Smoking ban in all public spaces

seti said:the real issue is smokers constantly drifting into non-smoking zones in bars or restaurants (just look at how people act near the Mississippi River)—those boundaries are usually just some imaginary line in the air, so they're basically useless. then you've got social spots like hiking clubs where the battles get intense because smokers refuse to quit once they step inside. that's the crux of it. the second someone lights up in those areas, every non-smoker who's bothered by it is FORCED to head outside. the only other option is to sit there and just suck it up, which isn't really an option at all

Alright, I'm with you there, but I think it’s a simple fix—like, the responsibility lies with the bar or the lodge. As far as I know, there are actual "regulations" that define how those spaces should be partitioned

What I'm actually getting at is that it ANNOYS me when a non-smoker wanders into a smoking room, a designated smoking section in a restaurant, or a smoking car on a train and starts acting like a nuisance

Look, I've been in bars and places where smoking was BANNED and I NEVER lit up, okay? But if I sit down in a spot clearly marked "smoking area," I am going to light up, and I don't want non-smokers HARASSING me (if it’s a bar or a restaurant, please go bother the owner instead of me)—you feel me?

Another thing that bugs me is the massive hypocrisy—everyone judges smoking but treats alcohol like it's perfectly fine (I mean, alcohol ads aren't banned or anything). I'm a smoker, but even I think non-smokers can't be that biased and pretend alcohol isn't harmful—it is—for both the drinker and everyone around them (take it to the extreme—you can avoid me with a cigarette just by stepping a few feet away, but you can't avoid some drunk idiot speeding in a car 124 miles/you can't just dodge that (and btw, I don't want anyone to end up in a situation where they have to dodge someone like that))

I actually wrote a reply to this earlier, but the forum crashed, so everything I typed just vanished into thin air. 😠

Elizabeth Alvarez13 said:But what I’m really trying to get at is that a non-smoker isn't exactly *forced* to stay in a smoky area—you know what I mean? If there’s a sign on the door that says "smoking lounge," why would a non-smoker even walk inside?

Well, you *are* forced if your only choice is between skipping out on things you actually want to do or sitting there choking on smoke. I’m not talking about dedicated smoking rooms; honestly, I’d be thrilled if people only smoked in designated areas. I’m talking about all those public spots like concerts, or—even worse—when you have to show up for work and some senior executive or someone more experienced than you, whom you're meeting for the first time, starts lighting up right in front of you. It varies wildly depending on the industry, obviously. In some places, there are rules, but in others... well, it's a free-for-all.

Elizabeth Alvarez13 said:And if you're on a subway next to someone who smells terrible, you probably end up breathing through your mouth too, right? Or not?

I don't take the subway anymore. I have a car now, and back in the day, I used to let smelly people or even drunks hitch a ride—which wasn't exactly my brightest move, looking back—but even that didn't bother me nearly as much as cigarette smoke. You're missing the core issue here because you're looking at it strictly from your own point of view. I don't breathe through my mouth just to avoid an odor; if I do that, my nose gets all stuffed up and my throat and mouth dry out, and then that kind of breathing just absolutely wrecks my lungs.

Elizabeth Alvarez13 said:Another thing that bugs me is how much people judge smoking while totally normalizing alcohol.

Look, there are DUIs, and they are enforced. Sure, someone might drive drunk and slip past the radar once in a while, but if you call the police and tell them exactly where a visibly intoxicated driver is, there's a real chance they'll get pulled over. But who am I supposed to call when a room is filled with smoke where it shouldn't be? How many people are going to look at me like I'm Public Enemy Number One if I do that?

dustycanyon6 said:It’s like people stopped driving altogether just because they can't go without having a single beer.😉

You sure did a great job using the past perfect there! Seriously, who even talks about a 0.0% BAC anymore?

Well, they actually have. At least most of my friends do—anyone who can manage without a car just walks or bikes everywhere. It’s not that they're drinking less, they're just avoiding getting behind the wheel if they've had a drink...

Look, I’m not against rules or anything, I just think we need actual, decent separation between smokers and non-smokers...

Like, let's actually enforce those laws properly instead of having smokers and non-smokers crammed together in a bar, sitting chair to chair like it's nothing...

