Smoking In Public

[Solsteim]

Smoking shouldn't be allowed on high streets or other crowded public area (i am fine with owners of businesses setting their own policy for what is allowed on their premises, as long as there is adequate ventilation, although i doubt most places would allow smoking). Public smoking is a difficult one for me, because while i believe that people should be able to do what they wish with their own body, and they shouldn't be restricted to just doing it at home, i also have to remember that second hand smoke can be very harmful, especially to asthmatics such as yourself.

[The Republic of Pantalleria]

Smoking shouldn't be allowed on high streets or other crowded public area (i am fine with owners of businesses setting their own policy for what is allowed on their premises, as long as there is adequate ventilation, although i doubt most places would allow smoking). Public smoking is a difficult one for me, because while i believe that people should be able to do what they wish with their own body, and they shouldn't be restricted to just doing it at home, i also have to remember that second hand smoke can be very harmful, especially to asthmatics such as yourself.

I was once an asthmatic, this one of the reasons why I hate public smoking...

[Ksclve]

I don't smoke but I don't mind smokers.

[The Republic of Pantalleria]

I don't smoke but I don't mind smokers.

Well don't go near them when they're smoking, because they shall surely lower your life expectancy...

[Condunum]

What? Do you enjoy the smell of nicotine gentlemen? Do you understand the long term health effects of such a thing?

I'm going to give you a little tip. You aren't a fucking genius. You aren't the Einstein of bad health. You're a fucking person on the internet. Stop with this pretentious attitude.

[Nationalist State of Knox]

As a non-smoker I'm not particularly fond of passive smoking, so I'd prefer it if those who do decide to smoke, to do so out of the way of the public.

[The Republic of Pantalleria]

What? Do you enjoy the smell of nicotine gentlemen? Do you understand the long term health effects of such a thing?

I'm going to give you a little tip. You aren't a fucking genius. You aren't the Einstein of bad health. You're a fucking person on the internet. Stop with this pretentious attitude.

Well, then I may not be an Einstein, but at-least I know a universally accepted truth that is supposed to be taught by teachers when you reach the age of 9...
So my point now, is that you can learn something new if you paid attention to the needs of others, despite of yourself...

[Costa Alegria]

What? Do you enjoy the smell of nicotine gentlemen? Do you understand the long term health effects of such a thing?

I enjoy the smell of cigarette smoke, along with the smoke of wood-burning fires, petroleum and aviation fuel.

Also, if the Philippines lets people smoke in it's schools in hospitals, I'd hate to think what their environmental policies regarding air pollution are. You aren't allowed to do that in New Zealand and the smog every winter here was shocking.

[Nationalist State of Knox]

What? Do you enjoy the smell of nicotine gentlemen? Do you understand the long term health effects of such a thing?

I enjoy the smell of cigarette smoke, along with the smoke of wood-burning fires, petroleum and aviation fuel.

Also, if the Philippines lets people smoke in it's schools in hospitals, I'd hate to think what their environmental policies regarding air pollution are. You aren't allowed to do that in New Zealand and the smog every winter here was shocking.

I do enjoy the smell of petrol.

[The Republic of Pantalleria]

What? Do you enjoy the smell of nicotine gentlemen? Do you understand the long term health effects of such a thing?

I enjoy the smell of cigarette smoke, along with the smoke of wood-burning fires, petroleum and aviation fuel.

Also, if the Philippines lets people smoke in it's schools in hospitals, I'd hate to think what their environmental policies regarding air pollution are. You aren't allowed to do that in New Zealand and the smog every winter here was shocking.

What are you talking about? I'm only in the Philippines for the next 3 days, I return to New Zealand which by the way I have never experienced any smog in that country for the over 7 winters I've been there, and I live in Auckland the largest most industrialised city in the country...

[Ksclve]

I don't smoke but I don't mind smokers.

Well don't go near them when they're smoking, because they shall surely lower your life expectancy...

I don't care

[GrandKirche]

I don't approve of smoking in the street, but there's not a lot of alternatives, now that smoking rooms have been banned here. I would like smoking carriages, rooms, sections etc, but they're not going to come back.

[Lithatrius]

I smoke, I purchase my cigarettes, I pay tax. People need to piss off and leave me alone with their sanctimonious self-righteous bollocks. I made the active choice to smoke, I still make the active choice to smoke, and as far as I'm concerned, if a bar, restaurant, club, or any other private institution wants to let me smoke in there, I should be able to smoke in there.

[Ifreann]

EU politicians are kindly advised to keep their hands off my cigarettes. I will smoke where I please, when I please, thank you. I pay taxes for those cigarettes. This entitles me to smoke wherever I please.

No it doesn't. Nowhere in the world does paying taxes allow you to ignore other laws. Gods, at least I hope there isn't somewhere like that.

Oh, and the EU already has its hands on your cigarettes.

