On Clean Up Day, as I was walking my streets and picking up over 1000 pieces of litter in a 2 mile area, I came to the conclusion that people that litter are sociopaths.
The definition of a sociopath from Wise Geek-A sociopath is a person who has antisocial personality disorder. The term sociopath is no longer used to describe this disorder. The sociopath is now described as someone with antisocial personality disorder.
The main characteristic of a sociopath is a disregard for the rights of others. Sociopaths are also unable to conform to what society defines as a normal personality. Antisocial tendencies are a big part of the sociopath’s personality. This pattern usually comes into evidence around the age of 15. If it is not treated, it can develop into adulthood.
By the above definition, people that litter are anti-social with no regard for the rights of others. They cannot conform to doing something so simple as putting trash in a trashcan, stop throwing out trash from the car. They just do not care.
100% of what I picked up was preventable, even the smashed cell phone. 3 plastic bags, 5 crushed cans, 1 bottle of Jim Beam, 3 cigarette packs, 2 toys, duct tape, aluminum foil and other miscellaneous items, the most prevalent were cigarette butts.
I used to blame litterers on ignorance or carelessness, but not anymore. Too many smokers don’t want to dirty their car ashtrays and throw butts out the window- how rude is that!!! Too many drivers don’t want trash in their car (do they foget their are trash cans at every gas station?) And the fast food wrappers! there is simply no excuse anymore and in this case ignorance is not bliss, it is sociopathic behavior. My neighbor and I have picked up brand new jeans and hoodies from the street as well. (Good for Freegans)
What the taxpayer, home owner, parent and health people should remember whether or not you are a greenie, is:
1.) Your taxpayer dollars pay for litter pickup, you cannot complain about taxes if you litter and you don’t pick up litter in front of your place of residence or work and or your kids, family and friends litter and your know about it.
2.) Do not complain about your home prices when the outside streets are strewn with litter, it decreases your home value and encourages vandalism.
3.) Parents- your kids litter as well. You don’t think so, check out every school, 7-11 and fast food place and note the sheer amount of trash your kids throw in the streets. Not only that, you want healthy kids- all that litter goes right into storm drains and guess what you eat and you drink it. It is up to you to teach those kids not to litter. Studies are saying that 75% of kids litter.
4.) Stop complaining about rats and other vermin. The 3 dead rats around the storm drains are eating litter. Yes 3 dead rats seen on the streets. They crawl out of the storm drains to eat litter in the streets. Disgusting but true.
The sad part is when I go to pick up litter on Saturday again, the exact same amount of litter will be on the street.