The shopping cart is the ultimate litmus test for whether a person is capable of self-governing. To return the shopping cart is an easy, convenient task and one which we all recognize as the correct, appropriate thing to do. To return the shopping cart is objectively right. There are no situations other than dire emergencies in which a person is not able to return their cart. Simultaneously, it is not illegal to abandon your shopping cart. Therefore the shopping cart presents itself as the apex example of whether a person will do what is right without being forced to do it. No one will punish you for not returning the shopping cart, no one will fine you or kill you for not returning the shopping cart, you gain nothing by returning the shopping cart. You must return the shopping cart out of the goodness of your own heart. You must return the shopping cart because it is the right thing to do. Because it is correct.
A person who is unable to do this is no better than an animal, an absolute savage who can only be made to do what is right by threatening them with a law and the force that stands behind it. The Shopping Cart is what determines whether a person is a good or bad member of society.
Personally I think shopping carts are the penultimate litmus test. Returning a shopping cart requires effort, albeit a miniscule amount of effort. The ultimate litmus test is litering. It requires exactly zero effort to not throw your trash on the ground or out your car window. To me, littering practically screams, “I don’t give a shit about anyone but myself. I have the self control of a toddler at bed time and I want everyone to know it which is why I throw my shit on the ground like a total fucktard.”
I’m not really a confrontational person but I have rolled down my window and yelled at people for throwing their cigarette butts on the ground. You would think some people were raised in a goddamn barn.
But there is a penalty for littering. Some people might refrain from littering not because it’s the right thing to do, but because they don’t want a fine.
The lack of repercussions for being a scumbag and abandoning your cart is what makes it a good test.
Sorry, I’ve become confused about what you mean by “here” or “there”, and where you are based.
You mean coins are required in America? Because not in Sweden. They used to be, like 20-15 years ago. But they removed that. Not sure if there was a law that came into effect or something but… not anymore with the coins. Carts are free to take into the store without coins. Still, everyone returns them.
We have absolutely enormous parking lots, and yeah, Americans are lazy and have an abundance of food. Maybe not more inconsiderate, but Hanlon’s Razor comes into play here. If you don’t believe me, just go to any Golden Corral. There absolutely will be multiple families in there where every single person weighs over 250 pounds, even the 8 year old kid.
I remember a girl in highschool that was an exchange student from Botswana(?) was a bit upset that she was too fat to go home after living here for a school year. She’d gained like maybe 5 pounds. As far as all us Americans were concerned she finally didn’t look anorexic.
My brothers and I would run around the parking lots gathering up all the carts rather than go into the store. This was especially fun at Aldi’s cause we got a quarter for each cart, and could get some candy.
Aldi’s deal is more about getting people to return carts all the way to the front entrance so that they don’t have to pay employees to retrieve them from the corrals.
Of course, with their parking lots being small to begin with, I’m not so sure it’d make much of a difference (see also: Lidl, with the same size parking lot but no 25¢ locking carts).
Your misguided attempt at rebellion against capitalism in reality only hurts the grunt that has to pick up after your inconsiderate ass. You think your behavior actually costs the company anything? You think they hire an extra person because of people like you? No. You just make some poor sap at the bottom of the pecking order that much more miserable
Congratulations on making yourself feel righteous at the expense of your fellow plebs
Sounds like they need to unionize and get paid enough to make it worth it then. There’s no moral obligation to do labor for corporations for free or under paid.
Lol “moral obligation”. You don’t do it because you’re obligated. You do it because it’s nice for the worker, and for the other customers who don’t want to navigate around your abandoned cart
If your cart catches a breeze and dents my car then you’re now providing profit to a body shop. Putting your cart away is about not costing random people hundreds of dollars. And it saves the teen making minimum wage from chasing it down in the snow.
Fuck the grocery store, of course. But if you want to screw them over then there are better ways to do it, and with less collateral damage.
Personally I think shopping carts are the penultimate litmus test. Returning a shopping cart requires effort, albeit a miniscule amount of effort. The ultimate litmus test is litering. It requires exactly zero effort to not throw your trash on the ground or out your car window. To me, littering practically screams, “I don’t give a shit about anyone but myself. I have the self control of a toddler at bed time and I want everyone to know it which is why I throw my shit on the ground like a total fucktard.”
I’m not really a confrontational person but I have rolled down my window and yelled at people for throwing their cigarette butts on the ground. You would think some people were raised in a goddamn barn.
I may feel a little strongly about this issue.
But there is a penalty for littering. Some people might refrain from littering not because it’s the right thing to do, but because they don’t want a fine.
The lack of repercussions for being a scumbag and abandoning your cart is what makes it a good test.
