In order to get a better look at who is truly impacted by my brilliance and who is to be left in the unfortunate darkness of a bygone era, I conducted more interviews with strangers on the street to get a look into what are the boundaries of my project.
The first person I talked to and told about my ideas pointed out that, as someone who lives on campus, they don't really get a big picture of the roadkill problem. The roads they walk on aren't near forested areas, and the total area they encompass in their life (currently) doesn't expand beyond that at all. Similarly another person I interviewed also mentioned the physical boundaries of my idea. They also asked me to clarify exactly what I wanted to do and, a bit dumbfounded, had to realize that my idea would have to start limited precisely to animals found by people. There's just no way to get every animal that dies in an area to be cleaned and properly dealt with.
The next person I interviewed I asked specifically why is it that there are groups of people who do not care and what they thought separated these groups and they said they thought it was a geographical and movement-based division. People who have cars generally don't care about roadkill and are the ones who cause it, whereas ones who walk to bus stops or in neighborhoods have to deal with seeing these creatures. The person they were with I also talked to and asked them at what point is someone not in the boundary of my idea and they imagined it would be when they don't have to walk or bike anywhere outside of town.
The last person I talked to was on the bus ride home from campus. I asked them if they had a problem with roadkill in Gainesville and they gave me a frank no. It simply didn't bother them the same way it did me. Never to worry, I'll convert them one day. For now, however, I have made this table that analyzes the differences between my hypothesis and what it is not.
INSIDE THE BOUNDARY:
People who walk/bike/live in neighborhoods
Animals killed by vehicles or for other reasons are in areas near people
To preserve the environment and combat disease and lowering tourism rates
OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARY:
People who drive cars or live on campus
Animals killed in forested areas
We aren't trying to be a survey team just yet. Just collecting dead animals
I know I have commented on this idea before, but I think it is such a good opportunity to focus on. It really is something that is damaging the environment not to mention disrespectful in a way to the animals that have lost their life. I think you are on the right track with your idea and look forward to seeing it continue further.
ReplyDeleteHey I loved this idea, this is the first time I read your blogs and I liked the way you approach it. It is interesting the way you have these ideas. The environment is important and we all need of it so we should have the knowledge to take care of it and care for it.
ReplyDeleteI believe that your service would be so beneficial to the area, I love how the animals wont just lay there until they decompose. This service is respectful to the animals of the area as well as respects the look of the community.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious as to how often each person sees roadkill in Gainesville. Perhaps they would view it as a larger issue if they saw it commonly - but I don't think most people do. If the issue is primarily aesthetic (and arguably that's what most people care about), then perhaps it would be easier to find areas that commonly see roadkill and simply erect signs of "animal x-ing" along those sections of road - as this would raise awareness while also hopefully reducing the issue.
ReplyDelete