Construction crews began repaving Greensboro Street last month, but the question on everyone’s mind is: are we setting unrealistic beauty standards for the other roads in our town?
While the repaved street may look nice, there’s a growing concern that town beautification is having harmful psychological effects. “Roads just don’t look like that in real life,” commented Folklore graduate student Lucy Winners. “By pursuing what they look like in movies and social media, we’re setting an impossible expectation for the rest of the town.”
“We’re setting a bad example for the younger streets,” complained local jewelry artist Maya Shackleford. “They’re going to grow up thinking they need to have this Instagram-perfect asphalt, when most of the time, the roads you see online use a pavement filter.”
Some residents question whether they allowed the road to authentically express itself. “I’ve always felt Greensboro Street has an old soul,” observed town troubadour Sam Hargrove. “Did they even consider cobblestone?”
Mixed media arts instructor Dave Graham worries that this project is perpetuating societal conformity. “Not every road has to look the same. We should be more open to paving with different materials. What if a road wants to be a field instead?”
Carrboro lawyer Jill Powers urges residents to consider road representation. “It’s unfair to expect every avenue to look the same. Some roads are thick, some are thin. Some might be tall, others short. Imperfections are what make us all unique. If a road is breaking out in potholes, we should celebrate that, not cover it up.”
A growing number of residents are urging the town to allow roads to “age gracefully.” “Streets aren’t meant to look 25 forever,” said yoga instructor Morgan Atley. “There’s nothing wrong with a road looking its age.”
The repaving has also raised concerns about the town’s future. “If we accept this, then what’s next?” asked craft store owner Claire Benton. “Stop lights replaced with perfect hourglass figures? Sidewalks feeling pressured to have perfect washboard abs? Curbs getting filler injections? Where will it end?”
Black Sheep Comedy offers live comedy shows and classes in Carrboro. More information is available at blacksheepcomedy.com.