So I’m driving home today. This modern hipster/alternative-type girl passes me. In a short while, since I was using cruise control, I was overtaking her. Just as I came abeam of her she throws something out the window. I checked the rear-view mirror to see a bag of trash explode on the freeway. I thought about reporting her, but she’d taken the off-ramp and was gone. Yeah, she dumped her bag of trash on the freeway before she got of the freeway and would presumably be near a trash receptacle.
Almost. He was the Italian-American actor who played the indian who wept at pollution. (The one I recall is someone driving by in a car and tossing out a bag of trash that lands at his feet.)
Just last week I saw a guy toss a food wrapper on the ground when he was standing within arm’s reach of a trashcan. I would have said something, 'cept he looked like someone who would just as soon punch me out as feel any kind of litter-related guilt.
The litterers I’ve seen have also fallen into a similar category. I want to say something, desperately, but I don’t want my face rearranged. It stinks.
Our Mayor does a dangerous thing. If he’s stopped in traffic and sees someone throw trash out the window, he’ll get out of his car, go pick it up and hand it back to them. Cigarette butts, too.
“Iron Eyes Cody” cries over a bit of garbage hitting the ground in front of him. Another man appears, telling him, “I wouldn’t turn around if I were you.” “Iron Eyes” does, only to see an immeasurable mountain of garbage stretching to the horizon. He flips out. Other man: “I told you not to turn around.”
There is even an episode of the Soprano’s where Tony and his “team” have some kind of beef with a bunch of “native american” types. About what I cannot remember. Anyhow, Tony et al threaten to bring up the fact to the public that old roadside garbage Indian Joe is actually an italian american.
Rather than get punched, that’s when you very slowly, deliberately and in a way meant to be seen, stop, bend, pick up the offending wrapper with the very tips of your fingers, and put it in the conveniently located receptacle. For added punch, you can then take out hand sanitizer and clean your hands while making your best “ewwwwwww” face. Indirect shaming.
I have ALWAYS wanted to do that! Especially lit cigarettes- only instead of handing it back, I’d just flick it randomly into the car. My husband is afraid I’ll get shot one of these days…
I’ve always been a rather confromtational person. I’ve shamed several people into picking up, not only the trash they just dropped, but any thing else lying within their reach. It feels great.
(I used to make bad interns cry, too.)
I saw a gas station attendant sweep up the ashtray full of butts that some jerk had just dumped ON THE GROUND outside their car door and dump them back into the car via the back window. Laughed myself sick, I tell ya!
Just last week, I was in my Camry Hybrid, driving behind an older Prius. I found it interesting because it was a sedan instead of a hatchback and I don’t think they make those anymore. While I was looking at the car, the passenger threw a bunch of papers out of his window and they drove away. I was dumbfounded–I’m pretty sure my mouth was hanging open. Sure, drive in a hybrid and then litter. What the hell’s up with that?
He was the Italian-American actor who played the indian who wept at pollution. (The one I recall is someone driving by in a car and tossing out a bag of trash that lands at his feet.)
