Prudie, I am a smoker. I keep my habit trash right where it should be - far out of the way of foot traffic, the ashtray, the trashcan itself, or, barring that, in my own damn purse. As a follower of NeoPaganism, it's more than a moral matter to keep my trash where it belongs - it's practically a commandment not to litter.

Would it surprise you that one of the few things that will rile me up properly are smokers who toss their butts wherever they please? Would you believe that little ol' me - all of 5' and 90 pounds - has confronted men three times my size in a polite but firm manner about tossing their trash about? Would it surprise you that my mom (also a smoker) is probably one of the most giving, hardworking, loving people I know? Or my best friend's dad, who is an ex-smoker, who, with his wife, adopted three special needs kids? Or my girlfriend, who is probably the most compassionate, hardworking, fun-loving, polite, accepting person I know? These people defy your generalized words of the hateful, inconsiderate smoker.

Would it surprise anyone that, when a poor situation is approached in a firm but genial manner, that most people have the decency to pay attention and fix their mistakes, no muss, no fuss?

I'm not going to deny that smokers are quite guilty about littering, and it's one of the things that piss me off the most. I've seen it firsthand in volunteering for park and beach cleanups. I've also noted used condoms and dogshit, yet somehow I've the common sense not to assume that all sexually active people and dog owners think the world their personal spunk disposal and dog toilet.

Prudie, your words are a sweeping generalization and can be very hurtful to people. I won't lie that it hasn't upset me, because it has. Offended, even. I won't flip my shit and call you a bitch, though, because I know you through a column and nothing more.

People are so much more than habits you might disagree with. I do not disagree with inhumanely-raised meat, yet I can get over it and see the myriad of good qualities in my unabashedly carnivorous friends. (We have jokes about baby cows, it's fun.)

There are jerks in every group of people, then there are the normal, considerate people. Obviously you'll notice the jerks, if only for the fact that they make life inconvenient (or dangerous, in the particular case). Sometimes, though, it seems like people are so hell-bent on finding the bad that they selectively do not see the responsible, reasonable good.

I would expect a writer (someone who, innately, has a deep sense of perception), much less a writer of an advice column, to know this.

I would love to hear your response to this, and I would hope that you are reasonable and adult enough to know that your personal experiences do not, in any way, encompass each and every person. Obviously your words have hurt, at the very least offended, quite a lot of people. I think it would be downright irresponsible to not think your words and what these people have to say over and address your readers concerns with consideration.