Now by all acounts this should be in general, but since i smoke anything upt to 20 **** when installing stuff, i thought i'd raise it here.

now why should we/I give up smoking just to please the other lot in public plases? ie bars and pubs?

Anyone who argues against... prepare yourself for battle!!!

At this rate - and seriously - some individuals will not beable to set foot ouside before too long...

hmmm.... good ol' new labour... new ideas same old crap...

perhaps we should set up a scooby party

 

Why should I have to inhale your smoke because I happen to be eating or drinking in the same vicinity to you.

Kill youself in private!!

 

I agree with Woosh..

So.. outside then

I don't think you'd appreciate me F$rting, belching or doing something equally unpleasant in your face.

I find smoking a very unpleasant past time that inpinges upon me EVERYTIME I'm unlucky enough to be near a smoker. Your 'past time' DIRECTLY affects me by me breathing in the smoke (with all the health problems associated), making me and my clothes stink and contributing to my daughters Asmtha.

Just one or two smokers can have the above affect on a room full of smoking and non-smoking people. That is unacceptable.

I don't inflict my bad habits on you, and I certainly don't moan about the fact that I should have the freedom to do so! If I want to spit, swear, pick my nose or air some dodgy views, then I should have the freedom to do it. But in places where the people don't mind (because they do the same) or in designated places where it doesn't offend or harm anyone.

And don't give me your crap about 'freedom'. Because I don't have the freedom to go into many establishments and enjoy a smoke free atmoshpere.

It's your problem that you are addicted, don't force that on me..

I feel better now..

 

A non smoking colleague of mine said to a smoking colleague of mine on this very subject,

" If I had a cold, and sneezed over you, you'd complain wouldn't you? But you expect me to keep quiet when you light a cigarette?"

I thought the analogy was quite good.

 

Nice one JockyTT...

Si.t... Would be intersted in your views?

 

Have to agree, there nothing worse than going out for a nice meal only to have some chimney come and sit behind you all night. I don't mind people smoking in OPEN places where the smoke does not bother you, but in closed area's it can be annoying to say the least, especially when you are astmatic.


Recently had a relative die from a lung (SMOKING) related illness, it took him 5 years to SLOWLY die and it was not a pretty site, have you seen the stop smoking ad where the woman has got the tube to her nose, well that was John for 5 years.

SMOKING KILLS VERY SLOWLY



[Edited by BigRed - 11/29/2003 8:06:19 PM]

 

Big Red.. I think you'll find, like most addicts, that denial plays a big part in their argument. If they (smokers) don't argue that they are not addicted, then they will be happy to argue that the negative health reasons don't exist (usually quoting some relative who's smoked 50 a day and still going strong at 80 years old).

They will also ignore your first hand account and the ads as some sort of fascist plot to deny them their 'right' to smoke..

Si.t... where art though?

Waiting for the 'battle' to commence, and the start of some lively debate!!

 

As a smoker, I agree with the non smokers in so much as they shouldn't have to breath in our smoke whilst in a pub/restaurant etc.. But surely a more sensible solution is partitioning these places and putting in proper ventilation?

Banning smoking in public altogether is not a solution.

(And yes, I'm addicted otherwise I would have stopped by now).

 

Big up Whoosh! I feel very strongly about this 'SMOKERS! are second class citizens'. End of argument...!

 

Bit of a damp squib this one eh!!

 

Dr Evil.

Agree totally mate.. and its refreshing to hear from a smoker who agrees with the non smoking lobby.

Unfortunately segregation didn't/doesn't work because there are too many people that have Partners/freinds/relatives etc who either smoke or don't.

But the 'addiction' side is the key to the argument. There are NO positive benefits to the smoker in person. (Though the Government does get about £10 billion in taxes ).

OK, it makes you feel relaxed etc, but that's down to 'fixing' the addiction, and not due to any natural positive benefits. Also, to a 20 a day smoker, the costs are somewhere in the region of £60 per month (online prices) to £120 per month (corner shop). Double this with a smoking partner. The costs to the NHS run to about £1.7 BILLION a year.

But I disagree with outright banning (think of those taxes!). I feel that public place banning of smoking AND / OR putting up the price is the best solution because it weans people off gradualy. It may be hard to the smoker in the short term, but the long term benefits can only be good for your health your pocket and the anti-social side.

But let's not get onto alcohol!!!

