What to do about someone who litters?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around how to address a classmate who consistently litters by leaving drink cups behind in the classroom. Participants explore various approaches to confront or report the behavior, considering the social dynamics and potential consequences of their actions.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses frustration over a classmate's repeated littering and contemplates whether to confront him directly or report him to the teacher.
  • Another suggests a subtle approach, recommending to quietly draw attention to the litter without causing embarrassment, as confrontation might provoke stubbornness.
  • Some participants advocate for directly calling out the behavior in a non-abrasive manner, framing it as looking out for the classmate's interests.
  • Concerns are raised about the broader issue of littering, with references to personal experiences that highlight the emotional impact of witnessing littering behavior.
  • A few participants suggest that the availability of trash cans might influence littering behavior, proposing that addressing infrastructure could be a solution.
  • Humorous or sarcastic suggestions are made, such as presenting the litterer with a mock award for being inconsiderate.
  • Some participants share past experiences of attempting to correct littering behavior, noting that such attempts can lead to negative responses.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best approach to take. Various strategies are proposed, with differing opinions on whether direct confrontation or reporting to authority figures is more effective.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention the emotional toll of witnessing littering and the potential for social dynamics to complicate direct confrontation. There are also references to the adequacy of trash disposal options in the classroom environment, which may affect littering behavior.

  • #31
B. Elliott said:
"Hey, I think you almost accidentally left this trash there". Mention that you're just looking out for him so that he doesn't get in trouble by the teacher.
I hate that stuff. It's lying to make people feel better. He did not "accidentally" leave trash there, nor does the dude care about the law. If you're going to use words, just tell him to clean up after himself.

Better yet, clean up after him regardless. There is no reason to say because someone else left trash lying around, that everyone else lacks responsibility to clean it up. When he sees someone else cleaning up his trash that is not employed to do it, that makes a realer impact than words.
 

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