The state of [Perth] society

Nesti (Mark) · #1 26-03-2010, 01:05 PM

Okay, I've seen some gross stuff, but this tops all.

Our wheelie bins were emptied earlier this morning. When I went to remove them from the verge and back to the side of the house, the recycling bin had a large black plastic bucket thrown in the bottom...it was full of...ready...sewage!!!

Someone [or animal actually!] has dumped crap in my brand new recycling bin!!!

The smell was/is atrocious.

I called the council but they have no idea what to do with the bin because it belongs to Perth Waste, but Cleanaway are only people able to handle toxic/hazardous waste such as this (under contract). So the council is perplexed as to how they should handle this issue.

I can only assume, that in the centre of the metro area, some household is using buckets rather than a [serviceable] toilet, and dumping the problem onto others.

After Peter Ward's thread of road rage - which I experience almost every day - city live seemed a little disheartening. but this...oh-man!

My partner and I were just talking about packing up and moving to the country over breakfast as city life isn't desirable anymore...I think the universe just gave us decisive confirmation of that.

Diabolical social behavior.

supernova1965 (Warren) · #2 26-03-2010, 01:26 PM

The vast majority of people are good people if you go by the media who only report the bad events because they think it sells you are bound to get a negative outlook on society. Or by the random act of 1 individual but that is not the whole society only a small part of it. There is pleanty of proof of our society improving the only thing is you have to search for it for the media are not good at showing it as the preception is that it does not sell. This is why the internet is such a good tool you can find out the good that is happening in the world. Just look at things that used to be quite acceptable in the past which are totally unacceptable now. We are improving and evolving socially there is always some that lag behind but in general things are improving.

casstony · #3 26-03-2010, 01:43 PM

It's hard to imagine that a city dweller doesn't have access to toilets. Can you think of some other explanation, such as someone with a grudge against you Mark?

syousef · #4 26-03-2010, 01:50 PM

You're going to be moving a lot if every time someone does something low/disgusting you pack your bags. If it keeps happening I'd be setting up cameras to catch them.

Ric · #5 26-03-2010, 02:11 PM

Hi Mark, you can't beat the country life mate. Fresh air and dark skies and the only waste you'll see are the Skippy droppings.

I love it where I am.

Nesti (Mark) · #6 26-03-2010, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casstony

It's hard to imagine that a city dweller doesn't have access to toilets. Can you think of some other explanation, such as someone with a grudge against you Mark?

If it was scattered across my lawn, then I would most definately be suspect of foul-play...BUT, it was placed inside my wheelie bin...which indicates to me, someone just wanted to off-load the trouble.

The council has since said that they will be taking it away and replacing the bin with a new one...but they have no idea as to how they will dispose of it as it's technically Bio Hazard Waste.

Although it's annoying, we have actually had a good laugh about it.

My gripe with society is that if it's not this issue, it's tagging of our exterior [laneway] wall, and if it's not that, it's car break-ins...all these things consume our time, cost money and raise our rates and insurance premiums at the end of the day.

Peter Ward · #7 26-03-2010, 02:38 PM

The contents of that bucket remined me of Sydney's west in the early 1960's...there was no sewage system, & the proverbial "night cart" cans...which was serviced weekly by the council...were a shameful reflection of this lack of infrastructure.

I recall said container got quite full one week, due extra family staying over. My mother also was ill at the time. It was a hot summer, and the dunny out the back was getting a little fruity!

My father called the Council from his work requesting an extra service call.

The Council's response was "once a week is all you are entitled to"

My dad, calmly requested that this be re-considered, as if he had to leave work to fix the problem, it would be fixed by him personally emptying the contents of said "can" into the foyer of the council's offices.

A service truck apparently arrived within the hour.

Nesti (Mark) · #8 26-03-2010, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syousef

You're going to be moving a lot if every time someone does something low/disgusting you pack your bags. If it keeps happening I'd be setting up cameras to catch them.

True, but where's the demarcation line between sporadic and systemic?

Cameras and courts do little these days.

rogerg (Roger) · #9 26-03-2010, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nesti

My partner and I were just talking about packing up and moving to the country over breakfast as city life isn't desirable anymore...I think the universe just gave us decisive confirmation of that.

We often dream of moving to the country. We hate the city life. The rat race. But .... work his here, family is here.. it's just too hard.

Sounds like you're in an area that's going through a rough patch.

Nesti (Mark) · #10 26-03-2010, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric

Hi Mark, you can't beat the country life mate. Fresh air and dark skies and the only waste you'll see are the Skippy droppings.

I love it where I am.

Mel's parents have a farm which has that type of feel. Just dealing with income concerns with relocating...we're slowly putting everything on-line soon.

Nesti (Mark) · #11 26-03-2010, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

The contents of that bucket remined me of Sydney's west in the early 1960's...there was no sewage system, & the proverbial "night cart" cans...which was serviced weekly by the council...were a shameful reflection of this lack of infrastructure.

I recall said container got quite full one week, due extra family staying over. My mother also was ill at the time. It was a hot summer, and the dunny out the back was getting a little fruity!

My father called the Council from his work requesting an extra service call.

The Council's response was "once a week is all you are entitled to"

My dad, calmly requested that this be re-considered, as if he had to leave work to fix the problem, it would be fixed by him personally emptying the contents of said "can" into the foyer of the council's offices.

