I heartily recommend taking boxing classes or some other practical martial art (Muay Thai, judo, BJJ etc.) Not only will you feel better in your body, after about six months you won't be afraid to confront the litter louts and motorised bullies. There's no better feeling than seeing a certain type of man bluster out of his Mercedes, realise you'll beat him in a fight, and get sheepishly back in.
I'd prefer to live in a city where there's no call for physicality, but it's that's obviously no longer the world we live in.
Haha yeah, everything alright over here! It's not about being a vigilante or even directly confronting people, it's just having the confidence to call people out for shitty behaviour, knowing you can defend yourself if necessary (and it very rarely comes to that). For instance, if I see someone dropping litter, I'll generally pick it up and loudly say something like "I'll clear up for you, shall I?"
The impotence you describe is a wretched feeling, but you can overcome it with a few months of training.
I was, honest to god, thinking about starting in my block, in Ixelles, by putting non-passive-aggressive flyers in everybody’s mailbox and ask them to be mindful (I guess) about when to put the trash out, and to pick after their dogs and perhaps suggest having a neighbourhood bbq. The public space was never more horrific than the first week of January. I was thinking of writing it in French, Dutch and English (in that order) as not to step in anybody’s toes. What do you think, would this work?
A large proportion of the trash problem in Brussels is due to the antiquated trash collection system and the fact that they aren't enough bins in town. Of course, this wouldn't solve the smoker's cigarette butt problem, but in terms of volume, it would solve a lot. I'm honestly not able to complain against people putting their trash out a couple days early, because the system is a joke and complying with it impossible.
But that's the thing I was trying to highlight, yes there is a rubbish collection problem, but the rest of it is just basic littering and incivility. For people in big apartment buildings I have some sympathy with keeping bin bags in your apartment, but on a residential street like ours, where the pick up times are very clear, and have been for a long time, it's not hard to put your bins out when it's the right day, and take them back in if you realise you've made a mistake. Impossible it isn't (imv)
A very well written piece Eoghan. What do you do? Indeed. Yesterday, I was walking to the office on Rue de la Loi and a well dressed gentleman gobbed on the pavement right in front of me. Classy!
I heartily recommend taking boxing classes or some other practical martial art (Muay Thai, judo, BJJ etc.) Not only will you feel better in your body, after about six months you won't be afraid to confront the litter louts and motorised bullies. There's no better feeling than seeing a certain type of man bluster out of his Mercedes, realise you'll beat him in a fight, and get sheepishly back in.
I'd prefer to live in a city where there's no call for physicality, but it's that's obviously no longer the world we live in.
That escalated quickly...everything alright Batman? I mean, Sam. ;)
Haha yeah, everything alright over here! It's not about being a vigilante or even directly confronting people, it's just having the confidence to call people out for shitty behaviour, knowing you can defend yourself if necessary (and it very rarely comes to that). For instance, if I see someone dropping litter, I'll generally pick it up and loudly say something like "I'll clear up for you, shall I?"
The impotence you describe is a wretched feeling, but you can overcome it with a few months of training.
I was, honest to god, thinking about starting in my block, in Ixelles, by putting non-passive-aggressive flyers in everybody’s mailbox and ask them to be mindful (I guess) about when to put the trash out, and to pick after their dogs and perhaps suggest having a neighbourhood bbq. The public space was never more horrific than the first week of January. I was thinking of writing it in French, Dutch and English (in that order) as not to step in anybody’s toes. What do you think, would this work?
I think that's one way to start, and was thinking of something similar for the park down the road from us
A large proportion of the trash problem in Brussels is due to the antiquated trash collection system and the fact that they aren't enough bins in town. Of course, this wouldn't solve the smoker's cigarette butt problem, but in terms of volume, it would solve a lot. I'm honestly not able to complain against people putting their trash out a couple days early, because the system is a joke and complying with it impossible.
But that's the thing I was trying to highlight, yes there is a rubbish collection problem, but the rest of it is just basic littering and incivility. For people in big apartment buildings I have some sympathy with keeping bin bags in your apartment, but on a residential street like ours, where the pick up times are very clear, and have been for a long time, it's not hard to put your bins out when it's the right day, and take them back in if you realise you've made a mistake. Impossible it isn't (imv)
Too many people don't give a fuck. Luckily not all people. How can we make them give a fuck about our shared public space ?
How do we do that, though? Feels like a mammoth task.
A very well written piece Eoghan. What do you do? Indeed. Yesterday, I was walking to the office on Rue de la Loi and a well dressed gentleman gobbed on the pavement right in front of me. Classy!
It is not just a Brussels problem. Have you seen London or Dublin lately?
Not to sound like a conspiracy nut, but I feel like there was a step change in public civility since the pandemic. Grist for a future newsletter entry
There might be something to that but I would say inequality has a major role
Oh absolutely that's a big part of it too