I used to smoke myself, so honestly, the smoke doesn't really bother me, but I totally respect what people who can't stand it want

Look, Elizabeth Alvarez13, believe me or don't, but I actually have medical proof—two days spent in a hospital bed—to back this up. And what do you mean, asking which offices allow smoking? At my job, everyone just lights up left and right, acting like they couldn't care less if it bothers me. That "No Smoking" sign hanging on the wall? It’s basically just decoration at this point. Whether you trust me or not doesn't matter; why would I care if someone smokes somewhere else? I don't like it, and I certainly don't want to hang out in smoky rooms, but I have to be where I work... Now you're doubting me again, but honestly, I don't even care... Anyway, good luck with your cigarette. I wasn't trying to take it away from you; I just hate having it shoved right under my nose. I don't even like smoking myself. This isn't about me trying to ban anyone from doing anything; it's just my choice not to smoke, which means smokers should stay outside. And don't even get me started on cars... that's a whole different story entirely...
PS Elizabeth Alvarez13, if you actually follow the rules you're preaching, then a smoking ban in waiting rooms or offices wouldn't bother you since you already practice it. Why would we even bother banning something if people aren't actually doing it in the first place? If you won't believe me, just stop and think about it... what exactly are you defending here?

Elizabeth Alvarez13 said:Another thing that bugs me is how much people judge cigarette smokers while totally turning a blind eye to alcohol—I mean, alcohol ads are everywhere. Look, I'm a smoker myself, but I don't think non-smokers can act this biased and claim alcohol isn't harmful. It definitely is... both for the person drinking and everyone else around them. Take the extreme example—if I'm smoking, you can just step a few feet away to avoid me. But if someone's a drunk idiot speeding in a car, you can't exactly dodge that 124 miles/you won't have a choice. (And honestly, I wouldn't wish that situation on anyone)

Where did you get the idea that non-smokers don't see alcohol as dangerous, while smokers do? 😕 What does one have to do with the other?

Honestly guys, comparing cigarettes to alcohol doesn't really make much sense... I mean, obviously it's a total tragedy when someone drinks too much and ends up hurting themselves or some innocent bystander... I think both smokers and non-smokers would agree on that one.

Anyway, I'm all for banning smoking in public spaces—mostly because smokers can be a bit selfish sometimes. Instead of people giving us weird looks for what we're doing, people end up staring at us non-smokers just because the smoke bothers us—and for some, it's even a health thing—just because we want clean air...

I don't really get why there's such an insistence on the "right" to pollute the air for everyone else just because you feel like having a smoke...
I guess it makes more sense to smoke marijuana than cigarettes, since it smells better and actually has an effect—plus, people use it way less often.
And don't even get me started on the carcinogens in cafes, or even outdoors... I have a sensitive nose for smoke, so even waiting for the bus gets annoying if someone starts lighting up right next to me...

There was this funny sign on the wall in my high school biology classroom—I can't remember the exact wording, but it went something like this:
"Smoking is a sign of rude antisocial behavior, and it threatens anyone who isn't capable enough to defend themselves by smoking too."

👋

To all you skeptics out there who "don't believe" in the dangers of secondhand smoke:

Do you seriously light up when you're in the same room as kids? Would you even think about sparking a cigarette next to a pregnant woman?

Anyway, back to the point: We REALLY need to separate smoking areas from non-smoking ones. Either that, or just step outside—honestly, I have no clue why people find that so damn difficult. If you want to actually enjoy yourself, you gotta make a little sacrifice... 😉 😁

Believe it or not, folks, it’s actually completely normal to find people smoking right inside the hospital wards in Brooklyn. They even have designated rooms for it—sort of like a lounge area. I honestly can't believe it!
I sent a quick note over to the Department of Health and Human Services to see what the deal is. Since they'll inevitably get back to me 🙄, I'll have to take some kind of action. They won't let patients leave the hospital grounds for fear they might wander off, yet they provide matches and lighters, basically giving them everything they need to set the whole building—and everyone else in it—on fire. I have no idea which genius thought this was a good idea.
Just hand cyanide to someone who’s looking to end it all; maybe then they won't drink it!

Department of Health and Human Services 🙂

Look, I’m a smoker, but I actually follow some decent rules—I smoke in my own office, and if I'm at someone else's place, I ask first; if they say okay, great, if not, then no. I don't go lighting up in waiting rooms, especially not in ones run by the Department of Health and Human Services, or any public spaces where smoking is strictly prohibited.
Even though I smoke, I just don't get those people who—the second they walk through the door—immediately have a cigarette halfway to their mouth. It's just... odd.

But occasionally, those mindless anti-smoking campaigns really get under my skin, acting like it's the single greatest crisis facing the nation. And the way they treat smokers like they're Public Enemy No. 1... honestly. If we're some kind of minority group, surely we should have certain rights too.
If those kinds of protections are handed out to every niche subculture or alternative group out there, why aren't we included? It feels like we're being treated like second-class citizens.
I mean, if the police won't even go after an "activist" who sprays paint on a woman's mink coat right in the middle of Times Square, how on earth do they expect to enforce the law against smokers?