A service truck apparently arrived within the hour.

Yeah, that's the way to do it...today they'd just see you in court.

In all honesty though, the council have actually been great in this instance. Possibly the novelty value alone.

Many years ago, when conducting live fire exercise with Iroquois Gunships south of Ballina (NSW), we were using "said" toilet buckets as the farmer's property was not allowed to be fouled for environmental reason. So no digging holes.

One very early morning, three of us came back from a night out in Ballina, very rowdy and very intoxicated. Needless to say, the three of use become quite proficient in handling "said" containers at the regional water treatment plant.

There was a lot more too it than what I've written. Still haven't had therapy for that.

Nesti (Mark) · #12 26-03-2010, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogerg

Sounds like you're in an area that's going through a rough patch.

I would have to agree with you...but, you live in Perth, what if I told you we live on Lake Monger?!

And yes, you're right, family, work etc, big call.

AstralTraveller (David) · #13 26-03-2010, 03:12 PM

Of course they have left a lot of DNA about. A bloke was jailed for theft over here after they found a Coke can at the scene that he had touched. In his case they had the DNA on file from a previous expense.

rogerg (Roger) · #14 26-03-2010, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nesti

I would have to agree with you...but, you live in Perth, what if I told you we live on Lake Monger?!

... you'd expect better wouldn't you.

Screwdriverone (Chris) · #15 26-03-2010, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nesti

Many years ago, when conducting live fire exercise with Iroquois Gunships south of Ballina (NSW), we were using "said" toilet buckets as the farmer's property was not allowed to be fouled for environmental reason. So no digging holes.

Hmmm, seems a little strange Mark, that you were allowed to conduct a LIVE FIRE exercise using Iriquois gunships on the farmer's property, probably with THOUSANDS of bullets of various calibre and possibly even rocket launchers dropping shell casings everywhere etc... and yet, you couldnt dig poo holes?????

HEY?

Don't get that, one bit!

Cheers

Chris

Nesti (Mark) · #16 26-03-2010, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Screwdriverone

Hmmm, seems a little strange Mark, that you were allowed to conduct a LIVE FIRE exercise using Iriquois gunships on the farmer's property, probably with THOUSANDS of bullets of various calibre and possibly even rocket launchers dropping shell casings everywhere etc... and yet, you couldnt dig poo holes?????

HEY?

Don't get that, one bit!

Cheers

Chris

Sorry Chris, my fault...it was too condensed. The farmer's property was where we were based and operated the choppers from; the live fire range was actually 30km away. We needed the farmers' property as we needed a safe corridor to fly with live ordinance...so no people!

A little secret. Flora and fauna thrive in live fire ranges. The damage is quite small.

The biggest threat to the farmer's property was from our waste and when the choppers shut down (a valve in the combustion chamber opens and dumps the remaining fuel through an overboard drain pipe; so we placed buckets under the pipes).

Nesti (Mark) · #17 26-03-2010, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogerg

... you'd expect better wouldn't you.

Maybe, but that's not reality.

About three years ago I copped a black eye when I got into a fist fight with two punks trying to tag my car and souvenir the badge off the bonnet. This was in the middle of the day.

We have a business in Leederville...have you seen Leederville on a Wed?

Previously, we had the business property in York St Subiaco, next to PMH. The footy crowd every time would rip saplings out of the ground, throw rubbish over the gate...the list is endless.

Here is no different to anywhere else in Perth.

I'm not overly negative. I just realise that you cannot change anything anymore...so country life has become more appealing.

TrevorW · #18 26-03-2010, 05:51 PM

The decline in society stems from the lack of respect for parents, neighbours, the elderly and police.

Take away punishment for being naughty (in the home, at school and on the streets) leads to disrespect and anarchy

I might be old fashioned but being smacked by my mum, getting the cane at school and the occasional kick in the butt from the local copper never did me any harm

Just last year on the way home from work on the train I had an altercation with some young punk who starts scratching his name on one of the windows, no one else said boo to him or supported me and were where the train guards when you need them etc etc

Nesti (Mark) · #19 26-03-2010, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrevorW

The decline in society stems from the lack of respect for parents, neighbours, the elderly and police.

Take away punishment for being naughty (in the home, at school and on the streets) leads to disrespect and anarchy

I might be old fashioned but being smacked by my mum, getting the cane at school and the occasional kick in the butt from the local copper never did me any harm

Just last year on the way home from work on the train I had an altercation with some young punk who starts scratching his name on one of the windows, no one else said boo to him or supported me and were where the train guards when you need them etc etc

You have hit the nail on the head. I have always said that fear keeps society in check. Fear of being ousted in a wolf pack keeps the individual wolf in check, this is because a single wolf would probably not survive.

If you remove the fear - like you said; a smack, the cane, kick in the butt - then you have actions without consequence. Confidence in that mind-set then builds and before too long, crime.

Why did I do what I was told in the Army? Simple, fear of the repercussions.

casstony · #20 26-03-2010, 06:34 PM

I think having to use fear is an indication that parents/society have failed our young. Provide a child with positive role models and a clear path to employment and the kid will probably do well; a lot of kids don't have either of those things these days. A strong cultural identity and coming of age rituals are also a little lacking in modern society. It's a complex picture.