Smoking in public places.

[archangel]

I find it really ironic that the US military used to put cigarettes in C-rations. Now the VA will not treat veterans who have any disorder related to smoking. Hypocrits.

and some gum and a two beer ration...what were they thinking? Naw it was the highlight of the day!

 

[CSM]

The first thing I do is strip naked, roll around on the bedspread, check out the porn selection on the TV, then ejaculate as many times as I can all over everything.

Then I light up a Marlboro. :funnyface

TOO MUCH INFORMATION!!!

man, now I can't get the bad voices out of my head!

 

[Nienna]

I don't think the government should decide, but I wish people would have a little more common decency. This is soccer season, and you can't watch your kid's game without inhaling two lungsful of someone else's nasty habit. Even though it's outside, people still breathe it in. Especially bad for an asthmatic kid. If you can't last 45 minutes without one (or EIGHT! I swear, I counted once, and the guy smoked EIGHT! And I was trying to recup from bronchitis! ), then you should at least give the other spectators a break and walk away from the field while you smoke.

 

[Nienna]

I guess what I don't understand is why you think the asthmatic (in this case) has a right to infringe on MY freedoms. I did not create the debilitating condition; why must I bear responsibility for it unless I CHOOSE to?

This strikes home to me. It's exactly the attitude I encounter at the soccer fields. My son can't walk away from his asthma. We have tried switching places, but there are so many smokers, and always a breeze blowing.

I am not advocating government intrusion, but, people who refuse to regulate their own behavior with consideration for others open the controversy.

My son cannot choose to put his asthma on hold for 45 minutes, or choose not to breathe for that period of time. However, a smoker can put off his cigarette for 45 minutes. The one who desires the indulgence must bear the responsibility. It is not fair to force someone else away from the game so that he can indulge in his habit.

 

[Avatar4321]

Honestly, i think smoking should be illegal period. Course id rather see that on a state by state basis rather than anything the federal government did. However, if you are going to make it legal, let the businesses chose for themselves.

 

[Nienna]

One last illustrative example and then I wont comment anymore as it is obvious that no one is going to convince anyone of anything here.

Certain individuals are allergic to pets (dogs, cats, etc.). Should such pets be banned from public places? The animals, afterall, have an impact on another person's well being. They (the allergic ones) are not responsible for their condition and since there are far fewer allergic persons than pet owners, far less economic impact. Your argument leads me to believe that pets should not be allowed in public places as they infringe on the rights of the allergic persons to go where they please.

This is an interesting point. My son is also allergic to pet dander. However, pet dander is not as intrusive as smoke. In most cases, he actually has to touch the animal or get very close to it to cause a reaction. Smoke infiltrates the air, and is very hard to avoid.

 

[The ClayTaurus]

This strikes home to me. It's exactly the attitude I encounter at the soccer fields. My son can't walk away from his asthma. We have tried switching places, but there are so many smokers, and always a breeze blowing.

I am not advocating government intrusion, but, people who refuse to regulate their own behavior with consideration for others open the controversy.

My son cannot choose to put his asthma on hold for 45 minutes, or choose not to breathe for that period of time. However, a smoker can put off his cigarette for 45 minutes. The one who desires the indulgence must bear the responsibility. It is not fair to force someone else away from the game so that he can indulge in his habit.

I'm not alone! Hooray!

Your middle paragraph hits the nail on the head.

 

[CSM]

This strikes home to me. It's exactly the attitude I encounter at the soccer fields. My son can't walk away from his asthma. We have tried switching places, but there are so many smokers, and always a breeze blowing.

I am not advocating government intrusion, but, people who refuse to regulate their own behavior with consideration for others open the controversy.

My son cannot choose to put his asthma on hold for 45 minutes, or choose not to breathe for that period of time. However, a smoker can put off his cigarette for 45 minutes. The one who desires the indulgence must bear the responsibility. It is not fair to force someone else away from the game so that he can indulge in his habit.

Common decency and consideration for others is a whole different topic. I don't smoke indoors at all (anyplace, home or otherwise) and usually find a spot well away from others before lighting up. I do that because I want to, not because someone else is going to tell me too.

As for indulgence, who is indulging whom? I guess that is the heart of the controversy.

 

[Nienna]

Common decency and consideration for others is a whole different topic. I don't smoke indoors at all (anyplace, home or otherwise) and usually find a spot well away from others before lighting up. I do that because I want to, not because someone else is going to tell me too.

As for indulgence, who is indulging whom? I guess that is the heart of the controversy.

Kudos to you for your consideration! Thank you! from every mother who has counted her child's ribs as he gasps for breath in the throes of an asthma attack.

I have to assert that the smoker is engaging in the indulgence, since cigarettes are not necessary for life.

 

[The ClayTaurus]

As for indulgence, who is indulging whom? I guess that is the heart of the controversy.

Do you mean the indulgence of breathing air vs. breathing smoke? I don't follow, I guess.

I do appreciate you recognizing that your smoking may be an inconvenience for others. Thank you.

 

[Nuc]

Not to go off topic too much but pollution from industry and automobiles is a much bigger culprit in childhood asthma than smoking.

 

[The ClayTaurus]

I don't see your point...

