Smoking In Public

[Eliasonia]

Boy, this anti-smoking crowd is a bandwagon jumping, melodramatically asthmatic, self-righteous, "I don't like it so ban it," adults-can't-ever-be-adults, health Nazi, wheat grass sipping, long life destined bunch of boring pricks. Wild parties involving Scrabble, Fruit Smoothies, and Ice Cream going all the way to 11 PM before spending 45 worthless years of drudgery before a shoddy pension and death from colon cancer.

"I smelled smoke and was sick for an hour." "Smoke makes me wheeze uncontrollably, and kills 900,000 people every year." What a bunch of pantywaist, bs'ing ninnies. Be glad some people are considerate enough to pay shitloads of tobacco taxes and die promptly at 65 from smoking before becoming a burden to society for 20 years while telling wild tales of a mundane, useless life to anyone who'll listen. Obviously, smoking doesn't make one interesting whatsoever, but this health nut attitude is a virtual guarantee of a douche wanting a politically correct, G-rated world.

Careless smokers are also pricks and partly responsible for this backlash, though there was a time people weren't so incredibly whiny and quick to ban anything they could merely disagree with. Bertrand Russell loved his pipe and was a better man than these "ban this, ban that" dorks combined.

This is by far and away the best post in this thread. A beer on me good sir/madam.

[Ifreann]

I like banning smoking from enclosed workplaces, and around public access doorways. Other than that, smoke on, yo.

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Restaurants are private property.

PROTIP: The law doesn't stop where private property begins.

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Government buildings and similar public places should be smoke free. However restaurants and businesses should be free to allow smoking. It is then the choice of people to patronise them.

Why should business be able to opt out of maintaining a safe and healthy workplace for their employees?

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Take it into your house. Just because you can't go twenty minutes without a fix doesn't mean you have the right to harm me.

Trollgaard, you're still on my ignore list, so don't expect me to respond to whatever sociopathic comment you've got prepped.

Does it harm you if a bar/restaurant lets its patrons smoke?
Does it harm you if I smoke in the boonies of a parking lot?
Does it harm you if I smoke an e-cigarette instead of a real one?

Did you know that it's possible to care about things that don't affect you directly? It's true!

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I am going to smoke where I fucking please, unless stated otherwise by the owner and/or state law.

I like how this starts off all hard-ass, but turns right around.

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Restaurants are not public places. Just a thought.

They are, though. Privately owned, sure, but open to the public. Not that this really matters to laws around smoking.

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We need to get away from the 'quick fix' of legislating away a problem rather than promoting changes in behaviour through education and group efforts.

You mean like the anti-smoking campaigns that have existed for years? Did someone suggest we stop doing that?

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Shouldn´t political correctedness care for the rights of smokers too ?

Smoking bans have less than nothing to do with political correctness.

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Apparently Finnish smoking ban in restaurants and bars was less about protecting customers from second hand smoke, and more about protecting staff from second hand smoke.

Ditto Ireland's ban on smoking in all enclosed workplaces. That's why I like it.

[Varijnland]

No smoking in public places, at work or around doorways+entrances or in company vehicles. If they want to kill themselves, they should do it in their own homes or out in the street.

[Hathradic States]

I am going to smoke where I fucking please, unless stated otherwise by the owner and/or state law.

I like how this starts off all hard-ass, but turns right around.

Fits me perfectly, nyet?

[Ifreann]

I like how this starts off all hard-ass, but turns right around.

Fits me perfectly, nyet?

I wouldn't know.

[Sebytania]

I agree with restricting smoking from public indoors areas (as well as entrances to those), and even bars I can live with (though it's pretty annoying in the winter, and for when there's only one non-smoker in the group, who is naturally required to guard the others' drinks). But as for public open spaces, there should be plenty of room for smokers and those who wish to avoid the smoke. At places like bus stops, common sense and manners are good things to have. If I arrive at a bus stop and there's people waiting already, I keep some distance or don't light up at all. If I'm there first, all it takes for me to move or put the fag out is to ask politely.

