Can We Ban Chewing and Bubble Gum?

Herbse on 14/12/2021 - 14:27

It's pretty obvious many people cannot be trusted to be responsible with it.

You just have to look at any pathway and you'll see black spots where selfish, simpletons decided it's easier to spit out their gum rather than walk 10 steps to a bin.

We've all had shoes ruined forever by someone's laziness or had our car or home carpets ruined.

It can cost one council $200,000 a year to clean up gum mess. And we have over 500 councils in Australia.

Singapore has had gum banned for decades and they don't complain about not being able to pay for a piece of plastic with flavour that lasts 30 seconds.

Maybe we can have a discussion about whether we need gum in our lives or if we're better off without it?

Food & Grocery Chewing Gum

Comments

        • andresampras on 14/12/2021 - 15:37
          +9

          I like the way they A but I'm not a fan of their B.

          You mean the world isn't split cleanly into good and evil?

          Oh, my.

    • bobbified on 14/12/2021 - 21:33

      I've seen this post before…🤔

      I'm not Singaporean, but why the hate for Singapore?

      • rektrading on 14/12/2021 - 22:07
        +4

        I don't hate any country, people, race, skin complexion, religion, sexual orientation, young, old, pet lovers, omnivore, carnivore, vegans, rich, middle class, disadvantaged, left, right, centre, vaxxed, un-vaxxed, tall, short, cosplay, suits, gamblers, smokers, junkies, degens, apes, etc.

        The world is crap enough without the state degrading minorities and handing out public floggings.

        • trapper on 16/12/2021 - 16:11
          +2

          Nobody like vegans.

          • djmm on 16/12/2021 - 21:56
            +1

            @trapper: Except other vegans

          • Alderson on 16/12/2021 - 23:26
            -4

            @trapper: I'm not a vegan, but I certainly like / admire them. A lot stronger than the rest of us. Why don't you like vegans?

          • mybrains on 17/12/2021 - 12:16
            -1

            @trapper: agreed - Hitler was a vegan, right? lol

    • wizzlesticks on 16/12/2021 - 00:29
      +1

      Banning unapproved graffiti it actually a great idea. It makes nice cities like Melbourne look unsafe and ugly.

    • trapper on 16/12/2021 - 16:08
      +2

      Don't forget Singapore's ban of long hair on men. My dad was forced to get his hair cut on arrival in the airport during the 1970's.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_hair_in_Singapore

    • Daz91 on 17/12/2021 - 16:36

      Absolutely based.

  • Hardlyworkin on 14/12/2021 - 15:04
    +3

    Though what will one chew when consuming illegal drugs?

  • eug on 14/12/2021 - 15:12
    +13

    We've all had shoes ruined forever by someone's laziness

    You must buy really fragile shoes. :)

  • tsunamisurfer on 14/12/2021 - 15:13
    +6

    Although Singapore's intentions are good, my guess is that Australians will not react well to things such as :

    • $1000 fines for drinking or eating on trains (even though the S$ is actually worth more now and their average salary lower).
    • $200 to go into a Casino (reducing vice).
    • $1000+ fines for smoking (where signage bans smoking), spitting, littering etc (things that we see as small).
    • Heavy excises for cigarettes and alcohol (including almost non-existent duty free).
    • Death for drug traffickers.

    I find that Singaporeans are more likely to be compliant whilst Australians may decry that their rights are being impinged.

    • Herbse on 14/12/2021 - 15:55
      +2

      I personally find little issue with those disincentives and penalties.

      The casino one is interesting actually. It would reduce entry to people who can afford to lose money would walk in, rather than the addicted who would risk their small earnings that should be spent on food for their kids

      • tsunamisurfer on 14/12/2021 - 19:05
        +2

        It would be turned around and seen as an attack on the lower tiers of society.

    • brendanm on 14/12/2021 - 17:34
      +3

      $200 to go into a Casino (reducing vice).
      $1000+ fines for smoking (where signage bans smoking), spitting, littering etc (things that we see as small).

      Sounds pretty good to be honest. Going to a pub in WA is great, no pokies.

    • El cheepo on 14/12/2021 - 19:58

      The misplaced, misused and misunderstood nazi/communist comparisons from halfwits would be through the roof if they brought in those penalties here.

