Civil Disobedience

[alan1]

Yesterday, a new law went into effect in NC.
No smoking in restaurants.

There is a little place down the street from my house that I eat at often, and they have always allowed smoking.
I went there for a meal yesterday.
No ashtrays were on the table yesterday.
After my meal, I lit up a cigarette. My act of civil disobedience.
My waitress brought me more water while I was smoking and didn't say a word. 2 other waitresses saw me and didn't say a word. Probably half the patrons in the restaurant saw me and didn't say a word.

While I was sitting there (still smoking), I observed a couple come in. They looked around and saw me smoking They asked the waitress (same waitress I had) for a seat in the non-smoking section. She replied, "New law doesn't allow smoking in any restaurant, you can sit anywhere you want". She got a good tip.

It is only day one, so I probably can't keep this up for long, but I'm going to try.

 

[hjmick]

In all honesty, you'll get used to it, but I do understand. The worst is banning smoking in bars.

 

[jillian]

I always thought it should be the choice of the business owner.

 

[alan1]

In all honesty, you'll get used to it, but I do understand. The worst is banning smoking in bars.

Bars were included.

 

[alan1]

I always thought it should be the choice of the business owner.

Me also.
Seems some people want the government to decide what people do with their personal establishments.

 

[Luissa]

You will get used to it, it sucks at first. The first day here it was 10 degrees outside. the Bingo halls that raised money for Big Brothers and Sister and one that raised money for a special needs school both ended up shutting down. The Native American Casino's and Bingo halls of course benefitted from the law.
They also started fining bars that allowed smoking, and you also start to realize the smoke smell was covering up even worse smells.

 

[alan1]

You will get used to it, it sucks at first. The first day here it was 10 degrees outside. the Bingo halls that raised money for Big Brothers and Sister and one that raised money for a special needs school both ended up shutting down. The Native American Casino's and Bingo halls of course benefitted from the law.
They also started fining bars that allowed smoking, and you also start to realize the smoke smell was covering up even worse smells.

Gee, I should get used to the government telling people what to do with their personal property.
Maybe they will give me some scraps from the table so I can really feel like a begging dog.

 

[chanel]

NJ has had a smoking ban for as long time. It has killed a lot of bars and restaurants - esp.the casinos. At least the weather isn't so bad in NC.January in NJ is brutal. The only bars by me that do well in the winter have "heated patios" that allow smoking. Its prob.still illegal, but so far no one has pushed it. But someone will7.

Smoking under the age of 18 is now a criminal offense and they have also suggested outlawing smoking in CARS if children are present. Just what the cops need. Arresting soccer moms and teenagers for smoking. Like they don't have anything better to do.

Welcome to the nanny state. We are headed toward outlawing hamburgers too.

 

[Ravi]

Yesterday, a new law went into effect in NC.
No smoking in restaurants.

There is a little place down the street from my house that I eat at often, and they have always allowed smoking.
I went there for a meal yesterday.
No ashtrays were on the table yesterday.
After my meal, I lit up a cigarette. My act of civil disobedience.
My waitress brought me more water while I was smoking and didn't say a word. 2 other waitresses saw me and didn't say a word. Probably half the patrons in the restaurant saw me and didn't say a word.

While I was sitting there (still smoking), I observed a couple come in. They looked around and saw me smoking They asked the waitress (same waitress I had) for a seat in the non-smoking section. She replied, "New law doesn't allow smoking in any restaurant, you can sit anywhere you want". She got a good tip.

It is only day one, so I probably can't keep this up for long, but I'm going to try.

I feel your pain. It has been banned for several years in my red state...in both bars and restaurants. I am used to the restaurants but don't go to bars anymore...there is no point going somewhere that won't allow you to relax.

 

[random3434]

What did you ash your ciggie in? The water glass or the floor?


How big a tip did you leave your waitress?


Details, details!

 

[alan1]

Yesterday, a new law went into effect in NC.
No smoking in restaurants.

There is a little place down the street from my house that I eat at often, and they have always allowed smoking.
I went there for a meal yesterday.
No ashtrays were on the table yesterday.
After my meal, I lit up a cigarette. My act of civil disobedience.
My waitress brought me more water while I was smoking and didn't say a word. 2 other waitresses saw me and didn't say a word. Probably half the patrons in the restaurant saw me and didn't say a word.

While I was sitting there (still smoking), I observed a couple come in. They looked around and saw me smoking They asked the waitress (same waitress I had) for a seat in the non-smoking section. She replied, "New law doesn't allow smoking in any restaurant, you can sit anywhere you want". She got a good tip.

It is only day one, so I probably can't keep this up for long, but I'm going to try.

I feel your pain. It has been banned for several years in my red state...in both bars and restaurants. I am used to the restaurants but don't go to bars anymore...there is no point going somewhere that won't allow you to relax.

Did you do any civil disobedience when it happened in your state?

