Things I would like to ban Options

[JeffG]

Chewing / Bubble gum

Like they did in Singapore. It defaces the pavements everywhere and if you step in it...

Like I did some time recently. I got into the car this morning and there were great wodges of bubblegum over the driver's floor mat and it was also on the clutch pedal. Nothing worse than your foot sticking to the clutch pedal when you change gear.

Actually, it's not been a good morning, hence the rant. Some drunk had thrown up outside my gate last night - I would like to force it back down his throat. I didn't think I'd need to get the hose out for some time in this weather! Mjnd you, I wouldn't ban alcohol, as I enjoy the odd drink

[Strafin]

I too would like to ban chewing gum. It's horrible and gets stuck everywhere.

[NWNREADER]

Ban the sale or the method of disposal (typically dropped on the ground)?

[On the edge]

Rather than a ban, why not simply a tax on the gum companies to pay for the specialist cleaning equipment the street cleaners need to deal with it? That would essentially keep the freedom of choice and simply tax the clients of the gum company.

The same could be applied to tobacco firms, who have a customer base who don't seem able to properly dispose of 'used' fag butts.

In both cases, surely the bits dumped could actually be recycled? Chewing gum scraped and collected in bulk just needs reflavouring and repacking.

[MontyPython]

In both cases, surely the bits dumped could actually be recycled? Chewing gum scraped and collected in bulk just needs reflavouring and repacking.

Surely it has already been re-flavoured by the inconsiderate dog owners who have allowed their pooches to sh1t on it!

[On the edge]

Surely it has already been re-flavoured by the inconsiderate dog owners who have allowed their pooches to sh1t on it!

Even more sustainable then! No need for additional costly flavouring.

[motormad]

Jeff, if you need a hand getting the gum out of your car, as I know it can be a *****, drop me a PM and I'll come over and sort it out for you.
Regarding drunk people, I fully empathise. I suspect some drunk people threw up in the house I unfortunately have to share with them. So that was pleasant.

[JeffG]

Jeff, if you need a hand getting the gum out of your car, as I know it can be a *****, drop me a PM and I'll come over and sort it out for you.
Regarding drunk people, I fully empathise. I suspect some drunk people threw up in the house I unfortunately have to share with them. So that was pleasant.

Thanks for the offer, but I saw on something about "things you didn't know WD40 was good for" that it was good for getting chewing gum off jeans. I sprayed some on the clutch pedal rubber, and with a cloth it all came off fine. (Actually there wasn't too much on the pedal.) The footwell mat I was able to scrape clean, so all sorted thanks.

[blackdog]

Rather than a ban, why not simply a tax on the gum companies to pay for the specialist cleaning equipment the street cleaners need to deal with it? That would essentially keep the freedom of choice and simply tax the clients of the gum company.

The machinery is only part of the cost of cleaning the stuff up - someone needs to be paid to use it.

On the spot fines for anyone spotted fouling the pavement in this way would be a start - pay for the clean-up and change peoples habits. I was walking down Northbrook St yesterday and noticed the speckled appearance of the block paving - thanks to thousands of chewing gum spots - have WBC or NTC stopped cleaning it up?

[Nothing Much]

Getting rid of stupid folks' spitting habits makes a mess of pavements anyway. The councils seem to give up after a while on
their newly laid faux yorkshire slabs. The pressure sprayers leave even larger marks. Fags do eventually dissolve.
ce

[Strafin]

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/2006/old-news-article-2562
Did this ever happen?

[On the edge]

On the spot fines. Great proposal and would doubtless work, so let's get on with it. Could raise a lot of revenue, more than on street parking. Can you imagine any of our present local politicians proposing that?

[blackdog]

On the spot fines. Great proposal and would doubtless work, so let's get on with it. Could raise a lot of revenue, more than on street parking. Can you imagine any of our present local politicians proposing that?

I would actually hope that it raised very little money - because people would stop fouling the pavements in this manner. Whereas I suspect it wouldn't raise much money because it wouldn't be enforced.

How much power does a district or parish council have to bring in on-the-spot fines? I'm guessing none.

[Biker1]

Is this a general "Things I would like to ban" thread, or just about chewing gum?

Something I would like to ban is the Metro newspaper.
I wonder how much it costs each day to clear up this discarded "free" newspaper.
It creates an unsightly mess in many places, especially on public transport.
Maybe they should impose a "clear up levy" on the producers of this menace.
Or, on second thoughts, educate people to put it in the bin or take it home to dispose of?
Metro readers eh Simon??

[On the edge]

I would actually hope that it raised very little money - because people would stop fouling the pavements in this manner. Whereas I suspect it wouldn't raise much money because it wouldn't be enforced.

How much power does a district or parish council have to bring in on-the-spot fines? I'm guessing none.

You are right of course, but there is no reason why the wardens or PCSOs couldn't be trained in the 'friendly word of advice' technique of Policing that used to work so well. Good Policing actually isn't just a matter of numbers dragged before the beak....

[On the edge]

Is this a general "Things I would like to ban" thread, or just about chewing gum?

Something I would like to ban is the Metro newspaper.
I wonder how much it costs each day to clear up this discarded "free" newspaper.
It creates an unsightly mess in many places, especially on public transport.
Maybe they should impose a "clear up levy" on the producers of this menace.
Or, on second thoughts, educate people to put it in the bin or take it home to dispose of?
Metro readers eh Simon??

Quite agree! And it's not just free newspapers, the coffee everywhere fettish means discarded paper cups in abundance.

[Claude]

In the case of chewing gum / Metro newspapers / discarded coffee cups then the simple answer is to ban littering.

I'd like to ban human rights. I'd start by not allowing people to have children if they can't afford it or even worse, if they use children as a means to an enhanced 'income' and lifestyle.

And I'd punish people who shout & swear in public places (like shops or Northbrook Street) especially when they're in charge of children with prison sentences then death, adopting a 'three strikes' approach.

Crimes such as stealing, burglary, any forms of physical violence - crimes of the uneducated if that's not too sweeping a statement to make - would also follow the same punishment schedule.

[motormad]

In the case of chewing gum / Metro newspapers / discarded coffee cups then the simple answer is to ban littering.

I'd like to ban human rights. I'd start by not allowing people to have children if they can't afford it or even worse, if they use children as a means to an enhanced 'income' and lifestyle.

And I'd punish people who shout & swear in public places (like shops or Northbrook Street) especially when they're in charge of children with prison sentences then death, adopting a 'three strikes' approach.

Crimes such as stealing, burglary, any forms of physical violence - crimes of the uneducated if that's not too sweeping a statement to make - would also follow the same punishment schedule.

I would largely agree with that. Especially the having kids you can't afford crap... that really does piss me off!

Except for the swearing bit. I love swearing. I am trying to swear less though

[Claude]

I would largely agree with that. Especially the having kids you can't afford crap... that really does piss me off!

Except for the swearing bit. I love swearing. I am trying to swear less though

But I bet you don't swear on Northbrook Street at midday on a Saturday at the top of your hoarse-from-smoking-40-a-day voice?

"Kayleigh, Jayden, for f**k's sake shut up, if you don't stop crying I'm gonna f**kin' smack you!"

That kind of thing.

[On the edge]

With kids, it isn't the initial purchase price that's the problem, just the cost of day to day maintenance.