A toddler literally has no sense of morality, and literally does not understand the difference between right and wrong.

At that age we are biologically programmed to be wholly selfish creatures.

The woman was an advlt and from advlts I expect civil and honest behaviour.

Stealing is wrong. It is even more wrong when done to people that are easy targets because they for one reason or another can not defend themselves.

The elderly, the infirm, crimes commited against the vulnerable groups are more heinous than crimes committed against someone who is perfectly able to punch your lights out should you get caught. So yes, cowardly and despicable.

It's also disgusting that people throw cigarette butts on the ground. There's a reason we invented several types of waste containers and put them in public places.

As a smoker myself, you can't just put a dog end into a wastepaper basket. It'll start a fire.

Those awful filters, apart from actually making smoking more unhealthy, do not degrade that easily and remain on the ground a long time.

However, roll your owns are biodegradable and many a dog end will have a second life as part of a wasps nest, for instance.

Not everyone is like you who smokes though. My roommate just dropped his cig on the ground in a public neighborhood over here earlier today. I had to swat his head and tell him to pick it up. Littering is a huge cultural no no here. His reaction was that where he is from is littered with cigarette butts everywhere so he didn't even understand it was an issue.

It is easy to put out a dog end so it won't start a fire. Stamp it and spit on it. Then toss it. Done deal.

Yes, I know, that's why I said "several types". Like those specifically designed to contain cigarettes. Regular litter bins can have a cigarette space too. If none of these are around, you can put the cigarette in your own pocket instead of littering the environment.

Or you can just do this.

Interesting, we don't have those kind of waste baskets over here. We have http://www.google.nl/imgres?imgurl=http://www.biggelaargroen.nl/afbeeldingen/activiteiten-graffiti3.2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.biggelaargroen.nl/biggelaar_activiteiten.html&h=220&w=305&sz=23&tbnid=sr63qIM4fOL7zM:&tbnh=88&tbnw=122&zoom=1&usg=__JU_gNmOuhDpz67uW3y7GKB2elrs=&docid=_PJOF9OFWpc69M&sa=X&ei=rvE6UqbOIrT40gWXsYC4Dg&ved=0CEIQ9QEwAg&dur=247kind of things.

Used to be that every business had a tray of sand or suchlike at the entrance so people shopping had a place to put their cigarette before going in.

Since no-one smokes anymore these days those are gone now.

I suppose it's a bit like that in the UK: cheese by default pretty much means Cheddar, otherwise it's (usually) referred to as Brie, Stilton or, indeed, Gouda.

Just as you claim I don't know you, so too do you not know this man who picked a cigarette off the street, describing him with such callous words as "addicted" and "desperate". I only judge those who judge others and make strongly-worded (though poorly founded) assertions of their moral highground. Anti-smokers (like most anti-anything) can all jump off a pier as far as I'm concerned. Especially those who have admitted to considering physical assault on another.

I roll my own..

..cigarettes, not cheese.

And as far as women being inherently more vindictive than men are.. -looks at Falchya-

no comment

but she does knee me in the nuts when it suits her

edit:

she agrees

You need to get yourself over to Gloucestershire where you can roll your own cheese too! Not everybody ends up with broken limbs, allegedly.

Is that the rolling a cheese down a hill event I've read about?

It is, and why I only roll smokes (it's less hazardous to my health)

