Viral ‘shopping cart test’ supposedly separates good people from bad

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When you’re finished loading your groceries into the car after your shopping trip, what do you do with the cart? Consider your answer carefully, because it may reveal more about you than you think.

In fact, there’s a theory swirling around the internet that says you can learn a whole lot about someone based on what they do with their cart in the parking lot after shopping.

The “shopping cart theory” seems to have started on Reddit, and from there, it has been circulating across social media.

According to the shopping cart theory, if you return your cart to the nearest carousel or designated cart collection area after shopping, you’re a good person. After all, completing this task requires little effort and benefits others, as the cast-aside carts won’t be taking up parking spots or potentially posing a hazard for shoppers driving into the parking lot.

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Because returning the cart is a relatively simple task, if you choose to leave your cart shoved off to the side somewhere in the parking lot, it might be a sign that you’re a bad person, indeed.

Some people credit Danzig and Misfits frontman, Glenn Danzig, with coming up with the original theory. But regardless of where it originated, it’s safe to say that this litmus test has hit a nerve, with many people firmly asserting their belief in it.

Twitter user @CitadelCoachD definitely agrees with the theory:

https://twitter.com/CitadelCoachD/status/1259228220840390658

And so does Twitter user @MicahMacDonald:

Although it seems simple enough to return your cart to the proper place, the fact is that many people don’t. But why?

According to Scientific American, there are a few reasons why people don’t return their carts, including the fact that the weather may be bad or the receptacle may be too far from their car. Many parents have pointed out that they don’t want to leave children unattended in the car just to bring back a shopping cart, and some shoppers have disabilities or mobility issues that make it more challenging for them to return the cart.

Still other people believe that leaving their carts behind will ensure job security for cart-wranglers employed at the store, or potentially even lead to the creation of more jobs (the idea being that if a supermarket or store has unattended carts all over their parking lots, they will have to hire more workers to address the problem).

What do you think? Do you return your cart to the carousel every time? Or do you think leaving your cart loose in the parking lot is a valid choice?

Curiosity, Humor & Funny, Life, Viral

About the Author
Bridget Sharkey
Bridget Sharkey is a freelance writer covering pop culture, beauty, food, health and nature.

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