A vibrant flower, lush green succulents, and… a cigarette butt. It’s infuriating.

As I waited for my Uber to arrive to take me to the 2024 CIF State Track & Field Finals, I pointed my camera lens at some of the tiny succulent flowers growing in the large pots outside our hotel. The pots were quite beautiful and didn’t remotely look like ashtrays. In fact, there were two ashtrays nearby.

These spaces are meant for everyone to enjoy. Yet, more than a few cigarette smokers seem to think it’s acceptable to discard their butts wherever they please. And I see it everywhere I travel. Why?

I really don’t care if someone wants to fill their lungs with smoke. I don’t want the smoke in my lungs, but that’s a personal decision. If you want to smoke, great. Go for it. Just don’t force me to inhale your smoke and, out of courtesy, don’t litter in the process. Throw your butts away in the proper place.

Is this too much to ask?