Monday, June 29, 2026 Sign In

A Butt by Any Other Name

A cigarette butt is the worst kind of trash.

There is seemingly, a total disregard for the act of knowingly discarding trash in public areas. If I were to take a poll, I am certain I would get almost 100 percent confirmation that no one would personally commit such a thoughtless act.

I had the recent experience, while on the bike/walk path, of watching two ladies in conversation, one of them smoking. As I watched, the smoker dropped her cigarette to the ground and stepped on it. They then turned and began to walk toward me.

As they approached, I politely said, “Excuse me.” They smiled and asked if I was a lost tourist. I explained I was a local and then asked if either of them would be upset to see a tourist, or any other person, deliberately throw trash along the path. Their bemused, questioning smiles followed as the smoker said, “Probably,” and asked if I was “taking a survey or something.”