'Judge me all you want': This psychologist never returns her shopping trolley for one reason

In a world where common courtesies and social norms are often taken for granted, one psychologist's controversial stance on a mundane task sparked a fiery debate across social media.

Leslie Dobson, a psychologist and mum-of-two, faced criticism after boldly declaring an unusual habit.


In a video she shared on social media, Dobson shared that she never returns her shopping trolley at the supermarket.

'I'm not returning my shopping trolley, and you can judge me all you want,' she said.

'I'm not getting my groceries into my car, getting my children into the car and leaving them in the car to return the trolley,' she added.

'So, if you're going to give me a dirty look, f*** off.'


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Shoppers are expected to return their trolleys in-store as courtesy and a safety measure. Image Credit: Pexels/Pixabay


Returning a shopping trolley after unloading groceries is a simple yet significant gesture of consideration.

It also keeps car parks orderly and prevents potential accidents.

However, Dobson's refusal to adhere to this unspoken rule opened up a conversation about the challenges parents face while balancing safety and social responsibilities.


Critics argued that if Dobson managed to get the trolley to her car, she could return it.

One commenter cited the 'shopping cart theory', a concept suggesting that a person's willingness to return a trolley is indicative of their morals.

'How did your kids get to the shopping trolley safely?' another commenter asked Dobson.

'Did you leave them in the car alone and get the trolley? Or were they portable enough to make it without a trolley?'

'You unload the groceries, and together with the kids, you return the trolley—also teaching them to do it as a byproduct,' A third commenter suggested as an alternative.


In a follow-up video, she defended her actions by highlighting the potential dangers that lurk in car parks.

'Last year, 265 children were abducted in car parks in America—half of those were sexually assaulted,' she shared, referencing a report from .

The safety of children is paramount, and the fear of leaving them alone can be distressing for any parent.

She also pointed out that as a single mum, she can be a potential target for predators while returning a trolley.

Dobson's mention of lawyers specialising in car park crimes is a stark reminder that these concerns are real.


The online debate shed light on the broader safety issue in public spaces, particularly for women and children.

It also raised questions about the responsibilities of supermarkets to ensure secure environments for their customers.

We have seen the evolution of social norms and the increasing emphasis on personal safety.

We understand the importance of being considerate to our community, but we also recognise the need to prioritise the well-being of our loved ones.
Key Takeaways

  • A psychologist and mum sparked controversy by refusing to return her shopping trolley due to safety concerns for her children.
  • Leslie Dobson received backlash on social media after posting a video explaining her reasons.
  • Commenters criticised her actions, with some referencing the 'shopping trolley theory', which posits returning a trolley as an indicator of one's character.
  • Despite the criticism, Dobson defended her stance by sharing statistics about child abductions in car parks, reiterating safety as her main concern.
Have you ever faced a similar dilemma when shopping with young ones or grandchildren? What do you think about her stance? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
 
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I 98% return the trollies, but I honestly - would prefer to leave them out so that employment of some person that is only earning a pitiful wage continues!
But leaving them out means that some other lazy person shoves them into people's vehicles, often damaging the vehicles. For the safety of children I agree with Ms Dobson.
 
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Reactions: alkyon
'How did your kids get to the shopping trolley safely?' another commenter asked Dobson.
'Did you leave them in the car alone and get the trolley? Or were they portable enough to make it without a trolley?'

Good questions. Just do the reverse of picking up the trolley.
Supermarket carparks are fraught with risk as it is. The last thing we need is more stray trolleys to avoid.
 
Is this article Australian based? Indicators suggest US.
We DO still have different cultures. Haved lived in the US as well as mainly Australia.
SDC please watch for relevance.
 
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Reactions: Angela Cockburn
If everyone replaced their trolleys, the ‘trolley boy’ would be redundant, therefore another unemployed. LOL
 
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  • Haha
Reactions: Veggiepatch
My advice ... leave the little cherubs at home and keep those trolleys in their bays so they don't run rampant. My car has fallen victim to one of those and the ding was not a good thing to deal with.
Sometimes it is unavoidable and the kids have to come too. Other times, I think most mums would be glad of the solo shopping expedition.
Ms Psychologist just need to organise herself, like I see so many mothers do. It's not a big deal if you lock the car for 10-15 seconds while you take the trolley back. Surely the Mercedez has got the keyless entry. Geeze.
 
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Reactions: DLHM
I have heard some excuses for laziness in my time but this takes the cake, and let's not forget that when you return your shopping trolley to the designated spot in the car park, it still needs to be collected by the 'trolley boy's so no loss of job. Meanwhile this psychologist is doing a good job of teaching her children 'not my fault '
 
you are one selfish ignorant psychologist. i guess you just put it in the next parking bay.

Totally agree, obviously thinks she is privileged because she has children….get over yourself lady….
 
She would have to get a name change if she really wanted more clients. Such irresponsible action for a supposedly responsible person who deals with people whose lives can only get better with her help. I might get an appointment with a fear of shopping trolleys, that would fix her!!
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Bullwinkle
I only had one child, back in the day, so I’d keep her on my hip, or as she got older, take her with me to return the trolley. When she was old enough to make the decision to stay in the car, I always left the windows down a smidge, and locked her in. By that time, she wasn’t far off being a teenager, had her own phone, and knew who to call if she was worried about anything. I can only imagine how hard that would be to wrangle with multiple younger children! If I was in that lady’s situation, I’d probably make the same choice.
 
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Reactions: Angela Cockburn
Is this article Australian based? Indicators suggest US.
We DO still have different cultures. Haved lived in the US as well as mainly Australia.
SDC please watch for relevance.
"Doctor" Leslie Dobson has her "practice" in Long Beach, California. She looks like a female version of Dr Phil and Dr Oz. In other words, a charlatan. Keep practising sweetie, you will need every minute of it!

I don't know what the Yanks do, but you can't be a medical doctor In Australia with a psychology degree alone.
 
you need to get a life, poor you having to do what every responsible person needs to do on shopping day, let's hope some other stupid person doesn't leave their trolley where it can damage your car. Thats what I call not setting a good example to your children.
 
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