Do you think smokers are being discriminated against?

[Cheyenne]

As a smoker (ugh, yuck, gasp), I don't feel as if my rights are infringed upon, or that I am being discriminated against. It is my choice to smoke, it is also other's choice to not be exposed to second-hand smoke. All the cool kids now, don't smoke.

Exactly. Do whatever you want, but keep it away from me. Smoke bothers my allergies and I suffer with it. Why would I be around it voluntarily? I appreciate the smokers who understand that.

 

[capricious_chic]

Okay, so I have a dumb question.

What is passive smoking?

Passive as opposed to what?

Is there a specific amount that denotes the label passive?


For example, I smoke alot when drinking.

I smoke little otherwise.

Would that make me passive?

I want to be aggressive at everything I do, damn it.

 

[DarkAngel]

NYC is about to ban smoking in bars and restaurants. Smoking will be permitted in restaurants and bars where there is a separate smoking room, in cigar bars, and outdoor cafes.

There is a smoker's rights group that say they are being discriminated against.

Regardless of whether you smoke or not, do you agree? Why or why not?

A lot of Canadian cities have already gone this route about 5 years ago. So, it really is nothing that new or interesting anymore

 

[Hamletmaschine]

If they're truly concerned about the possible consequences to others of some people's vices, then shouldn't they also ban alcohol in bars and restaurants? Which is more dangerous: being stuck in car with a driver who smokes, or being stuck in a car with a driver who's been drinking?

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Are smokers being discriminated against?

Not enough.

 

[bluespoke]

Okay, so I have a dumb question.

What is passive smoking?

Passive as opposed to what?

Is there a specific amount that denotes the label passive?


For example, I smoke alot when drinking.

I smoke little otherwise.

Would that make me passive?

I want to be aggressive at everything I do, damn it.

Passive smoking is non smokers inhaling the smoke from smokers when they are in the company of smokers.

There was a celebrated case of an an entertainer in the UK who died from lung cancer brought about by passive smoking. Never smoked in his life but played in jazz clubs, notoriously smokey atmospheres.

 

[Whizz Kid]

"I don't understand what the big deal is. I've been smoking for years and my lung feels great." (May be paraphrasing)

DL

 

[Cheyenne]

Okay, so I have a dumb question.

What is passive smoking?

Passive as opposed to what?

Is there a specific amount that denotes the label passive?


For example, I smoke alot when drinking.

I smoke little otherwise.

Would that make me passive?

I want to be aggressive at everything I do, damn it.

If you smoke, it isn't passive smoking. Passive smoke is for us non-smokers who still get the smoke in our lungs because we are around those of you who do smoke. Your habits hurt us and turn us into "passive smokers" involuntarily.

 

[intrigued]

I honestly don't see what the big deal is. There are several things that one has the right to do, just not in public. For example, one is entitled to masturbate. Doing so in public can lead to arrest.

As a smoker (ugh, yuck, gasp), I don't feel as if my rights are infringed upon, or that I am being discriminated against. It is my choice to smoke, it is also other's choice to not be exposed to second-hand smoke. All the cool kids now, don't smoke.

The separate area idea is great, but expensive so many places will not renovate to accomodate smokers.

It is amusing to me that there is a smoker's right group. Just goes to show that there are not enough things out there for people to feel passionate about.

I like this line of thinking. I am a polite smoker...I don't smoke around children in public areas or anyone else for that matter. I don't get too close to other smokers even in smoking areas because it's just wrong of me to force my bad habit on someone else. I also clean up after my bad habit, I don't throw cigarette butts on the ground and just walk away...nope, that puppy goes in the trash. As much as it is my right to smoke, it is others right to not, and to not breathe my smoke.
I think the extra taxing is total crapola. It feels too much like the government trying to force me into something by making it harder and harder to obtain. Force from the Government? Hmmm.....

I would like to add that I think it is the right of a business owner to determine what goes on in his establishment, not government.

oops, I just scrolled down and realized that I pretty much dittoed Kuntmode. Sorry.

