To the editor:
I am perturbed by shoppers in grocery stores who just abandon items they decide not to buy no matter where they are.
Frozen things? Bread department is a fine place to dump them. Meats? Bean aisle is a fine place to dump them. Don't look behind the chips or baby foods sections. Now, when I catch them, I just commiserate and say how terrible it must be to be:
Unable to read labels.
Unable to recognize special chilling requirements.
Unable to walk far enough to return the item.
Unaware of how such capricious deposits increase the costs of food for all of us.
The men just freak out and become belligerent until I mention that the store cameras hidden in the light panels are recording both the action and sound.
The women apologize most of the time and act ashamed. They make me think they have been abused. Some blow up just as the guys do. Same response, same results.
There are some who blush and confess they never thought about any consequences. I console them. Leap from my grocery store experiences to other parts of life. All of our actions are similar from one part of life to another.
Those who simply lurk and commit assault are the same ones we see every day being nasty to somebody.
Take charge and confront them. They will never thank you. Bystanders will. Do what you can to promote a better quality of life.
Arthur Thomas
Gloucester
