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 -.-

Maybe if we complain enough they will make it illegal (I know, never gonna happen). We are complaining about the smoke in general, whether inside or outside, as long as it's around us. Like I said before, being outside doesn't magically make the smoke disappear. I really don't care where they kick you out of, or make you go, or if they build you little 'smoker outhouses' and force you to smoke inside there, boo-fn-hoo lol you can quit if you don't like it...I care about me! I am not trying to attack anyone, just find it funny that we non-smokers seem to be in the wrong for not wanting to be exposed to it at all.

Hubby smokes - and he tried to quit several times - and I don't spoke. When we go out, many of our friends smoke...i don't like but i tolerate it. at home there are time when i ask hubby to not smoke b/c it makes me sick....

the prices for ciggies keep going up and eventually he'll realize that if we want babies he'd have to quit - that's a major issue and he agreed.

Well I don't really care that you don't like it! if you dislike like that much then I suggest you move somewhere that it won't be an issue for you.....I believe both poles are smoke free areas :)

*sparks up ciggy* ;)

Original Post by smwhipple:

If I was there first then you'd best ask me if I mind if you smoke

 

 This statement amused me some what, and if they don't ask?

Original Post by vicereine:

Maybe if we complain enough they will make it illegal (I know, never gonna happen).

In Europe it is illegal to smoke in trains, in public buildings and school, in restaurants (there's a special smokers' section).

But we all should remember the bad influence on our healthy, whether we smoke or inahle 2nd hand smoke. That's WHAT I try to tell hubby; that his smoking affects me as well.

Indeed it is as I stated #60 and in Ireland you aren't allowed to smoke on the street either.

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!

Boy I wish this was really true. I have met a few truly considerate smokers. Most of the smokers I've met think they're considerate. Some are considerate to a certain degree. I just don't see lots of considerate smokers when I go out in public.

I am very very thankful that my state finally passed a smoking ban in all public places including bars. It is so wonderful to go out and not come home smelling like an ashtray. I don't feel at all bad that smokers have to go outside in the cold or rain to smoke. I was even able to start bowling again.

The only time I have a problem with smokers outside is if they light up in a crowd where you can't get away from it. I don't like breathing smoke if I'm on the sidewalk, but at least I can mostly avoid it. I will say something if I'm in a line and someone starts to smoke. That is inexcusable.

Original Post by andie-joe:

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!

Hi andie-joe, I'm wondering if they enforce the laws they have written there. I'm from the US and live in a state that is like 49th highest in the number of people who smoke population wise. We have a smoking ban too, but we also have a law that it is child endangerment if you smoke in enclosed areas where there are kids, like a car at home etc. It is a felony here to do that, but I see many many people smoking with their kids in the car with them. I'm just curious how they enforce the laws you posted about. Have you heard of any instances where someone was actually arrested?

for me it's not that smokers are outside, its when I'm in an area outside, an event like a concert or car show etc. that you can't get away from all the people around us on every side chain smoking. My wish is that an area outside would be designated as smoking in this instance. I know that in many amusement parks there are such areas. I don't stand there with my kids, I saw a previous post about a mother standing at the airport smoking section and complaining about it. Thats not right either, smokers do have rights. Smoking on the sidewalk etc doesn't bother me, I just go around the smoker.

edit: we are ranked 3rd highest in smoking in the US. 690 million dollars in my state alone for medical costs due to smoking. found this info at http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/reports/settle ments/toll.php?StateID=(enter your state abbrev. here), sorry don't know how to link it.

What state are you in boxer? I don't want to move there.

Although I was shocked when I moved back to rural Ohio in 2001 to see the number of smokers. I had been in bigger cities and it wasn't as prevalent.

WV, and yes some of the stereotypes are true about this state, but please don't lump us all in together. LOL. Can you imagine being at a fair with some people who 'look' like some of the characters in The hills have eyes and they are all chain smoking around you. Yikes very scary. hee hee hee I'm SORT OF kidding. I don't think many are very educated about the effects of smoking/second hand smoke, or they just don't care.

Here's a link for site, on left side of screen is box to enter state abbreviation.

http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/index.php

LOL at hill have eyes reference. I'm from Ohio and can relate. The more rural parts of Ohio and I think many states have a disproportion amount of smokers. They're very self-righteous about it as well.

Original Post by moonikins:

LOL at hill have eyes reference. I'm from Ohio and can relate. The more rural parts of Ohio and I think many states have a disproportion amount of smokers. They're very self-righteous about it as well.

I know, we have a 15 foot ordinance as well. No one should be smoking within 15 feet of an entrance. Well my family will go out to eat and like 12 people will be huddled around the door smoking. I get enough second hand smoke just walking in to have smoked an entire cig. If you say something or even show in the slightest that you are annoyed I'm made to feel like the one breaking the law and being completely inconsiderate. If it is an outside area and I am coughing and the smokers know its bothering me or my kids they will light up 3x's more often (as what happened at the fair). Its just rude and my rights to breathe clean air are totally violated. But gud forbid I point it out.

double post

I looked at both out states' stats on smoking. The highschooler's numbers for WV (27.6%) were much higher than OH's (21.6%). Your percent of adult smokers wasn't as far off, WV 26.9% and OH 23.1% .

