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Cigarette butts are the single greatest source of ocean trash

nbcnews.com

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

#21

Post by DanBC »

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 don't smoke and have never smoked)

For some people it's as simple as not wanting to carry around some dirty stinking cigarette butts. Portable ashtrays are sometimes produced, but they never seem to catch on.

And we shouldn't ignore the power of the really strong habit they've formed of flicking them away.

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

#22

Post by baddox »

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?

I can perhaps see your point for judgment, simply since smoking isn’t great for one’s health (though I don’t see any reason to believe that extends to their overall judgment), but what makes you think that manners and consideration have any correlation? Consider that, by definition, you’re never bothered by all the smokers who avoid smoking in inconsiderate locations.

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

#23

Post by darkpuma »

baddox wrote: post #22
chrisseaton wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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?

I can perhaps see your point for judgment, simply since smoking isn’t great for one’s health (though I don’t see any reason to believe that extends to their overall judgment), but what makes you think that manners and consideration have any correlation? Consider that, by definition, you’re never bothered by all the smokers who avoid smoking in inconsiderate locations.

Everybody knows who the smokers are, even if they don't witness them smoking, so this old selection bias argument doesn't apply. (It's because smokers universally reek.)

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

#24

Post by jason_slack »

There is a company, TerraCycle, that has a cigarette recycling program:

https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/collection-programs?utf8=%E...

Fun fact, this same company had a tv show: https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/human-resources-season...

More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TerraCycle

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

#25

Post by Al-Khwarizmi »

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?

Honestly I have always just attributed it to most smokers being rude and selfish. The same reason why they never bother to ask if it's OK to start emitting poisonous smoke near you.

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

#26

Post by baddox »

darkpuma wrote: post #23
baddox wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can perhaps see your point for judgment, simply since smoking isn’t great for one’s health (though I don’t see any reason to believe that extends to their overall judgment), but what makes you think that manners and consideration have any correlation? Consider that, by definition, you’re never bothered by all the smokers who avoid smoking in inconsiderate locations.

Everybody knows who the smokers are, even if they don't witness them smoking, so this old selection bias argument doesn't apply. (It's because smokers universally reek.)

Are you saying it’s inconsiderate for people to not smell how you want them to smell? I don’t think I have any right to expect other people to smell a certain way or to not have a detectable smell, barring obvious extreme cases of avoidable bad hygiene.

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

#27

Post by state_less »

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?

From the article:

In one focus group cited in industry documents, smokers said tossing their butts to the ground was “a natural extension of the defiant/rebellious smoking ritual.”

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

#28

Post by chrisseaton »

baddox wrote: post #26
darkpuma wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Everybody knows who the smokers are, even if they don't witness them smoking, so this old selection bias argument doesn't apply. (It's because smokers universally reek.)

Are you saying it’s inconsiderate for people to not smell how you want them to smell? I don’t think I have any right to expect other people to smell a certain way or to not have a detectable smell, barring obvious extreme cases of avoidable bad hygiene.

You know that smell is literally fumes that cause cancer, right?

Any nobody said it was infringing on any rights - we said it was inconsiderate.

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

#30

Post by jcoffland »

Synaesthesia wrote: post #10

Quote from article: A leading tobacco industry academic, a California lawmaker and a worldwide surfing organization are among those arguing cigarette filters should be banned. The nascent campaign hopes to be bolstered by linking activists focused on human health with those focused on the environment. “It’s pretty clear there is no health benefit from filters. They are just a marketing tool. And they make it easier f…

I smoked both when I was younger and dumber. Unfiltered cigarettes turn your fingers, lips and teeth brown.
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