[Jim C.]

I’ve always wondered why some smokers seem oblivious to the fact that throwing their cigarette butts to the ground wherever they just happen to be is actually littering. These same people would probably never consider throwing a candy wrapper on the ground or out their car window, yet don’t hesitate to dispose of their cigarette butts that way. Do these people think that cigarette butts disintegrate (biodegrade) quickly? I’m sure they don’t. Are these people so consumed by backlash against anti-smoking advocates that they see this as a form of passive revenge? I find it amazing and sad that I can’t stop in my car at a curb anywhere without seeing the curb littered with tens or hundreds of cigarette butts. I’ve even seen people who think nothing of emptying their entire ashtray in the middle of the road or in a parking lot. I used to work at a company that had large ashtrays outside the door where people gathered to smoke. Yet the landscaping directly in front of this area was littered with dozens of cigarette butts. What gives?

User Detail :  

Name : Jim C., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Gay, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 35, City : Dayton, State : OH, Country : United States, Occupation : Engineer, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[J. I.]

I smoked cigarettes for a total of about 25 years before quitting in 1985. Although it was never actually true, it did seem for a long time as though most people smoked. With very few restrictions, smokers ruled–they were free to light up pretty much wherever they chose. There was absolutely no shame in tossing butts from car windows or stamping them out on sidewalks. We all did it. Now, with so many people having quit, the majority of those still smoking are the highly-addicted ones. My theory is that it takes a lot of denial to remain a smoker in the face of now-known health consequences and anti-smoking social pressure. It follows that someone in denial about smoking would also be stuck in an old consciousness about how they dispose of their cigarette butts. Filling in the rest of the butt-strewn landscape are young smokers positive they’re invincible, plus smokers of any age with an acute don’t-tell-me-what-to-do streak. Whatever its origins, I also deplore that kind of litter.

User Detail :  

Name : J. I., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 56, City : Atlanta, State : GA, Country : United States, Occupation : Voiceover, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Crystal]

I have asked the littering smokers that question & the answers I have received have ranged from ‘The butts are so small it doesn’t make any difference’ to ‘There is no ashtray or receptacle nearby’ to ‘I don’t want to set the garbage can on fire (!) to ‘F*** Off!’ Mostly it seems that there is no suitable receptacle nearby plus the smoker is too lazy/inconsiderate to try to find one or walk an extra block to dispose of his or her rubbish.

User Detail :  

Name : Crystal, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Pagan, Age : 30's, City : Oakland, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : Office Manager, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Elise25305]

This has always bothered me too. Obviously they do not mind the smell of the cigarette so why dont they put the butt out in their ashtray and empty it when they get home. Maybe it is laziness or a complete disregard for the state of our Earth and other people.There should be a number other motorists can call and give a drivers license number too and then those that do throw their butts out the window would get a ticket.

User Detail :  

Name : Elise25305, Gender : F, Age : 19, City : Carlsbad, State : CA, Country : United States, 

[SR28509]

I smoke. Sometimes I flick my cigarette butt into the street just to see how far I can make it go. I love smoking, and getting rid of the butt is not my primary concern. I don’t litter in any other way, and sometimes I stub my cigarettes out on the side of a trash can and throw it away (it depends on my mood). I’m contradictory. I throw butts down and then go home to clean jars to be recycled. I put gum wrappers in my pockets. I think throwing butts down is just a learned behavior – nearly all smokers do it. Ridiculous as it is, I think it’s somehow a more socially acceptable form of littering. If the butts didn’t smell so disgusting, I’d put them in my pocket. I would like to think they are biodegradable, though I believe they probably are not. I have told myself that littering is the same as throwing things away – the only difference is that official trash gets buried in a landfill and we can’t see it. I don’t know if that’s great logic, but it works for me right now. I would never empty an ashtray into the street, though I don’t know why I wouldn’t. That seems like deliberate laziness, whereas throwing a butt down is simply careless.

User Detail :  

Name : SR28509, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 21, City : Austin, State : TX, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, 

[Guy]

Because it’s so easy. It takes little or no effort to drop a butt on the ground (and, hopefully, stomp it out). The thing is, it’s not that hard to do the opposite, either. What I had come to do (as littering butts was bothering my environmentalist conscience) was to knock the fire off the cigarette, empty the remaining tobacco, and stick it in my pocket. I’ve quit smoking now, but I do wish other smokers would show a little thoughtfulness towards others. It’s not that hard.

User Detail :  

Name : Guy, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian Humanist, Age : 43, City : Birmingham, State : AL, Country : United States, Occupation : Cashier/clerk, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, 

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