 

[JaymesBlond007]

Damn those bastards!!

I say just put them all in a pod and blast their sorry cancer-puffin' asses in ta space! 'Cause they're all gonna die anyway, ya know!?

Besides, they had it coming in the first place. *looks around for evesdropping smokers...* I heard they killed Jesus, and took Hoffa's dead body to their "secret lair", where they habitaully masturbate and beat on poor circus monkeys!


Fuck 'em!!

peace, love and dope!

 

[Lost Cause]

Enough Hysteria....

How about facts? http://www.forces.org/evidence/evid/second.htm#iarc

I know someone will interject their "feelings" and other blather they've been spoon fed, so let's get on with it. Baaaah Baaah!

 

[Mellon Collie]

Yes they are and yes it is wrong.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is a fucking moron.

Also: Hammy, you are my hero.

That is all.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I've got asthma. When I go into a public building, like a mall or the unemployment agency, people stand right outside the door, smoking. They stand close to the door, so that they won't have to walk very far to go back inside when it's cold outside. They COULD stand a few meters away, but they don't want to. There's only one entrance, so I can't get in any other way than walking pass them, so I'm forced to inhale their smoke.
My best friendsmokes, but she walks an extra 3 meters away, so she doesn't blow the smoke out near the public entrance, where everyone should be able to walk.


Smokers have a choice, to not smoke in public. I can't choose not to have asthma.

 

[plasticman33]

Re: Damn those bastards!!

I say just put them all in a pod and blast their sorry cancer puffin' asses in ta space! Cause they're all gonna die anyway, ya know!? ............

peace, love and dope!

My God!! You know the secret of eternal life!! Only the smokers are going to die! Now I learn the truth, but it's too late for me!!

 

[Whizz Kid]

I've got asthma. When I go into a public building, like a mall or the unemployment agency, people stand right outside the door, smoking. They stand close to the door, so that they won't have to walk very far to go back inside when it's cold outside. They COULD stand a few meters away, but they don't want to. There's only one entrance, so I can't get in any other way than walking pass them, so I'm forced to inhale their smoke.
My best friendsmokes, but she walks an extra 3 meters away, so she doesn't blow the smoke out near the public entrance, where everyone should be able to walk.


Smokers have a choice, to not smoke in public. I can't choose not to have asthma.

Well, maybe you should ask the morons that operate the building NOT to put the ashtrays "right outside the door". Either that or hold your breath for 5 seconds.

 

[Hamletmaschine]

Yes they are and yes it is wrong.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is a fucking moron.

Also: Hammy, you are my hero.

That is all.

LOL - thanks, darling.

Thanks, too, for translating my thoughts into the vernacular.

 

[Captain Howdy]

In Pueblo Co. the city passed a law that bans smokeing in most public places. at first they said bars an restaurants,would not be included, the sneaky lil fuckers then sliped bars an restaurants in the fine print. starting Jan. 01 2003 you can not smoke in these places. talked about fucked up. so im woundering what happens in the bars at midnight? do the smokers take a last drag in the final seconds till midnight? (glad i'm not liveing down there.)

now as a smoker myself, i dont mind steping outside to smoke at a restaurant, or most other public places. but for fucksake leave the bars alone. i dont know too many nonsmokers in the bars i go to. so the nonsmokers are out numbered there. if they dont like it then they need to find a nonsmokeing bar.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Well, maybe you should ask the morons that operate the building NOT to put the ashtrays "right outside the door". Either that or hold your breath for 5 seconds.

OR, the morons who smoke could stand far away from the doors while they smoke, and then walk up to the ashtrays and put their stumps there, instead of just leaving them on the ground.

And the holding - my - breath - thing doesn't work. After a day on town, running in and out of houses, holding my breath until my face turns blue, the smoke is in my skin, in my hair, in my clothes.

Going out dancing? Yeah, right...

 

[Lost Cause]

The sheep are in good company...

