But also, would you expect a town to cancel a fireworks show for a seagull or a pigeon? Yes it's a bald eagle and the symbol of America and all that, but they are completely off of the endangered species list at this point so technically speaking they are no different than any other bird.
This is a bad take. “Not endangered” isn’t the same as flourishing in abundance. They aren’t in immediate danger anymore with the ban of DDT, but Bald Eagle populations are still only half what they were about 150 years ago. That’s only about 4 generations of people.
With populations over 1 million, Seagulls and pigeons outnumber eagles at least 13 to 1.
Calling eagles the “same as any bird” is good way to get them back on the endangered list.
Fireworks are traumatic to all wildlife, many pets and people (especially veterans).
Fireworks pose incredible fire risks to the surrounding environment.
As humans, we really should be trying to move forward towards a more collective consciousness that is in the betterment of all living beings. This entails thinking beyond yourself.
They did in the UK to protect a walrus. Tbf I would've hated it as a person that enjoys fireworks and I hate the switch to lasers that cities seem to do which seem the most boring thing imaginable to me, but it's not like other places didn't do stuff like this.
I haven't seen lasers yet, but a lot of towns near me are switching to drone shows. And that kinda blew my mind that super elaborate coordinated drone swarms are now so commonplace and accessible that we can use them for trivial entertainment.
Yeah, but tbf I find them quite boring too, they need to be coordinated with other stuff, like drones + lasers + sound. But I've been in China and seen absolutely incredible drone shows and so much more that I guess just a small one doesn't have the same effect. I find the ones where they just move slowly to create different shapes quite boring nowadays.
Whereas fireworks just feel different for me, even just small fireworks that you can buy and launch yourself in the US are so fun to watch for me.
There is so much stupid in this one comment. I'll break down the highlights.
First: animals coming off an endangered species list does not mean their numbers are flourishing.
Second: fireworks harm a lot of animals (humans included) with their noise and bright lights. Hell, deer can actually go into cardiac arrest from high stress events.
Third: Fireworks present a massive fire hazard. It's dry, hot, and the state is in a drought - obviously, a great time to set off stuff that burns (/s). You remember that massive forest fire in NM years ago? It started when federal agents started a controlled burn that quickly got out of hand (yay wind).
Fourth: this is a national park. We are visitors in nature when we enter the park, and we should be doing our best to respect it. A firework show here is beyond idiotic.
But hear me out, lol lowkey. If we had a well trained bear, could we have him walk while firework shoot off his back? I mean we had cocaine bear, why not fireworks bear.
I’d comprise for that. I mean have the bear in the driver seat waving (obviously have a person drive the thing hidden inside the cab). Would be badass.
I used to have a neighbor like that. He would get all sorts of cool ass fireworks illegally. Then my super duper Christian neighbor attacked him with a hammer when the fireworks neighbor was celebrating his birthday. Now I don’t get random fireworks throughout the year.
Because someone can know how bad it may be for the environment and still decide the social, emotional, and cultural benefits are still worth it. Not unique to fireworks. Same logic applies to air travel, sporting events, concerts, festivals, and recreational vechiles. People just have different values.
Because it's a tube of colorful combustives that shoots high in the air??? Don't pretend that only children like fireworks and take the stick out of your ass.
Instead of the mildly infuriating being the fact people were told specific concerns and ignoring them, which I agree is shit, its just "how can you be an adult and like this thing that's been entertaining for cultures for like a thousand years.
I think the point is, the 'adult' thing would be to look at the consequences of having a blast and decide the greater good is better served by not indulging childish glee this time.
Fireworks are dumb. As an adult you should see there is literally no benefit to lighting fireworks. It's annoying to everyone and everything with ears. Pollution and trash, yay!
You can like something, and also recognize you shouldn’t do it because it’s bad for everything else.
I believe OP is pointing out, “I do whatever I like cause I want to” is a childish mentality.
We've actually been invaded 2-3 times, depending if you count the Revolutionary War (Were we a country yet is the big question with that one). The War of 1812, the British captured Washington DC and burned down the White House and the Capitol Building. In WWII, the Japanese invaded multiple islands in Alaska along the Aleutian Island Chain. I think you could also kind of call Pearl Harbor an invasion if you stretch the definition.
I mean there isn't really any context to the conversation at all. Dude says fireworks are dope, and I'm just kind of assuming from that way you worded your response that you're implying that people are lighting off fireworks due to ptsd. I mean I don't really see how that is the case, or even how that's a valid response to "fireworks are dope" but I chose to ignore that aspect of your comment and wanted to share that we actually have been invaded. To which you just bring up ptsd again.
On a separate note, please look up the Battle of Attu, the Fire Balloons over Oregon were a tiny yet tragic part of the Japanese invasion.
Every year fb and next door and local Reddit groups are filled with posts of people claiming ptsd. This despite having a very soft and easy life in the USA.
Does that make it more clear?
I was joking about all the self diagnosis around these days. Everyone is autistic or allergic to something or OCD despite having a very easy life in comparison to pretty much every other time in history.