As for smoking in enclosed workplaces, I think a designated smoking area or smokers' room(s) is the best solution. Those who smoke can then do their thing in said room, those who don't can simply not go there. After all, filthy addicts like myself are going to smoke during the day anyway.

[Ifreann]

As for smoking in enclosed workplaces, I think a designated smoking area or smokers' room(s) is the best solution. Those who smoke can then do their thing in said room, those who don't can simply not go there...

No, they can't. The staff have to work in the smoking area too, which would be an entirely unnecessary risk to their health.

[Sebytania]

As for smoking in enclosed workplaces, I think a designated smoking area or smokers' room(s) is the best solution. Those who smoke can then do their thing in said room, those who don't can simply not go there...

No, they can't. The staff have to work in the smoking area too, which would be an entirely unnecessary risk to their health.

What I meant was areas that are purely for smoking. At my workplace, it's a small, powerfully ventilated room with a table, chairs and an ashtray. The only ones actually working (or who have to work) at the room are the janitors, who do it hours after the last cigarette was put out - unless they themselves wish to use the room for smoking, of course.

I do agree that smoking should be banned from places inside the workplace that are impossible to avoid for the workers - this includes most areas where actual work is done, changing rooms, toilets and coffee rooms.

[Serrland]

I generally agree with a public ban on sidewalks and such. Bigger, more open areas? Not so sold.on that. And very much in favor.of a ban on smoking in restaurants, bars, and shops.

Considering sidewalks are a public space people walk on, a ban on sidewalks would be very reasonable.

Yep. If I'm fishing in a public park, for example, and there aren't others around, I should be able to enjoy a cigar. I'm not subjecting anyone else to the smoke, and it dissipates quickly in the open air.

Sidewalks are different for me - short of walking in the street, you really haven't got a choice but put yourself in contact with the smoke. I think having properly marked designated outdoor smoking areas might help with this (outside bars, for example) - where non-smokers can avoid if they feel the need (walking on the other side of the street, etc). They should be well marked for some distance in advance, though, to give warning to those who are most opposed to smoke.

[Geilinor]

Smoking should be banned in public places because the dangers of secondhand smoke are well known. In fact, with secondhand smoke, you don't even have a filter. Cigarettes do. If you want to ruin your own body, you're free to, but don't damage mine.

[Geilinor]

Considering sidewalks are a public space people walk on, a ban on sidewalks would be very reasonable.

Yep. If I'm fishing in a public park, for example, and there aren't others around, I should be able to enjoy a cigar. I'm not subjecting anyone else to the smoke, and it dissipates quickly in the open air.

How about banning it in public places when non-smokers are around? If you want to smoke in private or with other smokers, fine.

[Pillea]

Yep. If I'm fishing in a public park, for example, and there aren't others around, I should be able to enjoy a cigar. I'm not subjecting anyone else to the smoke, and it dissipates quickly in the open air.

How about banning it in public places when non-smokers are around? If you want to smoke in private or with other smokers, fine.

I find it remarkably difficult to read the minds of everyone around me to know if they're smokers.

[Luveria]

How about banning it in public places when non-smokers are around? If you want to smoke in private or with other smokers, fine.

I find it remarkably difficult to read the minds of everyone around me to know if they're smokers.

Make a law requiring smokers when in public to wear a red and white armband with a swastika cigarette on it, so you can easily identify them.

[Pillea]

I find it remarkably difficult to read the minds of everyone around me to know if they're smokers.

Make a law requiring smokers when in public to wear a red and white armband with a swastika cigarette on it, so you can easily identify them.

If we have to wear armbands, can us menthol smokers wear them in the nifty blueish greenish shades our death sticks come packed in?

[Luveria]

Make a law requiring smokers when in public to wear a red and white armband with a swastika cigarette on it, so you can easily identify them.

If we have to wear armbands, can us menthol smokers wear them in the nifty blueish greenish shades our death sticks come packed in?