    • bobbified on 14/12/2021 - 21:35
      +2

      …my guess is that Australians will not react well to things such as :
      Heavy excises for cigarettes and alcohol (including almost non-existent duty free).

      Australia already has this….

    • Eeples on 22/12/2021 - 17:58

      Foreigners thankfully do not have to pay $200 to enter (the?) a casino. One just waves one's passport.

  • jv on 14/12/2021 - 15:25
    +7

    Can We Ban Chewing and Bubble Gum?

    No, it helps reduce tooth decay…

    • rektrading on 14/12/2021 - 15:29

      Dentures are cheaper in Singapore.

      Average Cost of Dentures in Singapore
      While the average cost for dentures is S$600 to S$800 per arch, we've seen some clinics offering as little as S$150 or as much as S$2,000 per arch.
      https://www.valuechampion.sg/average-cost-dentures

    • Herbse on 14/12/2021 - 15:52

      9 out of 10 doctors agree?

      • jv on 14/12/2021 - 15:56

        No, dentists…

        • Herbse on 14/12/2021 - 15:56
          +4

          But we can't show you their face

          • andresampras on 14/12/2021 - 17:38
            +4

            @Herbse: because their terrible teeth might make you question their recommendation

            • Parentheses on 16/12/2021 - 16:32

              @andresampras: In a town with 2 barbers, do you pick the one with the good haircut or the shitty haircut?

              • andresampras on 16/12/2021 - 16:49

                @Parentheses: haha I doubt they're going to each other for haircuts (that would be like a car dealer buying a car from his competition), so I'd pick the one with a good haircut, since he's cutting his own hair :)

  • Unorthodox on 14/12/2021 - 15:26
    +3

    I would suggest that those caught for vandalism/graffiti etc should be made to clean/scrape it off for community service haha

    • andresampras on 14/12/2021 - 15:40
      +1

      That was my initial reaction too, but then I wonder…..can the offender really be trusted with restoring the site to its original state?

    • Herbse on 14/12/2021 - 15:47
      +6

      Actual graffiti art and drawings I don't mind, it can actually make a street or area look better. Tagging however is just rubbish and the actual problem with making streets look like crap.

      The problem with tagging is that people think they're cool doing it and getting caught and penalised is part of the attraction.

      I've always thought that the "coolness" and rebellion around graffiti needs to be removed somehow. I came up with the idea of having a program where senior citizens are allowed to tag and spray paint areas, and give it a daggy name like "senior signatures". And if that somehow become normalised over time. People would slowly make fun of taggers as lame.

      • Unorthodox on 14/12/2021 - 16:51
        +1

        Good point, I should have referred to it being "tagging".

        I think any activity where you're deliberately damaging/defacing property or infrastructure should result in more than just monetary fines. Let them actually see the effort required to fix it or clean it up

        I had a colleague who worked with Metro and Ventura in getting the trains and buses off their services for clean up/fixing due to tagging, destroyed interiors, scratched up windows and damaged emergency buttons etc… The cost in monetary terms and having services cancelled is stupendous. For gum, there's no point in trying to scrape it off during standard maintenance or cleaning but having gum jamming buttons is a nightmare.

      • andresampras on 14/12/2021 - 17:30
        +3

        …or you could end up with a spate of very cool grannies :)

        • Herbse on 15/12/2021 - 22:31

          Didn't think of that 😅

    • LordSydney on 14/12/2021 - 16:13
      +3

      Once Australia has a social credit system fully implemented I picture this will happen.

      "Snap a photo of your comrade vandalising/graffiti-ing & be rewarded!"

      • Herbse on 14/12/2021 - 16:54
        -4

        The older I get. The more appealing the social credit system seems to me.

      • andresampras on 14/12/2021 - 17:32

        What's the reward? Your name entered into the government's merit list of pliable stool pigeons?

        • LordSydney on 15/12/2021 - 00:59

          higher social standing or credit towards fines for one's own misdeeds?

          • andresampras on 15/12/2021 - 09:53
            +1

            @LordSydney: so a (theoretically) merit-based caste system.

            which if it becomes important enough, will be gamed sooner or later, with merit points available on the dark web.

            meh.

  • SF3 on 14/12/2021 - 15:30
    +5

    Nice try Singapore.

  • try2bhelpful on 14/12/2021 - 15:33
    +1

    I bought a table from a restaurant a few years back. The first thing I had to do was dig out all the chewing gum from under the top. Unbelievable.

