Why is it "OK" to throw cigarette butts on the ground?

javaboy · 18-07-2008 04:54PM

Dataisgod wrote: »

While not ideal I do think this is fair enough. If you're willing to hold onto the butt until a bin turns up but with exceptional circumstances i.e. bus turns up not much you can do!

Exceptional circumstances? Who'd have thought a bus of all things might turn up at the bus stop I'm waiting at? :eek:

If you're not willing to stub the butt out and keep it with you until you can find a bin, don't smoke. I know plenty of smokers who I never see throw a butt to the ground. Why should there be special exemptions to littering rules for smokers?

Wibbs · 18-07-2008 05:38PM

Naw that's bad.

Rb · 18-07-2008 06:43PM

I'd never throw chewing gum or any rubbish on the ground, including the plastic wrapper on cigarette packs. Why? They're easy to hold on to until you're at a bin.

Cigarette butts, however, are not. If there's no bin around it's going on the ground, simple as.

In New York I was able to use a bin every time I had a cigarette because there was so many of them around. Unforuntately the same can't be said about any city in Ireland.

Things like cans, packets of crisps are all noticeable and therefore make the place look a state if left lying around our streets. Chewing gum is filthy as it sticks to our shoes and is harmful to animals. Cigarette butts, however, harm noone and unless they're in a large group are, for the most part, unnoticeable.

Mimikyu · 18-07-2008 06:44PM

This post has been deleted.

javaboy · 18-07-2008 06:47PM

Rb wrote: »

Cigarette butts, however, are not. If there's no bin around it's going on the ground, simple as.

In New York I was able to use a bin every time I had a cigarette because there was so many of them around. Unforuntately the same can't be said about any city in Ireland.

Sundy wrote: »

There isnt always a toilet around when i need to go but i never sh1t on the street

If you know there's not going to be a bin around, bring something with you to stow your butt until you find a bin or else don't smoke. Simple as.

javaboy · 18-07-2008 06:49PM

Solitaryman666 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Yeah maybe but I for one wouldn't be one of the ones complaining. I don't mind being around people who smell like smoke. I do have a problem with people littering and coming up with crappy excuses why they should be allowed get away with it.

Mimikyu · 18-07-2008 06:50PM

This post has been deleted.

Mimikyu · 18-07-2008 06:53PM

This post has been deleted.

javaboy · 18-07-2008 06:55PM

Solitaryman666 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Why not bring a cigarette butt holder like this one around with you?

It's up to you to make sure you can smoke without littering. If the council haven't made enough bins available (which they haven't. I won't argue with that.) then work around the problem. Don't pretend littering is your only option. That's no better than someone who chews chewing gum spitting it on the ground when it has lost it's flavour.

Rb · 18-07-2008 06:56PM

javaboy wrote: »

If you know there's not going to be a bin around, bring something with you to stow your butt until you find a bin or else don't smoke. Simple as.

Nah.

If there's a bin around, I'll use it. If not, well then maybe the local county council should consider installing them as they'll be the one paying for it to be cleaned up.

Rb · 18-07-2008 06:58PM

javaboy wrote: »

That's no better than someone who chews chewing gum spitting it on the ground when it has lost it's flavour.

See my post above, it certainly is better. Little children, animals etc could pick up chewing gum which would be dangerous, it also gets stuck to peoples shoes.

Cigarette butts don't. Also, chewing gum comes with something to put it in after its lost its taste (i.e the silver wrapping), cigarettes don't.

javaboy · 18-07-2008 06:58PM

Rb wrote: »

Nah.

If there's a bin around, I'll use it. If not, well then maybe the local county council should consider installing them as they'll be the one paying for it to be cleaned up.

So what is it some kind of civil disobedience or something?

There's no good excuse for throwing your cigarette butt on the ground. I'm still waiting to hear one.

It seems a bit odd to me that almost everybody frowns on littering but cigarette butts seem to get some kind of special exemption.

javaboy · 18-07-2008 07:00PM

Rb wrote: »

See my post above, it certainly is better. Little children, animals etc could pick up chewing gum which would be dangerous, it also gets stuck to peoples shoes.

Cigarette butts don't. Also, chewing gum comes with something to put it in after its lost its taste (i.e the silver wrapping), cigarettes don't.

And is it beyond you to buy something to put your cigarette butt in?

j1smithy · 18-07-2008 07:01PM

Damomayo wrote: »

Its a disgusting habit and littering then only confirms that the ppl that smoke are ignorant of the ppl around them. Bad enough we have to put up with passive smoking outside without them littering as well. Keep increasing price of cigs i think IMO

(Rant over)

I couldn't agree more. In these lean times perhaps its time for another tax hike on the packet of cigs. Might help pay for our ailing health system which is clogged with smokers.

