Quote:
Originally Posted by Metro-One
Well as long a s those you want using it at night respect the park by not trashing it, clean up all their garbage / leave no dangerous items or biohazard waste and are packed up by morning, allowing children and families to e joy the facility during the day, then no problem! The homeless do exactly that here in Japan.
But, if they shit and piss all over it, leave discarded needles and trash, and are unwilling to pack up tents / sleeping areas in the morning, then no. This is the common abuse of the idea that parks are for everyone, because once they are overrun by homeless people with no respect for the park / public place then it becomes a park for no one else.
Although to mitigate such issues if you are willing to supply them with bolt cutters and blankets then I am sure you are also more than happy to help them clean up in the morning, or even better yet, offer to them to stay at your place!
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Thank you for that observation, Metro. When I was in Japan, I really noticed just how clean (and safe) Tokyo was, especially considering its colossal size.
This reflects the Japanese sense of civicism, taught at an early age and passed down through generations of people understanding the necessity of such from living in large numbers at close quarters. Back here, I often feel disappointed at how lax people are about themselves, and especialy their kids, leaving cans, papers and other garbage at the beach, at a musical event, or even a picnic in the park.
A strong civic sense has to be taught; it doesn't just arrive by itself like Santa Clause leaving prezzies in the morning.
Too bad that most people seem so unaware of that. They'll spend all kinds of money on designer clothes for their kids, but don't take the time to explain the necessity of civic reponsibility, even cleaning up after themselves.
Perhaps a solution, or at least mitigating measure, would be to install bright lights to shine on the park at night, making everything and everybody there
highly visible. But even that would no doubt have some people hollering 'no.'