Cigarette butts are the single greatest source of ocean trash • Hacker News Board

Re: Cigarette butts are the single greatest source of ocean trash

#11

Post by craigsmansion » Sat, Jan 05, 2019, 10:02 AM UTC

woodruffw wrote: post #5

Only tangentially related, but I am continually astonished by the absence of any sort of social norms surrounding cigarette butt disposal. I have (otherwise environmentally conscious!) friends who smoke, and I've personally witnessed them flick their cigarettes into gutters and on streets. As a serious question, without judgment: are there any smokers on HN who can explain the phenomenon?

I think it's because the butt is usually made to resemble some natural material like cork.

Since the rest of it (paper, tobacco, and ashes) is easily degradable, I think the natural assumption is the butt is degradable as well, and the notion that every other smoker seems to think so isn't helping.

So to answer the question: I suspect it's simply a lack of information. As a data point I'll add that I stopped deposing them right away a long time ago, because I suspected they might not be easily degradable, but this is actually the first time I've read this is the case.

If I'm correct I see no harm in correcting friends who smoke in their behaviour. They are simply unaware.

Re: Cigarette butts are the single greatest source of ocean trash

#12

Post by matz1 » Sat, Jan 05, 2019, 10:03 AM UTC

woodruffw wrote: post #5

Only tangentially related, but I am continually astonished by the absence of any sort of social norms surrounding cigarette butt disposal. I have (otherwise environmentally conscious!) friends who smoke, and I've personally witnessed them flick their cigarettes into gutters and on streets. As a serious question, without judgment: are there any smokers on HN who can explain the phenomenon?

What is there to explain? Its convenient.

Re: Cigarette butts are the single greatest source of ocean trash

#13

Post by black-tea » Sat, Jan 05, 2019, 10:03 AM UTC

woodruffw wrote: post #5

Only tangentially related, but I am continually astonished by the absence of any sort of social norms surrounding cigarette butt disposal. I have (otherwise environmentally conscious!) friends who smoke, and I've personally witnessed them flick their cigarettes into gutters and on streets. As a serious question, without judgment: are there any smokers on HN who can explain the phenomenon?

I think people think they are biodegradable.

Re: Cigarette butts are the single greatest source of ocean trash

#14

Post by menzoic » Sat, Jan 05, 2019, 10:04 AM UTC

By mass or quantity?

Re: Cigarette butts are the single greatest source of ocean trash

#15

Post by lmilcin » Sat, Jan 05, 2019, 10:04 AM UTC

woodruffw wrote: post #5

Only tangentially related, but I am continually astonished by the absence of any sort of social norms surrounding cigarette butt disposal. I have (otherwise environmentally conscious!) friends who smoke, and I've personally witnessed them flick their cigarettes into gutters and on streets. As a serious question, without judgment: are there any smokers on HN who can explain the phenomenon?

I think it is related to people not cleaning after their dogs and throwing their thrash on the street or in the woods.

These are people who just don't give a shit about other people and only act like they care when it is convenient or necessary.

I know a couple of smokers that will make sure they have a place to dispose their butt after they are finished and I know some that will dispose them only when somebody is watching (yeah, we have windows in offices, too...)

Re: Cigarette butts are the single greatest source of ocean trash

#16

Post by lmilcin » Sat, Jan 05, 2019, 10:10 AM UTC

chrisseaton wrote: post #9

woodruffw wrote: post #5

Only tangentially related, but I am continually astonished by the absence of any sort of social norms surrounding cigarette butt disposal. I have (otherwise environmentally conscious!) friends who smoke, and I've personally witnessed them flick their cigarettes into gutters and on streets. As a serious question, without judgment: are there any smokers on HN who can explain the phenomenon?

> are there any smokers on HN who can explain the phenomenon? Smokers aren't exactly known for their good judgement, manners and consideration for others in the first place, are they?

Smoking is addiction that is demonstrably bad for your health and has no benefits.

I grew up in an environment where smoking was encouraged and I can understand a person that conforms to their buddies. I have personally never tasted it but when I was teen virtually everybody smoked and it took a lot of willpower to withstand the pressure.

I think these days, in western world, except for schools, low income neighborhoods and low income jobs to be smoking means you have not enough willpower to end it. I would say most middle class people and office workers do not encourage smoking or will actively discourage it and smoking is mostly treated as a disease.

Re: Cigarette butts are the single greatest source of ocean trash

#17

Post by 0xFFC » Sat, Jan 05, 2019, 10:11 AM UTC

chrisseaton wrote: post #9

woodruffw wrote: post #5

Only tangentially related, but I am continually astonished by the absence of any sort of social norms surrounding cigarette butt disposal. I have (otherwise environmentally conscious!) friends who smoke, and I've personally witnessed them flick their cigarettes into gutters and on streets. As a serious question, without judgment: are there any smokers on HN who can explain the phenomenon?

> are there any smokers on HN who can explain the phenomenon? Smokers aren't exactly known for their good judgement, manners and consideration for others in the first place, are they?

Speak for yourself!

Re: Cigarette butts are the single greatest source of ocean trash

#18

Post by lmilcin » Sat, Jan 05, 2019, 10:13 AM UTC

menzoic wrote: post #14

By mass or quantity?

By who pays the person, it seems like a promotional article. The article is a joke. Just because it floats on beaches doesn't mean the entire ocean is polluted the same way. Also we already know what is floating in the oceans, there are numerous studies.

Re: Cigarette butts are the single greatest source of ocean trash

#19

Post by jobigoud » Sat, Jan 05, 2019, 10:14 AM UTC

This reads as a good news somehow, because it sounds like a solvable problem.

Re: Cigarette butts are the single greatest source of ocean trash

#20

Post by homero » Sat, Jan 05, 2019, 10:14 AM UTC

craigsmansion wrote: post #11

woodruffw wrote: post #5

Only tangentially related, but I am continually astonished by the absence of any sort of social norms surrounding cigarette butt disposal. I have (otherwise environmentally conscious!) friends who smoke, and I've personally witnessed them flick their cigarettes into gutters and on streets. As a serious question, without judgment: are there any smokers on HN who can explain the phenomenon?

I think it's because the butt is usually made to resemble some natural material like cork. Since the rest of it (paper, tobacco, and ashes) is easily degradable, I think the natural assumption is the butt is degradable as well, and the notion that every other smoker seems to think so isn't helping. So to answer the question: I suspect it's simply a lack of information. As a data point I'll add that I stopped deposing…

Yeah i thought it was biodegradable and thought they would melt away.