SMOKERS: Why do you think it's O.K. to smoke

[ChildOfGod_1982]

wherever you please just because you have an addiction? Is it my fault (or that of any other non-smoker) that you don't have the will power to quit? Is it our fault that you can't go two seconds without feeding your addiction? If not, then why can't you manage to at least have the common courtesy to distance yourself from non-smokers when you light up or, at the very least, ask the people around you if they mind if you light up?sm- I appreciate the entirity of the 1-2% of you who do so.Joe - Sniff sniff. Boo hoo.

[Bandolera721]

people are always going to do what they want regardless!

[Rich M]

Agree totaly. Preach on brother preach on.

[smdivin]

Believe it or not, some of us smokers DO make the effort to make sure we aren't bothering anyone with our cigarettes...it is just common courtesy.

[Roman]

Smoking should definitely be banned in every public place all over the world! They should have separate designated areas.

[Kiki-la]

I think about others, and ask others if it is fine. The people you speak of are obviously very rude and have no respect. But you have to remember that for every pack I smoke, it is not as bad as every person who owns an SUV taking a 30 minute drive.

[avital f]

yeah i completely sgree my mom died becase of 1 of u smokers u were right nexto her and she had an asthma attack and now the only time im ever going to see her is when i die and im not going to ket it be because 1 of u!

[ariojhnm]

i don't know but I'm sure you do things others don't want to be a part of, like driving to slow. we all have problems

[bnjadams07]

I don't even smoke anymore and can tell you that if YOU don't like it, go away. Smokers don't need your permission nor your invitation to light up. It's bad enough that most restaurants are fully non smoking, and public buildings are as well. Get a grip-- you don't like it, stay at home with your air purifier. I don't ask drivers not to crank their cars near me because I find the fumes offensive and unhealthy. Get over it!

[mjomha]

Well lol in my country you can smoke anywhere you want if someone is bothered well its there problem you can't do anything about it which sucks, if you tell somone that is smoking to put it out or dont light you have an allergy they laugh and light up and smoke. So its kinda no law or rules for smoking, smoke anywhere except beside gas stations:p

[cmdrbnd007]

They have no consideration for others around them. They think only of themselves. It cracks me up to see them getting their smoke ready as they walk out of a store so they can light up as soon as that foot is out and not caring who has to breath in that smoke.

[marcellahanseth]

i am not trying to be mean, but as they say if you cant stand the heat get out of the kitchen, i am not a smoker, never have i been one, but i can only imagine how hard it is to quit, and i am never going to put the person who smokes down, i would rather raise them up so they can get the confidence to quit....its a very hard, difficult addiction....it works both ways, they should distance themselves from those who dont, and those who dont shouldnt be around smokers, if it bothers them that much...hate the action, not the person

[testyzozo]

I know its annouing when you are standing somewhere and someone who smokes comes and stands right next to you and starts smoking grrr. I have NEVER smoked and NEVER will as it is bad! I know some people who smoke as I go to college with them. And what is the point standing in the cold weather smoking.

[CorruptedSpirit]

please don't stereotype, I'm a smoker of 20+ years, but I restrain myself from lighting up around those that don't smoke as smoking is my personal vice and I have no hard feelings for those that object to it

[mgerben]

I am not a smoker and my experience is that smokers are very aware of this.Exceptions are places where smokers traditionally light up: street, bars, restaurants. In the latter they light up when their own party has finished eating, totally oblivious to all the people around them. This never ceases to amuse me.

[Shel K]

Well, I don't know where you live sweetheart, but I've been smoking the last 5 years and have never been as rude about it as you imply.I smoke on my personal property and in my car, and when in public, I do my best to find a designated smoking area, and if there is none around, I simply go outside and find a spot at least a couple yards from other people.So get your facts straight sweety. Alot of us AREN'T rude about our smoking, but then again, the way non smokers keep encroching on what little space we had the ability to smoke in before, we kinda have a reason to be a bit edgy.

[peachys8n]

the world wasn't made for non smokers and thus we shouldn't have to ask your permission.its not ur planet, and we'll continue to destroy it.non smokers love a moan! spark up a cigerette, it may make you feel better, or at least keep you quiet for a little while.

