I have a dilemma

Moonbeam

Elite Member
Nov 24, 1999
74,744
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Having moved to a, in my experience at least, a low class area of Sacramento to care for my Mom, I still walk my dog every day. It is cold here in winter and many people are burning fires either because they like fires, but more likely to reduce the cost of their heating bills. So when i walk my dog I have to breathe in all of the smoke. I don't burn a fire because people down wind of me would have to breathe my smoke and the law says I can't go over and eliminate the people polluting me. Because the kind of thoughtfulness and consciousness that I have is rare, I have to suffer both ways, higher heating bills and unhealthy air. As a single individual there is little i can do to create socially conscious people, especially when it would cost them more money to be that way. That seems to block the only sensible way our of this, that nobody burn a fire willingly because they pollute their neighbor. Therefore it seems the alternative is socially responsible elitist law that tells people what they can and cannot do and limits their freedom to enjoy a fire.

By extension I think, on the horns of this and similar dilemmas, humanity will become extinct. I want what is my right even though I, multiplied 6 billion times, destroy the world.


We have met the enemy and it is the SELF.

Every problem begins and ends in US.

Only YOU can prevent forest fires as Smokey the Bear says.

What is your answer?
 

dmcowen674

No Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
54,889
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www.alienbabeltech.com
Kudos for taking care of family :thumbsup:

The fires?

Well not much different from the smokers that toss their butts out the window right into the face of those behind them.

Not too worry, in no time the Fireplaces and Smoking will be banned in the U.S. anyway, hang in there.
 

judasmachine

Diamond Member
Sep 15, 2002
8,515
3
81
i still think this is just more "busy body" stuff. these "programs" won't really solve anything, but they sure do make ya feel good about yourself eh?
 

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 9, 1999
46,871
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It's the damn people thoughtlessly clogging public sidewalks with their dogs that I think needs legislating against. Second hand dog hair afflicts the innocently allergic! Dog owners need to paws and reflect for a moment, curb their desires, and get a new leash on life. Those who think wood fires are the prime evil are barking up the wrong tree!
 

Tommunist

Golden Member
Dec 1, 2004
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I don't understand how the smoke is that bothersome. Coming from a rural area a lot of people had woodstoves as their primary heating source for the house. I never noted the smoke to be very oppressive. Every now and then you get a little whiff of smoke but otherwise nothing at all. I thought the point of the chimney was so that the smoke would be high enough up so as not to cause a problem....
 

Spamela

Diamond Member
Oct 30, 2000
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Originally posted by: Tommunist
I don't understand how the smoke is that bothersome. Coming from a rural area a lot of people had woodstoves as their primary heating source for the house. I never noted the smoke to be very oppressive. Every now and then you get a little whiff of smoke but otherwise nothing at all. I thought the point of the chimney was so that the smoke would be high enough up so as not to cause a problem....


the problem is that the weather in the California Central Valley doesn't
allow the smoke to dissipate. plus, just about every house here
has a fireplace. in my county (100 miles south of Sacramento),
we have one of those "no fireplace burning on certain days" laws.
 

irwincur

Golden Member
Jul 8, 2002
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NIMBY

What about your singular rights outweigh the rights of the masses? If you have a problem, go to the city council and present it to them. They, as the chosen electorate in the community represent the voters and as such will make a judgement that they deem to be the most representative. It is called Democracy (well Representative Democracy) and it seems to work well.

If they do not decide for you, look for alternatives which will make your life easier without inconvieniencing the rest of the peolple. That gas mask would be an adequate (if not overboard) solution.
 

DealMonkey

Lifer
Nov 25, 2001
13,136
1
0
Smokey the bear is a communist, tree-hugging liberal who only seeks to stop people from doing what they want when they want it. The only solution to your problem is at the barrel of a gun, because people will only do the right thing when they're forced to do so under penalty of death. Iraq comes to mind for some reason . . .
 

