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 andie-joe:

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?

I'm in California, we actually have a town, Calabasas, where you can't smoke within the city limits.

I would start by politely asking them to desist, then continue on from there.  In California I might look a bit bitchy if I get too loud and vocal about it, but I'm willing.

Original Post by victoriagirl:

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.

I'd attempt to have a polite conversation with him and let him know that his smoking is effecting you as it does come into your home.  You can complain to the landlord or the association if he continues to do so or circulate a petition to ban smoking in homes with common walls.

Of course, I don't think that I would be able to resist a bit of 1am banging around if he wasn't polite.

#81 so you would start shouting at someone because they are smoking?

victoria, check for vents, I'm not sure of the makings of a condo but if it's that strong in your home then I would suspect that it is coming in via shared vents, it would be worth a look to see if they can be shut off.

victoriagirl, if he's standing in the hallway screaming in his underwear, I doubt he gives a darn if his smoke is bothering you! If he was a sensitive type, maybe he would have knocked on your door and asked you to stop banging around. Based on his actions, however, I bet he's the type who doesn't care if he is bothering you. Good luck with that.

I don't shout and never said that I would (although I can see where you might have thought that), I can be very unpleasant (by my definition at least) without raising my voice much.  Raising my voice enough for other people to overhear the conversation is loud and vocal by my definition and might have some people thinking that I'm being bitchy and making too big a deal of nothing.  If I'm in a place first and they just light up I would certainly ask them to desist or move.  I'm assuming that I wouldn't be in the only place where it makes sense for them to smoke without inconveniencing everyone else or standing in a designated smoking area.

#84: At 1am, when I get jolted out of sleep I'm not the most pleasant person, so I would assume that other people also might be having a stressful day or hate being woken up in the middle of the night.

Yeah I strongly suspect he would not be very receptive to a request to not smoke in his own home, and I am pretty sure I don't have the gall to even suggest that....but my bf and I discuss it sometimes (when the stinky ashtray smell was wafting over us in bed, what a mood killer lol, or when we walk through the smoky hallway) and he - even being a former smoker himself - feels it would be perfectly reasonable to ban smoking in buildings where residents share walls and common areas, like apartment buildings and condos like mine. Maybe I will suggest this to the strata....but I'd feel like a bit of a hypocrite since if i wanted to smoke, I'd certainly feel the right to do it in my home.

#85 well i guess it's up to you if you want to show yourself up in public, but that kind of reaction would have no effect on me I'd probably just start laughing.

You probably would start laughing, but then again, we probably wouldn't get into it to start with as I doubt that you'd come stand next to me and light up without at first mentioning that you're going to.

I really don't go places where there are alot of smokers.  For the most part it's bars or places where there's plenty of room and a compromise can easily be reached.  I don't walk up to a smoker who is already smoking and then complain that they're in my space, that's just as rude as walking over to me and lighting up.  My friends know that I don't smoke and make an effort to keep the smoke away from me and if I need to I walk away.  The people I don't know who don't ask generally are polite if I mention that I'm a non-smoker or ask them to move...I don't stand next to ashtrays as a general rule and those are essentially a designated smoking area.

In my condo association I have asked people who smoke to please move across their patio if it blows in my window.  If it's not bothering me I don't bother them.

Original Post by andie-joe:

Original Post by r4eboxer:

Original Post by andie-joe:

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. 

Wow, they actually are enforcing it. It seems that here laws are put on the books and then never enforced. The 15 foot ban from entrances is NEVER enforced. There are ashtrays still right outside the doors. Even at the city hall employees will smoke right outside the door. I don't know how they plan on enforcing the child abuse law, I suppose if you are stopped for another traffic violation and your smoking with your kids in the car they can charge you with abuse then. * Shrugs * I do know that some businesses are refusing to go with the no smoking in bars here, they are getting some flack from the government, fines etc. That ban was just passed last term. I'm not really sure if banning smoking in bars was the best choice. Here most people who visit bars already smoke, or smoke only when they drink. I think a much better ban would have been one in areas that are outdoors but highly populated (ie: concert etc) where young people gather. IMHO

boxer: the ban in public buildings (bars etc) was a bit of a scare thing here when it was first suggested, but it works fine and everyone including the smokers are not fussed about it, the only draw back  is that not all bars have an outside area so there are a lot of folk standing on the streets smoking just outside the doors and even as a smoker i have to say it looks terrible. None the less it does work.

Obama smokes.  I guess that's why more people are smoking.  Role models and all that, you know 

snickers and runs away

Very naughty Jewels

But very funny :D

Original Post by lulufit:

One example.....I live in a neighborhood. When my neighbor who smokes, sits out on her patio, it breezes right over to us on our patio. We hate the smell and the fact that it happens. Do I call her and tell her to stop smoking on her own patio because it is bothering me? No. Do I think its a shame that I have to herd the kids somewhere else until she's done smoking? Yes. Do I think less of her as a person? No.

I have a problem with inconsiderate smokers. Those who light up right around my kids and/or myself. Its a free country. Smoke if you want, just not around me. I know that addiction can be so hard to conquer.

 

 you say its a free country in your reply. well that means you have a right to chose what you do with your life so what gives you or anyone the right to tell others you can chose what you do with your life because your a non-smoker and your just going to make my choice for me because i'm a smoker what gives anyone the right to exercise their rights and not let others exercise theirs i as a smoker have just as much right to go into a restaurant or bar and smoke as you have the right to chose a different restaurant or bar. weather you can smoke or not smoke should be left up to the owner. laws telling other people what they can do with their own place of business is nothing short of communism their are brave men and women dying for our freedoms right now and how do we repay their sacrifice by giving away the rights they have  fought and died to give you. the right to come here and say what you think without going to jail for it. the right to be left alone and do the things you like to do as long as it's legal. and above all eles you have a right to chose. your choice is not mine and no one i repeat no one has the right to make my choice but me. i don't try to stop you from making your choices in life i would appreciate the same courtesy.

holy crap, zippo.  first, punctuation please.  second - huh?

if you're going to revive a thread from six months ago, you can at least be coherent.

PS: i think you mean fascism, not communism.  not that i agree.

Sounds like somone needs a smoke :)

Wow, I haven't witnessed a catastrophic grammatical wreck in awhile, that is until that #94 train jumped the rails.

makes the head spin, doesn't it?

Original Post by pgeorgian:

holy crap, zippo.  first, punctuation please.  second - huh?

if you're going to revive a thread from six months ago, you can at least be coherent.

PS: i think you mean fascism, not communism.  not that i agree.

 what dont you agree with? that this a free country? it was last time i looked. that you have the right to make your own choices in life? lets see........ yep right there in the constitution. that you have the right to make other peoples choices for them?........nope can't seem to find that one. that you can tell others how to run their business and their lives?........nope dont see that one either. that men and women are dying for our freedom?........yep right there on page one of the news paper. that we are giving away the freedom and the rights these people have died for?..... yep way back in the paper (funny how that stuff gets put on the last page isn't it?) so what dont you agree with?

hmmmm