    • Herbse on 14/12/2021 - 15:52

      Gross. And from a restaurant table of all places.

      Imagine the number of people who ran their hand over that gum and are their food after.

    • Ughhh on 14/12/2021 - 16:51

      🤢🤢 I would pay brand new RRP to not have to do that.

      • try2bhelpful on 14/12/2021 - 17:47

        Don’t even joke about paying RRP.

        Actually once I cleaned it up it was a good table. But I did feel queasy whilst doing it. It did lead to WTF moments.

  • LyndonBBear on 14/12/2021 - 15:33

    I use chewing gum when exercising - keeps the mouth fresh and moist, instead of drinking a gallon of water then needing to find somewhere to get rid of it. Plus I swallow - apparently it does no harm.

    • jv on 14/12/2021 - 15:37
      +7

      I use chewing gum when exercising

      I prefer resistance bands…

      • andresampras on 14/12/2021 - 15:41

        you mean like the ones in your braces?

        • jv on 14/12/2021 - 15:45
          -2

          in your braces?

          These ?

    • Herbse on 14/12/2021 - 15:42

      I've always been iffy about that. My understanding is that they are made from synthetic plastics and rubbers. Seems weird to consume that sort of stuff which cannot be broken down and digested.

      • andresampras on 14/12/2021 - 16:28

        er…you're not mean to swallow them

        • Herbse on 14/12/2021 - 16:35

          I know. I'm replying to someone who does.

        • banana365 on 16/12/2021 - 15:42

          That's based on the "it'll stay in your stomach for years" nonsense. It doesn't. It goes through at pretty much the same rate as everything else. Bin it or swallow it, either is fine for your health though binning it means it goes to landfill and swallowing it means it goes to the sewage treatment plant.

      • eug on 14/12/2021 - 16:29
        +2

        Seems weird to consume that sort of stuff which cannot be broken down and digested.

        Like whole corn kernels? They come right out.

  • djones145 on 14/12/2021 - 15:59
    +1

    can we ban loud cars
    if you need to compensate for something, go see a doctor, there is drugs to help or operations to be had!

  • djones145 on 14/12/2021 - 16:01
    -1

    what about sticky lollies
    like red ski…. or what ever we call them now
    they are sticky and annoying to get out of things

    can we also ban ban topics like this one
    we spend hours responding and arguing in this topics, think of the lost productivity!

    • Herbse on 14/12/2021 - 16:13
      +1

      What else would you do?

      • djones145 on 14/12/2021 - 16:15

        true nothing else lol

  • kizzy on 14/12/2021 - 16:04
    -1

    Ban ozbargain

  • pharkurnell on 14/12/2021 - 16:25
    +8

    Ban people who want to ban everything others enjoy.

    • Herbse on 14/12/2021 - 16:50
      +1

      I enjoy gum.
      I also know how to dispose of it without destroying property

      • pharkurnell on 14/12/2021 - 21:12
        +6

        So to break it to you, so do millions of other people….

        Unfortunately you need to hand in your Lone Ranger badge

        • Forkinhell on 15/12/2021 - 09:33

          I may work for a bank, but I've never been a 'Loan Arranger', nor did I wear a badge.

  • Gronk on 14/12/2021 - 17:20
    +3

    Slow news day eh?

  • salmon123 on 14/12/2021 - 17:39

    It can cost one council $200,000 a year(abc.net.au) to clean up gum mess

    Lets spare a thought for the billions its going to cost to clean up all the mask pollution, from people dumping their face masks in inappropriate locations. Just need to visit a local playground to see hundreds of masks littered everywhere.

    Let's ban face masks.

  • Something Darkside on 14/12/2021 - 19:00
    +1

    No

  • c64 on 14/12/2021 - 20:24

    ban polystyrene foam balls as well

  • skid on 14/12/2021 - 20:59
    +1

    Simpletons all right. Had one stuck on a shopping trolley handle recently. I was seeing red.

  • gummibear on 14/12/2021 - 23:18
    +2

    Humans don't need to keep dogs as pets either, plus irresponsible dog owners leave what could be argued to be worse health hazards on the ground.

    By your logic. Should we try and ban dog ownership also?

