People Like Nature Until It Becomes Inconvenient

As soon as you ask anyone if they like nature and the environment of course they always say they do. But they are being hypocritical and in most cases outright stupid. I cite for example how people move out into the country to escape the dirt and noise and crowding of the urban areas. But why is that that so many of them – the ones with the most money so it seems – immediate build one of the nine foot high barrier fences (some even electrified) to keep nature out?
I have a printout simply entitled, “Things People Said” which is a collection of statements given by patrons of our national parks. Some of these include, “Install escalators on the uphill sections of hiking trails”. On that same note another said, “Trails need to be reconstructed. In the future don’t’ build trails that go uphill”. Not to be outdone, another patron said, “Chairlifts need to be installed in places with nice views so you don’t’ ah veto hike to them”. I guess they’re not accustomed to hiking.
Another one said, “A deer stole my pickles, please reimburse me”. Never heard of keeping them in jars I suppose.
One customer said with great annoyance, “Coyotes howling kept me awake all night. Please eradicate these annoying animals”. On the subject of wildlife and keeping things natural one visitor said, there needs to be more signs to keep the area pristine”. But one even more bizarre statement from the Grand Canyon actually complained that the mule train wasn’t air conditioned.
I could go on citing quotes like these all week including some from my own career which challenge these for their ignorance and arrogance but I think the point has been well made. Actually two points can be made from this; one is obviously that people are just plain idiots and self centered. The other is that people do like nature just so long as it doesn’t inconvenience them.