by nicolaou 51 Replies latest watchtower medical
Smoke outside.
I don't smoke.
Sorry, but there is a president your freedom doesn't come at the cost of someone else health
Why can't individual premises be given the right to decide whether or not they go smoke-free? A limited number of licenses could be issued, in the same way that liquor licenses are, as a way of ensuring that there will actually be some non-smoking pubs, etc.
Those of us who come from oppressive organisational backgrounds will know what I mean when I say that you cannot create morality by making more rules.
Stephanus, this has nothing to do with morality - nothing at all. It is a public health issue, plain and simple. Smokers have every right to light up and enjoy a cigarette if they want to, they just cannot do it in a public place.
What's the problem?
The TONE in which non-smokers talk about smokers, even in this thread,
Hellrider,
Same here. Though I have not smoked in a public place in many years, it is the tone of non-smokers, including my family that infuriates me. It is that superior holier-than-thou attitude I see in non-smokers. When at work I go outside to smoke a cigarette, I get these looks from passers by as if I were a pariah. I've seen kinder looks from passers by intruding on a drug addict's fix. I agree with all the reasons to ban smoking, I just wish there wasn't so much arrogance involved.
Smokers have every right to light up and enjoy a cigarette if they want to, they just cannot do it in a public place.What's the problem?
What if the "public place" is privately owned by someone who wants to use that property to allow patrons to smoke? The moral issue is that government is using "public health" as a way of controlling what happens on private property. Why can't some "public places" (and I'm talking about pubs and restaurants here, not public service offices) be licensed to allow smoking, and people who want to be smoke free can go to the non-licensed premises?
Though I have not smoked in a public place in many years, it is the tone of non-smokers, including my family that infuriates me. It is that superior holier-than-thou attitude I see in non-smokers.
An interesting point. Once upon a time, I found the smokers to be the arrogant ones - they more often than not would smoke wherever they liked and everyone who objected could go and jump. But now, it's like the whole situation has reversed: the smokers are the meek, apologetic ones, while the anti-smokers continually hunt them down, and won't be satisfied until they take their last smokey breath!
I think smoking is very bad for one's health, plus it's a waste of money. However, when compared to being in the Jehovah's Witless cult, smoking is much milder a waste of health and money. Besides, unless one is deliberately blowing smoke into the face of innocent people or smoking where others are likely to be affected, I see no problem with people choosing to smoke. After all, it's their health and lives.
I do think it's going too far to require all businesses and places of worship to display No Smoking signs. This might be appropriate in places like malls and supermarkets where smoking might have been permitted. But there are places where one wouldn't even think of lighting up. And it's going too far to ban smoking in private places and places where no one else is affected, like in one's own car. Smoking is stupid, but as I see it, it is not wicked.
I admit I'm trying to quit and it's stupid and a waste of money. But, I can't go to a bar and NOT smoke. Just can't. So I'm staying out of bars and pubs, as much as possible. They're shutting it down in my area in September. I'm gonna try again to quit anyway, so maybe it won't make a difference.
I agree about the comments about the arrogance of non-smokers. And I see the other side, too. I wouldn't want to work in one of those pubs or bars where there's smoking and inadequate ventilation. Just walk out of one of those places in an hour and you are permeated with the smell of stale cigarette and cigar smoke. It's really disgusting, and I can understand that it's not good for anyone's health. Business may slow down at first and then rebound with people who couldn't tolerate the smoke and would go without it.
I generally smoke outside or in the car, which is not great either. I don't know what it is about bars, though. I can't drink alcohol without a cigarette. It's not possible. Thankfully, I'm not addicted to alcohol.
I don't care one way or the other about this law. If people are fed up by smokers in pubs and don't want to be around it or, even worse, work around it, that's fine. Let them drink smoke free. It's healthier for the public.
My only problem with all of this is... the same people who are so concerned about public health are also the people who drive home drunk.
ugh! can you smoke in pubs still?
there's a lot of bars in california that still allow smoking just b/c a bar is supposed to have smoking.
i don't smoke unless it's a cigar once a month or so, but i think it's really lame if people want to smoke they have to do it in the privacy of their own car or something now.
especially cafes, damn.
there are so many larger issues, like the toxins large corps are putting into the air, car exhausts, fast food cloggin arteries....i want a law that if you're over 200 lbs., you can't purchase a big mac, now that would be something i'd stand behind...or at least don't eat one in front of me b/c it's really disgusting to see...privacy of your own home, fine.
i was at safeway a few days ago, trying to get to the sushi rack around two 300+ lb women asking for extra sauce on their fried chicken buckets they were ordering at the deli. THAT should be illegal.
ban high frutose corn syrup, ban all this FDA approved crap that people are putting into their bodies that we can't break down into energy so it turns into cancer, fat cells that won't break down or other problems. then i'd probably be a little more bought into the smoking ban....right now it's hypocritical/political issue.
we're all going to die anyway, some by a gun, some by cancer, some who have never smoked a day in their lives will croak at 40 b/c they don't understand 3/4 of the food at the grocery store is highly toxic to our systems.
hey, but i think sodomy is still a crime in some states here, states i've never been too, but the smoking ban is almost as idiotic, they should ban farting in elevators or at restaurants.
smoke 'em if you got 'em.
and getting a few whiffs of second hand smoke a day won't kill ya, just like that truck that blew out a plume of blue exhaust while i stood on the sidewalk made me want to barf.
Monophonic,
Your post was full of righteous indignation! Just want you to know I enjoyed it.....think I'll light up right now. LOL.
ILLINOIS (US) has a bill sitting on the governor's desk that will ban smoking statewide Jan 1 2008. He has until July 30 to sign it. Casinos are hollering loudest and there is an amendment in another bill to exempt them. Likely the governor will past the smoking ban bill, unlikely the exemption will pass.
They passed this law here a couple of years ago, but the Indians fought it and WON! They aren't subject to the same laws, being under tribal law. Only one county enforced it in the casinos, and the casinos really suffered.
I don't care. The casinos have good ventilation and it doesn't bother me. Live and let live. I'm glad it's out of restaurants though.
