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Hybrid Cars - The right to litter?

December 20, 2007

About a week ago I witnessed something that was very upsetting to me.

A woman pulled up into the grocery store parking lot and got out of her nice, new, shiny hybrid car.  So far, so good.  I wish I had a Hybrid, but I drive an SUV.

As she opens the door, a bag of McDonalds trash falls out, into the parking lot.  She kicks it a little, does not pick it up, and goes shopping.  She leaves it.

Now, maybe that is not as bad as driving a less efficient car, but it did get me thinking.

Does she feel she has the right to litter because she makes it up by driving a Hybrid?

Does she only drive a Hybrid because it is cool and trendy?

Is she so special that she will not pick up trash, even though she put it there?

I am glad being good to the environment is cool and trendy.  But it is sad when people buy into the trend but not the cause.

- Thank You!

Posted by Ron McDaniel | Filed Under Blog 

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5 Responses to “Hybrid Cars - The right to litter?”

  1. Andrew Kordek on December 21st, 2007 2:53 pm

    Ron,

    To me its a mindset that certain people have. Certainly, Hybrids are all the rage and for this poor person it apparently does not spill over to other parts of her life which is sad. Whether she is serious about the environment is a mystery, but judging by her actions, I would say not.

    The same can be said for the person that drives the Hummer, but collects rainwater to water their garden and has energy saving lightbulbs.

    People sometimes do what is cool with little regard for the overall cause.

    However in this case we are talking about trash. Whether I drive a hummer or a prius a piece of trash is a piece of trash. My thoughts are that no matter what your thoughts are on “going green” or “destroying every last natural resource this planet has” if you made the mess….clean it up. Don’t pick up your trash cause its cool, or because you will look better in the eyes of others, pick it up because as responsible adults we have been taught to clean up after ourselves.

  2. Ron McDaniel on December 21st, 2007 3:53 pm

    I agree. I think people have to be extremely ignorant to think it is OK to throw down garbage - including flicking cigs.

    But this case seems very odd to me.

    As a marketer, I think it is interesting that you can sell a Hybrid car to someone with no care for the environment. Maybe she got it as a gift.

  3. Joe Caruso on December 21st, 2007 8:49 pm

    Ron,

    What’s interesting to is not so much that this pig driving a hybrid dumped her trash in a parking lot. The interesting part (to me) is that you assumed that all hybrid drivers are more concerned for the environment than anyone else. I too drive an SUV. I’m not getting rid of it because it’s very practical for my needs. I do plan on getting a hybrid for to replace another vehicle.

    I don’t litter now, nor will I when I get a hybrid. I also don’t get your response to Andrew’s comment:

    “As a marketer, I think it is interesting that you can sell a Hybrid car to someone with no care for the environment.”

    Do you want people to pass a litmus test to drive a hybrid? As a marketer, your goal should be to sell your product to all demographics, including filthy pigs that want to purchase a hybrid.

  4. Ron McDaniel on December 22nd, 2007 12:58 am

    Thanks Joe

    Actually, my response is not based on a litmus test. I just thing someone did a good job of creating desire in a person that probably should not have been compelled to spend more on a car. To me the only option can be that it is something they can tell their friends about.

    I agree my next car will be a Hybrid too, but that is 2-3 years away.

  5. SKI on December 22nd, 2007 10:55 am

    Hey Ron

    I loved this short test. How many other home viewers got it wrong? Guess we will never know.

    I love Boston Legal now that Alan and Denny are on board. Did you see this week’s show on green? Seems the hybrids cost more in carbon emissions to produce than they ever could save… if we are to believe the dialog. Another test.

    Keep your eyes open, but try to catch people doing the right thing. Perhaps before you could get out of your car and pick up her trash, this homeless guy comes along and beats you to it… but then someone would ask why did it do? Lets not go there.

    Yea, don’t mention that guy the guy was homeless. It detracts from the message: There are good people, and there are bad people.

    The real question: “Which am I?”

    -ski

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