I don't know him. But he picked up a cigarette from an obviously filthy place. To do that is pretty desperate. In which case I made the logical leap that he would do so because he is addicted to cigarettes. I know people who are addicted to cigarettes. It is a tough thing to quit and I understand why the guy might do what he did. I don't find him disgusting. I find the act disgusting. Addicted and desperate do not mean the guys is bad, wrong or a shameful being. It means he likely has a problem. Could I be wrong? Sure. Am I though? Probably not.
I never made a claim of a moral high ground. Period. I said I found a particular act disgusting. I also find smoking disgusting. It stinks, is non-debatedly unhealthy and kills people who use it as well as those who don't. Big moral high ground there innit? That much is proven. Sorry if that offends you. I don't find smokers offensive or bad people. I find the act to be disgusting.
Well now you are unreasonable. I am anti-smoking, not anti-smoker. Anti-smokers have a point, although I am not one of them, but they have many valid points. Inconsiderate smokers should be more aware of their habit and its repercussions. Most of my friends are smokers. I even dated a few for quite some time. I wouldn't go so far as to say they can jump off a pier. Not sure what to make of that statement but it seems hostile. Thanks for basically telling me to off myself though. Real charming. You see, my friends manage to be respectful of other people and their environment. Something most smokers I have met fail to do. If anyone should jump off a pier it is those people. It is akin to drinking sround children. Keep the habit away from people it can harm. It isn't hard, many smokers actually do it just fine.
Considering physical assault? That isn't a bad thing if the person deserves it. nice attempt at a moral high ground there. Watch out though, it is baseless. Btw, no, I smacked him. I didn't consider it. I did it. Pfft, but don't be such a wimp. It was a light friendly smack between friends. He does the same crap to me when I do something stupid. He did something stupid and morally reprehensible. Littering. So i gave him a reminder that it was dumb. Something that most men do to their friend. So sue me. A man can't smack his friend when he does something stupid now? [censored], if that is morally reprehensible than this world is full of milk drinkers.

Tobacco is self cleaning..

http://www.cheese-rolling.co.uk/index1.htm! That sort of traditional silliness is the type of thing that restores my faith in humanity.

Oo thanks for the link.

I've been meaning to find out more about this quaint and charming tradition.

Don't read too much right now, the "disheartening" element is that ambulance chasers (the front for the evil that is insurance companies) keep causing trouble for anyone involved with it...

Because we are meant to be survivalists, being selfish is a part of surviving. So what she done is normal.

You expect too much in a world tainted with pish and [censored].

How could we know this man couldn't defend himself, don't throw things into the mix that we don't know of. It's funny because no crime was committed here, and a crime is a crime of equal measure regardless of who it's against - better watch you don't say a crime against a white man is more serious than a black man because white are less adapted to the heat

Semantics and moralising, and I have time for neither.

No, we are meant to be civil, civilised and enlightened. What you are talking about is 19th century baloney, originated from a complete misunderstanding of Darwin and a liberal application of the newspaper headline 'survival of the fittest.' (Which has nothing to do at all with Darwin, and everything with terrible and lazy reporters and has been a go-to fallacy since people wanted to defend being slavers.) In itself it is a despicable moral standpoint, as it is just an excuse for being a terrible person. What she did was not civil, nor commendable and it certainly was not 'natural'. It was however despicable and reprehensible, and made disgusting by the fact that she stole from a less able person. One protects the weak. One does not exploit them.

A crime was committed here, under any book of law. That crime was theft. I know of no nation where you are not obliged by law to turn in found money.

Yeah...that is what that was...pfft...whatever dude. Have a nice day and bygones be bygones and all that. Peace.

Are we talking about naturally or after laws and that have been unnaturally forced on us? Wait...ohhh you're doing that thing again where I say one thing and you apply many other things that had nothing to do with my post. Why you do dis!?

Nor did I say it was civil or commendable. It certainly is naturally. Someone losing and someone finding is not theft

There shouldn't be weak people like him, they should have been weeded out of civilisation centuries ago. Nothing but a drain on resources and a burden to the fit.

So i'm guessing if you ever lose your sight you'll just stop draining on society?

I hope that was tongue-in-cheek sardonics, otherwise it is highly, highly offensive.

Oh, and on 'weak' people not contributing anything.. Stephen Hawking.

Good thing is my glasses are paid for by me and not the taxpayer, not to mention my prescription/appointments etc are not done via any national health service. Unless I wanted laser eye treatment but even at that I'm still paying for the treatment

One should learn what medical requirements are paid by who.