A Skunkape]

Sorry, I don't buy into the legal excuse of not removing beach items in the morning because they may be on private property. Wonder how long it took our county to think up that one. They DO NOT even ticket or remove items at county walk over's so why did they spend all that money on the signs at each entrance? Yep, convenient excuse and don't believe it for a minute! I guess the tourists have won again! Remember, these are the same people who unfortunately ignore the double red flags!

I think the TDC actually had to cut a check to somebody for removing an item from private property. A former TDC employee described the process of debris removal to me, and it is mind boggling to hear the task that is accomplished daily in a narrow window of time. The key is educating people to remove their crap from the beach!

 

[Matt J]

You're absolutely right about SoWal.com. This board being community oriented is exactly how technology can be very very useful. Lumping my theories on this board is ironic as SoWal is one of a few exceptions to my rule.

Though I believe you have me at a disadvantage. It's no secret who I am (I don't think), but I'd love to know who a scooterbug is. Perhaps I do and didn't realize. We need a SoWal gang-sign to throw to one another. Maybe just a .

I've totally hijacked this thread...apologies all around.

There isn't much we haven't discussed:

SoWal Beaches Forum