muskratful1234 t1_j84oy66 wrote
Reply to comment by ankylosaurus_tail in California city closes canyon to visitors to avert "poppy apocalypse" by pika_pie
All of our ecosystems in CA are vulnerable and the wildflowers are an important part of the ecosystem. This closure is designed to keep people like you out.
ankylosaurus_tail t1_j8504it wrote
Yeah, California is a really special place...y'all have such an inflated sense of self. Respecting flowers because the government officially designated them special is lame--if you don't respect the intrinsic value of nature, you're missing the point. I work in forests professionally, as a biologist. I'm quite sure I spend more time in nature than you.
muskratful1234 t1_j851qkm wrote
We respect the flowers because they are an important part of our ecosystem. It has nothing to do with them being the state flower. Again, I'm very glad for closures like this which keep people like you out who have no business being there.
Edit to add: what the fuck kind of biologist doesn't think protecting local ecosystems is important? I'm calling bullshit on that.
ankylosaurus_tail t1_j8531lu wrote
You're totally missing the point--I think telling people to respect them because "they are the state flower" is a stupid argument and the wrong ethical position to promote. I want people to respect nature more, and appreciate it for it's own value and beauty, not just because the government likes this flower.
And I think respect and appreciation for nature start with having actual experiences with nature. We should be creating more opportunity and encouraging people to spend time in nature, especially around amazing phenomena, that they'll remember for the rest of their lives. The only reason to prevent people from experiencing nature is to protect fragile, rare ecosystems, and fields of California poppies are neither rare or fragile, they're just beautiful.
The harm here is to people and infrastructure--dealing with the people who want to see the flowers is a pain in the ass, but the community should put up with that. And the infrastructure should be improved to give people more responsible ways to experience the flowers--build boardwalks and viewing platforms, create a bussing system to get people there, etc. etc. etc.
Instead, a bunch of curmudgeons are just cutting off people's access to nature, so they don't have to put up with the hassle. That's lame and I do not believe that it's sincerely motivated by genuine respect for nature. It's just NIMBY's who don't want to put up with tourists. Fuck that. Let people see nature, help them do it, and make the experience better for all.
muskratful1234 t1_j859p95 wrote
Like I already mentioned more than once, it has nothing to do with them being a state flower. Seems like something a biologist should understand.
ankylosaurus_tail t1_j85aggg wrote
That's exactly what you said though.
-ELYSIANFEELS >The California Poppy is our state flower.
-muskratful1234 >I know. Which is why they are all assholes for not respecting them.
muskratful1234 t1_j85ankj wrote
So? The local government didn't put the closure in place because they are the state flower. I just believe that's one more reason to respect them.
ankylosaurus_tail t1_j85b3nu wrote
The local government put the closure in place because they are NIMBY's who don't want to deal with hassles from people who want to experience nature. They should have spent the last four years (since the last super bloom, when they had issues with traffic) coming up with plans to accommodate people. Instead they are just cutting off access to nature. And they are cynically saying it's about protecting nature, but that's insincere bullshit. It's about not having tourists disrupt their town. If the ecological impact was the concern, there are many reasonable ways to address that--and providing responsible access to nature should be the goal, not eliminating the hassles.
muskratful1234 t1_j85bwpd wrote
I'm assuming you've never tried to drive through the area when the blooms are going on. I have, many times. It makes a Southern CA freeway which is already bad on a normal day, an absolute nightmare. It is literally right next to a major freeway. It's not off in the backcountry somewhere where people who actually hike and care about nature are the only ones who bother going. It's a bunch of assholes who just want to get one for the 'gram. Leaving trash and dirty diapers on the side of the road when they leave. Trampling the flowers which are a food source for our pollinators. So yeah, as a local, I don't want these disrespectful fucks around.
ankylosaurus_tail t1_j87r5wq wrote
California poppies actually aren't a food source for pollinators--they make a lot of pollen, but almost no nectar. They take advantage of pollinators, but don't feed them.
Sorry people who want to experience nature are a hassle for you though.
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