How to reduce bad behavior behind our marquee sign

IN ORDER TO REDUCE how often local unhoused residents pee and poop specifically behind our marquee sign, let me recommend that we mount this image on the back of the sign (where it would be hidden from the street).

(As usual, click/tap on an image to enlarge it.)

There’s good reason to think this measure would make a difference. And if, as a result, Ruben won’t need to hose off the flagstone steps so often, it will not only be easier on him, and it will not only save water, but also the steps themselves will last much longer — reducing our long-term maintenance costs.

Below the jump, I cite the scientific basis for my suggested approach.…

This idea is based on a series of scientific experiments conducted in England in 2006, 2010, and 2013, and in Hungary in 2012. The first one concluded that, as the famous psychologist Daniel Hahneman later put it, “Evidently a purely symbolic reminder of being watched prodded people into improved behavior.” 

Of course, unhoused people still need to relieve themselves somewhere. The later experiment in 2013, which sought to deter bike theft, concluded that undesirable behavior may simply shift to other locales where the perpetrators don’t feel watched. Applying this knowledge to our case, we can expect that success would depend upon where else the deeds ultimately get done.

In addition, success may depend upon whether or not the particular observers (with full bladders or bowels) are habitually hanging around our steps. The impact of those eyes is the strongest upon the first few viewings, as experiments have shown.

Still, the measure is low cost, so it may be worth a try — especially because it seems to be twice as effective as the present approach of camera surveillance only, in discouraging anti-social behavior. 

Presumably Ruben already has a good idea of what the baseline frequency is, so that we would have a good basis to judge whether our own experiment is a success.

(The above discussion is meant to supplement our larger, ongoing discussion about enhancing security along Main Street, and not to argue for or against the presence of gates/fencing.)