Smoking ban in all public spaces

Gerald Rivera17 said:1. Cancer is a leading killer in many countries.
2. Exhaust fumes cause cancer.
3. Because of point #2—plus all sorts of other physical and mental reasons—exhaust fumes end up hurting both active drivers and passive passengers alike.
4. Exhaust fumes stink; they make streets and rooms smell, and they stick to clothes, skin, and hair.
5. Exhaust fumes shouldn't even be used—they're basically just for the driver's own pleasure, at the expense of everyone else around them.

When you weigh it all up, is it really okay for drivers to wreck people's health and poison those of us out riding bikes or taking the subway?

🙂

man oh man

I guess that comparison is a little bit nonsensical...
Personally, I've never had an experience where I've driven a car, walked through town, or just hung out outside only to come home smelling like exhaust. Or maybe that's just happening to you? 😕
For heaven's sake!!!
But when I am out, or if I spend an hour or two in a smoky, unventilated room, everything smells!
And it’s actually kind of fascinating—even my underwear! Everything! Not to mention my hair. Honestly, nothing is worse than not wanting to sleep on a pillow that smells like my own hair😠
all because of smokers... who, of course, shouldn't have their right to smoke taken away. Since it's so thick, right? 😉

But yeah, why defend smoking when there are worse things out there? And those worse things actually seem to make more sense. I mean, go ahead and smoke, but let's not downplay the rights of non-smokers to have clean air.

Laws eventually have to be made. Like, sixty years ago, there wasn't even a law against performing experiments on walls. Right?
I know it's a gross comparison, but that's just how laws work, I guess.

If nothing else, they should at least mandate ventilation in rooms where people smoke.😁

Honestly, I'd be way happier with that than what we have now.🙂
I even do that at home—the second the old folks light up a cigarette, I'm opening the balcony door.
Even if it's like zero degrees outside.😁

🙂

John Perez85 said:If we're talking about protecting people from dangerous substances, then there's a whole list of things we should probably address. If you only pick one thing to target, it isn't really a principle anymore—and if you try to justify focusing on just one by using general principles, well, that feels a bit hypocritical.

Yeah, I guess that's true.

It’s just that smoking is way more prevalent than most other hazards, and it seems to cause direct issues much faster and more obviously than a lot of other stuff...

I mean, sure, we should definitely cut down on exhaust fumes, use biodegradable packaging, fine people who dump car parts by the side of a road, try to use less soap in the shower, or turn off the tap while brushing our teeth or shaving... blah blah blah.

But, I don't know, it feels like maybe that's not really what this thread is about?🙂

nimblestag31 said:I feel like this isn't really what this thread is about. 🙂

So you think I'm a fool? How am I supposed to back up my claims about government hypocrisy if I'm only allowed to talk about cigarettes? 😁

nimblestag31 said:We need laws. There wasn't even a rule against conducting experiments on walls sixty years ago. Right?

I’m calling foul on this way of arguing; it’s just beneath contempt. You're talking about hundreds of thousands of people being brutally murdered. That isn't something to joke about or trivialize.

Gerald Rivera17 said:5. Exhaust fumes shouldn't be used—they are utilized strictly for the personal pleasure of the driver, at the expense of everyone else in their vicinity.

At this particular moment, exhaust fumes are, unfortunately, an unavoidable byproduct of any internal combustion engine.

Some people—actually, quite a lot of them—drive because they simply have to, not because they’re looking for a thrill.
It isn't to say we shouldn't tighten up traffic enforcement... for instance, if the police actually bothered to do their jobs in the morning and ticket the idiots flying through yellow lights, there would probably be about 40% fewer cars on the road once people realized taking the subway is actually more efficient.

Again, driving usually serves some practical purpose. Smoking does not.
So sod off.

nimblestag31 As specified by John Perez85:
If nothing else, we really ought to see some legislation mandating proper ventilation in any room where smoking is still allowed. 😁

To be perfectly honest, I’d still be significantly more satisfied even back then than I am right now. 🙂
I’m doing the exact same thing here at home; the moment the old folks light up a cigarette, I’m already heading out to open the balcony.
Even if it’s negative five degrees outside. 😁

🙂

Exactly.

What goes around comes around—you reap exactly what you sow, whether it's a cloud of smoke or a sudden frost.

Smuk said:I don't smoke! And I voted 'No'—it's an attack on freedom of conscience. If I want, I just won't go to a certain cafe, or I'll ask someone to move their cigarette so the smoke isn't blowing right in my face. That's really all there is to it!😎

I'm with you on this... 👍

Jessica Davis12 said:🙂 🙂

🙂

Oh, sure—let's just ban smoking everywhere so we can all stroll around looking fancy. Too bad everyone else will be somewhere else by then.🙄
Look, non-smokers, you get your smoke-free offices and workspaces—fine. But if you want to ban smoking in bars? You get a massive :2up: from me. That’s just a ridiculous demand. I mean, WHO IS FORCING YOU INTO BARS??? If you don't like it, just go somewhere else. It's pretty simple—if I don't like the music or the crowd at an asylum, I wouldn't set foot in there even if my life depended on it. So why shouldn't you do the same? If you can't stand the smoke in a bar, why bother going? 👋

It all stems from one bad old habit🙂... we’ve all grown used to people smoking in coffee shops, which leads to non-smokers being looked down upon just for showing up. I go in for a cup of coffee or tea, for instance. These places aren't labeled "smoking lounges" or "drying rooms," nor are they exclusive clubs for smokers. But when you have three such spots clustered together, it creates a wall of smoke that marks the territory, making it feel like their private domain. Once a law actually gets enforced—God willing—the roles will flip. Then the non-smokers will start saying, "Well, if you don't like the air, just stay home; nobody is forcing you to walk through the door"🙂))...

