beginning to think there's more smokers than non-smokers

Anyone else feel this way? I even over heard someone say they were surprised how many there are in Toronto (they aren't from here). It seems like half the people I see as I wait for the bus to work are smoking. At the bar this Saturday for a bday party, nearly the whole group of people were smoking (we were on the patio). I still smell it. I would say at least half my co-workers smoke (my boss doesn't even say have a 'break', it's 'smoke break'). Heck most of my friends the last couple years are smokers. What gives? Are more people getting hooked on them?

Oh yeah I remember walking down one of the main streets in the spring, and the sidewalk that was covered by snowbanks was now covered by old cigarette butts...so gross.

I don't mean to offend any smokers (do you guys even get offended by us non-smokers complaining?!?)...but why are there so many of you -.-

Original Post by r4eboxer:

Cars cause as much pollution outside... so does your furnace.  Alot of posters here probably have more to worry about from their bodyfat & their cholesterol than they do from smoke! 

This herd mentality is ridiculous.

Really, the last time I checked my child did not have any cholesterol issues, bodyfat etc. I don't have any cholesterol issues,   body fat... well that is a different story. What I don't need ON TOP of my other health problems is to breathe in second hand smoke. Can you really say that it is mentally ridiculous to want to protect your child. Do you have a child? A child that gets extremely upset when he can't breathe do to the stupidity of adults. What would you say to him? How do you explain this to a young child, keeping in mind you are forming opinions and life long habits in his immature mind? If you do and you subject him/her to second hand smoke and it doesn't bother you I question your mentality.

 Again - I don't smoke!!  YES - if you do not like it - step away!!!  It is outside!!!    Stepping thru smoke outside will not give you health problems.  You are obviously WAAY overboard.  Are you teaching your child overboard thinking on everything?  fattening food?  Has your child ever eaten McDonald's?  IceCream?  How about watched you have a drink?  Speed in the car?  mmmmmmm?

Society is not always going to please everyone - get used to it.  Maybe that is a Great lesson to teach your child.  The world is not going to conform to you just because you whine & make up problems.

Like I said earlier, in every group of people there will be those who are considerate and those who are jerks.  I just don't think it's right to lump all smokers into the jerk category.

Very true, all smokers are not jerks. My mother smokes, and my best friend smokes. Neither one of them smokes indoors around me or my kids. They are very cautious with butts and always go to approved smoking areas. What gets to me is when your at an outdoor youth event and people will light up right in the middle of everyone. I sometimes just want to klonk them in the head and ask What gives?? That said I don't believe smokers are evil, some are just not so bright but mean no harm.

Original Post by jewelsmcblah:

r4eboxer, if your child can't breathe because he walks by someone smoking a cigarette on a street corner, you seriously need to get him to the Doctor right away.

 yep.

Original Post by jewelsmcblah:

r4eboxer, if your child can't breathe because he walks by someone smoking a cigarette on a street corner, you seriously need to get him to the Doctor right away.

refer to the first page where the link is to my rant several months ago. Read the entire post there, then come back here and read all the posts here. Then you MIGHT know what your talking about, oh and read about the scare we just had with tumors in his growth plates. I really don't need advice about getting him to a doctor. He's been there quite often already.

Original Post by yogagirl6853:

Original Post by r4eboxer:

Cars cause as much pollution outside... so does your furnace.  Alot of posters here probably have more to worry about from their bodyfat & their cholesterol than they do from smoke! 

This herd mentality is ridiculous.

Really, the last time I checked my child did not have any cholesterol issues, bodyfat etc. I don't have any cholesterol issues,   body fat... well that is a different story. What I don't need ON TOP of my other health problems is to breathe in second hand smoke. Can you really say that it is mentally ridiculous to want to protect your child. Do you have a child? A child that gets extremely upset when he can't breathe do to the stupidity of adults. What would you say to him? How do you explain this to a young child, keeping in mind you are forming opinions and life long habits in his immature mind? If you do and you subject him/her to second hand smoke and it doesn't bother you I question your mentality.

 Again - I don't smoke!!  YES - if you do not like it - step away!!!  It is outside!!!    Stepping thru smoke outside will not give you health problems.  You are obviously WAAY overboard.  Are you teaching your child overboard thinking on everything?  fattening food?  Has your child ever eaten McDonald's?  IceCream?  How about watched you have a drink?  Speed in the car?  mmmmmmm?

Society is not always going to please everyone - get used to it.  Maybe that is a Great lesson to teach your child.  The world is not going to conform to you just because you whine & make up problems.

I didn't realize that the effects of second hand smoke was a made up problem. Just like a previous poster, you have little bits of information, are coming to conclusions based on emotion and are falling into assumption pits.

