Why Don’t People Return Their Shopping Carts? A (Somewhat) Scientific Investigation

a psychologist who has spent the past decade studying how we think about our own behavior in relation to others. Perhaps the choice to not return a shopping cart seems trivial, but what we do with our cart says a lot about how we think about others and what we believe we owe one another (or don’t).

– The Shopping Cart Theory | Know Your Meme

The Shopping Cart Theory refers to a social theory that states whether a person returns a shopping cart or not after using it serves as an ultimate indicator of whether they are a "good" or "bad" member of society. Coined by an anonymous 4chan user in May 2020, the theory has been referenced in memes and viral debates online.

A masked burglar broke into a closed Virginia liquor store early on Saturday and hit the bottom shelf, where the scotch and whisky were stored. The bandit was something of a nocturnal menace: bottles were smashed, a ceiling tile collapsed and alcohol pooled on the floor.

The suspect acted like an animal because, in fact, he's a raccoon.