YourHub.com \\ Old Colorado City \\ Pete Van Vuren 's Blogs

Another Incorrigible Objectivist (AIO)

AIO discusses Colorado Springs issues usually focusing on the west side and / or Broadmoor areas. As for the blog name, I have been referred to as incorrigible and untrainable for over 40 years. I was the only 5 year old in my kindergarden class that knew the word and what it meant. Twenty years later, I became a avid Ayn Rand fan, and think everyone should read Atlas Shrugged.

Blog Url: http://coloradosprings.yourhub.com/~incorrigible

Smokers: Whats Up with That?!?!

e-mail to a friend | print this | link to this

NEXT › ‹ PREVIOUS

Contributed by: Pete Van Vuren on 3/4/2008

I was driving across town yesterday, when I witnessed one of my major pet peeves in life. As I pull up to a stop light, the driver of the car next to me takes a final drag from her cigarette and then as she exhales she flicks the cigarette butt out the window. Now in the overall big picture, this very small action is not probably not worthy. On the other hand, can anyone explain to me why so many smokers seem to think that this is ok behavior? I admit, it was not the classic red flag fire day situation. I had no fear that this rogue cigarette would start anything on fire or cause any damage beyond being a small piece of litter. Yet, it still strikes me as a major lack of respect.

As I pondered the situation and my mild anger at seeing it, several random thoughts came to mind. Why does it bother me? It is not like Colorado Springs is a spotless city without it's share of litter. It wasn't really any fire threat from this cigarette landing in the middle of a large piece of blacktop on a chilly day. I even caught myself thinking that I was glad the cigarette tax was so high, and how much I enjoy smokers having to leave a bar now to smoke. I considered that even though I am not a smoker, I have never had an issue being in smoke filled rooms. Yet, the attitude of "it's ok for me to careless toss my cigarette butt out any window" set off a hostility inside me that has come back to mind several times in the past day. Maybe we add another dollar per pack tax to cigarettes and that money go to road cleanup projects.

So to all you smokers out there, I ask what's up with the attitude that the world is your ashtray? Why do so many of you seem to see this as totally acceptable behavior?

[Report this as objectionable content.]

SUBMIT COMMENT

Rate the above blog