[Edited by Alan C - 11/30/2003 8:43:56 PM]

 

i'd agree that partitioning public places is right - just banning it all together is not right. You can't start changing people's habits all together. For one i agree about eating places - i generally don't smoke when having a meal at all. Its just this facist attitude some individuals have about a complete ban I have a problem with.

As for a 'damp squid' - i've spent the last two nights out larging it enjoying life rather than being a limp bit of seafood sitting in front of my pc this weekend.

Roll on friday nite

 

Obviously never worked nights on a weekend then !! Somebody needs to pay their taxes to pay for the cancer treatment you will be recieving

 

Woosh - cancer may be a drain on the NHS, but so is alcohol and drug abuse and sexually transmitted diseases.

 

A message to all non-smokers who wish to kerb MY rights as a smoker - P1SS OFF!! I have as much right to smoke as you have not to breathe it in, and I am going to use my right (yes, as you are entitled to yours). If you dont want to drink in a smokey pub THEN DONT GO IN PUBS. If you dont want to be near smokers in a restaurant THEN STAY AWAY FROM THE SMOKERS SECTION. I am sick, tired and fed up of damp liberal do gooders imposing the will of "the majority" on "the minority". You wouldnt get away with it if you tried it from a sexuality - disability or ethnicity point of view now would you. I find the consumption of alcohol to be equally irritating to your annoyance of my vice, except when I smoke, I can drive my car without endangering others, I dont get loud and abusive with those around me, I remain coherent, it doesnt make me puke all over the public highway, it doesnt harden my liver or kill off brain cells (some pedant is bound to come back on that one). It doesnt make me want to fight the world and his mate etc, etc, etc. (And a significant proportion of healthcare costs go towards treatment and rehabilitation of patients with alcohol related diseases/problems).

If you are so worried about the health of you and yours, think of all the ****e you breathe in as you walk down the average london street. What do you try and do about that - sweet FA, because you cant. Here we are on a website built around cars of which many gripe because of poor fuel consumption. The cars chuck out fumes which damage your health as much as my cigarette does except that isnt such an easy target, because more are likely to revolt over any attempt to curtail the use of the automobile.

I will be mindful of your comfort when I smoke, as I am not a totally inconsiderate b@stard, but I aint gonna change my life for ya. And you call us selfish.


Wooosh - is this the sort of response you were looking for from Si.t.

 

LOL, Yea something like that.

Nice one though, some good points there.I don't really mind smokers. If they were banned from smoking in pubs or restaurants then it wouldn't really put me up nor down. I used to smoke a bit myself. :-0 but when someone puts it into words .ie original post then you've got to have a dig.

smoke away my friend.

 

I am a smoker, but, i understand the non smokers so i dont mind not smoking in restaurants etc. think pubs should have non smoking areas. We all have our little vices and u should not get moaned at for it.

Smokers are not 2nd class citizens.

free choice

mind you if the poxy europe super nannies get their way everything will be banned anyway.

 

non smokers are selfish ba$stards! y?
cos the lung capacity of a smoker is half as much as a nonsmoker, therefore us smokers dont need to intake as much oxygen as a nonsmoker,
smokers are doing the earth a favour.


simple theory really.

 

Wooosh,
no offence taken then? Glad to hear it. On a more civilised note, I fully understand the potential damage to myself and others of my habit. I do not smoke in my main car unless the passenger/s is happy for me to do so - I wouldnt impose that on anyone without their consent (all heart me). I do not smoke in my Scoob because it is new and I dont want it to smell like an ashtray. I tend not to frequent pubs because upon leaving, I smell like an ashtray (and yes, even as a smoker I hate the smell of smoke from others on my clothes/in my hair).

However, a smoker (not a heavy one)I am and I enjoy it which is why I have not tried to give it up. I beleive I could if I wanted to but I know the habit would be difficult to break.

To put my point in context, remember that speeding in a built-up area is more likely to cause harm to those other than the driver than my cigarette is (I have been known to toe it in the wrong places as much as anyone, but not anymore LOL). However, I would like to think of myself as responsible when indulging in pursuits that affect those around me, and will accommodate the needs of others. JUST DONT TELL ME WHAT TO DO!!!

Threads like this can be unhelpful because they prompt heated opinions on sensitive subject matter rather than healthy debate. Opinions are like @rseholes, we all have one but what we must NOT do is force them on others.

Elvis has left the building!