Original Post by r4eboxer:

Original Post by yogagirl6853:

Original Post by r4eboxer:

Cars cause as much pollution outside... so does your furnace.  Alot of posters here probably have more to worry about from their bodyfat & their cholesterol than they do from smoke! 

This herd mentality is ridiculous.

Really, the last time I checked my child did not have any cholesterol issues, bodyfat etc. I don't have any cholesterol issues,   body fat... well that is a different story. What I don't need ON TOP of my other health problems is to breathe in second hand smoke. Can you really say that it is mentally ridiculous to want to protect your child. Do you have a child? A child that gets extremely upset when he can't breathe do to the stupidity of adults. What would you say to him? How do you explain this to a young child, keeping in mind you are forming opinions and life long habits in his immature mind? If you do and you subject him/her to second hand smoke and it doesn't bother you I question your mentality.

 Again - I don't smoke!!  YES - if you do not like it - step away!!!  It is outside!!!    Stepping thru smoke outside will not give you health problems.  You are obviously WAAY overboard.  Are you teaching your child overboard thinking on everything?  fattening food?  Has your child ever eaten McDonald's?  IceCream?  How about watched you have a drink?  Speed in the car?  mmmmmmm?

Society is not always going to please everyone - get used to it.  Maybe that is a Great lesson to teach your child.  The world is not going to conform to you just because you whine & make up problems.

I didn't realize that the effects of second hand smoke was a made up problem. Just like a previous poster, you have little bits of information, are coming to conclusions based on emotion and are falling into assumption pits.

Yeah - walking thru second hand smoke OUTSIDE is a problem.   You win.  Better get that bubble out.

Original Post by r4eboxer:

Original Post by yogagirl6853:

Original Post by r4eboxer:

Cars cause as much pollution outside... so does your furnace.  Alot of posters here probably have more to worry about from their bodyfat & their cholesterol than they do from smoke! 

This herd mentality is ridiculous.

Really, the last time I checked my child did not have any cholesterol issues, bodyfat etc. I don't have any cholesterol issues,   body fat... well that is a different story. What I don't need ON TOP of my other health problems is to breathe in second hand smoke. Can you really say that it is mentally ridiculous to want to protect your child. Do you have a child? A child that gets extremely upset when he can't breathe do to the stupidity of adults. What would you say to him? How do you explain this to a young child, keeping in mind you are forming opinions and life long habits in his immature mind? If you do and you subject him/her to second hand smoke and it doesn't bother you I question your mentality.

 Again - I don't smoke!!  YES - if you do not like it - step away!!!  It is outside!!!    Stepping thru smoke outside will not give you health problems.  You are obviously WAAY overboard.  Are you teaching your child overboard thinking on everything?  fattening food?  Has your child ever eaten McDonald's?  IceCream?  How about watched you have a drink?  Speed in the car?  mmmmmmm?

Society is not always going to please everyone - get used to it.  Maybe that is a Great lesson to teach your child.  The world is not going to conform to you just because you whine & make up problems.

I didn't realize that the effects of second hand smoke was a made up problem. Just like a previous poster, you have little bits of information, are coming to conclusions based on emotion and are falling into assumption pits.

 While I agree that the health effects of second hand smoke are widely published, I sincerely doubt that there will be much in the way of ill effects by simply walking past someone who is smoking outside.  Unpleasant yes, but unhealthy, I doubt it.  It is, of course, a different story if they are doing it in an enclosed area.  I also agree that it is wrong to smoke at a kids sporting event because it does set a bad example, but children are constantly exposed to stuff that their parents would prefer they not be exposed to.  It is, unfortunately, a fact of life.

Yeah - walking thru second hand smoke OUTSIDE is a problem.   You win.  Better get that bubble out.

HHHMMM, don't have reading comprehension. We were not walking through smoke at the event it was a five hour event in a small area.  Anyway I don't feel the need to continue this with you. In about 10 years, 2 children later you may see the light. I really would like to have this conversation with you when you have more on your mind than yourself. There IS a reason for all the legislation on smoking bans.  Smoking will never go away. Maybe it's just I have a hard time inflicting risk on ANY child. Even if it is someone on an on-line forum. I respect the relationship of parent/child more than to try to push my inexperience in any department on someone. I do hope that one day you will look at your child and say, your health does matter to me and I will do something about protecting it.

yoga, you really should stop being so emotional over a forum thread...

As far as the origin of this post - I don't allow people to smoke around my children, not even friends or family.  I could care less if you want to smoke at the local park but please have the decency to walk away from where the kids are playing or the parents are sitting.  I don't really see alot of smokers as much as I did when I was younger.  Smoking is really a personal choice, but so is drinking, drugs, sex, cussing, hey why don't we just run down the street naked!!!  Just because it's done and considered ok for alot of people doesn't mean we should do it around other people (when they request we don't!) :P 

Ok so... try not to kill me for having a view/opinion??

