A recent column is offering guidance on beach manners, but some of these rules are bogus.
In a late column from theWashington Post , a diarist utter with etiquette experts to discuss the nine rules of etiquette when move to the beach . And do n’t get me wrong — I’m not against the oecumenical concept of etiquette as it pertains to journey and experiences . I ’ve even report on how you could be abetter concert attendee . But the beach is not some low concert hall oran plane . It is a big , natural out-of-door distance , ideally designed to be free to love and delight ( though unfortunately in some places it ’s not free , like the keen state of New Jersey ) .
Sure , some of the nine etiquette rules from the column are virtual and safety - oriented . And , of course , these sorts of templet spring up every yr from multiple writer and electrical outlet in the spirit of help beachgoers out . That read , I agree that multitude should not dig Brobdingnagian holes in the sand and pull up stakes them unsupervised — that ’s intelligibly serious . Another practical one is that you should never ever leave your methamphetamine behind . " Leave No Trace " is n’t just a catchy phrase to put on signs . It should be an edict to live by .
Here are the nine beach etiquette rules that were outlined by theWashington Post , just one good example of the annual glut of well - stand for guides:1 . " Personal blank : Try respect it"2 . " plunk up your trash"3 . " Do not unfold sand"4 . " Do not feed the wildlife"5 . " Do not blast your stereo at full volume"6 . " Obey the swiftness limit"7 . " No smoke around others"8 . " Digging holes is dangerous"9 . " Your umbrella is not a kite … or a weapon system "
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Of these rules , I agree that not feeding the wildlife , prise personal space , obeying any posted speeding limits , vamoose the cigarettes ( or weed ) , dig out dangerous holes , and picking up your shabu are societal contracts which you should follow in any public outer space . But a few of these — stereo mass , spreading George Sand , and umbrella warfare — are factors that are not so much about the societal contract as they are about an impossible grade of social ascendance .
Growing up on Florida ’s public beach , people play medicine from their own personal speakers was a part of the experience . While beachfront nightclubs and eatery overdo it with ultra trashy sound scheme , most people are only pack their personal speakers . And while yeah , I do n’t want to hear someone shell Toby Keith from five umbrella down the beach , the shore is one of the few places left where people can gather freely , without some bodied restraints . And whilesound pollutioncan be a real problem for marine sprightliness , ship and sonar devices are do much more immediate damage than someone playing " El Tiburón " from a $ 30 portable loudspeaker system .
As for circulate sand … We ’re at the beach . Having a footful of sand kicked up on you is sure not idealistic , but most people who are kicking up sand are children lose in the joyousness of running towards the ocean — or run away from the sea . There are obvious exceptions such as people who are completely incognizant of their milieu trudging mightily past your head , nearly reenacting that head smashing scene fromGame of Thrones . But translate people spreading sand on function as an intentional or even all preventable event is just counterintuitive to the experience of being on a crowded beach . You ’re going to get arenaceous . It might come from mass shake out a towel windward from you , or flirt a game of gimmick . It ’s go to happen !
And in the nervure of beach behaviors that ca n’t entirely be prevented , let ’s blab about umbrellas getting swept off in the wind . While it ca n’t be grave , multitude are n’t intentionally carelessly plant their umbrella in the sand so that the steer could purposely sweep them off . If someone loses their umbrella due to the lead , do n’t clutch your pearls about some umbrella incompetence — facilitate them arrest the umbrella .
In general , if you ’re attending a crowded beach this summer , you ’re probable to play all sort of vexing behavior . It ’s an inevitable part of the experience . But while someone throwing a phone at a performer on microscope stage or being rude to a flight attendant is a harmful choice , someone lose an umbrella is the wind . The best beach etiquette to remember this summertime ? The beach belongs to everyone , even the children and the owner of the Bluetooth speaker . Learn to revel it and verify you plunk up your trumpery .
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