I honestly find it absolutely mind-blowing how smokers just can't seem to wrap their heads around the simple fact that their habit actually bothers other people—you know, non-smokers! And then, the second anyone tries to finally address the issue, they immediately start throwing a tantrum, acting like they're being demonized or discriminated against... isn't that just wild?
And what really gets me is that whole "take it or leave it" attitude they push. Does that seriously imply I should just stay home on a Saturday night because I can't stand the smell of Environmental Tobacco Smoke? Are we really talking about "stripping away rights" here?!
Personally, I've always found smoking absolutely revolting. I hate the smoke; I hate when it clings to my skin, my hair, and my clothes, and I hate how it makes me cough, feel suffocated, and makes my eyes water. So, what's the alternative? Am I supposed to just stop going out entirely? I am fully in favor of bans in public spaces, though I do think there should be designated areas specifically for smokers. Honestly, this whole debate about bars going broke because of smoking bans just strikes me as ridiculous—I mean, do you guys actually go to a bar just to light up a cigarette?

brighteagle38 said:Are you seriously going to a bar just to light up a cigarette?

No. They live just to light a cigarette. 😁 😁

nimblestag31 said:...honestly, I think smoking weed makes way more sense than cigarettes. At least it smells decent and actually does something. Plus, people aren't doing it nearly as often.👋

Word.👍 😁
🙏 🙏 🙏

Gerald Rivera17 said:I'm a smoker, but I follow the rules. I smoke in my own office, and if I'm at someone else's place, I ask first. If they say okay, fine. If not, then no.

Give me a break... Asking permission to smoke isn't even the real issue here. If you put a non-smoker on the spot like that, you're putting them in a corner. They might want to tell you to knock it off, but they won't, because they don't want to seem like they're nagging you... even though they have every right to. Look, there are some non-smokers who truly don't mind the smoke, but they're definitely in the minority. And whenever I'm out with a group, I always end up being dragged off to the designated smoking area. So what am I supposed to do then?

For instance, if someone comes over to my house and asks if they can smoke, I'll just say no—simple as that. Honestly, it bothers me. I've got allergies, and if I already have to deal with smoke everywhere else, I at least want to be able to come home and let my lungs rest from breathing in all that crap.

Gerald Rivera17 said:I don't smoke in waiting rooms, especially not at the Department of Health and Human Services, or any public space where it's banned.
Even though I smoke, I just don't get those people who, the second they open their eyes, immediately light up a cigarette.

Then you aren't a real smoker! 😁

Gerald Rivera17 said:Sometimes those stupid anti-smoking campaigns irritate me. It’s like it's the biggest national crisis ever. They treat smokers like they're Public Enemy Number One.

Well, at this moment, it basically is! Don't you watch the news or anything? You know nothing about the consequences of smoking. I don't care if *you* get cancer—but I shouldn't have to catch it because of you. 👎

Gerald Rivera17 said:If we're some kind of minority, we should probably have some rights too.
If rights are handed out to every little minority or counter-culture group, why not us? It feels like we're treated like second-class citizens.

You DO NOT have the right to poison another person, especially if you're doing it SOLELY and EXCLUSIVELY for your own pleasure. Read my previous posts—what you're talking about is a privilege, not a right.

Gerald Rivera17 said:If the police don't go after that "activist" spraying paint on a woman's mink coat in Times Square, how are they going to enforce the law against smokers?

Around here, the police and other agencies don't really enforce half the laws on the books... At the end of the day, what matters is changing the mindset of smokers. They need to start thinking about the impact they're having on themselves and everyone else around them, whether people smoke or not. Maybe once the mentality shifts, you all will finally stop harassing us with cigarette smoke...

brighteagle38 John Perez85 said:It’s honestly wild how smokers just can't wrap their heads around the fact that their habit actually bothers everyone else.

It’s not really that shocking; everyone fights for their own interests. Until recently, smokers and Big Tobacco had enough lobbying power to stay untouchable. The medical community did a massive job by making sure the dangers of smoking are discussed so openly and frequently, but I still think the tug-of-war over smoking trends is far from over.

Fighting smoking requires strategy, because banning everything just makes the forbidden fruit sweeter. You can't change the minds of old smokers anymore; they already know exactly what those cigarettes are doing to them, so at this point, it’s purely a matter of willpower. But you actually have leverage with the younger generation. Just don't try to control them through bans—that's the fastest way to turn a cigarette into the ultimate tool for rebellion. For what it's worth, my wife works at a high school in Rhode Island, and the reality is that there's plenty of "smoking" going on there. All this hysteria about cancer feels misplaced for kids that age; I think we need a different approach. If we can consistently drive down the number of young smokers, both the habit and the tobacco industry will eventually just fade away on their own. 🙂

Look, there's no need to act like we're in a war zone digging trenches. At the end of the day, we're talking about our neighbors, friends, and family. Smoking is just one small issue in a sea of things people deal with; there’s no reason to overreact or spiral into hysteria. Most importantly, don't fall for the fairy tales politicians feed their voters.

dustycanyon6 John Perez85 said:Don't tell me you don't watch the news or anything on TV. You clearly have no idea about the consequences of smoking. I couldn't care less if you end up getting cancer—but I sure as hell don't need to get it just because of you.

