Shopping Carts In The Canal - Why Do People Do Vandalism Acts?

Shopping Carts in Canal - 3 Shopping Carts dumped into Florida Canal
@schulzie (4061)
United States
March 16, 2009 8:10am CST
I was out walking the other day and looked down into one of our canals. We have many canals down here in Florida. Anyways the canal was beautiful except for one thing - someone had dumped three shopping carts down into it. I don't know why it is that people have to do acts of vandalism such as this. It is just a shame because not only does it dirty up the canal, but now a city employee will have to go down there and pull those up and out of the canal. Then there is the cost of the grocery store getting the cart back, cleaning it up and sterilizing it (because as beautiful as the canal are they are still water and have algae and all kinds of funky stuff growing in them). And then people complain about the rising cost of groceries, etc. Well, if people watched their children and made sure they were at home and being good instead of out there vandalising things then maybe prices wouldn't be so high. It just irks me to no end. That is utter disrespect for other's property and for nature too. There are animals that live in these canals. I will assure you that if I ever saw a kid or anyone dumping something or vandalising something I would take a picture with my camera in my phone and immediately call the police. I have no tolerance for this whatsoever! So, what do you guys think about this? Do you think it is harmless fun or does it bother you too? Have a nice day and happy myLotting!!!
5 people like this
13 responses
DancingRedFeather1
@DancingRedFeather1 (1037)
• Canada
16 Mar 09
The solution is easy..make people pay 5$ to use the cart and you get your money refunded when you bring it back. I have seen it and no cart is missing.
5 people like this
moonlitmagikchild
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
17 Mar 09
heck it works at the aldis store and people only pay 25 cents for those carts lol
1 person likes this
DancingRedFeather1
@DancingRedFeather1 (1037)
• Canada
17 Mar 09
I was exagerating of course! Here it's 1$ because many didn't care for 25cents!
2 people like this
schulzie
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
17 Mar 09
That is a good idea. It is like a cart rental until you get back to the store. And I think you might be right - .25 cents is pretty cheap for a shopping cart. It is just so sad though really. Thanks for your comment and have a great day!!!
1 person likes this
Lakota12
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
16 Mar 09
Not only kids do this. Maybe they stopped working for the homeless person so they got rid of it and went and got another one!. We have thousands of homeless people here and they all have a shopping cart. and sometimes when the store gets them back tey are very hard to push some only wan to go one way. and yup I would turn any one in that I would see doing wrong!
3 people like this
Lakota12
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
18 Mar 09
really dont matter where they come from durug store grocery stores dollar stores any body can get them then leave them where ever.
1 person likes this
jillhill
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
16 Mar 09
It bothers me too..to have so much disrespect for other's property and to destroy the looks of something beautiful just because you can....I don't think it's harmless fun...they should have to do some community service if they could find out who did it....maybe make them do some cleaning of their own!
3 people like this
schulzie
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
17 Mar 09
I agree with you on that. I think that they should have to clean up the canals, etc. And that is no joke as there are snapping turtles and water mocassins in there. As I said now a city worker will have to go into that canal and face all the dangers in there just because some stupid kids thought it was funny to dump these carts in there. Thanks for your comment and have a great day!!!
1 person likes this
dragon54u
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
16 Mar 09
You answered your own question when you said people should watch over their children. I cannot understand for the life of me why parents are so casual about their kids and let them run wild then wonder why they join gangs or are killed playing in a canal or something. It makes me so angry!
3 people like this
schulzie
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
17 Mar 09
Well, I can tell you that I always know where all four of my children are. If they are not at school then they are with me. If they are out of the house they are by my side and within my sight. If we are at home all the doors are locked and they are either in their bedrooms or in the living room. Also, I have raised them with manners and to respect others and others property. Thanks for your comment and have a great day!!!
1 person likes this
onlydia
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
17 Mar 09
Yes it does bother me. But as you said if people would watch their kids. It is not the kids most of the time it is adults that been out drinking and took a joy ride on a cart. Plus most kids I have seen here don't do it. It is homeless people that take the carts and use them and then someone takes them from them. But yes sometimes it is kids. They have these things that they can put on the carts so they can't leave the store lot. True it does cost but then everyone is happy. Have a good day. Your friend onlydia
2 people like this
schulzie
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
17 Mar 09
I think it is teenagers in my area that are doing this. The area I live in is pretty well off so I think it is really bored teenagers. I tell you that if I do see anything like this going on I will be dialing up the police lickety-split. I wish they would put something on the carts though or start charging to use them. I think that might help to deter this. Thanks for your comment and have a great day!!!
2 people like this
renemouche
@renemouche (843)
• United States
16 Mar 09
Yeah that is crazy. We have that problem were Im from too but instead of putting them in canals, they put them in ditches. The Kroger and the HEB near me has that beacon program(or whatever its called) They put a chip in the wheels of the cart when ever you try to take the cart out of the parking lot the wheels will lock. The Randalls and Target next to me dont have this program and those are the carts I see lying around in my complex parking lot are the drainage ditches. I like the idea about paying 5 dollar and getting it back when you bring your cart back. I always bring my cart back to the designated areas. My sister works at HEB in our hometown and part of her job is to bring the carts in, so I always put my cart back hoping the karma will pass to her and she wont have to go to the far ends of the parking lot to collect carts.
