Smokers are people too!

Originally posted by adigregorio
I agree about the obese part. They give special treatment to people who can't put down a fork. And I get beat down because of my oral fixation.

Just wait, the "fat tax" is coming. I will fight against it, which can't be said of some anti-smokers.

Welcome to day-care, my name is the Federal Governess and I will be deciding what your morals are to be.

bah!

yeah but fat people don't hurt other people.

Second hand smoke is unbearable to me.

If smoking were allowed at my job i would quit.

reply to post by NewWorldOver

There is absolutely no reason that smokers shouldn't have a smoking room. A single, heated room, with an open window, is more than enough privacy for the health of non-smokers.

I agree with you but the govt couldnt force businesses to build one. Also most business owners wouldnt want to put up the money to build one. I could even see people switching jobs so they can work at the place with the "smoking room". I think everyone is trying to keep their hands clean with this one.

The problem with trying to accomodate everyone is that everyone wants to be accomodated. Too many groups in society are able to reap benefits that others do not get. Everyone plays the its not fair card at least once in their life. Where i come from the provincial govt is considering deeming people who have a substance abuse problem as having a disease. This will enable them to receive disability pension which they currently arent elegible for. Now disability here pays almost double then that of social assistance. I can tell you where that money is going to go. While we should be helping these people i dont believe that giving them more money is going to help them get off the drugs. The few people who have fought to have this done are in their forties, never worked a day in their lives, and are in and out of jail, but we are obligated to accommodate them because they are sick and any less than that would be inhumane.

Trying to accomodate everyone is a burden on our society.

Stange to hear your healthcare system can make money off lung cancer when ours country fines tobacco to finance the loss of money?

Any how i'm all for the laws theU.S.as of now but i to have worked were a simple lean-to at a cost of $500.00 would have made a big difference(coffee cans for ash trays),i guess you have to make sure the top dog gets his golden retirement (umbrella).

I like to smoke indoors. I don't care for the rules much and I do pay for my ambivalence in many ways.

I'm Ontario, we can't smoke at work, or anywhere. So I do.

I smoke everywhere, in the mall, at the store and there isn't a goddamn thing anyone is gonna do about it.
The store could call the cops, or refuse service to me (which is why I recommend smoking after purchasing), but that would cost time and money.

The cops hate being called out for "cigarette smoking" and will likely think it some sort of prank is going on... if they show at all.

Continue to smoke, anywhere you want. You will not be legally punished.
The police know it takes five minutes to smoke a cigarette and twenty for them to dispatch. The illogic makes for an unwillingness to waste time or tax dollars.

Smoke or don't smoke, just know that there ain't a goddamn thing anyone can do about stopping you unless you let them.
The signs can't physically stop you from smoking, if anyone tries to stop you it is assault, if they take your cigarette, it is theft, and if you are forced outside to light up... it is moral cowardice.

I say take your life in our own hands and light up a smoke... wherever you want to. No one can stop you. You are a Citizen of The Republic.

P.S. Don't smoke near citizens who don't like it, make them leave first.

I remember reading an article/study a few years ago that smokers are actually more productive and efficient then non-smokers in the workplace.

I can't find it anywhere at the moment, tried googling it but not too much so far although I'm sure its out there.

But anyway it basically found that smokers set themselves sub-conscious goals before having a smoke, which they see as a reward for themselves after completeing a task.

So their days are pretty much spent achieving this mini-goals all day which leads to a more productive work day then non-smokers.

reply to post by doctormcauley

Wow you don't sound like a selfish kind of person at all. Talk about self-centred.

Whilst smoking is a pretty stupid habit, I don't care if people want to do it in their own homes or out in the open air, provided they dispose of the butts properly without fail. I see red when the driver in front of me casually flicks his finished cigarette out the window onto a beautiful country lane. Smokers seem to demonstrate that kind of disrespect better than most.

