Type: Rant
Subject: Discarded Cigarette Butts
I have to say that this subject may have been one of the original inspirations for my "30-Second R&R" posts. I believe myself to be a totally reasonable and tolerant person, maybe even a bit too tolerant at times, but this is one thing I just can not understand.
Why is it that perfectly respectable people who wouldn't think of littering think nothing of tossing a cigarette butt off in any random direction while walking or driving down the street? Why when I'm at the beach do I look around and see people using the sand as their own personal ashtray? What is it about cigarette butts that have allowed them to be overlooked as trash?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying "don't smoke", to each his own, right? I believe that every person has the right to choose what works for them, and some people smoke, so be it. I think you can do whatever you want as long as it doesn't interfere with my life and my happiness. If it does I might have to say something, and I have been known to speak my mind about this very subject to random butt-tossing strangers (as long as they didn't look like they could/would beat the tar out of me).
Chicago has a trash can on almost every single street corner of the downtown area. If you're anywhere downtown you could probably see at least a few trash cans within your general vicinity. A few very convenient and capable trash cans just waiting for your nasty, used up, stained and reeking butt.
I promised 30-seconds, so I'll stop...but not before posting a picture of a whole group of butt-tossers I saw at the beach while Martin (pictured, but blurred so as not to be associated with the tossers) and I were in Florida a couple of weeks ago.
Shame...shame on those butt-tossers!
-c
