Lootman wrote: So I think this woman could have ignored him and walked off. I am not saying she should have done; only that she could have done and avoided the whole thing.
But yeah, all that said, people should not litter.
Well, in these posts there are lots of woulds, coulds, shoulds
It seems to me by saying you would have just walked away rather implies you thing she should have done that.
I'm sad to see you - a relatively well off citizen who I guess wants to be seen as being an "upright" one too - condoning such behaviour.
It seems some people try to baulk at the rules or over step the mark if they can to their advantage, and others prefer to go along with regulation which they see as for the common good.
Some of us keep off the grass if a notice tells us to even though no one will fine us (probably) others just ignore it to claim a selfish and minute short cut saving. Likewise with the softish regulations about Covid which some tried to ignore or bend, whereas the majority went along for the common good - or because they respected authority. And some of us obey the speed limit even though we are in a hurry, not because we might "get caught" but out of respect for the people who live there.
It has been said that the British have two populations: those who drop litter, and those who never drop litter. So it is with these various regulations, large or small: some people selfishly push the boundaries, sacrifice common decency, others are happy to tow the line out of altruism and a desire to maintain a well ordered civic life which we all enjoy.
Arb.