Hmmmm… I am having trouble refuting this logic. Perhaps it should be viewed on case-by-case basis.

If you’re done shopping and are about to leave, and you see a bunch of random carts strewn about the lot with an underpaid employee rushing around to collect them, then yeah, don’t be a dick. Put the cart back.

But if the lot is already clear of carts, then maybe it does make sense to leave a cart around (in an area where it won’t hit a car or something)…

I will have to consider this…