    • try2bhelpful on 15/12/2021 - 00:01
      +2

      Frankly children are an even bigger health hazard. Ban them and we cease to have a lot of issues.

      On the scheme of things chewing gum, and dog owners, aren’t our biggest problems.

      • gummibear on 15/12/2021 - 00:24

        I can see your point of view.

        It might have an unintended consequence like human extinction though.

        • try2bhelpful on 15/12/2021 - 00:56

          And the downside? Frankly the planet would be a lot better off.

          • Lastchancetosee on 15/12/2021 - 10:14
            +1

            @try2bhelpful: Perhaps. If people have the courage of their convictions about this, maybe they should start the process by a bit of personal voluntary euthanasia.

            Nothing personal.

            • try2bhelpful on 15/12/2021 - 14:13

              @Lastchancetosee: Actually, I do not have any children so I have started the process. Also I intend to avail myself of voluntary euthanasia once I get to that point.

      • ProlapsedHeinous on 15/12/2021 - 23:57
        -1

        Children are just future traffic. Nasty

  • Boogerman on 15/12/2021 - 07:18

    I chew sugar free gum everyday for dental health, saliva production & fresh breath because I’m not a self absorbed individual. And I swallow it.
    You’re welcome

    • 42 on 16/12/2021 - 05:54

      As a kid I was told if you swallowed gum it would tangle up in your intestines and you would die

      • Boogerman on 16/12/2021 - 08:56

        Parents can be lazy. They shouldn't be allowed to breed

        • andresampras on 16/12/2021 - 16:55

          so….one child policy, you reckon? (by the time they're parents, they've already bred)

  • Navanod66 on 15/12/2021 - 10:59

    Grew up in Singapore, before the gum ban. It's a city full of high rise tiny apartments, and lots and lots of lifts. With lots and lots of lift buttons. Repairing gum damage to lift buttons and bus "stop" buttons, along with scraping them off pathways and public seats, is a constant effort.

    The Ex Emperor, His Holeeness LKY, finally had enough and banned gum. He castigated and called us dogs for peeing in lifts as well but to be honest, no one really missed gum. Not even me, who was still a kid and should rightfully be doing a Greta "How dare you!?" outside parliament house.

    Life goes on

    • Bunnyburger on 16/12/2021 - 14:23

      Sangapore is a fine, a real fine country~!

      • banana365 on 16/12/2021 - 15:44
        +1

        A sandwich based country sounds pretty good to me.

  • RecklessMonkeys on 15/12/2021 - 11:53
    +2

    Can We Ban Chewing

    Personally, I find it hard to swallow food without first chewing it.

  • HeWhoKnows on 15/12/2021 - 12:29

    Once upon a time (and still should) you kept the wrapper in your pocket and put the used gum inside it before throwing it into a garbage bin.

  • afah0447 on 15/12/2021 - 18:55

    Not all chewing gum is banned in Singapore. When they first attempted to ban it the nicotine gum industry went into overdrive to ensure they could still their product over there. They were successful. Long story short, you can still buy chewing gum in Singapore.

  • bhm133 on 15/12/2021 - 20:27

    Nothing like an honest post to bring out the trolls.

  • OzHunterNSW on 15/12/2021 - 21:01

    It has been done

  • LFO on 15/12/2021 - 21:27

    Could we ban people owning dogs because many DON'T clean after them?

    • Herbse on 15/12/2021 - 22:34
      -1

      Would be nice I guess

  • tessel on 15/12/2021 - 21:37

    Why not go to the root of the problem? Can we ban people? Seriously… can we? I wouldn't mind.

    • Herbse on 15/12/2021 - 22:34

      That's the ultimate goal

  • smartazz104 on 15/12/2021 - 21:37
    -1

    OP wants to start a War on Gum; should be as successful as the War on Drugs…

  • Wasabi Ninja on 15/12/2021 - 22:08
    -1

    Boarders are opening. Sounds like relocating to Singapore is OP’s best option. 👋

  • idonotknowwhy on 15/12/2021 - 23:30

    So if nicorette gets banned, I guess I'm back to smoking :(

  • GoIdDigger on 15/12/2021 - 23:43

    The government can't solve all of our problems and we shouldn't look to them to solve this one. Get on with it

  • ProlapsedHeinous on 15/12/2021 - 23:56

    "Won't somebody pleeeeeeasseee think of the children!"

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join