Banning Smoking in Public Places

[Matemeo]

The reason drinking alcohol was allowed was because of freedom of religion if you can't smoke marijuana but your religion requires you to, is that illegal?

There is some Indian tribe, I'm having a hard time remembering which one, who got permission from the U.S. government to smoke peyote during religious periods.

I can't remember where I heard this, clarification would be good.

Also, yes 1920's Prohibition, the rise of organized crime

 

[esb]

When did the consitution come in from?
The government gives and takes the "rights" when it wants to, or when there's a "threats".

And if it was for religious purposes... ok.. What about cults? When they sacrifice animals and people? It's for a religion... loophole that

 

[undeadorcjerk]

I say that a public smoking ban isn't enough, they need to ban smoking all together. But government can't ban in private places cause then people would smuggle it and it would be the drinking probation era all over again.

For now its a nail in the coffin of the smoking compaines. But i hope this starts the path to end smoking once and for all.

 

[esb]

Ending smoking can't, and will never happen.

Marijuana (non-medical) is illegal, and you can smoke it, and get it from almost anywhere (In L.A. at least)

btw... some dude tried to sell me some cigs on the street some time ago lol

 

[Rheias]

Oh boy, TH.net vs Rheias.

> As brought up in the headline news topic, what about the waiters/waitresses?

It's their job, not every job is perfect, don't like it, don't be a waiter. Further more, non-smoking waiters can try to serve only the non-smoking tables, and if they are forced to serve smoking tables, then make it quick. It is not like they are going to sit there for hours breathing the smoke.

> Rhe, no matter where you smoke in a building, the smell will travel. It will get in everyones clothing, it will get in all the furniture.

Then buildings should have certain places made especially for smoking with big wondiws and sealed doors.

>It ain't in the contstitution You have no "right" to actually smoke.

Nothing to do with contstitution, the fact is, smoking is like eating. You can put whatever you want in your mouth. What I do suggest though, sense smoking can kill people that don't smoke, is that a new law comes up stating every building must have a special place for people to smoke in.

 

[esb]

>don't like it, don't be a waiter.

Great point. Don't like something? Boycott it. If restaurant owners see they have no waiters because of the smokers, I assure you they will ban smoking, or disallow it in certain/most areas of the restaurant/place.

And like you said, don't like it(ban)? Don't smoke.

>You can put whatever you want in your mouth.

Haha, tell that to the pedophiles.

>a new law comes up stating every building must have a special place for people to smoke in.

So now people must adjust and serve the needs and useless necessities of the causers of lung cancer? Just for their need?


It seems you have never been next or around a smoker... They ARE annoying, especially when their smell is on the clothes, and they aren't even smoking... bleh.

 

[Rheias]

> I assure you they will ban smoking, or disallow it in certain/most areas of the restaurant/place.

Let them, as long as it is not national.

> Haha, tell that to the pedophiles.

There IS a slight difference.

> So now people must adjust and serve the needs and useless necessities of the causers of lung cancer? Just for their need?

They are part of society. Actually they are a big part of society. Yes, you must serve their needs.

> It seems you have never been next or around a smoker

Half of my family used to smoke.

 

[esb]

A part of society that doesn't do any benefit.

Teenagers are a big part of society, no one serves our needs.

 

[BlightWarden]

in all public places there should be smoking sections. smoking indoors where others can be affected by the smell is not considerate. i am a smoker, and i support banning indoor smoking when dealing with public places.

But. places like amusement parks, hotels, apartment buildings, job sites, beaches and colleges should have sections for smokers outside, most places do but they have no thought going into rain, high winds or over crowding.

as a smoker i do not want to be standing near a dumpster smelling garbage, i do not want to get rained on, i do not want to fight the wind to keep my smoke lit. i want to be able to relax while i smoke to fully enjoy the effect, otherwise i will end up smoking more than 1 ciggerette.

Also if i want to sit in my car or my apartment or hotel room and smoke, thats my own buisness and i do not want people trying to tell me how it bothers them.

I am addicted to ciggerettes otherwise i would quit. i can not wait more than 2 hours to have a smoke without having side effects, I.E, mood change, anxiety. i can sit through a movie at the theater but thats about it.

