Angry - People Littering...

[Sunfire]

I saw some teenagers (those teenagers that were selling ice-cream) near Y618 yesterday.

One of them threw a drink can on the ground after he had finished.

I felt like picking it up and confronting them, but I was afraid. There were 5-6 of them and only one of me. At most, I would have been beaten up. At least, perhaps I would be hurled insults at.

At the same time, I also didn't think it was really right to pick up their trash and throw it away for them.

What should I have done?

Last time, I also saw people throwing litter in McRitchie, and another person confronted them. Should I confront them? I am Singaporean and afraid.

[budak]

don't blame you for feeling scared. It's disturbing really that conscience, much less a public-minded spirit, seems totally missing from some young people. For the supposed ideals of their age, youths, it seems, are often the most intolerant, illiberal and inconsiderate bunch around.

for me, it depends on how worked up I am. If I have a camera, and the culprits not overly big a group, i might threaten to take and post their pictures online or to the newspapers (or something like Stomp.com.sg). Unfortunately, shame is also something these people lack, so they may not care less.

[AquaObsession]

I tell people! I tell them in this way. I whistle, or make a sound to catch their attention, then just pointed to the litter. Did that twice, both times they picked up. Both times they were younger than me, maybe for an older person or an uncle, I would get more angry and would talk to them about picking it up. Well I am not scared of people usually, except when I am with my gf, just in case I have to take to the heels. He He.

My thoughts: You just have to act like a policeman and tell them nicely. They talk behind your back, do not bother about it, you've done a good action actually. But do not do in a such a way to make the teenager lose face in front of his friends, this is where it can get tricky. So if you need to insult ONE teenager ina group, do not just insult him, but rather talk to the group in general. Less target 'menace' felt by the teens.

Aiyah, are we the few who would carry over long distance a can of beer, coke or an empty bottle when we cannot find a litter box. Hmmmm!

[bryan]

I live next to a 7-11. There is a stone table and stools at the void deck where people will sit and consume their goodies bought from the store. There is a Goddamngiganticgreen trashbin next to the table. Somehow the trash still ends up everywhere but the bin.

[bossteck]

Don't blame you for being scared.

Here's what I would suggest.

Pick up the trash, smile at the person and say 'nevermind, I will throw it away for you", find the nearest trash can and throw it away without looking back. You will achieve 3 things if you do this.
1. You embarass the litter bug without confronting him/her
2. He/she will be too shock to do anything, if they really turn violent, at least you have a headstart.
3. The rubbish gets cleared

[BFG]

Just walk to the offending party, say your piece eg" Please do not litter " or " Please throw your litter at the dustbin " something to that effect and walk away preventing them from retorting back at you.

[fisherw]

Sunfire,

I am not surprised you are afraid. People have been beaten up for just looking (treated as staring), much less a talking-to. Those that are inclined to litter, especially when they are in a group, might be just the sort to feel they can throw their weight around and take it out on you. I have pointed out to kids in school uniform that they are littering and have been ignored. What the old folks would say, "no shame". I am also sorry to say that on occasions, I have taken the "discretion is the better part of valour" route and just kept quiet like you. I am also sorry to say that if a situation did arise because you confronted them, by-standers might just be by-standers and not be involved. It is not something to be proud of but society has become such.

Bryan,

What is a trashbin when at some HBD blocks, there is a trough built under post boxes for junk mail and people cannot even be bothered to just drop it within the trough but outside it. And this is when there is a trashbin two steps away which is too far for some people so the HDB has to spend money to build the trough. A huge ugly thing and a poor poor reflection of society.

But thankfully, not every one is like that but there are enough black sheep to make society look bad. Like AquaObsession, some of us would hold on to our litter until we find a bin. Hopefully this will set a good example to others.

[David Moses Heng]

nowadays people simply doesn't have "liang zhi" anymore. So why get angry with them. Not worth the effort. Simply pray and let God do the rest.

[troyz]

nowadays people simply doesn't have "liang zhi" anymore. So why get angry with them. Not worth the effort. Simply pray and let God do the rest.

yo bro...totaly agree with you...litterbugs will always be litterbugs...some people are like that...it all boils down to their upbringing...i was wondering if their parents is a cleaner...they will think before they throw...i am sad that society has become such...they are not worried of being fine cause they know their parents will pay the fine eventually...the best is to let the proper authorities handle them...the best way is to shame them...make them sweep litter at the beach or hawker centre on weekends...