April 24, 2005
-
Barbarians, Heathens and Trash, Oh My….
When I travel to speak, I spend more time than I normally would at fast food places whenever I need to grab a quick bite. And I’ve taken notice to a nationwide epidemic at these eateries.
Folks leaving behind their trash.
During a layover at a Las Vegas Burger King last week, a father and his 10 yr-old son quietly chomping on Whoppers happened to catch my eye for a few reasons. I thought: 1) Aw, what a nice memory for these two. 2) Where the heck are they going that Dad has this kid out at 1:30 am? 3) No way that kid is going to finish that entire burger — I could barely finish mine!
And surely enough, the kid eventually handed off his valiantly 3/4 eaten burger to Dad. And once Pop polished off the burger… they both stood, got their luggage – and left.
Leaving everything you see in this photo behind!
I was appalled and tempted to just blurt out, ”So, who are you hoping to clean up your mess?”
And I’ve seen even worse time and time again. Huge families having a grand ‘ole time, kids smudgin’ ice cream from their faces and directly onto the table. And when done
eating, they simply just up and leave. I’m talking about at places that have no real official waiter/waitress assigned to service or clean the table (Wendy’s, McDonald’s, etc) – and the poor schlubs that wind up cleaning the mess aren’t ever tipped for it.
But the part that really pisses me off is that the kids in this whole process learn that this is “okay” behavior — from their own parents! And one day hangin’ out as teenagers, they’ll pass it onto their friends at the local mall’s food court and eventually one day… their own kids. And hence, the circle of crap coming full circle.
The actual act of parenting isn’t brain surgery. 90% of it is just setting good examples to follow. From observing my wife’s students along with my 8 years teaching teenagers: Chances are if the kid’s a little s***, you don’t have to look much further than the parents to know why.
I was always brought up hearing sayings like, “Leave someplace a little better than the way you found it” or “What? Are your hands and legs broken or something?”
Some may say I’m just more sensitive being a parent now but even while in college, I was always turning off unattended running faucets in the dorms, chastising basketball players for loudly bouncing balls in the community hall and students who just blatantly spat on the floor – indoors! On carpeting!!!
And by no means am I a: monica geller/save the planet/neat freak — but honestly, where did some of these basic, rudimentary rules of human consideration fall to the wayside with some these people?
Comments (34)
Indeed, I would agree, and American culture as it stands right now isn’t promising at all. It’s a shame these sorts of things aren’t self-punishing (like being an idiot in school – at least you’ll pay for that later on in life) and thus will continue down the generations.
Great point, some people are just like that and there isn’t much you could do about it. I say just lead by your own example and hope (and REALLY hope) that they catch on. <3 Nancy
Totally concur’d.
Even when I get a tiny little ketchup stain in various restaurants (waiters or without) I still wipe it up.
some people think that dorms are just open territory where they can do just about anything in/to the public areas. communal restrooms? no thank you.
actually, in terms of fast food and stuff….i really think north america should hire those table cleaners and etc that they do in asia. it’s more efficient and and more hygienic. that and north american fast food is so slow and getting more and more unattractive that they need to pump up the service a bit to gain back the masses. the only places that seem to do well are food courts now, the stand-alone fast food places in montreal really have very little going for them…and with less people = longer wait times for food = even less incentive to go in and etc. however, of course that’s no excuse for people to lay their trash around if there’s no cleaning ppl. they should really put up signs, because when i first back from asia i totally forgot about doing it until my friends reminded me~
Preach Brother Preach
this is why our Earth is in such bad condition…..
is it just in certain areas that I HAVEN’T been to that does this? Cuz pretty much everywhere I went, it’s clean. The only place I thought they were rude and not clean up after themselves is up in Toronto… by that time, I thought it was a canadian thing, haha.
totally agree. i am a waitress at a restuarant. ppl tip nothing, not even the usually at least if service was terrible 10%..but i smile i am courteous, and i get like a dollar for a $40 meal. great. there is food on the floor, rice everywhere, sauce all over the table..its so disgustin.
or am a delivery girl, and its raining, and ppl take their sweetass time to open the door and then tell me to wait to get their money leaving drenched.
so yes, ppl are pigs. ppl eat worse than pigs. calling messy eaters pigs is to insult the pigs.
when i worked at a restaurant, children would barf on the table and the parents would TELL ME (not ask) to clean it. they wouldn’t even leave a decent tip to compensate…..
now.. where is the decency in THAT! -sigh-
mnfngh. as a broke ass college barista, this hits home -_-’ . . . we give out take away cups so you can TAKE THEM AWAY!? *Grr!*
plus, whatever happened to like schoolhouse rock back in the 80′s that reminded us about these things yo? o.O!?
That is so gross. They actually spat on carpeting? Ugh.
You tell ‘em, Parry.
It could be that they are really visitors and wherever they are from, they have people to clean up after them. I know that after 6 months in Hong Kong, my first trip to a States-side fast food chain, I had to be reminded to throw my own trash away. Mind you, my first 2 months in Hong Kong, I had to be reminded that I could just leave the trash on the table and someone would come clean it up for me. You just get conditioned…by no fault of your own.
my first job was at a fast food restaurant. it is VERY inconsiderate to leave a mess behind.
i also hate it when people leave gum under tables, or garbage in my car.
werrd up
“What? Are your hands and legs broken or something?” …so asian…i hear it at home ALL the time…
my aunt has 4 kids and they are really good about cleanin after themselves…they even chase after napkins that fly away
You go girlfriend
Right on! Dang, this kind of thing gets me so riled up. Parenting is so important! Wait… GOOD parenting is so important.
good parenting fell under the evil sword of tv vegetables
Err, one of my pet peeves is littering. NY is so dirty because people flick cigarette butts on the streets and leave spilled containers of food on the sidewalk.
amen!!! the other day my friend and i had little brats throw trash at our feet while they immaturely ran away laughing because we got slurpies on our feet.. arrgg!!!!!i sooooo feel ya!!!
Funny that you wrote this. I attended a PR student conference last Friday where a buffet lunch was served before the seminars started. After my colleagues were done with their food- they just left their plates, forks, napkins & other crap on the table. I was irritated b/c not only we were representing our school, but I had to clean up after them. But then again, similar to what you said- mannerism tells you a lot about people’s background.
Here here.
You’re right…people have totally forgotten their manners today !!!
loL u tell em’~
hey,
just checking in..
Good post. A+ Once in a while, someone voices in a clear and concise manner one of the problems that bother me about this world. And this is such a post.
ugh i hate when you politely remind people to throw away their trash, and they respond it’s someone else’s problem. and two props are a well written post about a topic that makes you wish that etiquette was a mandatory class in elementary
very true.
Excellent point! it’s so easy to clean up — just takes a few seconds. The other thing that is easy that people don’t do is recycle, especially in places where there are good programs in place that make it convenient. And in those places that don’t have recycling programs… hurry up and get them!
mm, as a teacher I totally feel your pain. Kinda scary how the ones who are supposed to be of “mature age”, I realized more than ever how dealing with students in general, no matter what age, it’s the same damn thing over and over.
Very nice use of your internet soap box
Hi……..
I’ve heard you worked on Tru Calling season 2….and…..as it is cancelled…..do you know if there is a DVD coming out?
I agree. I tend to be the same (turning off unattended faucets, etc).
I should have visited you when you were in Vegas for those two hours. We’ve spoken on the phone before. I supported your granit tile thing. Well I should have visited you!!
hi parry
this might be a useful addition to your posts ::
http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/TV/05/02/tv.asianrepresentation.ap/index.html