[askbabbs]

I'm not a smoker but I do believe people have the right to smoke if they so please. Most places have restricted smoking, so my advise would be don't go to those places. Or, walk away from the area. And an interesting tidbit is that obesity contributes to more deaths now than smoking. Obesity is also costing our health care providers more money then any smoking related illnesses. I think alcohol is worse than smoking....someone can smoke four cigarettes and still drive safely.

[bitshifter420]

Smoking in public places is illegal in my state.So i dont go to those places anymore.Who wants to go to a bar where you cant smoke?

[IRCS]

I agree and i think has more to do than just smoking because if someone is ignorant enough to light a cigarette wherever they please, then they generally don't have many manners anyway. Anyone with any decency wouldn't light up around none smokers because its been proved that passive smoking is a killer. I used to smoke for 10 years and was always conscious about other people breathing in my smoke, so i always smoked outside and other people should too.Now I'm a none smoker, it makes my blood boil seeing people light up in public places because it doesn't take much effort to walk a few yards and light a cigarette outside.

[applekruncher]

Do non smokers wear signs? If out and about and the desire to light up takes control, i am free to do so. By the very same token Perhaps no one should ever swear lest their be a sponge like four year old about ready to absorb an addition to his/her lexicon. I find religion utterly offensive and in very poor taste yet i am confronted by it's manifestions on a daily basis, i do not complain, i do not make comment i walk on by. I suggest sir, you do the same

[SUZANNE B]

this may sound strange coming from asmoker but i agree to some extenti dont smoke outside as i normally have my kids around me and i dont smoke in my house so the kids have a smoke free home i smoke on my balcony whilst kids are resting or playing where i can see them near the balony window i hate the smell myself and dont want others to breathe my smoke directly expecially my kids because i am stupid enough to waste my money on such filthy stuff i want to quit and tried many times but failed put it this way i wont give up to easily i will do it one day just hope that one day is soon

[Choqs]

I'm a smoker. I do not smoke in peoples cars if they are non smokers, I don't even ask, I just don't do it. I never smoke around children and I smoke outside if I'm visiting a non smoking household. My parents don't smoke and don't mind me smoking in their home but I don't I go outside or in winter use their garage. I won't even smoke in my own vehicle if I'm with a non smoker.I respect the rights of non smokers but I'm sick and tired of people like who don't consider my rights.

[smcwhtdtmc]

Obviously not every smoker is rude like this. I would guess that a lot of smokers who do light up in public don't realize just how rude it is. To me, smoking in public (pretty much anywhere where nonsmokers are within 50 feet or so) is rude. I'm sure if I got a big squirt bottle and filled it with sulfur or ammonia or some other noxious smelling substance and started spraying it around smokers in public, they wouldn't be too happy. A lot of smokers are suggesting that it's persecution to have non-smoking restaurants. Obviously these smokers don't realize that even in restaurants with separate smoking and non-smoking sections the smoke is easily detectable in the non-smoking sections. It's not any better when smokers stand right outside the door and force everyone to walk through their smoke to go out or in.It's not just a matter of preference either -- second hand smoke kills people every day. Smokers should just quit smoking in public. Again, I don't think they realize how much they disrupt the lives of non-smokers by continuing to smoke around them.On another (mostly unrelated) note, I wish smokers would properly dispose of their butts. Everywhere I go the most common form of litter is cigarette butts. Not a day goes by that I don't see a smoker throwing a cigarette out their car window. For those of you who do this -- don't you realize that it's against the law to litter?Finally, I know I've come down on smokers pretty hard, and I want to reiterate that I don't mind smokers who smoke only at home (as long as there are no children living in the home) and who properly dispose of their butts. All other smokers are polluting our public areas and/or killing innocent bystanders.

[-tequila8+]

Most smokers are very polite about the matter, but non-smokers have turned NAZI. The water you drink, the air you breathe, the land our food is grown in and we feed our livestock with, is DEADLY. It may not be your fault, you self righteous witch, but you are not helping the matter with your condemnation of smokers. Addiction is not a matter of "will-power". Addiction is compulsive, there is no conscious decision, and it is a MEDICAL problem.The next time you have a "medical" problem, like diarrhea, use you will power to STOP it. Good luck with that and please, let me know how that works for ya.Peace.