OP, my answer is no I don't get offended by non smokers, but it does get a bit thin after a while.

I go out of my way not to smoke in the company of a non smoker, I stand out in all weathers just to get my hit, I pay a small fortune to buy them, and I take the constant nagging of "you should stop it's bad for your health" gee I didn't know that! and if everyone stopped then the government would have to increase your taxes to make up for the loss in revenue. So really I'm doing the non smokers a favour :)

Original Post by tiff1987:

yoga, you really should stop being so emotional over a forum thread...

As far as the origin of this post - I don't allow people to smoke around my children, not even friends or family.  I could care less if you want to smoke at the local park but please have the decency to walk away from where the kids are playing or the parents are sitting.  I don't really see alot of smokers as much as I did when I was younger.  Smoking is really a personal choice, but so is drinking, drugs, sex, cussing, hey why don't we just run down the street naked!!!  Just because it's done and considered ok for alot of people doesn't mean we should do it around other people (when they request we don't!) :P 

Ok so... try not to kill me for having a view/opinion??

 Emotional....?  you guys don't know how to read - I don't smoke....  In front of kids or otherwise. - You guys are the emotional ones - trying to be all better than thou.

Original Post by yogagirl6853:

Original Post by tiff1987:

yoga, you really should stop being so emotional over a forum thread...

As far as the origin of this post - I don't allow people to smoke around my children, not even friends or family.  I could care less if you want to smoke at the local park but please have the decency to walk away from where the kids are playing or the parents are sitting.  I don't really see alot of smokers as much as I did when I was younger.  Smoking is really a personal choice, but so is drinking, drugs, sex, cussing, hey why don't we just run down the street naked!!!  Just because it's done and considered ok for alot of people doesn't mean we should do it around other people (when they request we don't!) :P 

Ok so... try not to kill me for having a view/opinion??

 Emotional....?  you guys don't know how to read - I don't smoke....  In front of kids or otherwise. - You guys are the emotional ones - trying to be all better than thou.

 PS - get your bubble out too.  I guess no one else around here can have an opinion.   By the bubble comment I mean I am out of here - you guys better watch those cals and the commercials for fast foods.  Protect those chilens.  Buy them blinders too while you are at it!

I actually have to say I got a kick out of how passionate people were about this. I had no idea. I am one of those people who used to smoke and now haven't had a puff in almost two years. Go me!! But I know the habit very well. I didn't get offended by non-smokers because I did know how bad smoking is and how bad second hand smoke is. But I don't think smoking should be banned in places like bars and streets and sidewalks...etc. I think the bar thing is messed up because some people only smoke when they drink. Outside...well...it's outside. I mean come on! I know some people are just jerks and don't get the fact that your standing two feet away but not all people are like that. Some people are just jerks whether they smoke or not. And I agree the reason it is seen more now is because people are pretty much forced to smoke outside now. I do feel bad though that so many people chose to be unwise about their health. I quit because my mother got COPD. but of course that isnt the topic of this forum. And honestly I don't know why so many people smoke. Other than starting really young like I did....ya. don't really have an answer as to why there are so many smokers in the world.

Original Post by andie-joe:

OP, my answer is no I don't get offended by non smokers, but it does get a bit thin after a while.

I go out of my way not to smoke in the company of a non smoker, I stand out in all weathers just to get my hit, I pay a small fortune to buy them, and I take the constant nagging of "you should stop it's bad for your health" gee I didn't know that! and if everyone stopped then the government would have to increase your taxes to make up for the loss in revenue. So really I'm doing the non smokers a favour :)

The sin taxes really should be in a special medical fund to provide for medical care of those that either have the bad luck to be a statistic or go overboard and make themselves a statistic.  BTW, in the US at least, medicare will be covering your cancer bill, you heart condition, etc. should you become one of the unfortunate number with medical issues.  All taxpayers are footing this bill, not just those who smoke or who have smoked.

Yeah I am aware of that, but it comes back to the same old argument, of will the same apply to alcoholics, people who are over weight, who take drugs, deliberately speed, or do extreme sports, in fact anyone who knowingly does something which increases the risks to their health?

Smoking isn't a sin, and when I started it was all the fashion, then it became unfashionable and suddenly we are the scourge on society.

We smokers all know the risks to our health and really don't need to be constantly reminded or have people screw up their faces at us as they walk past us standing on the street like outcasts.

If and when I ever stop, it'll be because I want to, not because I have caved to peer pressure. Yes some people find it relatively easy to just stop then there are those who struggle with it, like me and to have folk banging on about it all the time is an irritation I could live without.

*steps down off her soap box* :)

The screwed up expression isn't about you, it's my natural reaction to things that stink to me.  I do it when I walk past people who bathed in perfume too...their version of lovely rarely meets mine.  I do it at the gas station when I can smell the gas.

