Being considerate of others: Is it more difficult during a pandemic?

"Please do not put trash into the planters" were the signs staring at me at Sunday brunch last weekend. The outdoor dining area was ringed with attractive planters, several with the same message.Today's story raises the question: why would anyone even need to be asked not to trash an attractive planter in a restaurant? It's a sad commentary on society. We all know the answer, of course, which is that not everyone is considerate of others or of the environment. It might be the person who leaves their dog's poop for others to scoop. Alternately, it might be the restaurant server who sleeps late, or simply doesn't show up at all, is hung over, or arrives at work breathing COVID on his or her colleagues. These behaviors all impose unfair burdens on other workers, hurt team performance and customer satisfaction, and damage restaurant rankings--a trifecta of thoughtless negative consequences. Environmental protection laws, masking requirements and recycling campaigns also respond to inconsiderate human behavior. Recycling no doubt led to this amusing yet also pointed sign directly in my line of sight in a toilet in a delightful pub in Dublin, Ireland a few years ago: "Gentlemen, if you can't aim straight, please sit down!" I don't pretend to have scientific evidence or research to bolster this assumption, but I suspect it is accurate, nonetheless. That is, if in "normal" times it seems necessary to display anti-trashing, pro-scooping, straight-aiming posters, are not the same desired results even less likely to be achieved during an extended pandemic? When if we are not at home alone we are out hiding our identities behind KN95's? When almost everyone is traveling incognito? When we can't be identified if we litter, ignore our canine's crap, or spray a toilet seat while standing? To me, the problem isn't fear of being identified. The problem is how inconsiderate people must be in these instances. I neither want to be nor pretend to be a public conscience. Rather, I need reminding too, and perhaps more during this prolonged pandemic than in normal times. We owe it to others and to the environment to be considerate neighbors and responsible stewards. Further, we need to involve our children and teens in discussions of self-centered behavior versus actions with adverse implications, both intended and unintended, for society at large. In speaking with children and young adults we need to pay close attention to our terminology. In particular, when giving examples of inconsiderate behavior. If it were our planter being trashed, would we like it, rather than, would you like it? Or, would our family like it? Referencing the entire family emphasizes group-centricity versus self-centered behavior. The vast majority of my readers are considerate of the environment and of one another. But if this essay serves only as a reminder of our need to educate our children and grandchildren about responsible behavior, it will have been worth my time and effort. I learned long ago that for the most part, as individuals we change our world one person at a time. As always, I welcome your feedback and observations. Mark J. Riedy, PhD February 26, 2022