Why are people not more eco conscious here (Tampa, Orlando: credit, upkeep)

[BucFan]

My community is over 1000 homes. Each of them puts out a blue recycle bin on Saturdays. This indicates to me that the household is recycling. The neighboring subvisions (12,000 population) likewise have blue bins out on Saturdays. Does this count against this over generalization that we're not eco-friendly? I hope so.

Pay attention to how sacred and protected the manatee, sand hill cranes, alligators, and other wild life are here in the state - not eco-friendly?

I've not seen where second-hand smoke taken outside of buildings is producing such harmful effects on the general population. I think second hand smoke (outside) has a minuscule effect. I'd guess a single passenger jet's exhaust traveling over the state does more harm.

We have plenty of healthy, athletic-minded individuals. Go out to Bayshore BLVD during the day.

I did last month and participated in a run with tens of thousands of my like-minded runners....

[JeffSanDimas]

OP sounds like a pretentious fool.

Maybe Florida doesn't want to be Portland or Seattle, and if the residents like it that way it's not your place.


I live in Cali, I drive a gas guzzler, I litter, I smoke and I'm not complying with drought regulations.

Did that make you cry?


Guess what? Any real problems from global warming will happen after the children of my kids are old, idgaf

[housingcrashsurvivor]

I definitely noticed much more smoking here than in south Florida where most Northeasterners probably relocate (I'd have to recheck those migration stats, haven't looked in a while).

This is from 2011
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/01/03/30-cities-with-worst-smoking-problems-from-memphis-to-honolulu.html
#19, Tampa, Florida
Smokers: 19.7%
Cigarettes per day: 14.9
Tried to quit with gum: 26.5%
Tried to quit with patch: 31.5%
Tried to quit with support program: 7.7%

Jax was the only other one from Florida on that list.

And here's from 2014 (oh look, what a surprise, of the top 10 smoker cities, there's only 1 from the northeast and even that's from a good ol' boys area.)

Smoking Rate Metro Area Map - Business Insider
Here are the ten cities with the highest concentration of smokers:


And here are the ten cities with the lowest concentration of smokers. Look, California, what more surprise.



Oh look, the majority of the people killing themselves with tobaccee are in the Midwest and the South. Yet even more surprise! All those good ol' boys with their nasty habits. They probably bring them to Tampa with them when they relocate here to look for a handout.









I'll bet if I checked the stats we'd find that bigots are dying off at about the same rate as the smokers such than when the last bigot dies, the air will truly clear.

[SeaSpur]

Let's see:

- You are generalizing an whole area's population and living habits from a Starbucks experience where one person was smoking. If I go to Portland right now and find one person smoking near any of the hundreds of Starbucks, your argument is invalid.

- People have vehicles that fit their lifestyle and everyone can't afford to go out and buy the newest "green" vehicle. I drive a full size pickup truck because it fits my lifestyle.

How can you begin to preach about the topic of being environmentally friendly when you surely have a lot of thought processes in your own brain to evaluate? My 8 year old nephew could have reasoned better than this.

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by BucFan

Irritates me to see threads generalizing about an entire population based on a few observations.

How true.

It's difficult not to suggest that if the OP doesn't care for the environment or residents, they could always move back to MN or to Portland.

I used to do business in Portland when it was just beginning to become the hipster capital of the US. A rather pretentious bunch of snobby people, at least the ones I encountered in the downtown area where I often stayed. There were a number of cafes' and restaurants that I frequented, and I used to find it very entertaining to people watch.

Now if I wanted to generalize and make sweeping claims about everyone in Portland being that way, I would be totally off base, as many of the people I worked with there were very nice, pretty average folks.

RM

[HWTechGuy]

I am a borderline-militant anti-smoker (for personal reasons), so I tend to notice this kind of thing more than others. Thus far, I've noticed smokers are less obnoxious here than where I lived previously.

[ropper111]

Originally Posted by dothetwist

Smoking is banned indoors at restaurants in FL; allowed on patios/open areas. Restaurants can ban it outdoors at their option. At bars where less than 10% of sales are for food, indoor smoking is allowed at the owner's discretion.

So, to the OP: were you indoors or outdoors and was it really a 'cafe' or was it a bar that does not sell at least a modicum of food????

FYI, here in Gulfport, Peg's Cantina is totally smoke-free including its lovely garden patio. Pia's Trattoria is smoke-free on its large outdoor patio, though it sets up a few smoker's tables on the street, far removed from the patio.

thanks for those suggestions!

[housingcrashsurvivor]

Originally Posted by PhotoProIP

Welcome to the "negative/naysayers" club!

Florida/Tampa is dumping ground from many northern states but these people don't bring the "good" with them here, just their obnoxious habits get transplanted!

following from healthdata.org






Seems southerners don't just smoke much more, but also they're fat.

How obnoxious!

[mary54mi]

One consideration is that perhaps people here are more into practicing their liberty than "up north." Liberties such as driving the car they can afford, smoking(not a smoker but come on who owns the air outside???) not wearing a helmet when biking(motor or bike)
Additionally it is hot here there are different issues with garbage that involve bugs, mold and vermin etc...

[stpeteguy]

Originally Posted by ropper111

So I went to a really nice cafe yesterday (I won't say name) and it reminded me of portland or. I mean that's a great thing. But sadly, there was smoking going on. I also notice that even at starbucks, people try to challenge the 25 ft smoking rule. Why? Smoking is not eco conscious first of all. Why are people in Tampa so uninterested in being healthy and environmentally friendly?

You drive around and people have these very obnoxious cars that filthy our environment. Is that a southern thing? Trust me, it's much cooler to be eco friendly and healthy. Great cities are built on that. I just moved from MN and the twin cities is awesome and this is a big reason. Biking is the main form of transportation (also in portland).

Just some thoughts about this and hope to hear more from others.

Cause I just don't care about being eco-conscious. Sorry.