Posts by Nathan Kern77

Lisa Morales4 said:So, now we’re talking about Marijuana. 🙂 Of course I was talking about the addicts—the ones who are completely hooked and obsessed with their little "therapy" sessions. As for those who actually have the legal right to do it? God forbid there’s any actual reason for smoking that Marijuana. 😲

Look, I'll be blunt—I used to smoke Marijuana quite a bit in high school, and I never became an addict. If you enjoy it, go for it. You don't get hooked on weed. Besides, I don't really know anyone who hasn't tried it at some point. 😁

Lisa Morales4 said:But he has NO RIGHT to infringe on others—especially when the government goes out of its way to protect the well-being and health of its citizens. 🙂

Exactly—it’s non-existent. You try explaining that logic to the average American—people who can barely afford groceries most weeks—but somehow, they still find the cash to drop twenty bucks a day on cigarettes. It makes zero sense.

I don't know about things over in the USA. Nobody. Who's actually pulling the strings?

Look, they're good people—I get that. But not once did it occur to any of them to ask if the smoke was bothering me in my own home, let alone their own. They all just head out to the balcony. They aren't confrontational, and they don't act like they're better than anyone else. They know smoking is bad for them, sure, but they actually show some respect for people who made a different choice. Unknown—it reminds me of a Polish friend of mine who was miserable because he couldn't get a date. It turned out he just smelled like an ashtray. I told him about it indirectly, kept it gentle, and he finally quit. He ended up getting engaged shortly after. 🙂

Then you have those problematic Native Americans smoking weed—which is harder to prosecute since it isn't a lethal offense. Brain. It hits him in a way that makes you an immediate, on-site threat to everyone around you.

Cannabis isn't going to rot your brain—not if you aren't spending every waking second wasted on it. You can see how they handle it in the States; it’s legal for terminally ill patients to help manage their pain. Weed's fine. 🙂 😁

I remember coming back to the States after being away for a while—friends dragged me out, and by the second day, I was a wreck. Couldn't speak, constant coughing, scratchy throat, red eyes, nose running like crazy... just gross. I’ve never been a fan of clubs or dive bars specifically because of the smoke and the crowds—even though I don't smoke myself—but the situation here is a disaster. Indoor ventilation is absolutely pathetic.
After that, I went to do some shopping at Macy's. I walked into a boutique and there's this woman sitting there, barking into her phone and—just spitting everywhere! The whole place stunk, and everything in the store smelled like trash. People are still smoking in shopping malls despite the ban on indoor smoking. It's especially bad if the mall has cafes inside. I can't speak for every shop—this specific experience was a few years back—but I know private grocery stores cut corners on this too.

jadetiger10 said:Around here, things have changed smokers have been phased out long ago👍 so there isn't really much point in reminding anyone not to smoke indoors anymore😁

I can't even imagine someone smoking right under my nose at work 😲 honestly, I feel like they'd probably end up swallowing whatever they just lit

Yeah, haha. Especially if your boss is the one doing it and you tell him to knock it off. That’s an instant firing right here. Luckily, nobody is pulling any weight at this firm—though in my last one, it was a different story. Even with inspections and people reporting them, nobody gave a damn. I couldn't believe it—they just sit there in their cubicles with smoke drifting over their heads. Disgusting. It's a massive corporation, famous across the US, and yet no one can touch them. You say something and people start shaking because they don't want to rock the boat since they're in the minority—even though legally you're 155% in the right, given that smoking isn't allowed in indoor spaces here either.

Gary Cox72 said:Moving in with the wrong crowd, I see. 😁

But in all seriousness—what kind of friends are they if they find it difficult to step onto a balcony when the craving hits? Just ask them nicely. That's it.
For instance, my partner isn't a smoker, and neither am I (she's particularly sensitive to it), yet our smoking friends always respect our space when they visit. Our house isn't empty because of it.

They aren't my people, they're his. Most of his family too. He smokes, and to them, it’s perfectly normal for everyone to light up. What are they like? Some of them probably smoke right in front of their kids and then wonder why they can't get rid of bronchitis... I don't know. It's fine by him, and I guess it's fine by them, but if he won't tell them, I will. In my house, there's no smoking. Period. I hate it when everything smells like cigarettes for five days straight—when the scent gets trapped in the clothes, the carpet, the curtains, the couches... Not to mention having to repaint constantly because the corners near the ceiling turn black. Disgusting. Like I said, plenty of people here still don't get it—they lack any empathy for non-smokers since they're the majority—so it wouldn't take much for someone to take offense if you told them smoking isn't allowed indoors.
My biggest fear is being the lone voice against the majority while he... well, I know he'd just say "let it go." I'm worried I won't be able to hold my ground alone. And what happens in the winter when it's freezing on the balcony? But they insist on doing it inside because they have to burn through two packs a day? Just pathetic, really. My friends don't smoke. Now that I actually think about it—not a single one of them.

Sarah James4 said:I think besides my husband and me, everyone else smokes... but they know the rules when I'm home. I quit once I got pregnant... and he stopped when his health started declining...

I have zero issues telling someone to stop smoking near me or my kid, especially indoors. Honestly, I’ll gladly get into an argument about it😈 , because they're going to get a piece of my mind if they don't😬 😍

👍

One thing has been weighing on me lately. My partner smokes—not much, and rarely right in front of me since he knows it bothers me—but we're moving in together soon and I've already 😈 😈 made it clear there’s no smoking in the house, period. His response? "What if people come over?" Fine. I'm totally okay with no smoking inside; you go out to the balcony or the backyard. That's standard. I don't want to be the neighborhood killjoy, but honestly, the smoke is starting to choke me. What am I supposed to do here?

Looks like I might end up being the old hag with an empty house after all.😢

Only sharing this with good friends. 🤣

The habit. 🤣

I smoked back in high school, but once I moved to Australia, I quit because I couldn't stand the sight of myself anymore. I just stopped—cold turkey—without any hesitation, and I haven't touched that garbage since. Growing up, everyone in my family smoked except my mom, so I was basically suffocating in smoke from day one. I can't say I ever actually enjoyed it; it was just that teenage phase where everyone smokes, so I did too, but I got hooked hard. Quitting was a struggle.

What nauseates me most about life here in America is how intolerant smokers are toward non-smokers. When I lived in Australia, I had friends who smoked, but it never even crossed their minds to light up while we were eating or—God forbid—inside my house. They’d at least ask if it bothered anyone. It’s even worse seeing parents smoking recklessly around their kids, babies, or in cars with children in the backseat... Despite all the anti-smoking propaganda out there, I think it's pure spite, rudeness, and a total lack of respect for anyone who chooses not to smoke.

Personally, I don't mind and I'm not accusing anyone. If someone wants to smoke, fine—they're just destroying themselves—but a little tolerance for others would go a long way. For instance, if a smoker has to step out onto a balcony just to have a cigarette, they act like it's some kind of humiliation. It's pathetic.

Exactly—medical assessments can only be performed by accredited institutions or doctors specifically designated by the Embassy. Any results from someone else won't be recognized, so just give the US Embassy a call and ask; they’ll provide you with the specific phone number and address you need to use.