I wish people like that would get cancer.

Yes, the passive activities that cause no harm or injury to others should cause them to die slowly and painfully.

While this activity is gross and easy to ridicule, I can see the draw of it. I got a sweet cherrywood desk and cabinet because I happened to be walking by the guy as he was on his way to the dumpster. He was only throwing them away because he was moving, didn't have time to sell them, and couldn't take them with him.

Actually getting into the dumpster, though, is something I doubt I would be able to bring myself to do. I can't handle smells, and there's no way to look respectable doing that. I hear trashmen make out like bandits, though. Working electronics, perfectly fine clothes, etc.

from me, the garbage man (probably) got a propane and charcoal bbq in good condition, a set of wheels, and other stuff I had to get rid of when I had to move.

BUT THOSE PEOPLE THAT MAKE ME FEEL ICKY OR LIKE A WASTEFUL FAT AMERICAN SHOULD DIE SLOWLY!!

An old roommate of mine was an avid dumpster diver. He'd also collect the larger cigarette butts from outside a nearby government building and smoke them in a pipe with matches bummed from the convenience store.

Also, he enjoyed dressing up in panties and dancing/singing to Ranma 1 1/2 music in the living room.

I've never had a roommate since.

I did that when I was in college. I found a guitar amp that just had a loose wire.

In the late 80s/early 90s I used to dumpster dive outside a bunch of different tech places in the industrial areas outside Toronto - places like Sony, NEC, Samsung. Found so many great electronics with barely anything wrong with them (sometimes nothing at all). Nothing like being 13 and having your own complete home entertainment system with a couple of scratches and maybe an odd smell.