I'm confused why and how smoking can be banned when it seems like a violation of our innate rights. Seriously I was in town smoking and was like so far from this fella on a bench he could not possibly have gotten my smoke near him, yet he whined about the smoking. Had I been facing another direction he'd never even have known! LOL Is everyone this idiotic? What do you guys think about smoking bans are they even fair. From my point of view smoking bans are just a way to make money and fine people for doing something fun. Oh well.
Smoking bans to my knowledge do not make money, okay so you get the chance to fine someone if they get caught smoking, but that means that people have to be employed to enforce it, to obtain the evidence, getting a judge in etc. So the money made isn't as much as you might think. What smoking bans can do is attempt to make places nicer. For instance before the smoking ban in the UK, I knew of two Land Lady's that use to run Public Houses that both got diagnosed and died of Cancer. The reason for this cancer was because they put up with all the patrons second degree smoking during their lives as a Land Lady, the elevated levels is what killed them. That is what the ban was about in some respects, the understanding that those that thoughtlessly smoke and find it annoying when someone tells them not to smoke, don't seem to realise that they are forcing a potential death sentence on someone with their habit. Another reason for the ban is of course attempting to lessen the number of people that smoke in general by identifying it's not as acceptable as it was initially. Not being able to smoke in public places is a small psychological step to weaning people off it. There is of course also the Healthcare point to, a high percentage of health cases that people have at hospitals are respiratory, some of them are obviously directly related to smoking either as the smoker or a person suffering smoke from another (family member etc) Healthcare obviously costs money, so to lessen the amount of damage people suffer potentially lessens healthcare costs. There are then points about Mental Health in regards to the addictive nature of cigarettes. A persons mental state can move much like a person who suffers a bipolar disorder, it's all down to how much nicotine is in their system. If a child suffers behavioural disorders in a household that smokes, it can be suggested that secondary smoking is likely the cause since they don't "Dose" like a cigarette addict, they will be suffering sporadic dosages. There is then lastly the legality point, if people smoke one thing, that "Gateway drug" introduces them into slipping something else into what they are smoking. So these points aren't necessarily idiotic, in fact if you want to smoke cigarettes you should be prepared for people treating you like this in the future. Addition: You'll find that Non-Smokers can smell the "stink" of smoke on people, when smokers can't smell it. You might hear commentary "They were alright, but it was like kissing an ashtray", none smokers really don't want to be around stinky people. Smokers also have their sense of taste dulled and the yellowing of their fingers and facial hair.
I support smoking bans in some places, like pubs, malls, and other crowded places or indoors. Just because someone wants to smoke a cancer stick, doesn't mean they should have the right to light up wherever they like and make me breathe it in if I don't want to. I've never smoked a cigarette in my life, but I've inhaled so much of that shit from inconsiderate smokers that light up in crowded places. Also, I have asthma so it really affects me. That said, I think that guy in your case, Darksidzz, was being unreasonable. I think if you're outside in the fresh air where it's not really crowded, then I think that's fine.
What about the right of a non-smoker to not imbibe smoke? If you smoke in a room, everyone breathes it in, they have no choice. Their clothes smell of smoke, they cannot stop this. You are pushing your habit onto, and into them. You are aware of the saying 'your rights end where mine begin' yes? I have the right to not breath in smokey air. I have the right to not have my clothes smell like an ashtray. I therefore support smoking bans in public places. You wouldn't think it OK for a Cider drinker to walk around a pub, pouring his drink into other's beer/wine glasses, and flicking it over their clothes, so why should it be OK for a different substance to spread around similarly?
Outside in the what kind of air? Maybe the guy is outside so he can enjoy fresh air, and doesn't want a smoker stinking it up. Part of the problem is that smokers can no longer smell how bad smoke smells. They just don't realise how far it carries, especially on cold air.
