About 25 years ago I was visiting Alexandria Egypt. I had just eaten some packaged ice cream and was standing on an unpaved side street near a train station holding a sticky wrapper. Having already been in the country a few weeks I knew that I had no chance of finding a trash can. As I stared at the little mounds of trash around the street while plastic grocery bags swirled around my legs in the hot Mediterranean sun I had a realization - this was my opportunity to rebel against all my upbringing, the very core of my being. I flung the wrapper on the ground and walked away. No one batted an eye. Here in this ancient city that was named after a man lauded as "The Great " I too wept, seeing I had no more worlds to conquer.
I pick up litter a lot. While fishing the local rivers, while walking my dogs in the park, while at my customer’s properties (apartment buildings). My theory is people sometimes feel they have little control over their lives and doing stupid stuff like littering makes them feel empowered. The mentality is “you’re not the boss of me”, they know they’re not supposed to do it. Doing it makes them feel in charge. Truth is they are taking the power they have and blowing it
In Taiwan, it’s very rare to see public trash cans. Some government places have trash cans but it’s very spread out. Yet in Taiwan you rarely see trash on the road. That’s because they drill in your head at an early age that you take your trash with you and toss it out at home.
I think the only other country I have seen this done is Japan.
So I’ve been accused of sabotaging relationships, and maybe this is that, but i feel justified.
I’d been dating a dude for about 3 months when we decided to go for a drive through this really scenic area near where we live. There’s a mill, and a pretty stream. About 30 minutes in, he finishes his gatorade, rolls down the passenger window, and hucks the bottle into the stream.
I made him get out and get it. Told him he could get the bottle or walk home. He got the bottle, and there were no more dates after that. I feel like I did the right thing.
I absolutely hate people who litter. There’s simply no excuse for it. If you can bring the item when it’s full, it’s certainly just as easy to carry it with you when it’s empty.
“But there’s no trash can here” So? Carry it with you and go look for one, you lazy bum.
And throwing trash into nature / scenic spots is not just bad for nature, it also shows a complete disregard for others who might want to enjoy that area too.
Yes! Especially considering we were in a car! Like, for real, you didnt even have to carry it! Just throw it in the floorboard for all i care, but dont you dare throw it in a stream!
I really, really liked him, but after that, that’s all i could think about. Just instant turn off.
I am totally with you. I used to make my passengers pick up ten cigarette butts if they threw one out. It happen several times and unfortunately they didn’t have trouble finding ten. Also…hmu in the dm’s if you’re still single.
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