It’s only natural to fear cancer; it’s one of the biggest phobias in the European Union. But an obsession with it is its own kind of sickness that just ruins your life. There's a decent chance you'll face some form of cancer at some point, but there's also a massive chance it can be cured. Cigarettes—whether you're smoking them or breathing in the secondhand stuff—are just one small piece of the puzzle. I'm not trying to downplay how much smoking causes lung cancer, but I really don't think anyone needs to panic.

dustycanyon6 said:.................

You love to get specific, don't you? 😬

Look, phobias are part of the human condition—more or less. It only becomes an issue when those fears start calling the shots and dictate how you live your life every single day.

One such phobia is basically the "everyone else is poisoning me, I need to protect myself" mindset.

And it’s easiest to pin that onto something routine, like smoking. But you could apply that same logic to exhaust fumes, noise pollution, GMOs, pesticide-laden food, or even cheap, unhealthy clothing... there's a whole laundry list of things in our daily environment that impact us—our health, our moods, our choices—whether we realize it or not.

I'm well aware that smoking isn't healthy—firstly for me, and then for everyone around me.
I know driving a car isn't "healthy" either, since it pumps out emissions that affect both me and the people nearby.
I know using certain sprays isn't great, given they contribute to ozone depletion, which hurts me and everyone else too.

And if I kept going, I'd just be listing more... plus, I know that being sick doesn't just hurt me, it affects others as well. 🙂

The thing is, you have to live with all that knowledge. You can't exactly become a hermit, barricaded inside your own four walls. How do you avoid causing harm to others? How do you avoid giving up every little pleasure in life? You really just have to find some kind of middle ground... maybe. 😉

So, that's why this hyper-fixation on smoking bothers me—it's just one slice of the many things in our lives that aren't exactly good for us.
But it's right there, so whenever we need a convenient scapegoat, we point the finger at it. 😉

Despite everything I know, I'm still going to smoke. 🙂

Gerald Rivera17 said:.... And even knowing all this, I'm still gonna smoke. 🙂

🤣 so even knowing all this... 🤣

Gerald, sorry, Gerald Rivera17, thanks for the laugh.😁
Honestly, man, all this arguing is just ridiculous. It's like debating whether a centipede is dead after the oil tanker already hit the reef and the giraffes have already crossed the desert. Total waste of breath.

Just quit this nonsense and find a new career while you still can, because trying to de-nicotinize the entire planet is like trying to stop bird flu. 😁 😘

John Perez85 said:It’s totally normal to be scared of cancer... honestly, it's one of the biggest phobias people have across the European Union. But honestly, an extreme phobia is just its own kind of sickness that ruins your life. There's a very real chance you'll face some form of cancer at some point in your life, but there's also a massive chance it can be treated. Cigarettes—whether you're smoking them or just breathing them in—are really just one small piece of that much larger puzzle. I'm not trying to downplay how much cigarettes affect lung cancer, but I truly believe we shouldn't be panicking about it.

1. Cancer is a leading killer in many countries.
2. Cigarettes cause cancer.
3. Because of point #2, plus a whole bunch of other physical and mental reasons, cigarettes hurt both smokers and bystanders alike.
4. Cigarette smoke stinks. It makes rooms smell, it clings to clothes, it gets on your skin and hair... it's everywhere.
5. Nobody *needs* to smoke. People do it strictly for their own personal pleasure, even if it comes at the expense of everyone else hanging out with them.

When you add all that up, is it actually fair for a smoker to poison people around them, wrecking their health and making entire spaces smell? Tell me... is that okay? Would it be okay if we met up for a beer three or four times a week, and while you were smoking, I decided to drop a little dose of Ariella or Charlie into your drink for you to enjoy? Would you want that? To me, cigarette smoke is just as intrusive as if you found Ariella floating in your beer... probably even worse. My nose starts bleeding just thinking about it...

Gerald Rivera17 said:That’s exactly why I can’t stand how everyone fixates solely on smoking. It’s just one little slice of our daily habits that does us harm.
But it's right there in front of us, so whenever we need someone to blame, it becomes the convenient scapegoat. 😉

And honestly? Even knowing everything there is to know, I’m still going to light up... 🙂

It's the exact same dilemma as what John Perez85 is dealing with! 😉 You guys go ahead and mix Ariel into your beer, and I'll just keep breathing in your cigarette smoke, and nobody's going to say a word to anyone. Sound good? Come on, don't be such wimps!

Let’s talk about banning smoking 🙏🙏🙏