site banner

Small-Scale Question Sunday for July 6, 2025

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

1
Jump in the discussion.

No email address required.

Why has there been a coordinated push over the last few years to get people to stop using fireworks because it’s supposedly bad for veterans and dogs? I smell a psy-op.

I'm neither a veteran nor a dog owner, but I think we need to do something about fireworks because of the usual reason - jerks are ruining it for everyone. I would be perfectly okay with fireworks on July 4, stopping at a reasonable hour (say 10-11 pm) so as not to disturb those trying to sleep. Instead what we get is about 2 months of fireworks on either side of the holiday, frequently going past midnight.

I honestly don't know what to do - normally you might say "make it illegal", but the mortar fireworks are illegal in this state already. But since people can drive 4 hours to Wyoming to get fireworks there, the law doesn't accomplish anything. It's a shame, because I actually love fireworks and it would be really cool to have them in the neighborhood if people were responsible. And to be fair most people are. But as usual, the irresponsible minority is causing problems for everyone.

The crazy part is that the problem is obviously not the scheduled 20 minute municipal fireworks show that ends at 10:00 once a year. If you have sensitivities, you can just go on a drive for half an hour. The problem is the assholes setting off fireworks for months on either side at unpredictable timings. The first is enjoyed by many, the second is enjoyed only by the few setting them off. The first is legible, the second is not.

What is to be done? Clearly we must do something, and shuttering the scheduled show is something, so we must do it. How much will this help the people with sensitivities? Not at all, of course, because they suffer due to the second thing, not the first thing. But we're obviously unwilling or incapable of doing anything more about the second thing, so we'll pretend that this somehow makes it better.

To me it pattern matches with a bootleggers and baptists situation, but I can't immediately tell who the bootleggers are here. Is DJI behind this?

To be clear I in no way support stopping municipal fireworks shows. I'm referring purely to people setting them off in the street in front of their house, which has a significant component of antisocial jerks in my city. Official fireworks shows (municipal or otherwise) are perfectly fine and need no action taken at all.

What is to be done? Clearly we must do something

Why must we do something?

Or are you describing someone else’s thinking? Sorry, it just isn’t clear to me if the quoted bit is your own thinking on the subject.

That's the thinking of the people pushing for shutting down municipal fireworks shows.