Mimikyu · 18-07-2008 07:06PM

This post has been deleted.

Mimikyu · 18-07-2008 07:09PM

This post has been deleted.

Rb · 18-07-2008 07:10PM

javaboy wrote: »

So what is it some kind of civil disobedience or something?

There's no good excuse for throwing your cigarette butt on the ground. I'm still waiting to hear one.

It seems a bit odd to me that almost everybody frowns on littering but cigarette butts seem to get some kind of special exemption.

Cigarette butts are different to coke cans, crisp packets etc. and are certainly different to chewing gum. If you don't get that then meh, not my problem.

I know it's still littering but certainly not to the same extent.

I'd be much more concerned about the absolutely tragic amount of crap we're sticking in landfills every year, or those who still refuse to recycle, than people flicking cigarette butts around.

javaboy wrote: »

And is it beyond you to buy something to put your cigarette butt in?

Because they absolutely stink.

j1smithy wrote:

I couldn't agree more. In these lean times perhaps its time for another tax hike on the packet of cigs. Might help pay for our ailing health system which is clogged with smokers.

Wow another stupid comment from you today. How about we multiply the price of alcohol x2 to try to support the sheer amount of people who get addicted to it and destroy their lives, who end up homeless? How about to support the husbands and wives of abusive alcoholics who they have to deal with every night? How about to support the kids of abusive alcoholic children?

Oh but that wouldn't suit you, would it? Since I presume you like the odd pint or so?

Cigarette prices go up much more and there'll be a much larger black market of cigs from abroad, the government will lose out a huge amount of tax revenue and the health system will suffer massively.

You obviously know loads about the health system too :rolleyes:

javaboy · 18-07-2008 07:10PM

Solitaryman666 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Yeah it is weird all right. It seems to be socially acceptable even to a lot of non-smokers.

Rb · 18-07-2008 07:12PM

Solitaryman666 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I'm leaning towards labelling it trolling, surely noone could really believe such tripe?

javaboy · 18-07-2008 07:14PM

Rb wrote: »

Cigarette butts are different to coke cans, crisp packets etc. and are certainly different to chewing gum. If you don't get that then meh, not my problem.

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one.

I know it's still littering but certainly not to the same extent.

So you decide to what extent littering is ok?

I'd be much more concerned about the absolutely tragic amount of crap we're sticking in landfills every year, or those who still refuse to recycle, than people flicking cigarette butts around.

So would I. But I don't think that just because there are bigger problems, that we can use that as an excuse to ignore smaller ones.

Because they absolutely stink.

You can buy holders that are airtight and won't leak the smell out.

Mimikyu · 18-07-2008 07:17PM

This post has been deleted.

Mimikyu · 18-07-2008 07:21PM

This post has been deleted.

Mimikyu · 18-07-2008 07:22PM

This post has been deleted.

galwayrush · 18-07-2008 07:24PM

I reckon assholes that throw their butts on the ground should be made eat them after a public flogging.

javaboy · 18-07-2008 07:25PM

Solitaryman666 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Honestly I don't know. I'd say you'd probably find them in some of the tobacco shops or general gadget/rubbish shops e.g. banana tree

j1smithy · 18-07-2008 07:25PM

Solitaryman666 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

It is rather lonely up here, thats probably because I cannot see anyone beneath me due to a thick layer of smoke.

Back to the OP, cig butts are a problem, but bins aren't the solution apparently. On the way home on a night out I pass a few pubs, all with those today fm cig bins outside, yet the ground is still covered in them. Some people have no respect for our environment.

javaboy · 18-07-2008 07:32PM

j1smithy wrote: »

Back to the OP, cig butts are a problem, but bins aren't the solution apparently. On the way home on a night out I pass a few pubs, all with those today fm cig bins outside, yet the ground is still covered in them. Some people have no respect for our environment.

In fairness though not all smokers are that ignorant. It's a lot easier to see the butts that ended up on the ground than the ones that were put in the bin.

Mimikyu · 18-07-2008 07:37PM

This post has been deleted.

j1smithy · 18-07-2008 07:49PM

Solitaryman666 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Perhaps hold it in your hand until you find a bin? In Dublin, there is no shortage of receptacles for rubbish.[every 20 to 40m on the city centre] Not binning them is just laziness, plain and simple.

Mimikyu · 18-07-2008 07:53PM

This post has been deleted.

Why is it "OK" to throw cigarette butts on the ground?

Comments