Does Anyone Care??
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
June 17, 2008 12:01am CST
Okay still ranting here about the tree episode and still upset--for full details you can go to my "furious" discussions about the tree business in my area.
Now I'm angry..like I just want to punch out people...and that's actually a good emotion for me cause it gets me going...to DO something. Besides emailing just about everyone and anyone I can think of about this matter, my Public Advocate's office, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Parks and Recreation, I even emailed some of those "helpline" sections of the news media. Then I also found a fantastic website, that is actually like a blog but of our area...there was an email there plus links to my local Community Board and an "amusing" one called Queens Crap--a place to dish out the crap that is going on in my area...how appropriate.
What really ticks me off though, is like no one cares here..that is my lovely neighbors...the beautiful tree that toppled over and crashed into our entrance area cause of the storm..to them it's an inconvenience...and one person I talked to and I expressed my depression about this tree falling like that...know what she said?..."Well that's life. Can't do anything about it"
OH YEAH????
Okay..I've been rattling on about the tree issue...but then I got to thinking...it just seems that there is such an apathetic viewpoint in general..."Well that's life. Can't do anything about it." My question is...WHY NOT??
For whatever issue it might be...are we going to just sit by and not DO something about anything that bothers us, something that we see as wrong, something that might be an injustice? Have we gotten so complacent about things and not want to be heard for whatever issue it might be? Whether it be major or minor, or what some might consider as trivial and not to get involved with?
Hey..I thought that was what freedom of speech was all about...to express our viewpoints on whatever issue it may be, whether right or wrong in our viewpoint and make a stand about it.
Yikes...think I'm beginning to sound like a politician here...LOL
Okay off my soapbox
Do YOU ever take a stand about anything or do you have the attitude of "Well that's life. Can't do anything about it"...or better yet...Can't fight City Hall??
OH YEAH????
Okay..I've been rattling on about the tree issue...but then I got to thinking...it just seems that there is such an apathetic viewpoint in general..."Well that's life. Can't do anything about it." My question is...WHY NOT??
For whatever issue it might be...are we going to just sit by and not DO something about anything that bothers us, something that we see as wrong, something that might be an injustice? Have we gotten so complacent about things and not want to be heard for whatever issue it might be? Whether it be major or minor, or what some might consider as trivial and not to get involved with?
Hey..I thought that was what freedom of speech was all about...to express our viewpoints on whatever issue it may be, whether right or wrong in our viewpoint and make a stand about it.
Yikes...think I'm beginning to sound like a politician here...LOL
Okay off my soapbox
Do YOU ever take a stand about anything or do you have the attitude of "Well that's life. Can't do anything about it"...or better yet...Can't fight City Hall??5 people like this
10 responses
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
17 Jun 08
I have started to turn into a complainer. I have started to turn into one of those people how care and tell people about it. I need to be heard darn it.
I guess we all need our day in COURT if you know what I mean.
Good luck I hope you get a new tree.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Jun 08
I hear ya..LOL. Sometimes though it seems I'm the only one complaining about anything--just wish more people would get involved with different things and issues.
2 people like this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
17 Jun 08
So what I can be the witch with the capital B at least I am heard and I have made a difference because of my complaining.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Jun 08
Did you ever complain about that bus travel business that was giving you problems?
1 person likes this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
17 Jun 08
Guess what I responed to this discussion already but I wanted to let you know it came through in my email. Yayaya I finally got an email discussion that a friend started. this is the second one tonight. I have not gotten any since March. I hope it continues.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Jun 08
I didn't realize you were still having so many problems about the emails
2 people like this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
17 Jun 08
Yes I have been all this time. I have not been responding to all the discussions because of that. It is hard to go to all of my friends and see what they are up to one at a time.
2 people like this
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
17 Jun 08
If you don't stop going on about the tree...
Someone is going to lock you up. 
Amongst people everyday problems... the tree would be rating about -1 out of 100.
If I start a discussion here about climate change... I get about three people agreeing with me that we should do something about it.
So if you get three people here wanting to help you with the tree... I am going to be really confuse.
Amongst people everyday problems... the tree would be rating about -1 out of 100.
If I start a discussion here about climate change... I get about three people agreeing with me that we should do something about it.
So if you get three people here wanting to help you with the tree... I am going to be really confuse.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Jun 08
Oh, believe me I am certifiable..
It's not just the tree issue, it's things in general, issues in general, where people have gotten apathetic and not willing to voice their opinions about. What I really hate is when something comes up in my community and its residents aren't even told of the plans. Like turning an old warehouse, some thirty years ago into an "Adult Home"--yeah, right..it turns out it's the overflow from Creedmoor Psycho Center...these residents aren't cared for, allowed to roam the streets all hours, and many are dangerously psychotic...many people in our area have been attacked by them...like did we ask for this...were we let on about this..NO
It's not just the tree issue, it's things in general, issues in general, where people have gotten apathetic and not willing to voice their opinions about. What I really hate is when something comes up in my community and its residents aren't even told of the plans. Like turning an old warehouse, some thirty years ago into an "Adult Home"--yeah, right..it turns out it's the overflow from Creedmoor Psycho Center...these residents aren't cared for, allowed to roam the streets all hours, and many are dangerously psychotic...many people in our area have been attacked by them...like did we ask for this...were we let on about this..NO1 person likes this
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
19 Jun 08
It depends, Pye. I took a firm and very loud stand here when the township was capturing and killing the feral/stray cats here several years ago and won. Seems 3/4 of the town was with me in the fight to save them. Must be one of the reasons why we won the fight but there are a fewer amount of feral/stray cats here now that they have all been TNR along with any newcomers that anyone notices and takes on the responsibily to TNR those as well. The township, as a whole, has access to free spaying/neutering services for all feral cats that have been captured and then released a few days after surgery. Other than that and the tree trimming I've been on my township about, I sit in the shadows till I feel I can make another difference in my town.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
19 Jun 08
I'm glad to hear that you fought your township against killing off the ferals...yay for you! I bet you can feel proud of yourself about that..and glad you might be taking a stand about the tree trimming too...Is your town/area large? The problem here is that this community is SOooo large..unless a LOT, and I mean a LOT of people take a stand here, nothing will get done....like with my little battle here about the trees...I feel like I'm the only one saying anything about it....if I start mentioning anything about it people look at me like I'm looney with the attitude..it's only trees.