Listen up, smokers... I don't give a damn about your "arguments." The reality is you're the ones putting everyone else at risk, and honestly, the fact that we still don't have a decent ban on smoking in public places is just proof of how much this country is failing us.

I am so sick of spending my entire winter stuck in smoke-filled bars (because apparently, non-smokers like us don't matter and you guys get all the say, right?). My whole wardrobe and hair stink constantly... and don't even get me started on the health risks. Don't try to hit me with those lame lines like "well, why don't you just go to a bar then?" It’s actually the exact opposite—YOU little group of addicts should be the ones feeling discriminated against, not us. What a joke. Truly pathetic.

🙂

In Scandinavia, smoking is a total disgrace. Those people—and there aren't many of them, let me tell you—basically hide in a hole just to light up. But here? Smoking almost feels like a badge of honor... and we're seeing more and more of that. We're the ones ruining the average, along with Mexicans and Turks...

Keep your smoking inside your own four walls. THAT'S ENOUGH! Stop cutting our lives short every single time we grab a coffee!!

Whatever. This is about bars—who exactly has the right to tell us we can't smoke in a bar?

IS ANYONE EVEN FORCING YOU TO GO TO A BAR? 😠😠

God forbid they try to slap a ban on us 😠 You non-smokers are honestly unbelievable. Do I complain to anyone just because they don't smoke when we're grabbing coffee? No! Sure, it’s a bit awkward when I see a friend is the only one out of five of us who doesn't smoke, but I’m not going to judge them for it 😢 They're still a good person even if they don't smoke! Why won't you just let us live? Give us our freedom 🙂

p.s. — forget Scandinavia, a law like that isn't going to pass easily here because there'll be hell to pay🙂 🙄

As long as cigarette taxes are just being used to pad the federal budget, any kind of ban is basically pointless ☕

Jessica Davis12 said:Honestly, this whole anti-smoking campaign is starting to get under my skin.
Honestly, that’s about the worst thing that can happen to a person.
On the other hand, alcohol advertising is still everywhere—especially beer—and they’re constantly pushing it, too, with those "one glass before, after, or even while you sleep" kind of slogans. 🤮

It gets even more bizarre—you’ve got prostitution, crime, and just about everything else going down in bars, but heaven forbid someone actually lights up a cigarette. 🙄 🙄 🙄

Jose Chase2 said:Whatever, man... It’s about bars. I mean, really, who exactly has the right to tell us we can't smoke in a bar?

Is someone actually forcing you to go to a bar?... I mean, seriously... 😠😠

Are bars really just for smokers? I mean, who’s actually forcing you to go there... If you want to smoke, just stay home between your own four walls. Why let the smell soak into your clothes and wreck your entire house? Just don't bring that stench around us and ruin things for everyone else...

Jose Chase2 said:God forbid they come along and slap a ban on us... 😠 Honestly, you non-smokers are unbelievable... I mean, really. Do I ever complain to anyone about them not lighting up when we're grabbing coffee? No, I don't. Sure, it feels a little weird seeing one friend out of a group of five who isn't smoking, but I'm certainly not judging them for it... 😢 And he's a good guy even though he doesn't smoke! Why won't you people just let us live? Give us our freedom... 🙂

I really don't get some people... What kind of twisted logic is that? You definitely picked an ironic username! 😁 If anyone’s actually out there making moves, it’s the smokers. See, smoking is an action... not smoking? That’s just being a spectator. You aren't doing anything to anyone. So, let's just all agree to stop doing things to one another and go back to square one. Zero. Just pure air with no smoke in it. But then, if you decide to jump from that status quo into an "active" state—meaning you light up a cigarette—suddenly you're the one who did something. And what you did was hurt yourself and everyone else around you. Honestly, how can we even talk about banning something that shouldn't have been allowed in the first place? I’ve got a proposal... let's grab coffee a few times a week. You can spend the time poisoning me with your smoke, and in return, I’ll drop a little spoonful of Ariella into your coffee. How does that sound? That way, we're both being active participants instead of you being the aggressor and me just sitting here watching...

You should've set up the survey a bit differently.
You really ought to have split it into those three extra categories—smokers, former smokers, and non-smokers—to get six total groups.
The results would’ve been way more interesting, don't you think?

Yes 29 65.91%
No 13 29.55%
Something else - check the thread 2 4.55%
Total voters: 44. You have already voted in this poll

Jose Chase2 said:it gets even weirder—you've got brothels running full tilt with all sorts of crime and prostitution, but heaven forbid someone lights up a cigarette...🙄 🙄 🙄

What's even more ridiculous is how little these things actually have to do with one another. Nobody is out here protesting the existence of brothels; people are just fed up with the smoking... or rather, the secondhand smoke and the nuisance of it in public spaces.

restlessmarlin6 John Perez85 said:As long as those cigarette taxes keep padding the federal budget, all these bans are pretty much pointless... ☕

The government is bleeding money here... honestly, the cost of treating all those smoking-related illnesses is way higher than whatever they pull in from cigarette taxes. It just doesn't add up...

Look, I'm a huge smoker myself, but honestly? I'd be all for banning smoking in every single public spot, including
bars, pubs, restaurants, and nightclubs!