Shopping trolley theory - be honest!

[texasholden]

The theory is that if you return it you’re a good person and if you don’t then you’re a shit person.

Shopping Cart Theory suggests the ultimate way to test moral goodness is to see whether or not someone will do the “right” thing in the absence of accountability, consequence, or reward.

Have you ever not bothered?

Eh?

I’ve not bothered returning it when I’ve had a screaming baby/ toddler in the car and the parent and child spaces are not close to the trolley bays.

Well if it’s true it’s nice to know vast majority of people fall under good people.

9 times out of 10 I do…

I always take it back, there’s been only one time ever that I didnt - it was pissing with rain, ds was a baby and I was parked quite far from the shop - my only options were carry him back to the car across the car park in the rain or leave him in the car while I took the trolley back and despite this I felt really guilty lol

so maybe I’m a good person unless it’s raining 😂

Who came up with that "theory"?

Yes, I do return it. Because I want my trolley token back 😅

They all have money in them these days don’t they? So the test doesn’t really work because you’re giving up something by not returning it, in other words there’s a ‘reward’ for returning it.

I do return it now but there were a few times when all the kids were small that I only deposited it in the main pedestrian thoroughfare, not the trolley park.

So, yeah, I'm mostly a good person but I'm not wedded to it under duress. That sounds about right.

Ridiculous to think you can define someone as either good or bad based on whether they put a trolley back or not.

The only supermarkets local to me that do are Lidl and Aldi. I know some shops like Morrisons do in certain areas but it's far from universal.

My dh told me about this last year after he watched me put our trolly back then some lazy arses. It got us thinking. But i disagree there are no consequences. Because:

a loose trolly could roll and hit a car

people copy others so the more people who don't put them back create more people who dont put them back, so higher chance of cars getting hit. Eventually that will be my car.

you have to get out of your car to move them to park

but i guess the consequences dont happen yo the perpetrator immediately, or ever.

Based on their actions?

It’s just about making life a bit easier for minimum wage employees. See people that push plates to the end of the tables in restaurants so staff don’t have to reach over them, people who strip the hotel bed before leaving to make it a tiny bit easier for housekeeping, people who don’t pull everything off the shelves in primark/h&m/the supermarket. It’s about being a decent fucking human being.

Most of the time I do. But there's been odd occasions I haven't. Examples DC having an epic meltdown. Couldn't leave them in car to return or take in the trolley and carry them back would be dangerous
Ds tripped getting in car and cut head open badly
Couple times simply couldn't be bothered.
That's about 5 x £1 coins I'll never get back...lighthearted !!!!

All supermarkets where I live need a coin...so nice people can leave a trolley tidily somewhere for the trolley collector to pocket the euro. Im not nice and always return my trolley to get my coin back.

That’s why it’s a theory … anyone can create a theory, doesn’t mean it’s true or based on scientific facts.

Waitrose doesn’t usually but the wheels lock if you take it out of bounds so you can’t steal it or use it in another shop or anything. When I shop in person I always go there over Sainsbury’s because I never have a £1 on me! But yes I always return it!

I’m fairness I meant to put this in Chat.

But thankfully everyone else (apart from you) understood it.

I used to but since the days when I've had to scan and pack all my own shopping I leave the trolley for someone else to put away because shopping used to be an ok experience now it's just fucking knackering.

They can bloody well pay someone to put my trolley away - i've helped to create a job that way.

Based on one action. Or inaction.

No based on one small action.
You don't see how this is a ridiculous theory?
OK, let me give you a brilliant example of how stupid this theory is...
My dad is inside for murder.
He always put the shopping trolley away.
True story by the way.
So according to this theory he's a good guy! Riiiiight!

I used to work in a supermarket and my fave job was collecting trolleys. No one hassling me. Could put my headphones in. Didn't have to make conversation. Used to actively annoy me if people pushed them back as I wanted that excuse to walk to the far end of the car park. Obviously don't speak for all trolley pushers and generally do take mine back but it's not as if a supermarket worker will be allowed to simply do nothing if everyone takes trolleys back. Chances are they will be given a job they hate more - like checkouts - the absolute worst!

However, I agree with the trolleys blowing round the car park being a menace which is why I generally put mine in the shelter!

Good Lord. Why are you so wound up and angry over a theory.

You could argue that leaving them strewn across the car park is job creation and therefore in the interests of the greater good.