I can’t believe it. I was at the same gas station that I was at in my earlier blog about smokers and it happened again. A smoker who was standing just outside the front doors of the convenience store took the last draw on his cigarette and casually flicked it toward the gas pumps.
Yes, you heard me right: He flicked it, still lit, toward the gas pumps. He then proceeded to get in his car and started up.
Incensed, I decided to conduct my own little experiment into the mind of a Littering Arrogant Jerk and approached his vehicle as he backed away. Catching his attention, I gave him the international sign language for “Roll your window down you Arrogant Jerk”. Amazingly, he obliged without the slightest clue as to why I might be interested in speaking with him. What followed made me all giggly inside to know that there are people on this planet that are far, far less intelligent than I.
Guessing I was not up against a mental Hercules, I decided to start with an obvious question: “Did you just throw that lit cigarette on the ground?”
“Yeah” came his reply.
Note to reader; this guy was a full-fledged adult, not the teenager you may have been suspecting to this point. Continuing…
“Do you think that was a good idea?” I asked.
“Everyone has their vices.” came his reply.
At this point It occurred to me that he was thinking that I was troubling him because he was smoking. Unless he thinks that littering is actually a ‘vice’, in which case he needs to get out a little. Again, and based on his actions and responses, I am certain this guy is not winning any spelling bees.
“Its not so much a matter of your vices, but an issue of littering and safety.” was my next and admittedly arrogant line. Followed by “We are at a gas station, and you just threw a lit cigarette toward a sign that says ‘No Smoking’. That’s littering and its unsafe.”
“Tell it to someone who cares.” was his final reply. To which I thought “Now there’s a guy on his way somewhere!”
In arrogant disgust, I turned and walked away as he drove off. I hope I got him thinking, at least a little bit. There just isn’t a good reason to be throwing trash around without regard for the space around us. I think this guy was a Dumb Littering Arrogant Jerk with Complete Disregard for Safety. Yes, that will do.
