Was everyone in the eighties much more likely to throw trash out of the car? Could it be a Southern thing?

[CZroe]

These days people are much more environmentally-conscious and hardly anyone would even dream of throwing even the smallest bit of trash out the car window (except for cigarrettes); if not simply because of what everyone else would think. The other day I gave someone I know a ride to the other side of town. I handed him a bottle and asked him to hold it for a second (So I could steer into the parking space). He told me to "watch this" as he rolled down his window and threw it into the parking lot. He followed that with a proud grin and seemingly waited for my approval of his clever disposal technique. I ripped into him. Could he have done anything to look more trashy?! We parked and I walked back two parking spaces to get it and drop it in the trash on our way in. I told him "There are trash cans everywhere you could be going to or coming from. Are you totally unable to tolerate having an empty bottle near you until we get there or are you just too lazy to take two steps to the left before entering the building?"

Anyway, when I realized how out-of-the-question disposing trash like that was and how it would never even occur to me or any of my friends, I remembered how prevalent it was in the eighties.

In the eighties I can't seem to remember ever seeing a 16oz Coke bottle (The normal size for an Eighties bottle in Georgia) go in the trash. It was always right out the window and onto the side of the road. I saw EVERYONE throw their trash out without even thinking there was anything wrong with it. They always told me to throw my trash out too. When did things change? Was it all the anti-litter stuff in the media? Does that P.C. stuff actualy work?!

There is one other explanation I can think of. In the eighties everyone in my town was a redneck. Now it's about 10 times the population and virtually no one is even from this state. So has anyone experienced this phenom elsewhere?

Oh, and why the hell does everyone still throw their cigarrettes out the window?! That's what the ash-tray in your car is for dumb-ass!

 

[Spoooon]

I don't really notice people throwing trash out as they're driving, but one thing is those pick up trucks with crap in the back that flys out as they're driving down the highway. People should be responsible for that stuff.

 

[iwearnosox]

Oh, and why the hell does everyone still throw their cigarrettes out the window?! That's what the ash-tray in your car is for dumb-ass!

I agree- and more often than not it winds up in my vent or I at least get a puff of it in my car when driving behind these people. It's disgusting.

 

[IBuyUFO]

It's neither a remnant from the 80's or a southern thing but rather a white trash, black trash, chinese trash and all other race trash. you get the point. Ignorance runs across all racial lines believe it or not.

 

[CZroe]

I do know one other guy who always tries to hit road signs and stuff with whatever he can grab... Fast-food bags, 20oz bottles, etc. His truck gets so filled up with those things because that's the only way they ever get out. Though it is wrong, he's not doing it as a disposal method.