Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Why don't people do more to help society?

174 replies

Calmnesspersonified · 21/01/2023 15:13

I just went for a walk and it got me thinking about why people don't do more to help society. It's been raging on my local community facebook groups about why the paths aren't gritted (it's been really icy here) but there's no way that the council can do even a tiny percentage of all of them.

I grit my estate every time it's icy and don't understand why more people don't do the same. If everyone just adopted their street and made sure it was gritted in the ice and kept free of litter a huge proportion of the country would be litter free and navigable in the ice. I know that some couldn't get involved e.g. the elderly, people working crazy hours, some disabilities etc but millions more could.

Even if there's no nearby grit bin, a bag of grit doesn't cost a fortune and many people can afford a few pounds (I'm well aware some can't and that's understandable). Litter pickers can be as cheap as £2 and are often available for free from town councils. Sacks often are too.

It doesn't even have to take more than a few minutes. It took about 3 minutes to grit my road this morning. I went to the dentist on Monday and got there 15 minutes early. I picked up half a sack of rubbish outside while I waited (instead of playing on my phone like everyone else in the waiting room).

There's so many ways to help. Listen to readers at a local school, offer to take your neighbours kids/dog for a walk to give them an hour free, volunteer to go into a care home to talk to someone who doesn't get visitors, slip a fiver through the letter box of someone you know is struggling, give a fiver to the food bank, litter pick, grit your road etc. Why don't people do more. People say they don't have time but so many spend hours on their phone or watching TV.

I'm certainly no bloody angel but I couldn't sit back and do nothing to help my town. Why don't people do more?

OP posts:
lightand · 21/01/2023 15:30

And what volunteer work is the most important?
I volunteer at a church and at a district level.

It could be argued that church work is even more important? Or not?!

Original poster
Calmnesspersonified · 21/01/2023 15:31

strumpert · 21/01/2023 15:29

No. I don't.

I'm also disabled. But even if I wasn't I don't have time to pick up litter in my street.

I already pick litter out of my front drive

There is no grit bin in my street. Where would the grit be stored? How would I be expected to get the grit? Where from?

Show quote history

It can be sorted in a bag on your door step, in a back garden, in a garage, in a laundry room, behind a garden wall. Anywhere really.

OP posts:
strumpert · 21/01/2023 15:31

I volunteer my expertise and knowledge for 3 charities.

I think I do my bit by doing that.

lightand · 21/01/2023 15:31

I do take your point by the way.

But people have multiple reasons for doing and not doing things.

Original poster
Calmnesspersonified · 21/01/2023 15:32

lightand · 21/01/2023 15:30

And what volunteer work is the most important?
I volunteer at a church and at a district level.

It could be argued that church work is even more important? Or not?!

I didn't say any volunteer work is any more important than any other. They're all great and vast majority make a difference so thank you.

OP posts:
MrsSchrute · 21/01/2023 15:32

Because most people care about themselves and are unwilling to put themselves out very much for others. Which is why you see all the posts about elderly parents not being your problem, or needy neighbours, or how anyone asking anyone for anything is a CF. It's also why so many people on Mumsnet genuinely have no one to ask for help. People put themselves before society, and society is poorer because of it. PP above genuinely wouldn't give three minutes to contribute to making her immediate environment better because it wouldn't directly help her.

Original poster
Calmnesspersonified · 21/01/2023 15:32

strumpert · 21/01/2023 15:31

I volunteer my expertise and knowledge for 3 charities.

I think I do my bit by doing that.

Thank you.

OP posts:
strumpert · 21/01/2023 15:32

It can be sorted in a bag on your door step, in a back garden, in a garage, in a laundry room, behind a garden wall. Anywhere really.

How do I get the grit to my door step (won't I fall over it?), into my back garden etc?

There is no council grit bin here.

Valid8me · 21/01/2023 15:34

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

SlurpSlooChortle · 21/01/2023 15:34

I honestly didn't know the grit bins could be used by anyone! Confused
Off to Google this now!

JassyRadlett · 21/01/2023 15:34

The litter picking is so dispiriting and depressing. We do it often, we're near a park and a green space and the kids are really conscious of it.

But so many people are such shits, just drop full bags of rubbish and leave takeaway containers lying around and chuck all kinds of crap out of their cars, and it's disgusting and neverending and has the sum result of making me think 'fuck everyone, they're all shits, what's the point of bothering.'

And yes we still do it, because despite ample evidence to the contrary the kids are somehow convinced they're actually making a difference.

LunaTheCat · 21/01/2023 15:34

OP you just sound lovely… the world needs more of you.
We live in a very individualist world.

strumpert · 21/01/2023 15:35

I am off today (coz weekend). I have spent 4 hours on volunteering activities for one of the charities. I use my own electric and printer for that and my hard earned knowledge that I have had to pay for.