In Romania, all bars and restaurants are required to have separate smoking lounges. As for on the street, well, its a public space and I have as much right to it as everyone else. If any politician thinks of taking away people's right to smoke or drink alcohol in public places in Romania, I believe there would be a revolution by tomorrow morning.

Doubt that.

---

Banning smoking is not within the bounds of common sense.

See we live in this thing called a "Democracy".

Yes, but good luck convincing our anti-smokers of that. They think that, because they don't smoke, it should just be banned.

Yes, everyone who doesn't smoke is part of a hive-mind. It overlaps with the liberal hive-mind quite a bit.

---

we need to get rid of all the smokers... somehow...

We really don't, though.

---

I smoke, I purchase my cigarettes, I pay tax. People need to piss off and leave me alone with their sanctimonious self-righteous bollocks. I made the active choice to smoke, I still make the active choice to smoke, and as far as I'm concerned, if a bar, restaurant, club, or any other private institution wants to let me smoke in there, I should be able to smoke in there.

No you shouldn't. Private institutions aren't exempt from health and safety laws.

[Fireye]

Who's Pope John?

The person above Roan Croa...

You might want to get some glasses then.

That's Pope Joan

[Forsher]

There are two fundamental things about smoking. Firstly, it's harmful. That's fine, so is alcohol. Secondly, it harms other people necessarily. That's not fine. You'll note that drunk driving is not drinking and it's totally illegal, but drinking itself isn't.

Where do we go from these points? Firstly, no responsible government can encourage smoking. Secondly, it should encourage not smoking. Thirdly, it should do its best to protect its charges from smoking.

Where to from there? Well, being smoke-free is an admirable target. I believe the UK's been at 20% for a number of years now so it's also likely an impossible one with current tactics. Encouraging not-smoking is generally achieved by making smoking less cool but the "Smoking Not Our Future" campaign we've got here blends that with trying to make not smoking cool. Banning advertising was a big and very successful step; plain-packaging is an interesting point (I think, frankly, this is assuming that there's a sub-conscious appeal to the pretty colours) and it shall be interesting to see how that pans out legally. Quitline and the like are also central tenets of the smokefree target... helping people who want to quit actually quit. Taxes are also seen as a way to wean consumers off fags, but hard-core smokers just seem to shrug price rises off (unlike the more casual users).

It's important to remember that a lot of the policies implemented around smoking are about stopping more people from picking up smoking as well as discouraging existing smokers.

But, now, for your amusement.

[The Truth and Light]

I am reminded suddenly of an episode of Penn and Teller: Bullshit where they successfully dismantled the claims that second-hand smoke can kill. I should go dig that up.

[Ifreann]

I am reminded suddenly of an episode of Penn and Teller: Bullshit where they successfully dismantled the claims that second-hand smoke can kill. I should go dig that up.

Well if two stage magicians say it, it must be true.

[The Truth and Light]

I am reminded suddenly of an episode of Penn and Teller: Bullshit where they successfully dismantled the claims that second-hand smoke can kill. I should go dig that up.

Well if two stage magicians say it, it must be true.

Don't be absurd. The video is interesting, if anything.

[Ifreann]

Well if two stage magicians say it, it must be true.

Don't be absurd.

Pfft, where's the fun in that?

[The Truth and Light]

Don't be absurd.

Pfft, where's the fun in that?

It's tough to be a stuck-up, teetotaling prude 24/7. Not an easy job, I can assure you. *snob*

[Forsher]

I am reminded suddenly of an episode of Penn and Teller: Bullshit where they successfully dismantled the claims that second-hand smoke can kill. I should go dig that up.

Does anyone ever say that second-hand smoke is anything more than harmful? As opposed to, you know, lethal?

What doesn't kill you probably doesn't make you stronger.

[The Truth and Light]

I am reminded suddenly of an episode of Penn and Teller: Bullshit where they successfully dismantled the claims that second-hand smoke can kill. I should go dig that up.

Does anyone ever say that second-hand smoke is anything more than harmful? As opposed to, you know, lethal?

What doesn't kill you probably doesn't make you stronger.

Well, wasn't that just the profundity of the day?

[The Republic of Pantalleria]

I smoke, I purchase my cigarettes, I pay tax. People need to piss off and leave me alone with their sanctimonious self-righteous bollocks. I made the active choice to smoke, I still make the active choice to smoke, and as far as I'm concerned, if a bar, restaurant, club, or any other private institution wants to let me smoke in there, I should be able to smoke in there.

I never said anything about you not being allowed to smoke in businesses that allow you to, as long as you smoke in private, then I won't have any problem with you, I believe I made that clear in all of my statements...

[Forsher]

Does anyone ever say that second-hand smoke is anything more than harmful? As opposed to, you know, lethal?

What doesn't kill you probably doesn't make you stronger.

Well, wasn't that just the profundity of the day?

When compared to the statement it was in reply to? Yes.