 

[CSM]

Kudos to you for your consideration! Thank you! from every mother who has counted her child's ribs as he gasps for breath in the throes of an asthma attack.

I have to assert that the smoker is engaging in the indulgence, since cigarettes are not necessary for life.

Obviously, there is a certain amount of consideration for others that has to take place. What gets me about this whole controversy is the elemental question of whose individual rights take precedence over others. What makes one person's right to be or do more compelling than another person's right to be or do? Where exactly is that line drawn and by whom?

 

[The ClayTaurus]

Obviously, there is a certain amount of consideration for others that has to take place. What gets me about this whole controversy is the elemental question of whose individual rights take precedence over others. What makes one person's right to be or do more compelling than another person's right to be or do? Where exactly is that line drawn and by whom?

Good point. To that extent, I submit we are both at fault, for neither of us can have our way without infringing on the other. Perhaps the answer here is merely to have courtesy towards one another and accept that compromise is likely the only fair solution for everyone.

 

[CSM]

Good point. To that extent, I submit we are both at fault, for neither of us can have our way without infringing on the other. Perhaps the answer here is merely to have courtesy towards one another and accept that compromise is likely the only fair solution for everyone.

and on that I can heartily agree

 

[Trigg]

Honestly, i think smoking should be illegal period. Course id rather see that on a state by state basis rather than anything the federal government did. However, if you are going to make it legal, let the businesses chose for themselves.

The gov. has absolutally no business getting involved in that at all. I think we've all read up on how successful prohibition was and how rich that law made the criminals.

There are still dry counties. If states want to regulate the sale of tobacco that's their choice, but to make smoking illegal would fill our jails up for no good reason.

 

[kurtsprincess]

I get a non-smoking room and smoke in the bar if that's allowed.

Well...............I've never smoked, and am allergic to cig smoke..........so I try to stay in total non-smoking hotels, or on a non-smoking floor. I would rather sleep in my car than in a hotel room that someone has been smoking in and I definitely would not patronize a smoking establishment.

 

[Gem]

Personally, I would rather put up with deciding not to walk into a crowded bar/restaurant or having to walk away from an inconsiderate idiot at a sporting event than have the government tell ALL of us that someone can't even smoke in public if everyone AGREES that a person can smoke in public.

I hate the smell of cigarettes, it gives me a headache, it smells gross...and it drives me CRAZY that when I am around a smoker my hair and clothes end up smelling like smoke...but ya know what? I like the government staying the hell out of as much of our lives as possible MUCH MORE than I dislike that disgusting smell.

I am ALL for businesses saying "You can smoke here." Or "We are a smoke-free establishment." I have yet to meet a smoker who won't go to a good restaurant because they can't smoke during the meal (maybe I don't know enough hardcore smokers...but my best friend smokes and she never makes a big deal out of it...neither did my parents when they smoked...although they have both quit...YEA!). That way...businesses can decide for themselves if they want to deal with the smoker/nonsmoker issue...and we as consumers can decide if WE want to deal with smokers or nonsmokers when we go out!

And for mom4...what about getting together with some of the other moms and working on talking to the school/township/whoever is in charge of the soccer field about making the area around children's sports games smoke-free? I think you would have an excellent case...young children, several with asthma, breathing in heavily....needed full lung capacity for the game...etc. etc. I bet that if you have a few determined mothers you could at least get a rule that people who want to smoke have to do it back at their cars...not at the field.

 

[Annie]

Personally, I would rather put up with deciding not to walk into a crowded bar/restaurant or having to walk away from an inconsiderate idiot at a sporting event than have the government tell ALL of us that someone can't even smoke in public if everyone AGREES that a person can smoke in public.

I hate the smell of cigarettes, it gives me a headache, it smells gross...and it drives me CRAZY that when I am around a smoker my hair and clothes end up smelling like smoke...but ya know what? I like the government staying the hell out of as much of our lives as possible MUCH MORE than I dislike that disgusting smell.

I am ALL for businesses saying "You can smoke here." Or "We are a smoke-free establishment." I have yet to meet a smoker who won't go to a good restaurant because they can't smoke during the meal (maybe I don't know enough hardcore smokers...but my best friend smokes and she never makes a big deal out of it...neither did my parents when they smoked...although they have both quit...YEA!). That way...businesses can decide for themselves if they want to deal with the smoker/nonsmoker issue...and we as consumers can decide if WE want to deal with smokers or nonsmokers when we go out!

And for mom4...what about getting together with some of the other moms and working on talking to the school/township/whoever is in charge of the soccer field about making the area around children's sports games smoke-free? I think you would have an excellent case...young children, several with asthma, breathing in heavily....needed full lung capacity for the game...etc. etc. I bet that if you have a few determined mothers you could at least get a rule that people who want to smoke have to do it back at their cars...not at the field.

Gem, I agree with you about the soccer stuff, as a Mom and teacher I would no more light up at a kids' game than I would have a drink. It's just not appropriate. If it's necessary to make rules for some, so be it.

On the other hand, when it comes to bars, restaurants, and belatedly places of employment, seems to me that it is up to the building management to provide adequate ventilation for smokers and non. Notice, since I am teaching, I'm exempt, would never smoke around my kids.