Isn't that enough?

I'm disabled. There is no way I have capability for even 3 minutes of gritting the road. It wouldn't be 3 minutes. I'd have to drive to the council grit place which I've no idea where it is, but at least 10 miles, physically shovel grit (into what? I don't have strong plastic bags), get it into the car, drive home costing me money in petrol, get it out of the car and find somewhere to store it.

It isn't just 3 minutes

Original poster
Calmnesspersonified · 21/01/2023 15:36

LunaTheCat · 21/01/2023 15:34

OP you just sound lovely… the world needs more of you.
We live in a very individualist world.

Thank you.

OP posts:
greenspaces4peace · 21/01/2023 15:36

Maybe not just grit but community spirit or neighborhood pride. Partially the lack of involvement is money, people are exhausted physically and mentally trying to keep their heads above water.
people who are not familiar with the concept don’t understand it.
my dh and I do our bit.

Babyroobs · 21/01/2023 15:36

I do what I can but it's not a lot because I work full time and have a biggish family who I still do quite a bit for as ds's work long hours with a lot of travel. I also work for a charity, not well paid and I frequently do extra unpaid hours which benefits older people. I have walked my elderly client's dogs in my lunchbreak when they have been unable to but that's more that I can't bear the though of a dog never going out ! My village has litter picking groups who clean up the local country park and riverbank. I used to help but actually resent picking up other slobs litter.

Heatherjayne1972 · 21/01/2023 15:36

What grit bins -there’s non here?
besides if I do a poor job of gritting because I’m busy etc
And someone slips there’s a risk of being sued
so no. I pay my council tax so they can do it - why would I pay the council and then do their job for free?

(same with mowing the grass verge outside my house)

Original poster
Calmnesspersonified · 21/01/2023 15:37

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

And you sound an utter delight and perhaps need to delve into why you laugh at people volunteering. Wow!

OP posts:
strumpert · 21/01/2023 15:38

I also spend time every week clearing litter from my own front garden and driveway and the pavement in front of my house.

I get the guy who cuts my grass to do it in the summer but I have to do it in the winter

And when I do it it takes me 15/20 minutes. Not 3.

So where would I get an extra 15/20 minutes every day plus probably 90 minutes to go and get the grit plus the 20 to spread it and make sure it didn't damage my floors or home.

I'd rather use my skills experience and knowledge to benefit society in other ways.

Original poster
Calmnesspersonified · 21/01/2023 15:38

Heatherjayne1972 · 21/01/2023 15:36

What grit bins -there’s non here?
besides if I do a poor job of gritting because I’m busy etc
And someone slips there’s a risk of being sued
so no. I pay my council tax so they can do it - why would I pay the council and then do their job for free?

(same with mowing the grass verge outside my house)

How can the council possibly do it all?

OP posts:
WashableVelvet · 21/01/2023 15:38

I work full time: most of it for a salary, some of it voluntary, but I don’t see that the voluntary bit makes me more virtuous or better for society than anyone who works more for pay and less on a voluntary basis, or just works less overall. I have two small kids. And after all that I’m jolly well going on my phone or staring into space or otherwise wasting time and you won’t catch me gritting 😂

Thing is, down time matters.

BoadiceaOverall · 21/01/2023 15:38

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Proving the OP's point beautifully there... 🙄

What exactly do you find amusing about someone trying to do society a good turn?

Original poster
Calmnesspersonified · 21/01/2023 15:39

strumpert · 21/01/2023 15:38

I also spend time every week clearing litter from my own front garden and driveway and the pavement in front of my house.

I get the guy who cuts my grass to do it in the summer but I have to do it in the winter

And when I do it it takes me 15/20 minutes. Not 3.

So where would I get an extra 15/20 minutes every day plus probably 90 minutes to go and get the grit plus the 20 to spread it and make sure it didn't damage my floors or home.

I'd rather use my skills experience and knowledge to benefit society in other ways.

Who said it needs to be everyday?

OP posts:
NocturnalClocks · 21/01/2023 15:40

We pay a lot of Council tax and it is meant to fund Councils maintaining public areas. They seem to manage to do so in many other countries, even many that are much less wealthy than the UK. The more the public take on caring responsibilities/ maintain roads and verges on the Council's behalf for free etc, the less they will do themselves. If they want the public to take on some of their responsibilities then they should reduce their charges.

strumpert · 21/01/2023 15:40

So instead of having the afternoon off today I'd be having to rush to the council depot (if that's where the grit is - I have no idea) and load my car up.

Having spent the morning doing my bit in other ways for society I'd have to do that too.

And I'd not get a weekend. At all.

When would I get a break?