As a smoker i never smoke near other peoples apartments, i hold my smoke in and hold my ciggerette behind my back while passing someone walking on the same side walk as me, i pull my arm in when at a stop light and next to other cars. but i have noticed not very many people show the same considerations.

Also many non smokers get a really bad additude towards smokers before even asking them to move away from them. all that does is cause the smoker to puff smoke directly at the non smoker. so consideration breeds consideration, and lashing out breeds more lashing out.

I support non smoking buildings, but not non smoking grounds where you can't even smoke outside.

 

[esb]

BlightWarden brings a good point, from a different perspective.

It's true, many people are in-considerate. Maybe, just maybe, if smokers (some/most) where more considerate, people wouldn't mind much. I know I wouldn't. But not everyone is as considerate as BlightWarden.

Smoking inside isn't nice. Especially when the place isn't big (like an apartment). But if it's your place, your car, etc., then sure go ahead. But when you're in a restaurant, trying to eat, but can't because of the smoke, it's hard to be polite to someone being polite. Although I personally don't mind much, unless they are blowing in my face.

Come to think of it, Smoking sounds like an addiction, something you can't resist. So maybe there should be a place here and there for smokers, but not EVERYWHERE.

And even though smoking does cause cancer and who knows what else (addiction), so do many other things...

 

[TheDamien]

People should only be allowed to smoke in their own homes, and it should be illegal to buy tobacco products unless you have an addiction. There is nothing I despise more than smoking, but I would be so much more tolerant if it wasn't:

• A destructive and unhealthy habit
• Thoroughly pointless
• A health risk to bystanders
• Malodorous, imposing and annoying
• A contributer to pollution and the destruction of the environment.

Sustaining an addiction is one thing, but I have absolutely no respect for anyone who takes up smoking despite knowledge of the risks, effects and social factors. Smokers damage themselves and all those around them, they put excess strain on the medical system, generate mountains of waste and fuel deforestation.

Tobacco agriculture contributes to ozone depletion and environmental destruction, requiring the use of toxic pesticides and fungicides to ensure the health of the delicate tobacco plant. For these reasons and others, it seems to me that the tobacco industry is an insipid engine of destruction and decay. It has no practical use, offers no benefits and brings misery and poverty to all.

If you are a smoker, the single greatest thing you could ever do for yourself, your planet and your species is to stop right now.

 

[EatShrooms]

but I have absolutely no respect for anyone who takes up smoking despite knowledge of the risks, effects and social factors.

You're not going to respect people cause they made a bad choice in life?

 

[TheDamien]

You're not going to respect people cause they made a bad choice in life?

Respect or disrespect should only ever be based on choices.

 

[Oninuva]

People should only be allowed to smoke in their own homes, and it should be illegal to buy tobacco products unless you have an addiction. There is nothing I despise more than smoking, but I would be so much more tolerant if it wasn't:

• A destructive and unhealthy habit
• Thoroughly pointless
• A health risk to bystanders
• Malodorous, imposing and annoying
• A contributer to pollution and the destruction of the environment.

Sustaining an addiction is one thing, but I have absolutely no respect for anyone who takes up smoking despite knowledge of the risks, effects and social factors. Smokers damage themselves and all those around them, they put excess strain on the medical system, generate mountains of waste and fuel deforestation.

Tobacco agriculture contributes to ozone depletion and environmental destruction, requiring the use of toxic pesticides and fungicides to ensure the health of the delicate tobacco plant. For these reasons and others, it seems to me that the tobacco industry is an insipid engine of destruction and decay. It has no practical use, offers no benefits and brings misery and poverty to all.

If you are a smoker, the single greatest thing you could ever do for yourself, your planet and your species is to stop right now.

It's not pointless. People could say playing games, chewing gum, or eating candy was pointless. Do they ban it? No. I don't smoke but I believe they have the power to make their own choice of whether to smoke or not beginning from their first smoke.

Secondly, this point;

[*]Malodorous, imposing and annoying

is very opinionated. I'm sure theres no explanation on why it is opinionated so I will just stop on that note.