If you’re offended by a cigarette butt on the ground, holy fuck, you should have been around in the 70s. We have come so far and so fast.
When I was a kid, chunking your fast-food trash, any trash, out the window was perfectly normal. The sides of highways were covered in trash.
Further to go, of course, but I’ve seen solid progress.
I live in Sweden; rarely do I ever see a shopping cart just sitting in the parking lot. Can’t remember a time in the last decade.
I figure it’s mostly an American thing we’re too European to understand.
You think so? Are Americans really more lazy/inconsiderate people? Some other reason why this might be more common there?
American here. The answer is emphatically “yes”.
I don’t think you’ve ever left the country then
Well that’s disheartening. Why do you think that is?
American Exceptionalism/Individualism
I dont think so. It’s just that I’ve been in several EU countries, and Ive never encountered this issue here.
I think the real reason might be that majority if not all supermarkets require coins to unlock the shopping cart.
Sorry, I’ve become confused about what you mean by “here” or “there”, and where you are based.
You mean coins are required in America? Because not in Sweden. They used to be, like 20-15 years ago. But they removed that. Not sure if there was a law that came into effect or something but… not anymore with the coins. Carts are free to take into the store without coins. Still, everyone returns them.
We have absolutely enormous parking lots, and yeah, Americans are lazy and have an abundance of food. Maybe not more inconsiderate, but Hanlon’s Razor comes into play here. If you don’t believe me, just go to any Golden Corral. There absolutely will be multiple families in there where every single person weighs over 250 pounds, even the 8 year old kid.
I remember a girl in highschool that was an exchange student from Botswana(?) was a bit upset that she was too fat to go home after living here for a school year. She’d gained like maybe 5 pounds. As far as all us Americans were concerned she finally didn’t look anorexic.
My brothers and I would run around the parking lots gathering up all the carts rather than go into the store. This was especially fun at Aldi’s cause we got a quarter for each cart, and could get some candy.
Is there a version of this that includes something about Aldi and other pay to return shops?
The existence of Aldi carts is proof that there are a lot of people out there with no ability to self govern
But for a potential loss of $0.25 they can suddenly self govern.
It’s also about the inconvenience of having to obtain another quarter.
Maybe we can use this to our advantage.
Every voter gets 0.25$, every public traffic ride nets you 0.25$, every CEO with a company that is net zero also gets 0.25$.
Also plays into the rules only apply if you’re rich, just pay for the convenience.
Aldi’s deal is more about getting people to return carts all the way to the front entrance so that they don’t have to pay employees to retrieve them from the corrals.
Of course, with their parking lots being small to begin with, I’m not so sure it’d make much of a difference (see also: Lidl, with the same size parking lot but no 25¢ locking carts).
It might be because I’ve been slamming IPAs this afternoon but that’s the best example of “it’s funny because it’s true” I’ve seen in a while.
I like how this is a funny joke, but also true.
You’re missing the crucial part where the store is for profit. There’s no reason to provide free labor to corporations.
Ladies and gentlemen, exhibit A
Your misguided attempt at rebellion against capitalism in reality only hurts the grunt that has to pick up after your inconsiderate ass. You think your behavior actually costs the company anything? You think they hire an extra person because of people like you? No. You just make some poor sap at the bottom of the pecking order that much more miserable
Congratulations on making yourself feel righteous at the expense of your fellow plebs
Superbly put good sir… or miss.
Sounds like they need to unionize and get paid enough to make it worth it then. There’s no moral obligation to do labor for corporations for free or under paid.
Lol “moral obligation”. You don’t do it because you’re obligated. You do it because it’s nice for the worker, and for the other customers who don’t want to navigate around your abandoned cart
I never said I don’t return carts…
Me thinks there is a contradiction afoot
Are your saying you provide free labor for no reason?
Reading must be difficult for you. Yes I am saying I provide free labor for no reason.
Humans are stupid animals and we do a lot of things for no reason.
If you’re taking an action, then there’s a reason for it, even if you don’t yourself comprehend it ;D
Also “I do random shit for no reason” may not be a great thing to admit. I point you back to the “Savage animal” bit in the original comment
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If your cart catches a breeze and dents my car then you’re now providing profit to a body shop. Putting your cart away is about not costing random people hundreds of dollars. And it saves the teen making minimum wage from chasing it down in the snow.
Fuck the grocery store, of course. But if you want to screw them over then there are better ways to do it, and with less collateral damage.
I never said I don’t return carts. I just don’t believe there’s a moral imperative to provide free labor for corporations
In a thread about the labor of returning carts.
I agree though. Never work for free
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