Does returning a shopping cart make you a good person? New theory thinks so and the internet agrees

People often seek to establish themselves as good individuals through selfless and kind gestures, while some go out of their way to help others. However, a viral theory supposedly reveals the one trait that decides whether a person is a good human being or not. The "shopping cart theory" is one that people have subconsciously used to determine the moral character of an individual. Turns out, it has logical reasoning behind it, as per Goalcast.

The theory is pretty simple and requires one to check their post-shopping habits. Assuming you’ve bought your groceries and are headed back to your vehicle. You load the groceries and are ready to leave. What do you do with the shopping cart? This is where customers must choose between leaving the cart at the parking lot or going back to the line of trolleys to stack it back. While the latter is the right thing to do, many people have responded differently based on different factors. The shopping cart theory believes that people who make the effort to go back and stack their carts are good people, with a benevolent nature. This theory is said to be effective in understanding a person’s nature because it determines a person’s selflessness.

There is no need or legal obligation that requires shoppers to stack the cart back in place. This is why a person chooses to do so purely out of thoughtfulness and as a selfless gesture. A post shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, shared more insight on the theory. The user referred to the shopping cart theory and said, “A person who is unable to do this is no better than an animal, an absolute savage who can only be made to do what is right by threatening them with a law and the force that stands behind it." They added, “No one will punish you for not returning the shopping cart, no one will fine you, or kill you for not returning the shopping cart, you gain nothing by returning the shopping cart. You must return the shopping cart out of the goodness of your own heart. You must return the shopping cart because it is the right thing to do. Because it is correct.”

The user concluded, “The Shopping Cart is what determines whether a person is a good or bad member of society.” However, people had mixed reactions to this theory. Many agreed that observing how one’s conscience works when there’s no personal benefit, gives a true measure of how good they are. However, others pointed out that the theory excludes crucial external factors that could be contributing to a different response.

@UrbanPat added, “A good reason not to return it is if you are alone, with young children, and you are too far from the return to leave your kids alone in the car.” @nrodovsky remarked, “It says you don't get anything out of returning your cart but I disagree: you get self-respect!” @tonyvyer45 exclaimed, “I always return my shopping cart. Who wouldn’t?”