CycloWizard

Lifer
Sep 10, 2001
12,348
1
81
Originally posted by: DealMonkey
Smokey the bear is a communist, tree-hugging liberal who only seeks to stop people from doing what they want when they want it. The only solution to your problem is at the barrel of a gun, because people will only do the right thing when they're forced to do so under penalty of death. Iraq comes to mind for some reason . . .
My brother (who is a real-life Smokey :eek:) is about the exact opposite of what you just described. Apparently, you haven't read the 600-page manual on Smokey that was released last year for his 60th anniversary. He's not as nice as he sounds on TV. :p
 

DealMonkey

Lifer
Nov 25, 2001
13,136
1
0
Originally posted by: CycloWizard
Originally posted by: DealMonkey
Smokey the bear is a communist, tree-hugging liberal who only seeks to stop people from doing what they want when they want it. The only solution to your problem is at the barrel of a gun, because people will only do the right thing when they're forced to do so under penalty of death. Iraq comes to mind for some reason . . .
My brother (who is a real-life Smokey :eek:) is about the exact opposite of what you just described. Apparently, you haven't read the 600-page manual on Smokey that was released last year for his 60th anniversary. He's not as nice as he sounds on TV. :p
Well, I just don't even know where to go with that. ;)

I *do* think Moonbeam brings up a good point, and that is it's tough not to be conflicted between (A) Wanting people to do the right thing, (B) Legislating that they do the right thing, and (C) Allowing people to arrive at their own decisions and exercise their freedoms. I think many of us (and our politicians) wrestle with this very dilemna. I don't think there's an easy solution.

Having moved to a, in my experience at least, a low class area of Sacramento to care for my Mom, I still walk my dog every day.
Is that why you haven't been around Moonie? Welcome back in any event, hope you stick around a bit. :)
 

DealMonkey

Lifer
Nov 25, 2001
13,136
1
0
Originally posted by: robothouse77
deal with the cost of heating. if you can't, go buy a sweater from goodwill. problem solved.
How does that solve the problem when his neighbors are still belching out smoke from their fireplaces or trash fires or whatever?
 

Tommunist

Golden Member
Dec 1, 2004
1,544
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Originally posted by: robothouse77
deal with the cost of heating. if you can't, go buy a sweater from goodwill. problem solved.

I keep my apt at 63 degrees - comfy :)
 

DealMonkey

Lifer
Nov 25, 2001
13,136
1
0
Originally posted by: ReiAyanami
i think when your dog poos in their yard you can call it even
I'd say "burning bag of poo on neighbor's doorstep" and THEN you can call it even. ;)
 

alchemize

Lifer
Mar 24, 2000
11,486
0
0
Originally posted by: Perknose
It's the damn people thoughtlessly clogging public sidewalks with their dogs that I think needs legislating against. Second hand dog hair afflicts the innocently allergic! Dog owners need to paws and reflect for a moment, curb their desires, and get a new leash on life. Those who think wood fires are the prime evil are barking up the wrong tree!
What does he think this is, Paris??
 

EagleKeeper

Discussion Club Moderator<br>Elite Member
Staff member
Oct 30, 2000
42,589
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The amount of smoke/soot being created is little compared to what is put out by the forest fires each year.

And the elitests encourage the fires by preventing proper forestry management and not keeping their hillside mansions clear of debris.
 

DealMonkey

Lifer
Nov 25, 2001
13,136
1
0
Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
The amount of smoke/soot being created is little compared to what is put out by the forest fires each year.

And the elitests encourage the fires by preventing proper forestry management and not keeping their hillside mansions clear of debris.
OMG! Who ARE these "elitists" who are saying "bring it on!" to forest fires?!? Name names already!
 

Spencer278

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 2002
3,637
0
0
Originally posted by: Spamela
Originally posted by: Tommunist
I don't understand how the smoke is that bothersome. Coming from a rural area a lot of people had woodstoves as their primary heating source for the house. I never noted the smoke to be very oppressive. Every now and then you get a little whiff of smoke but otherwise nothing at all. I thought the point of the chimney was so that the smoke would be high enough up so as not to cause a problem....


the problem is that the weather in the California Central Valley doesn't
allow the smoke to dissipate. plus, just about every house here
has a fireplace. in my county (100 miles south of Sacramento),
we have one of those "no fireplace burning on certain days" laws.

That is the differnce between a wood stove which is designed to heat a house and a fireplace that is designed to look good. Wood stoves do a much better job of burning wood. I would also guess that the fireplace owners are burnign crap wood, or just crap.
 

aidanjm

Lifer
Aug 9, 2004
12,411
2
0
How come people are ignoring the larger issue, which is that 'our' (humans') selfishness will be the death of us all?
 

AFB

Lifer
Jan 10, 2004
10,718
3
0
Originally posted by: aidanjm
How come people are ignoring the larger issue, which is that 'our' (humans') selfishness will be the death of us all?

What are you, some kind of pinko-commie?