Column

Eithne Shortall: The day I parked the usual glare and confronted a litter lout

Using the glare technique to admonish something objectionable someone has done in public avoids confrontation, but I shocked myself when I eyeballed a litterer – and got a positive response

I snapped when I saw someone littering – even if my reaction wasn’t at the level of a Michael Douglas Falling Down moment

I’m a great woman for a glare. If someone is doing something objectionable in public, I am unlikely to call them out on it. Alas, I am equally unlikely to ignore it. My usual approach is to stare them out of it. Ideally, they’ll register my stare – at which point I’ll probably look away – but even if they don’t, I’ll feel a little better, like I’ve released some of my irritation.

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