2 people like this
schulzie
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
17 Mar 09
What is HEB? I never heard of that store. I like the idea about the chip. Pretty smart if you ask me. I know about leaving the carts way out there. I always try to take my cart back to the rack or keep it close to the store if it is raining and I don't want to get soaked! Thanks for your comment and have a great day!!!
1 person likes this
renemouche
@renemouche (843)
• United States
17 Mar 09
HEB is a grocery store only in Texas. I forget every state has different grocery stores. LOL!! :)
1 person likes this
schulzie
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
11 Mar 10
I never heard of HEB before. Yes, it's true there are so many different grocery stores in all of our states. It is easy to forget there are so many! Thanks for your comment!
1 person likes this
lingli_78
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
17 Mar 09
i also hate it when people do vandalism... i will report it to the police when i see one... it is so selfish and not courteous to do that... especially to public places... if the person want to vandalise, then vandalise their own house... don't vandalise other people's places... take care and have a nice day...
1 person likes this
schulzie
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
17 Mar 09
I totally agree with you. But they would never vandalize the area or house that they live in themselves. I think sometimes that people vandalize areas because they are jealous that they don't have nice things themselves. Thanks for your comment and have a great day!!!
1 person likes this
loneydessert
@loneydessert (18)
• China
17 Mar 09
Oh,this really is horrible.For this acc of shame. Us the same side of the river have been destroyed.Before the water is very clear. But in recent years,some people go to the river Throw rubbish.Bestruction of the river dried up and even. Human destruction of our environment for our survival.Sad!
1 person likes this
schulzie
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
17 Mar 09
Yes, that is so sad that people are destroying our nature and the planet by these stupid actions. I hate to see the world dying because people think it is funny to litter, etc. Thanks for your comment and have a great day!!!
2 people like this
bjcyrix
@bjcyrix (6901)
• Philippines
30 Dec 09
Oh, in reading the title question first, I was going to say that people vandalise because of self expression. This is of course with the thought of graffitti art. I do like graffiti art as long as its painted or written on a canvas that they personally own and do not exercise destruction of property. Anyway, as I read through the details, I was disappointed too. I still dont understand why some people love to destroy what is beautiful or break things that are not broken. They might think that they're "getting back" at the world but it was a public place, the property of others is also they're property, so the cost of fixing the things that they broke do not only come from the others but it also comes from their own pockets. Maybe they just dont realize that. Or they just dont care about the repercussions and the consequences as long as they do what they want to do. I would do the same thing as you would. Its better to have evidence to back the claims that we might report. With this, other people with the same intention might have second thoughts to act on it.
1 person likes this
schulzie
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
11 Mar 10
The sad thing is that the carts act like a dam in the canals and then the wildlife like the fish, turtles, ducks, etc. suffer as a result. I am sure it also pollutes the water too. It is a shame that people don't care about their enviornment and don't care what repercussions happen as a result of their careless acts. Graffitti doesn't really bother me either as you said as long as it doesn't deface someone's property. Thanks for your comment and have a great day!!!
1 person likes this
moonlitmagikchild
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
17 Mar 09
it bothers me the lack of respect people have for other peoples stuff.. i always was raised to not mess up anyones things and i just dont understand how people can just abuse property and not think anything about it
1 person likes this
schulzie
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
17 Mar 09
I know! That is how I was raised and that is the same way that I raise all of my children too. It is just amazing the lack of respect anymore! Thanks for your comment and have a great day!!!
2 people like this
soyporteno
@soyporteno (406)
• United States
17 Mar 09
That is just awful! I have seen this kind of thing too and it makes me angry too. It is a shame really. People just don't have any respect for others' property anymore.
1 person likes this
schulzie
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
17 Mar 09
No, it doesn't seem that many have respect anymore to me either. I know that I am raising my children the right way, just not sure about other people though. Especially when I see stuff like this. Thanks for your comment and have a great day!!!
2 people like this
haram29
@haram29 (4)
• Philippines
17 Mar 09
Some people,especially the young people are fond of doing some vandalism acts. There maybe many reasons why they do such acts. The most common reason is that their involvement in some organizations such as fraternities or gangs. Trey are being influenced by there co-members or being pushed by their leaders to do such acts. One reason is that they make those acts as their revenge for others.
1 person likes this
schulzie
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
17 Mar 09
Yes, I think that sometimes kids do this kind of thing as a dare from their other friends or peer pressure. Maybe it is gang activity too. I think a lot of it is that the parents of these kids are nowhere to be seen and really don't care where their children are or what they are doing. Thanks for your comment and have a great day!!!
1 person likes this
zhontine
@zhontine (127)
• China
17 Mar 09
old saying "foreign moon is rounder" but the "bad eggs" still exist next time, I also will picture and phone
1 person likes this
schulzie
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
17 Mar 09
Yes, I think it is wonderful that we now have cameras in our phones. That way you catch people in the act and have proof!
2 people like this