There is always going to be a new media fad and a lot of people are going to do whatever it is that makes them think they're cool or fashionable, etc.  You chose to smoke and choose to continue to smoke (I'm not saying quitting is easy or criticizing you for not quitting)...sucks for you.  If you're fortunate/unfortunate enough to be a friend of mine I will probably comment from time to time...strangers, it's their health and I have nothing vested in it.  As long as you respect my right not to breath the same toxins I'll respect your right to breath them.  If I was there first then you'd best ask me if I mind if you smoke or mind moving so that you can smoke without bothering people.  If you were there first as long as there are other places I can go without breathing the smoke and you don't throw your butts on the ground, I won't object.

Okay, so revamping the tax system clearly isn't going to happen or be much fairer than it is if it were done.  Anytime group dynamics comes into play one party or another gets the short end of the stick.

I am a smoker, I don't smoke in crowds or anywhere where there is a considerable number of people or non smokers present, I do realize that while some non smokers are not bothered by cigarettes, others are. But boy, sometimes some people really get to me.

Like when I was at the airport, in the SPECIAL smoker designated area outside. A mother with her child just had to stand right there and rant about how we are all not allowing her baby to breathe. Hey, I ddidn't complain about your offspring screaming his butt out for 12 hours straight in a contained space like an airplane, then smelling old diapers the whole way,  is it so hard to stand away from the sign that says "designated smoking area"?

I wonder how people like would feel if someone parked their car near a group of people (outside) and left it on with the exhaust pointing at them. Just because it's outside, doesn't mean that the smoke magically dissipates in the air and no one breathes it. If I can smell it, then it means I'm breathing that smoke. It travels more than some of you think, I think. Like I said I was outside on the patio, and had at least 5 people on my left side lighting up all night, and 3 on my right. One guy twice left a whole lit cigarette burn away in the ashtray, and I was directly in the stream of that smoke. My nostrils, throat and lungs still feel bad 2 days later. When I'm walking behind a smoker, or waiting for the bus with them, I am still breathing it even if it's outside. Sorry but I don't have sympathy for them, my rights to breathe clean air out trumps their right to smoke. When walking they could stay on one side of the sidewalk instead of being in the middle. And waiting for the bus, they should go stand somewhere else, the bus will still stop there with us waiting (I know many of you do do that...but like I said, I don't think everyone realizes how much it can travel). My bf smoked since he was 9, and quit 2 years ago...its doable.

But I don't think smoking should be banned in places like bars and streets and sidewalks...etc. I think the bar thing is messed up because some people only smoke when they drink.

Bars vs streets/sidewalks is different, and I think it is great they banned it from bars. Some people like to smoke after a meal, should they be able to smoke in restaurants too? It should be banned from enclosed places period because it's subjecting people, including staff, to hours of toxins (there was a commercial here about a woman who got cancer from working years in a little restaurant where smoking was allowed).

I totally get both sides of it. I understand the second hand smoke. My mother used to smoke and not roll down the darn windows!! But I still think there should be a choice. Like when you go to a restaraunt (or at least here not sure about other states) you have a choice. Smoking or non-smoking. And when we chose non-smoking we don't smell the smoking area. That is how it should be. I think it should be the same way in bars and outside too. I love the fact that they have smoking designated areas. But there are still inconsiderate people. People that don't watch where they're smoke is flowing. People that light up as soon as they walk outside and don't think about the other people outside of the building. That isn't going to change. And I know about the travelling thing. I can smell the smoke when the neighbors light up because it goes through the vents. (illegal smoke, too, bugs the crap outta me) But they're in their house and there isn't much I can do about it. Like I said I can totally get both sides. If I am at a park and the smoke is blowing in my sons face, yeah, I will say something. I think that some smokers just really need to be more aware of they're surroundings.

Here in the UK smoking is banned in all enclosed public areas, so bars have made areas outside for us like gazebos, with patio heaters, if a non smoker goes out there and complains about the second hand smoke my answer to them go inside where it's smoke free. We are not allowed to smoke in commercial vehicles either. We can get done if we smoke in our own cars and the police deem that we were doing it in an unsafe manner, if you know that a worker is coming to your house you are not allowed to smoke in the room you will take them into 1hr before they arrive, if a public worker (police, ambulance, repair person) turns up at your door unexpected then you are not allowed to smoke whilst they are there and they are within their rights to ask you to open your windows and air the place.

Most smokers these days are considerate towards non smokers and for those who aren't there are laws in place to force them to be! You complained enough for the government to ban smoking in public buildings so we got kicked outside, now you complain about us being outside! the words that spring to mind are selfish, inconsiderate and yes sometimes rude, we have rights too, we don't know where you are going to walk, or stand or in fact that you are a non smoker, however you can see us from a distance buy the plume of smoke above us so if you object to it that much then take evasive action and get out of our road!