 

[Baruch Menachem]

I am not a compassionate conservative, and i don't feel your pain.

For us non smokers, this is so wonderful I can't tell you how much more pleasant it is to eat out now.
I don't believe smokers quite understand just how much their habit bothers the rest of us. They are happy, what's our problem?

That said, as a total idealogical tool and believer in what I say I believe in, I have to say I think these laws are a bad idea. People should be allowed their own choices, and should not have their liberties curtailed like this. Even if I really really intensely like the result. It sucks, it blows. It stinks.

 

[California Girl]

I always thought it should be the choice of the business owner.

I have to say..... (and this really hurts cuz you're a ranting liberal and I'm a right wing whackjob).... I agree with you.


*Ouch. I was right, it hurt.*

 

[random3434]

I think we ALL agree it should be the OWNERS CHOICE!

If you want to smoke, go to a place that allows it, if not, then don't. We still have that freedom in Indiana, for now. (In bars and pubs that is. If a place allows childen then no smoking allowed at all, if it does allow it you have to be 21 to enter)

 

[Ravi]

Yesterday, a new law went into effect in NC.
No smoking in restaurants.

There is a little place down the street from my house that I eat at often, and they have always allowed smoking.
I went there for a meal yesterday.
No ashtrays were on the table yesterday.
After my meal, I lit up a cigarette. My act of civil disobedience.
My waitress brought me more water while I was smoking and didn't say a word. 2 other waitresses saw me and didn't say a word. Probably half the patrons in the restaurant saw me and didn't say a word.

While I was sitting there (still smoking), I observed a couple come in. They looked around and saw me smoking They asked the waitress (same waitress I had) for a seat in the non-smoking section. She replied, "New law doesn't allow smoking in any restaurant, you can sit anywhere you want". She got a good tip.

It is only day one, so I probably can't keep this up for long, but I'm going to try.

I feel your pain. It has been banned for several years in my red state...in both bars and restaurants. I am used to the restaurants but don't go to bars anymore...there is no point going somewhere that won't allow you to relax.

Did you do any civil disobedience when it happened in your state?

No. It didn't seem worth it to me. The other people that didn't smoke were under the impression that they could breathe smoke free air.

IMO it should be a decision of the business owner but I have no hopes of it ever going back. We even have parks that don't allow smoking.

 

[Ravi]

I think we ALL agree it should be the OWNERS CHOICE!

If you want to smoke, go to a place that allows it, if not, then don't. We still have that freedom in Indiana, for now. (In bars and pubs that is. If a place allows childen then no smoking allowed at all, if it does allow it you have to be 21 to enter)

I see you haven't met Anguille.

 

[California Girl]

NJ has had a smoking ban for as long time. It has killed a lot of bars and restaurants - esp.the casinos. At least the weather isn't so bad in NC.January in NJ is brutal. The only bars by me that do well in the winter have "heated patios" that allow smoking. Its prob.still illegal, but so far no one has pushed it. But someone will7.

Smoking under the age of 18 is now a criminal offense and they have also suggested outlawing smoking in CARS if children are present. Just what the cops need. Arresting soccer moms and teenagers for smoking. Like they don't have anything better to do.

Welcome to the nanny state. We are headed toward outlawing hamburgers too.

I think it's quite a damning statement of society when we have to make it illegal for people to smoke in cars with kids present. Who would do that? I don't smoke but I have nothing against other people smoking. They should just have separate bars - so people can choose for themselves.... Imagine that.... a country where we have the freedom to choose! Wow!

 

[chanel]

I sympathize with non smokers but like Jillian said it should be up to the owners. Non smoking restaurants could do well, but all non smoking hurts everyone in the pocketbook.

I have smoked in "non smoking bars" in NY and AC simply because the owners were willing to pay the fine if need be. But I wouldn't exactly call that "civil disobedience" More like drunken apathy.

 

[alan1]

I am not a compassionate conservative, and i don't feel your pain.

For us non smokers, this is so wonderful I can't tell you how much more pleasant it is to eat out now.
I don't believe smokers quite understand just how much their habit bothers the rest of us. They are happy, what's our problem?

That said, as a total idealogical tool and believer in what I say I believe in, I have to say I think these laws are a bad idea. People should be allowed their own choices, and should not have their liberties curtailed like this. Even if I really really intensely like the result. It sucks, it blows. It stinks.

Next up, cell phones, why should I be exposed to radiation? Cellular Telephone Use and Cancer Risk - National Cancer Institute

 

[Ravi]

I sympathize with non smokers but like Jillian said it should be up to the owners. Non smoking restaurants could do well, but all non smoking hurts everyone in the pocketbook.

I have smoked in "non smoking bars" in NY and AC simply because the owners were willing to pay the fine if need be. But I wouldn't exactly call that "civil disobedience" More like drunken apathy.

You say that like it's a bad thing.