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
19 Jun 08
My town is rather small with a pop. of no more than 3,000. Seems less to me thou but noone really knows how many people are living here with all the illegal mexicans here. Some are upwards of 10 to a small apartment and end up getting kicked out if the landlord finds out that many are living in a one bedroom apt.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Holy moly...I was just doing a search about populations....I wanted to find out how many people are living in my zip code area..are you ready? 105,723 and the total population for my borough (2000 consensus) is 2,229,379
We have that same problem here with multi families living in one small apt too, but mainy cause it costs so much to live here...most apts. average $1,200 a month--is it any wonder two or three families live in one apt?
@wickedangel (1636)
• Dominican Republic
17 Jun 08
Hi there Pyewacket, I find that most people are like your neighbour - it is really so very, very sad. I'm sure people used to be more proactive - look at what happened in the 60s, so many people against the Vietnam war for example.
Mind you when over 1 million people marched in London against the Iraq war the government took not the least bit of notice. We have a population of around 50million, so I would say that this was quite a spectacular number of people and still the politicians did what they wanted and not what the people wanted!
I try to get myself involved in things but there are times when you don't want to 'upset the apple cart'. I fought for a little stretch of road to stay as it was (in London) and not cut down the trees and widen the road. We won on health (more fumes/noise etc) as well as environmental issues, so I was pleased with that.
There are times when I try and be diplomatic but if that doesn't work..... I go for it. I am much better fighting other peoples (friends/family) wars than my own though.
Thanks for sharing this with us and I really know how you feel. I think more and more people are getting more apathetic and complacent, sad but I believe that is life, particularly in the western world.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Jun 08
LOL..I'm from the proactive Woodstock generation and was always involved with protesting something...so I guess it's still in me to protest something or voice my opinion. You make a good point about the protest marches concerning the Iraq war, and of people not taking any real notice...sounds familiar..."our" generation did protest marches against the Vietnam war and no one listened either..in fact we were considered un-American and radical to do so
So many things are done behind our backs without residents being able to protest or voice their opinion about something..years and years ago, they did exactly that..on the one avenue near me some genius decided to widen the road by three inches on either side. One I'm going to the store and came across them cutting down all the trees..according to them the trees root system would have been damaged by the digging up of the road...bull! Roots go deep. The trees were rare birch trees, not found in our neighborhood in general...and they were old. eventually they did replant them all, but none, not one survived.
1 person likes this
@gypsy_owl (88)
• United States
18 Jun 08
unfortuantly most people these days dont care about much other than them selves
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
18 Jun 08
I take a stand on things that need a stand taken, first I find out the reason why something was done, if it is not a good reason I take a stand,
if they cut the tree cause they just felt like it is not a good reason, but if they cut it because it was or could do damage to the neighbourhood then that is a damn good reason.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
18 Jun 08
any city will cut healthy trees if it interfers with the electrical wires, telephone wires, gas mains, building foundations because then the tree even if healthy becomes a public hazard.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
19 Jun 08
That's just it though winterose...all our "power" lines are underground, under the streets..there aren't any power lines above ground---that's why so many times we have those famous NYC manhole blowups here...cause the electric lines underground go haywire...
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
18 Jun 08
have you tried that "green NYC" they show on tv with the lil partridge family looking birds?
i'm not sure if that's run by DPW NYC or not.
if they are,i'd find a paper and take pictures to prove how contradictory they are about keeping new york green (trees count).
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
20 Jun 08
i think it was just www.greennyc.com-i'll check it when i see the commercial on again.
1 person likes this
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
17 Jun 08
This entire country has gone to the dogs because people don't stand up for what's right or what they believe to be right. Nobody cares about anything but themselves now and so some really important issues are being left by the wayside.
This attitude is why the politicians now control everything with the help of the media. I really think that the people of this country need to read the Declaration of Independence again, this is supposed to be a country of the people, by the people and for the people. But the people are so wrapped up in self interest issues, like gay marriage, that the greater good is being trampled.
I am not afraid to speak my mind on anything and I frequently do. I will e mail my local senator when I have an opinion to express, does it do any good....probably not, but at least I have the satisfaction of knowing I have done what I can.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Jun 08
LOL--I'm forever emailing my "political" leaders as well and they are probably so fed up by getting emails from me. As you said, does it do any good, do they listen? Probably not, but like you at least I've had the satisfaction of voicing my opinion about something which is our right to do
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
28 Jun 08
I'm with you on this issue pye. Trust me I am but it's like animals, a tree is just a tree to most people which is wrong. It's a live living thing and without it, we wouldn't have oxygen to breathe. Like you, it irks me to no end to cut down a tree so far for no good reason and leave it vulnerable to the storms that may arrive. I had a beautiful tree in my back yard that was perfectly shaped like a cone and thanks to a terrible storm we had one night, it tore the tree in half, actually more than that!! I almost cried when that happened but I don't have the guts to cut it down for it's still alive. I'm hoping it'll grow back it's branches and be pretty again.... Some day maybe it will.
You could go to City Hall and say this to them "Thanks City Hall NOT!!"