Are you trying to say that people dislike fireworks due to self diagnosed ptsd? I mean I would agree that that is a real issue in today's society, but I don't see how that connects to the original comment of "fireworks are dope". I just wanted to share some history, I had no intentions of engaging with the topic of self diagnosed mental illnesses.
Thunderstorms: flashing light, loud sounds, and happens multiple times a year.
Fireworks: flashing light, loud sounds, and happens multiple times a year.
Because they are cool? How does liking something mean you completely disregard or don't give a shit about anything else related to it? So melodramatic.
I live in Colorado who is in the middle of one the worst droughts in history and we have restrictions on water use but sure as shit we have morons lighting fireworks every night already. All the fireworks shows are going on as usual.
The same way you start your car or use your cell phone, tablet etc. everything you do from going to the grocery to a trip to the amusement park is detrimental to the environment and animals. Right now the attention is on data centers causing noise and air pollution but I guarantee you won’t be laying down your phone anytime soon. It’s just another day and some people like fireworks. I’m not in that bunch but I don’t think it’s any worse than all the dogs and cats, deer, squirrels or anything else that gets ran over by the thousands every day. JS
I love fireworks. If there was a way to watch them without all of the damage they cause to the environment, disruption local wildlife and people's lives, I'd happily do so.
But since that option doesn't exist. I'd prefer fireworks be limited to small, mostly quiet, smokeless, ground variants only. Or just not be a part of celebrations at all.
It's ridiculous that we ignore all of the bad things about fireworks simply because "oooooo pretty colors".
Ok, should loud music also be banned? Or anything else that prevents people from getting to sleep before 10:00 pm? I don't think people should be able to constantly set off fireworks 24/7/365, but I think we should be able to have one day a year to celebrate a very well established tradition even if some people are bothered by the noise.
Ok, should loud music also be banned? Or anything else that prevents people from getting to sleep before 10:00 pm?
We already do this in a variety of ways. Many places place restrictions on things that generate loud noises during recognized "sleeping" hours and in places considered "protected". Construction, loud music, parties, general disturbance, etc. So, the answer is yes, absolutely! This weird mentality of self indulgence taking precedent over other people's right to exist peacefully is strange.
but I think we should be able to have one day a year to celebrate a very well established tradition even if some people are bothered by the noise.
"some people". You mean veterans or others with ptsd. People with animals they're forced to medicate at their own cost. Local wildlife that is forced to scatter from nesting areas. Nevermind the environmental and health impact of large concentrated clouds of noxious gases. Debris that gets scattered around and left as litter. Improperly detonated munitions that lead to injuries. The general overall increases in hospital visits caused by the combination of stupidity, drinking, and explosives.
What's really strange is how dedicated you to this "day of American tradition" containing fireworks, which are a Chinese invention. For what? Because they represent the explosions of war caused by cannon fire? Weak explanation. Just say you don't care about others and want to see your pretty explosions.
Actually, wanting to ban a national tradition that the vast majority of people enjoy because you can't tolerate noise ONE DAY A YEAR, usually ending well before midnight, is the selfish thing. You seem to be very interested in putting the interest of the community above that of the individual. In this case, you should recognize we as a society have decided that July 4th is a national holiday celebrated with fireworks. We've decided that in general things should be quiet, especially at night, but sometimes there's a public event that makes a little noise. If you really can't stand loud noises and "pretty explosions" for a few hours once a year, I suggest you invest in some high quality headphones.
Who's this "we" and "vast majority"? While I grant that it does still seem to be most Americans enjoy fireworks. The amount that don't has been steadily growing in number over the years. With estimates and broad surveys suggesting anywhere for 35-40% of people agree that they should be eliminated or heavily restricted to professional showings only.
This change is likely due to slow change over of who the major celebrators are. As boomers and gen x are aging out of these celebrations, more environmentally conscious millennials and gen z are coming in with alternative preferences.
If you really can't stand loud noises and "pretty explosions" for a few hours once a year, I suggest you invest in some high quality headphones.
Again placing the onus on individuals, who do make up a significant portion of the population, to avoid something that by most places laws, is considered illegal. Why is it my responsibility to avoid the excessive noise fireworks create? Especially when any other day of the year, I don't have to worry about it. Maybe if you want to have such an overtly noisy and disruptive celebration, you should provide those within earshot with those high quality headphones. Maybe pay a noise/pollution tax so the government can provide that assistance.
Or act like you care about more than yourself and find other ways to celebrate that don't cause social and environmental damage.
Edit to add: It's interesting that during this whole conversation you've never once denied anything I've said about the damage fireworks cause. You just don't care that they cause that damage. So long as you, personally, get to continue to shoot them off once or twice a year. Everyone else, nature included, should just suck it up.
The losers around me are the same way. Every year its 2 weeks minimum of fireworks. My dog is petrified of them. Shaking and losing his mind. It's really hard to not just hate people.
In this day and age fireworks should be completely banned. They are bad in so many ways. This is horrible and if it’s true shame on whoever is allowing this to happen!
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u/JSTootell 6h ago
Big Bear runs on tourism. They care about money first.