While I hate eco-snobs, the scene in which the kids are told to hush in the face of people shampooing in a stream made me sad. The kids had a legitimate point, and it feels that the reason to "let them be" was not out of a libertarian ideal but a fear of making a scene. I know because I go through it, too. It used to be a little voice inside of me, and now it is the little voice that are my kids. This reasons, based on a fear of making waves, is what fuels everything bad in our world.

This fear is what allows parents to hit their kids in the supermarket (it's just a small slap), spread racism (it's just a joke), or ruin the environment (I need an SUV).

The "quality of life" campaign in NYCity tackled those small crimes, and the entire city cleaned up. Perhaps we should empower our children to confront the wrongs we teach them so that they can save the world we seem unwilling to save for them.

So getting your ass kicked in front of your kids teaches them to save the world? Or at least told off and threatened. If this is your plan - you better take karate or something, because you can plan on having lots of angry confrontations.

How about we teach kids to make the right decisions for themselves and not train them to be holier than thou hypocrits who think that they and their beliefs are superior than those around them...

Calling someone out for the type of behavior mentioned above does not in any way make one a holier than thou hypocrite – unless you practice that type of behavior as well.

I have zero problem telling someone, to their face, that they are being an asshole, when they are, in fact, being an asshole. To date, I’ve yet to receive an ass kicking. This could of course be attributable to my size, 6’2 220 pounds, but then again, maybe not. I’ve called out plenty of men more intimidating than myself without incident. Most folks simply fold in the face of public humiliation.

Many, if not most of the unconscionable crimes committed against humanity were allowed to continue because folks were simply to meek to raise their voices – sort of like a herd of frightened wildebeests that allow a handful of lions to menace a herd of thousands.

I'm not sure that you can compare "the unconcionable crimes committed against humanity" to a family bathing in a river.

That might be a bit much.

If you go around telling other people how to live their lives - it does make you holier-than-thou-ish. You're right though - it doesn't make them a hypocrit, although, it doesn't hurt.

I think there is a difference between being an asshole and driving a SUV, or discplining your children. (Being racist probably does make you an asshole.)

We're not talking about crimes against humanity here - we're talking about criticizing people for the choices they make for themselves. While we're on the subject - crimes against humanity start by people thinking that they are superior than others, or that their beliefs are the only valid point of view.

I'd be curious to hear what circumstances you've called people out on to see if we're comparing the same types of situations.

I'm on Evil Robot's side on this one. Funny because I had one of those experiences this morning walking into a Dunkin Donuts. An old man in a pickup took his last drag on a cig and tossed it on the sidewalk. In my head I thought of saying something like "Hey, the garbage can is literally 3 feet away." I didn't though - I'm not really the kind of guy who would anyway.

In college I had an aquantaince who would though. I remeber him busting some guys balls over the exact same thing 15 yrs ago. To this day I think about it and I don't like it. Why did he do it - to save the planet or get a little power trip. I've always felt it was for the power trip.

If Mr. "Idealism" wants to save the world one shampooing camper at a time he's got every right. But I think he's doing it for the rush of being in righteous power and control. And no doubt he does it even more so because he thinks his size protects him. If that fat ass came up to me bitching about my shampoo I wouldn't kick his ass. I'd probably tell him to mind his own fuckin business and ignore him.

Would you speak up if someone was pissing in your pool? I'm guessing you would. How is that so different from someone abusing the environment we all live in and are a part of? At what point would you speak up? For example, is it ok for medical waste to be dumped into the ocean? Would you consider those who put a stop to such behavior self righteous assholes?

Throwing the cigarette on the ground, to use your example, is not unlike me tossing my empty wrappers on the front seat of his truck.

I do not going around pointing out every infraction, but, if someone is doing something so plainly and nakedly selfish, I will let them know it. I'm a live and let live sort of fella, just don't piss in the collective pool, and we'll get along just fine.

So much for civic duty.

Fat ass - that's funny.

Yeah, I'd probably tell him to have a cheeseburger and a smile, and shut the f__k up...

No, seriously though, I agree with all of the points here on both "sides" of this thing. I totally get why you would go up to someone and let them know how you feel. I also understand the idea of people being somewhat uncomfortable in coming across as having some kind of moral superiority complex.

Honestly, in the case of the river bathers, I think the prudent thing was to keep quiet. In other cases though, it is entirely appropriate to speak up.

"It may be that the soap the other family was using was a natural, bio-friendly variety, like Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap."

Or it could be the final straw that leads to an algae bloom that chokes the life from a pond downstream.

Jnickerson:

I will let you "pee" in my pool only because you thought it was funny that I called you a fat-ass. However, we didn't open the pool this year (out of town all summer). The water is stale and brown already.