 

[esb]

It depends on the situation.
If you're a non-smoker, standing or sitting next to a person smoking, and he starts blowing the smoke in your face then it would be very annoying. If it's the wind that blows in your face, ask him/her to trade spots, I've done it before and they don't get offended or anything.

 

[emjlr3]

1 month to go here in MD, cannot wait, F all you smokers, case closed

 

[EatShrooms]

Respect or disrespect should only ever be based on choices.

Everybody makes mistakes, you can't disrespect someone cause they smoke. Well I suppose you could, but I can't see someone getting anywhere socially if they're like that. Crack babies would frown upon this.

 

[TheDamien]

Everybody makes mistakes, you can't disrespect someone cause they smoke. Well I suppose you could, but I can't see someone getting anywhere socially if they're like that. Crack babies would frown upon this.

Coming from a social perspective, I'd much rather judge people by their choices than by:

• Their race
• Their intelligence
• Their education
• Their beliefs

It doesn't matter if everyone makes mistakes because, potentially, any action could be a mistake. Judgment needs to be made at some point and I believe that point should be choice.

 

[FhelZone]

Well esb is right, people who smoke in places with a lot of people should be arrested. They should smoke where there is not much people. Smoking while with several people is like picking your nose and it is not good to see in most public places with several people.

 

[BlightWarden]

It depends on the situation.
If you're a non-smoker, standing or sitting next to a person smoking, and he starts blowing the smoke in your face then it would be very annoying. If it's the wind that blows in your face, ask him/her to trade spots, I've done it before and they don't get offended or anything.

speaking as a smoker, i do not like second hand smoke at all, gives me serious headaches. also i come from a state where it is still legal to smoke indoors at a lot of resturants. i do not like smoke near me before, during or just after i eat, i have never smoked in a resturant before and won't. i do not go to bars mainly because of violent drunks, but aside from that in large part due to smokers.

i see nothing wrong with not being able to smoke in side public places.I would only hope that those places set up smoking areas outside in well lit places with some cover from rain and wind. I know first hand that those places that do not have smoking areas do not stop smokers from lighting up, they simply sneak around while smoking or if they simply do not care, light up in plain sight. they also flick their ciggerettes where ever they want and go on about their day. so having an area with cover and ashtrays solves the problem for adult smokers.
but that will not stop jerks. jerks will do what they want when they want no matter what. thats when the law comes into play, but as most of us know, police are rarely around when we need them.

Being considerate in all things should be common sense but some people seem to lack common sense. I blame their parents. But if someone is inconsiderate to another person, more inconsideration won't solve anything and may make things worse.

As i understand the feelings of a non smoker- as i was one, i also understand the feelings of a smoker. and most smokers have already had one angry non smoker read them the riot act before, so when we hear it again it just gets really annoying or frustrating and some smokers lash out. as smokers have a right to be treated with civility and respect some non smokers forget about this.

second hand smoke is a health risk, but so is being rude to a stranger whom you do not know. maybe the smoker just lost a loved one, or is going through a divorce, or is on serious drugs. either way its always smart to use caution and consideration when dealing with anyone.

second hand smoke is actually not as big of a problem as drunk drivers and violent alcholics. i would welcome a ban on public drinking, closing all bars and requiring people to only drink at a residence. i hate the smell of booze and most drunks act like fools, but when i encounter a drinker i am friendly and respectful because it is that persons choice. if i am bothered i simply move away from the person. though with drinkers sometimes they follow me and try to hold a conversation.

but im getting off topic, i understand the views posted here and support most of them completely. Just remember that everyone dislikes something and if they can find a reason to justify their dislike they might become pushy and use their "Facts" and become overbearing. This never works. just because someone does something you do not like or agree with or find discusting or unhealthy doesnt give you the right to bully or harrass them.

if you ever see me smoking and are bothered by it, simply ask me respectfully to please move upwind, and i will gladly do so with an apology to boot. but beware the angry smoker who is using his/her ciggerette/cigar/chewing tabacco to start a confrontation.

I wish you a long and healthy life.