[Topher]

You know people like you are really annoying. I was smoking a cigarette outside, far away from anyone. The closest person was across the street and upwind (the smoke isn't going towards him, and it was kinda windy). So this guy proceeds to cross the street and yell and me for daring to have a cigarette on like the same street as him, I told him if he didn't like it to go back where he was because the smoke wasn't reaching him, he kept on being a ****, so I blew smoke in his face and walked off. We go outside, I try to be nice standing away from people. I am not going to walk across a street to ask a stranger if it is "okay" for me to smoke, I am sorry but don't be such a b*tch.

[Der Lange]

You might be the very unpleasant, aggressive non-smoker I encountered at the Chandler Pavilion's Blue Pavilion Restaurant about 30 years ago. I'll never forget it, that was the day bsing started in Los Angeles, and Mayor Tom Bradley was at a nearby table having a post-prandial cigar as aides surried in and out with news of progress in the controversial event.I was at a small table probably 10 feet from any other one, also enjoying a coffee and smoke after lunch, talking with a professional colleague.A VERY nasty and rude person marched all the way across the room to grab my cigarette, throw it on the rug and stamp it out, and SCREAM about having to put up with such intolerable bahavior in the restaurant. This harridan was seated no closer than 50 feet to our table. The Mayor got up and gently intervened, persuading the woman to return to her place and giving me an apologetic smile. He puffed a little cigar smoke at the rude person as she turned her back, too.I don't mind anyone politely letting me know the smoke is bothersome. I AM polite and considerate, and in those rare public places today where smoking is permitted, always inquire of those nearby whether smoking would distress them.But you people with your bad attitudes, like that witch at the restaurant long ago, can stuff it.

[Guardian Angel]

ok this is kindaannoying....i live in UK where it is now illigal to smoke in a PUBLIC place....i.e it is viewed as anti-socialand besides that there are millions of astma sufferers, some of which are hurt by the smokers. i for one have a very delicate system and choke if im near a smoker. as far as a group i would be close to passing out if i stood near them.yes i know you all say 'well if you dont like it move away', but why cant you move, you're the ones who is lighting up.... its like if a guy drove his car on the sidewalk shouting at people to get out of the way if they dont want run over....seriouslly, its a drug and you know it, its an adiction and you know it, its not attractive, your breath smells bad, and only reason its not illigal is because too many people already smoked before we knew how bad it was....but its still anti-social

[Santa Baby]

AGREE!! This is why I am thankful for living in California!! I am a non-smoker and here in California.. you can't really smoke anywhere hardly. You have to be 3 feet away from many public buildings.. restaurants, etc. You can't smoke in bars or restaurants either.. this law has been in effect since 1996. Soon, you won't be allowed to smoke in a car with a minor under the age of 18.. and also soon, you won't be allowed to smoke in some public parks. The park law is a little extreme, but 2nd hand smoke is a KILLER!!! My husband smokes.. and he even agrees. When he smokes, he always smokes outdoors well away from our front door and our newborn son. I lived in Chicago last year.. where smoking is still allowed in a lot of public places, especially bars.. and it was disgusting having to inhale 2nd hand smoke. I totally agree with you!! Best Wishes!PS.. To those respectful smokers who do take the non-smokers into consideration.. I highly respect you. I am just ranting about those who don't care about others around them.

[digyourman]

I'd like to know why people think it's so easy to "just walk away" when someone is smoking and you don't like it. I didnt realize we were all nomads with the ability to just leave when we felt like it, without regard for what we are doing at the moment. I smell cig smoke in my car from other drivers for goodness sake! Sometimes you cant leave and guess what? Smoke travels! It's not so much the direct inhalation that's annoying, but just the odor of it lingering in the air that is icky.And smokers think they can do what they want because it's their habit, and their bodies. You can't convince people otherwise when it comes to that argument.I guess you just have to act like a smoker when you do things that are unhealthy for you. WHen you eat candy, throw it at people. So when someone smokes around you, then toss a bunch of cologne on them- that way, you both stink from the habit of the other person. Yeah alcohol and obesity are killers too, but those are personal killers (for the most part, yes I get that there are drunk drivers). I eat crap sometimes, so that means that when I do, I should rub the fries on someone and pour chocolate milk on them too. Smokers have the dumbest justifications I swear...

[Terrence D]

well its become illeagel in a lot of places and in resurants and public areas might cut down on all the cigeretee buts laying around every where and willoon be against the law to smoke while driving been more than one person killed by a ciggy dropping in their lap and besides its a dying habit but remember that they put a lot of work into making it look toughand mucho type bull dust