Why do some smokers (not all) think that the ground is their personal ash tray?

Question

I work grounds keeping at a motel. Every morning I pick up no less than 40 butts off the ground. Most of them are with in reach of a garbage can. What gives?

Answer 1

Generally not an ashtray in a convient spot.. or there is no where designated that they're allowed to smoke... or we tried to flick it into the can and it didn't make it, or we put it out with a shoe. Yes, I smoke occassionally, and I won't lie... part of it is laziness.. and part of it is frustration because if there dare be a person within a mile radius of when we do smoke, we get complained at.
If there is an ashtray nearby though, I always use it. I just can't stand it when there isn't any... especially in restaurants where it is still allowed, and the waitress doesn't seem to want to go grab one after being asked.
I'm sorry you get stuck doing that.. what it really sounds like is that you're frustrated about your job. I'm sure that you pick up more than ciggarette butts during the day...

Answer 2

well i just read all the answers so far and i'm a smoker and i dont flick my butts on the ground and yes i do flick my butts out the window of my car cause my ashtray is under the cup holder and right by the stick shift i know thats not an excuse but i dont want to take my eyes off the road just to make sure my butt got into the ashtray so what would you rather have me flick my butts out the window or wreak my car and maybe hurting you or a loved one ?? i know most of you will say stop smoking all together and it wont be a problem but its not that easy. i dont like it when other smoker flick their butts on the ground i went to a 3 day party one time and I a smoker stayed the last day and walked the grounds picking up butts and other trash. so dont be so hard on all us smokers only some of us are a$$es

Answer 3

In Australia, there are large signs posted that state: Our beach is not an ashtray.
Smokers are terribly inconsiderate. At almost every stop light, or stop sign, there is a pile of cigarette butts that have simply been flicked on the ground and left there, presumably for the good fairies to pick up. These butts, almost all filter-tips, are not biodegradable. They last almost forever, and in areas around the waterfront, are responsible for the death of countless sea animals and fish. If people want to smoke, that's their decision, but inflicting their garbage on everyone else isn't fair. Why not carry a small plastic canister (like a film canister) to store your butts in until you get home and can put them in the garbage. Would that be so hard to do?

Answer 4

As the number of smokers declines what you are left with is a group who, being blunt, is both stupid and aggressive. Bad combination anytime. Forget about the stupidity since we all recognize it. The aggression part is the hard one to deal with. People who are aggressive tend to care less about other people's feelings. Their attitude towards the world is basically "f*ck you". Sure, they can see that their butts are littering the ground but they don't care. Their hostility is more important to them than what their surroundings look like. And the fact that it annoys you makes them all the more eager to continue their actions.

Answer 5

We smokers are lazy to lean over for an ash tray...My mother says the same,I turned the whole place to an ash tray...My husband just gave up(he just complains about cigarette butts in bed.In my case it comes from fact that in Canada I can't smoke almost anywhere(bars,shopping malls),in my home country Czech rep.I can smoke everywhere...Well,so here in Canada I smoke usually outside the bar or shopping mall etc.and I don't need an ashtray,so I just got used to to drop ash wherever I want to...

Answer 6

Some people ask why smokers are so discriminated against. That is one reason right there. Lack of respect of others. Smoking around people without asking its ok. Throwing their butts and wrappers everywhere. Someone needs to write some smoking etiquette and they need to put that on the back of every pack.

Answer 7

I agree with you, and it's sheer laziness. I'm a smoker, but I'm also a nature worshipping treehugger and I field strip my cigarette butts and stick them back in the plastic wrapper of the pack if I'm not near an ashtray or trash can. It takes 78 years for a cigarette filter to biodegrade and I'll not see my surroundings littered with them from my doings.

Answer 8

You are expecting too much from smokers. First of all, they are smokers. Therefore, they do not care about their own health. In addition, they do not care about the health of others when they smoke near US. Now, you are asking for smokers to pick up their own trash? Why would they give a damn about a little trash when they are killing themselves and others through second hand smoke?

Answer 9

Great question. I'm a college student (well TAFE in Australia but 'college' to the rest of the world lol) and I spend time picking up butts myself because it's not fair to the groundskeepers to have to do it when there's bins provided.

It's probably force of habit - mind you, these people wouldn't do it in their own homes. They probably flick their butts and hope to reach the bin but don't quite make it?

I honestly don't know but thank goodness for dedicated staff like yourself - you are the unsung heroes of society!

Meg

Answer 10

I figure smokers who throw the butts on the ground are similar to habitual litter-droppers. It hasn't dawned on them that the world isn't like their mama's house, and there's nobody walking around behind them tirelessly picking everything up so they don't have to.