The Connector
The Connector
Photo by Caitlin Havens

Dear whoever left a copy of SCAN magazine resting on the edge of a garbage can by the main SCAD building shuttle pick up,

On behalf of The Connector and SCAN, I would like to thank you for your feedback. Your opinion is very valuable to us and we appreciate that you have taken an interest in our publication.

Since we found the copy of SCAN you left resting ever-so-delicately on the edge of one of the trash cans outside the school, I had some questions and theories.

First, I was curious about what lead you to casually rest the magazine on the edge of the trash can like that? If you were indifferent or hated it, I would think that you would have just thrown it completely in the trash. But, the way you left it resting there like that seems to suggest that it was left so someone else could come along and read it at their own discretion.

The only problem there is that it wasn’t just left on the nearby benches so someone could enjoy our handiwork while they waited for the shuttle, but it was left on the trash. Which, I would imagine, greatly reduces the probability that someone would go out of their way to pick it up. At that point, it would’ve been much easier to knock into the garbage.

Maybe you were standing there with it waiting for a friend. You wanted to get rid of it so you wouldn’t end up leaving the magazine in your friends car or have to carry it with you. You didn’t want one in the first place, but the nice girl in the cafeteria was handing them out and you couldn’t say no. You felt bad, you’re an artist too after all.

“These people must work hard,” you thought, unable to deny the free copy.

Now you had to figure out how to get rid of it, but you’re not a bad person, you didn’t feel comfortable just leaving it anywhere or chucking it straight in the trash.

Your time ran out as your friend pulled up to the curb and you made the split-second decision to leave it there on the side. It took the least energy and effort, and it didn’t go so far as to disrespect the magazine by throwing it right in there with the insects and half-eaten pop-tarts. I have to say, I do appreciate the courtesy there and I can sympathize with your situation. I’ve been in positions in the past where I had a copy of something I didn’t really care enough about to keep, but still felt too bad to throw it out right away.

It isn’t that I wouldn’t throw it out, but I wouldn’t want to throw it out near anyone that might have been involved with it so I wouldn’t hurt their feelings or have to confront them about it. Trust me, I get it.

I wanted to let you know that I forgive you and when I saw the picture of our beloved magazine sitting like that on top of the garbage, I couldn’t help but laugh. It really did brighten my day to see you cared enough to do that for us, because it reminded me that I’m a part of a publication worthwhile enough to be left precariously on the edge of a trash can next to a shuttle pick-up area.

Thank you for validating us here at The Connector/SCAN team and we look forward to your continued readership in the future.

Sincerely,

Tyler Spinosa

Opinions editor of The Connector