Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC
Dear PoPville,
In light of the recent assault at 14th and W Streets by a man who had been asked to pick up his litter, I suggest you open a thread on how to address someone who has thrown trash on the ground. I simply say, “Hey, I respect you and wouldn’t throw my trash in front of where you live. Would you mind returning the same respect to me, and put that in a garbage can?” Maybe I’ve just been lucky, but this line has worked on each of three occasions when I’ve used it. It prevents what is a simple appeal to civic duty from sounding like a command.