Of course. But if you smoke both menthol and non-menthal you'll need to wear one armband on each arm.

[Pillea]

If we have to wear armbands, can us menthol smokers wear them in the nifty blueish greenish shades our death sticks come packed in?

Of course. But if you smoke both menthol and non-menthal you'll need to wear one armband on each arm.

And for those of us who also smoke e-cigs? Do we still get armbands? Or do we like plasticy visors for our "secondhand vapour" emissions?

[Eliasonia]

Of course. But if you smoke both menthol and non-menthal you'll need to wear one armband on each arm.

And for those of us who also smoke e-cigs? Do we still get armbands? Or do we like plasticy visors for our "secondhand vapour" emissions?

They can get black ones.

[Luveria]

Of course. But if you smoke both menthol and non-menthal you'll need to wear one armband on each arm.

And for those of us who also smoke e-cigs? Do we still get armbands? Or do we like plasticy visors for our "secondhand vapour" emissions?

E-cig smokers aren't required to wear anything.
Edit: Unless you want to.

[Afalia]

I'm hearing a lot of people say if people are smoking don't stand next to them. Move on. It's not always as simple as that for a start, often at college as I'm waiting to go in with the rest of the crowds I have to stand and wait in the midst of a smoke filled haze. Secondly walking along behind or in front of someone who smokes in the street is pretty impossible to get away from them without pushing them out of the way. That itself would be pretty difficult if they blow cigarette smoke in my face and I have to sit down for ten minutes catching my breath after coughing my lungs out.

OK, rant over, just wanted to make that point.

[Pillea]

I'm hearing a lot of people say if people are smoking don't stand next to them. Move on. It's not always as simple as that for a start, often at college as I'm waiting to go in with the rest of the crowds I have to stand and wait in the midst of a smoke filled haze. Secondly walking along behind or in front of someone who smokes in the street is pretty impossible to get away from them without pushing them out of the way. That itself would be pretty difficult if they blow cigarette smoke in my face and I have to sit down for ten minutes catching my breath after coughing my lungs out.

OK, rant over, just wanted to make that point.

When I have to be in/near those crowds when I can't smoke [a nervous habit that calms me both chemically and psychologically] I have to go sit down for ten minutes dealing with anxiety.

[Immoren]

And for those of us who also smoke e-cigs? Do we still get armbands? Or do we like plasticy visors for our "secondhand vapour" emissions?

E-cig smokers aren't required to wear anything.
Edit: Unless you want to.

Nude e-cig smokers errywhere.
ohmy.wav

[Pillea]

E-cig smokers aren't required to wear anything.
Edit: Unless you want to.

Nude e-cig smokers errywhere.
ohmy.wav

With the people I know who smoke e-cigs.... that isn't a terrible idea.

[Luveria]

Nude e-cig smokers errywhere.
ohmy.wav

With the people I know who smoke e-cigs.... that isn't a terrible idea.

I second this. Strongly.

[Costa Alegria]

If you really want alcohol banned go look at how prohibition works. It doesn't. Better yet, look at drug prohibition in general.

No one wants alcohol banned. People only say so because it exposed the hypocrisy within anti-smoker's arguments.

[Densaner]

Government buildings and similar public places should be smoke free. However restaurants and businesses should be free to allow smoking. It is then the choice of people to patronise them.

That's a completely bias view because a smoker is always the one doing the annoyance and therefore will be winner every time. Is like saying that sheep and wolves should be free to be together outside the barn when you know very well what is gonna happen to the sheep. Even if the restaurant has 30 no-smokers and 5 smokers if the smokers are allowed then they will start smoking not giving a shit about the majority they bother.
If you want to make it free for them to smoke then give non smokers the right to freely punch a smoker with no repercussions if they are annoyed.

A ridiculous viewpoint. If you know of a business that allows smoking then don't go there. Go somewhere else. A bar or restaurant isn't a democracy. Why should you get to dictate what goes on there? You don't own the place, do you?