The Shopping Cart Theory
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About
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.
Origin
On May 8th, 2020, an anonymous 4chan user made a /pol/[1] thread titled, "The Shopping Cart Theory." In the opening post, the user argued that whether a person returns a shopping cart after using it constitutes "the ultimate litmus test for whether a person is capable of self-governing" (shown below).
The shopping cart is the ultimate litmus test for whether a person is capable of self-governing.
To return the shopping cart is an easy, convenient task and one which we all recognize as the correct, appropriate thing to do. To return the shopping cart is objectively right. There are no situations other than dire emergencies in which a person is not able to return their cart. Simultaneously, it is not illegal to abandon your shopping cart. Therefore the shopping cart presents itself as the apex example of whether a person will do what is right without being forced to do it. 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.
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.
The Shopping Cart is what determines whether a person is a good or bad member of society.
Spread
The post found immediate spread online through reposts on Twitter, Reddit and other websites. For example, on May 8th, 2020, Twitter[2] user @Fujyno shared a screenshot of the post, which gained over 4,700 retweets and 16,400 likes in three years.
Prior to May 14th, 2020, an unknown user posted a Trolley Problem meme referencing the theory (shown below, left). More memes based on the theory were then posted in the following months. For example, on July 30th, 2020, Twitter[3] user @PTSDGuts2 posted a Swole Doge vs. Cheems meme that received over 810 retweets and 4,000 likes in three years (shown below, right).
On May 31st, 2021, YouTuber[4] Jeaney Collects uploaded a video in which they narrated the post. The upload gained over 1.7 million views in one year (shown below).
In January 2023, the theory saw a resurgence online after a January 15th post renewed the debate when YouTuber Marques Brownlee mentioned it in a tweet.[5]
Various Examples
Search Interest
External References
[1] 4plebs – /pol/ Thread #256670690
[3] Twitter – @PTSDGuts2
[4] YouTube – The Shopping Cart Theory
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