Walking back from my daily picking up litter in Washington Square Park, where the drug dealers increasingly recognize me as someone to talk to—one of them told me he saw me on Facebook, he figures someone took a picture of a guy picking up litter—I asked myself what I would rather do than pick up litter in my neighborhood.

I’d rather there weren’t litter to pick up, but given that it’s there, I’d rather act than passively watch the problem grow. Somehow Game of Thrones got into my head. I’ve never watched the show and barely heard anything about it. Only a friend showed me a scene of a woman forced to walk naked through a crowd of everyone saying “shame!” at her. I don’t know why.

Anyway, I thought to myself,

I would always prefer picking up other people’s litter from a park in today’s polluted world than watch Game of Thrones.

I’m speaking in ignorance of Game of Thrones so maybe I’d speak differently after watching it, but I’m using it as a stand-in for many other current popular activities that I have done. Everything seems passive these days. I’d rather cook than order takeout or eat at a restaurant. Etc.

I know it makes me weird by mainstream standards. I didn’t intend to experience this transformation. I grew up watching more TV than anyone I knew of.

• ← 392: The doomsayers aren’t who you think
• Sustainability Leadership Slogans →