What was really shocking was the % of WV highschool boys using chewing tobacco (or smokeless) - 27% for WV, 17% for OH. I'd almost rather deal with 2nd hand smoke than watch a bunch of guys spitting everywhere.

*shudders*

Original Post by moonikins:

I looked at both out states' stats on smoking. The highschooler's numbers for WV were much higher than OH's. What was really shocking was the % of WV highschool boys using chewing tobacco (or smokeless). I'd almost rather deal with 2nd hand smoke than watch a bunch of guys spitting everywhere.

*shudders*

oh she gets me started, lol. Yes they even announce before the football games (high school) about no smoking ordinances and include smokeless tobacco in it. It does no good. There are these pop bottles they use all over the place 1/4 of the way full of nasty spit from gross brown tobacco. I have heard stories from my sons friends who's father uses smokeless tobacco about thinking these bottles contain pop and took a big drink of it. UGGHH NASSTTYY. These parents laugh about it too. It's just shameful to me. These boys see their dad use chew tobacco and just fall right in behind him at a very young age. Mouth and throat cancer fall right in line. I just don't know why adults continue these behaviors knowing they are causing health problems in their kids. Maybe it's just the way your raised.

I was never exposed to chewing tobacco as a child. Both my parents smoked, but I can't remember seeing any relatives who chewed. My first experience of it was when I moved back to Ohio in 2001 and went to work in a factory. A very large number of the guys there chewed. They spit everywhere. It was disgusting.

There was the cute young guy at work on my crew. He was talking with some of the guys about using chew. They all knew I thought it was disgusting. Right in front of everyone he came up to me and said he was thinking about trying it. Without even a hesitation I blurted out, "Don't do that, you're way too cute to chew." Everybody howled with laughter. He came up to me later and said he never heard a better reason to not chew in his life. He never did take up chew.

Chewing is so disgusting. It is pretty much a deal breaker for large numbers of women. I think the anti-chew crowd ought to use good looking females turning down good looking guys just cuz they chew. I think it might be a good tactic for the teen crowd.

Original Post by r4eboxer:

Original Post by andie-joe:

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.

Hi andie-joe, I'm wondering if they enforce the laws they have written there. I'm from the US and live in a state that is like 49th highest in the number of people who smoke population wise. We have a smoking ban too, but we also have a law that it is child endangerment if you smoke in enclosed areas where there are kids, like a car at home etc. It is a felony here to do that, but I see many many people smoking with their kids in the car with them. I'm just curious how they enforce the laws you posted about. Have you heard of any instances where someone was actually arrested?

 

Hi yes we have what are called the smoke detectors lol it's police who are employed for the sole purpose of going around public areas and enforcing the laws. For the ones concerning public sector workers coming to you home then it would be up to them to report it if your house was smoke filled and they can refuse to enter. I'm not sure about the child one here there was talk about it but don't know if it was included? I think it was. 

Original Post by vicereine:

 I really don't care where they kick you out of, or make you go, or if they build you little 'smoker outhouses' and force you to smoke inside there, boo-fn-hoo lol you can quit if you don't like it...I care about me! I am not trying to attack anyone, just find it funny that we non-smokers seem to be in the wrong for not wanting to be exposed to it at all.

Since when are non-smokers considered to be in the wrong for not wanting to be exposed to it? What stigmas are associated with being a non-smoker? As a smoker, I would say that most non-smokers arent as callous about us - they understandably dont want to inhale second hand smoke or be inconvenienced but normally people tend to be understanding unless they are hard-core antismoking advocates.

I learned a while back to stop asking whether people minded if I smoked in their car or home as some seemed uncomfortable speaking up so I switched to asking if they preferred I didnt smoke in their home/vehicle. 

Im considered a smoker but Im a nicotine addict.  I quit in 2000 and unlike most didnt just gain weight but became horribly obese.  When I first dieted again in 2006, didnt even connect starting smoking again (blamed it on stress).  Diet failed but took months to quit smoking.  Summer 2007 again started dieting.  No food issues but daily tearful breakdowns of nicotine withdrawl despite not having smoked in over 6 months. My problem and not ready to make it anyone else's either but thankful most are kind about it before knowing I wouldnt want to impose on them anyway.
Still, there are some who cant empathize on any level with smokers even when we dont smoke around them. 

I live in BC, you pretty much can't smoke anywhere anymore. The last safe haven is your own home.

So here is the problem. My neighbor smokes. I live in a condo building, so my hallway often reeks of cigarettes (and sometimes mj but somehow I find that less offensive, maybe just because it's not often). And worse, sometimes when we are in bed, we can smell dirty ashtray. It's weird, I don't know how it's coming in, but the smoker is on the other side of the wall so it's likely coming from him.

On one hand, I think that things here are moving towards total smoking restriction and it's not really fair to smokers, I used to be one so I know what it's like, and someone should certainly be able to smoke in thier home.

On the other hand, I HATE the smell in my hall and in my bedroom, and it's totally unfair I am subjected to this, it's so gross, but what can I do? He's not smoking IN the common hall, but the smell is there nonetheless....I dunno.  I don't think I can ask him not to smoke, I am pretty sure that would go over like a lead balloon, and he's a bit scary too. Once when I was banging around my storage room at 1 am (I had no idea the sound would travel throught the wall like that) he went into the hallway in his underwear and screamed at my door DO YOU MIND!! so I am a bit afraid of him lol. So I just suffer.