"Popular health magazines ... contain warnings against the dangers of smoking. The scientific research into the health effects of smoking goes hand in hand with extensive health promotion activities aimed at reducing the prevalence of the habit.
Transportation, workplaces, and public buildings become targets for smoking reduction campaigns. Smoking is prohibited in many individual workplaces and public buildings, including government bureaus, hospitals, and rest homes.
Tobacco manufacturers cannot represent the use of tobacco as a sign of manliness."




*Nazi Germany 1937-1944

 

[christo]

I have no problem with taxing cigarettes to make up for the health costs they cause, or clobbering tobacco companies who lied about the risks involved in smoking. But I DO have a problem with the government dictating where you can or can't smoke. Not for the smokers, but for the owners of the businesses where the bans exist.

Mall owners ban smoking because they want a more shopping-friendly enviroment. In their mind, banning smoking HELPS their business. Corporations may ban smoking in their buildings because they don't want employees taking 30 smoke breaks a day, don't want to deal with the hassle of cleaning up after smokers, and don't want their non-smoking employees bitching about the smell and the mess and the hour of paid time off smokers get every day. Again, it HELPS their business.

Restraunteurs and bar owners would be hurt by a smoking ban. Lots of time when people go out drinking and partying they like to smoke. If you have to leave the bar every time you want a cigarette, there's a good chance you might say the hell with it and just leave. This makes the bar owner very unhappy.

But what about those non-smokers inside? Well, the bar owner might work on improving the ventilation, or the restaurant owner might have a smoking section. Or, those people might not care about their non-smoking clientele that much. It's a cost-benefit analysis-- how many non-smoking customers would we lose by allowing smoking, and how many smokers would we lose by banning it?

My friends are hyper-sensitive about smoking, there's a bar-restaurant we used to go to a lot where they constantly bitched about the smoke, and we don't go there much anymore. I never thought it was that bad, but I grew up around my father smoking and they grew up in non-smoking households, so that may explain it. I go to visit my parents house and the whole place stinks. I didn't notice it as much growing up there, but now that I have my own place I really notice it. When he comes to visit and he wants to smoke he goes out on the porch. Smoking is banned in my house.

But that's MY decision, not Michael Bloomburg's. Anything that government can do to reduce smoking I applaud, so long as it doesn't impunge on personal freedom. If you want to smoke, fine. If I don't want you smoking in my house, fine. If you want to smoke, and I have no problem with it, but the government says you're not allowed, that's not fine.

 

[brokenbrainwave]

They are, for it is a legal activity. However at times a little contitutional milk must be spilled for the good of the people.

 

[Whizz Kid]

And the holding - my - breath - thing doesn't work. After a day on town, running in and out of houses, holding my breath until my face turns blue, the smoke is in my skin, in my hair, in my clothes.

Jehovah’s Witness or Avon?

 

[capricious_chic]

Actually, I do think it should be up to the individual business owner to decide if they want a smoke-free venue.

I also think, if I were a business owner I would have a smoke-free envirnoment. There would be no smoking on the business property. Even if I owned a bar.

Why? Because insurance is MUCH cheaper for businesses that are smoke free. Malls and eating establishments do not decide to go smoke free for the good of the people, they do it for the insurance break they get. They may promote it as a public service event, however the truth is it is all about insurance.


Thanks for the clarification of what a passive smoker is. I actually have not heard this term. I try not to infringe my lifestyle choices on others. I can't say that I never have, but I can say that I try not to. Most of my friends do not smoke, and it is a given that if I am hanging out with them, odds are it will be a smoke free night. Not because they request it. But because I am a swell person like that.

 

[Whizz Kid]

I need a cigarette. Anyone got a light?

 

[fillmup]

Shit, all this self rightous bullshit is nauseating. If you want to smoke, go for it. If you don't, go for it. I really don't give a flying fuck if someone smokes or doesn't. I personally don't and I'm not going to infringe on somebodies decision to, if that's what they want.