Should I have stopped them from doing this in Turkmenistan? [BTS 51]

Very tough spot to be in, indeed, but like you mentioned it happens all around the world. I think that depending the situation and your relationship with the local you could say something or offer to do something with it. I also bet that some might take it personal and create an awkward confrontation. I believe you both did the right thing, there's was nothing you could have done

Hahaha loved the part at the end. But exactly, where will the trash go otherwise? Thrown in a pile and burned either way, maybe they knew this, and didn’t see the difference. We sure did though. What was living in Uzbekistan like?

Interesting point. You’re right. There are larger scale actions you can make, than admonishing a single person. I was taught the same by the way, I don’t regret it, but it sure felt strange to watch that happen. 🐉

Wild story about the Taj Majal! I think that is probably the story for a lot of these places. There is a budget to keep them clean, so they stay clean. 1 meter outside is a whole different story. I think the next time I just might ask “why did you throw it?” With a smile and see what happens. Maybe it will make them think

For sure this is a dilemma. I've been in countless situations where I saw this happen, and it's very difficult to wrestle with mentally. I think the fact that you have posted this video and thought about it proves that you are absolved from any guilt. When I lived in Uzbekistan, the only way to dispose of trash was to throw it into a garbage heap and burn it. There were no trash cans except maybe in large cities. So the locals were just doing what they knew. If there was a way to have known they were going to do that, maybe you could have offered to take the trash for them but unfortunately this is still a common occurrence in much of the world. Thank you for posting this and raising the ethical question. Regarding your butt...I thought you were going to say that you got a shot in a hospital from a questionable needle! Thanks again for the thoughtful video, as always.

I really enjoyed how much thought you put into this problem. I grew up in the midwest U.S. so if someone offers you hospitality and they do something that doesn't align with your pathos then you grin and bear it. I believe doing something in that moment would have been troublesome and maybe even magnified with a language barrier. I believe there are teachable moments where you will find an excellent time and place with a willing audience that can make a big difference. One can't change traditions or cultures in an instant. It must have been frustrating, but I would have done the same. And now I know next time I am visiting the pit of hell to bring an extra garbage bag so I can take everyone's trash back w me! 🐉🐉

What an interesting conundrum, man. I've often thought about that when watching travel vlogs. I once saw a photo that frustrated me beyond belief. It was a shot of the Taj Mahal, but not the view from the front that we're used to. This photo was taken from a decent distance away, and at an angle. In the background is this gorgeous, iconic mausoleum that's known around the world as one of the most beautiful buildings on the planet. In the foreground is a river caked with garbage. Plastic, paper, metal, and everything else you can think of. It made me wonder if it was from tourists or locals or both. I couldn't understand why anyone would dump trash outside, let alone so close to a stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site. If I saw someone dumping their trash there, would I say anything, though? Probably not. I tend to be non-confrontational and even when I see things I don't agree with, I usually don't say anything out of fear of escalating an uncomfortable situation into something much worse. I think you and Lexie did the right thing, as tough as it must have been to not say anything. There's that saying, "One man's trash is another man's treasure." To you and Lexie, the gas crater was a treasure worth flying halfway around the world for. To that family, it was a place to have a picnic and dump their trash afterward. I guess the best thing to do in that situation is hope they add guards to the Door to Hell so stuff like that doesn't continue to happen, even though it will likely lead to people not being able to have unique adventures there like you did. And in the case of a single cigarette butt in the jungle, I'd probably pick it up when the guy isn't looking, stuff it in my pocket, and drop it in a trash can later. On a lighter note, though...that thumbnail is hilarious! The things you do to start your videos here always cracks me up! 😂🐉🐉🐉🐉

Brandon Moore