What about my innate rights to breathe fresh, clean air? Don't I have the right not to pollute my lungs with a cancer causing drug like nicotine or other by products of second hand smoke? What about that, aren't you willing to let me have a little fresh air while you do what you want to do to your own lungs somewhere else besides where I am? Perhaps he was only complaining about what could happen to your health if you continue smoking for we all should try and help people who are doing something bad to themselves wouldn't you think. Being helpful by pointing out the bad effects smiking can have on people would be a sign that he is trying to prevent you from harming yourself as well as others with your second hand smoke. :shrug:
Part of the reason smoking can be banned indoors is because it presents a clear and obvious danger to innocent bystanders. Take myself, for example - I am allergic to cigarette smoke (thanks in no small part to my father, who used to chain-smoke 2+ packs a day...) to the point that it causes me to have severe asthma attacks. Even sitting in the "non smoking" section of most restaurants, I would experience symptoms and, eventually, an attack. The reason for this is that, unless they used a negative-pressure HVAC system in the smoking area and/or a positive-pressure HVAC system in the non-smoking side, (or a sealed doorway between the two) the smoke WILL drift between sides. Factor in that second hand smoke is more dangerous because it is unfiltered (granted the usefulness of a cig filter is questionable to begin with, but bear with me here), and you can see why those of us that do not smoke wished to be free of this toxic nuisance. I personally wouldn't mind a smoking ban in all PUBLIC places... I can't stand when a group of asshats who stand directly in front of the door to, say, a school/restaurant/library/et al and smoke away... forcing you to walk through their toxic little cloud just to get inside... I mean, really... how hard is it to stand, say, 20 feet away from the doorway? @ Dark - if you make a conscious effort to avoid irritating others with the smoke, then you should be free to smoke where you please outdoors. Obviously, if you go around blowing your smoke in someones face, then there's a problem. That guy in your example sounded like a twit that just wanted something to complain about...
I have no problem with smoking bans as a smoker. I used to work in a small bar, and on weekend nights the smoke would get so bad, it would make your eyes water.(even with 2 smoke eaters) Two or three times a night, I would prop open the front and back doors and watch a billowing cloud of smoke pour out like opening the carb on some supersized bong. While it sucks to put a coaster on top of my beer, and step outside for a smoke...I've become used to it, and generally smoke less when I go out.
Yep. You have the right to smoke, but I have the right not to. If you are going to smoke, don't do it around me because I don't want to breathe smoke, either first or second hand smoke.
i am a smoker.. i was outraged when they passed the law here that we couldn't smoke inside a public place.. yes i know how bad smoke smells,tried to quit a few times and smelled it..(nasty smelling) there is only one place that i know of around here that you can smoke inside..the casino has a smoking section in their restaurant, i have been in there several times to eat..i have yet to smoke in there..it just has become a habit not to smoke in a public place, and if i jones for a cig, i usually tell myself i don't need it anyway.. if they want to seriously delete smoking then why can't they shut the tobacco companies down? by definition smoking is now a controlled substance..(they control where we smoke..)
You smoke because you can. He whines because he can. No one knows when the wind might change, and by then, saying your sorry is too late. Think of it this way -- for some, smoking is now like farting, and seeing it is like hearing a fart even though you can't smell it. Remember too that people have lost so many loved ones to smoking that a mere whiff might create a serious emotional response. Basically to know that the smell of tobacco killed a loved one.
I don't smoke anymore, but I did for years.. Even when I was a smoker I didn't feel it was right to smoke indoors..Especially in a restaurant..Geez, wait till ya get outside. However, I do feel people should be allowed to smoke in bars..Even though I don't smoke anymore, I remember how great a beer and a smoke matched up. To have to go outside to smoke IMO is BS. As far as smoking outside, I see no problem with it, as long as you don't stand right next to me when you do it..
Banning smoking in public has a down side too - it makes people smoke at home, often around their children. Not to mention they increasingly light up in cars and cause accidents.
I agree with ya here..When I smoked, I did so outside so I didn't subject my wife or child to it.. I used to smoke while driving..I don't recommend it though. I'm sure anyone here that's smoked while driving can tell ya how quickly things can go bad, if you drop your cig..Especially if it falls between your legs.
not to mention the value of your house and vehicle "if you choose to smoke in them" goes down DRASTICALLY
I do not believe 1. Second hand smoke is dangerous to anyone 2. Is more dangerous than direct smoking 2. You can make it illegal to smoke outside when the earth is not property, get use to it (just wait for world war 3 by then everything will be illegal) 3. You can even tell 1/2 the time I am smoking if you don't see it, no matter if you're next to me or not 4. Can regulate where people do something that involves themselves In short I see no valid reasoning of how I should not be allowed to smoke wherever I damn well please outside I would like to complain some more but there's just SO MANY THINGS to complain about. Seriously I don't think smoking causes nearly so many issues as people think, what about all the pollution from cars that's surely worse!