As for smoking breaks - it happens in every single job I've ever worked. Smokers are permitted that extra half hour break time a day. That in itself shows that smoking is still an acceptable habit so don't give me this 'smokers are being discriminated against' BS. It's the non-smokers, trying to eat a meal in a restaurant or enjoy a drink in a pub or bar who have been discriminated against for years.

"Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others" - Thomas Jefferson

A smoker's total freedom sees another's infringed. The question is, who deserves their particular freedom more - the person who chooses to inflict bad health upon himself and others, or the person who chooses good health?

Edit: to label quote

[edit on 5/3/2008 by Cythraul]

An extra half hour, you must be in europe isn't happening inU.S. as far as i know,right up there with shorter work weeks,more vacation time,a year off for husband&wife for child birth,and holidays.Those working don't smoke but i bet the other 30 percent that don't work pulling down gov. benefits are.

but you won't see them in your diner or cafe,only because they are policed to the outskirts of your town.

Originally posted by sparda4355
Smokers rights…

If you don’t live in an area with a smoking ban… this probably isn’t the thread for you!

Although I don't live in an area with a ban, it has been proposed several times and at some point will probably pass.

I personally think the way they are treating smokers in several areas, is simply unconstitutional! Smokers are not a protected class, but in today’s society, we should be!

My personal opinion is that nobody should take away your freedom to smoke, smokers should also not be allowed to force other people to smoke.

Unfortunately, I believe to some extent, smokers have brought this on themselves. Smoking is not like other bad habits in that smoke immediately affects all others around the smoker. Not all but many smokers do not care about how their habit affects anyone else around them. There have been many times where I have sat down in a resturaunt to eat lunch and had someone sit down and light up which gives me 1 of 3 choices, ask the person to put the cigarette out and probably cause a scene, get up and leave which eliminates my freedoms, or sit and be forced to smoke along with the smoker which also eliminated my freedom. My personal opinion is that these types of smokers are ruining it for the rest of the smokers and legitimizing legislation of smoking.

reply to post by adigregorio


heh, i got the reference. i was being sarcastic... kinda.

I'm a smoker and I get really peeved at people who constantly go down for a quick drag. I only smoke before work, at lunchtime and after work. My reason for this is that I refuse to be accused of doing less work during the day because I'm a smoker. I have self-control so I only smoke when the non-smokers are also not working. We had a couple of people here who used to smoke five or six times during the day and eventually they were "worked out of their jobs", i.e. make life as unpleasant as possible for that person by loading them with work that there is no chance of them finishing and therefore not leaving any time for them to go for a smoke break. Its subtle but effective.
As a smoker however, I agree fully that a smoking room or sheltered area should be provided for those who do smoke. I am very unhappy about the government being able to dictate to me what I may do to my body. They have no problem with abortion (you have the right to decide what to do with your body!) even though it does actually kill a living organism but want to dictate what I may put in my mouth as it affects those around me! Are you kidding me!?! Does anyone else see how absurd this is? If you're overweight from stuffing too much rubbish into your face, you get ferried around in a wheelchair at Disney Land but a smoker is a pariah. The obese also put a lot of stress on the healthcare system and if you think that their obesity is not affecting others, try sitting next to one of a nice hot day on the train or bus - you not only get sweated on but you also have to deal with the odour.
Please! What a load of hogwash. Leave the blooming smokers alone already!

Originally posted by darkelf
It's not about heath, it's about control!

amen.

To all the people out there who agree with smoking becoming illegal listen to this, alcohol will be next. They allow the masses to consume alcohol because it keeps them stupid, violent and causes a great deal of murders. Smoking is being filtered out because a few peoples disgust for second hand smoke. Everything kills, even being born this is just the powers at be picking morals for us, do not smoke, drink, specifically targeting children to drink by bringing out lolly water alcohol. Why don't they ban obese people from eating they are killing themselves and their kids who grow up to do the same thing.

I find smoking to be one of the most disgusting things a person can do. Anyone who started smoking after it was discovered that they were harmful to not only their health but also anyone who breathed in their toxic smoke, and that it was also addictive is simply an idiot. Anyone who continues is no better.

They completely deserve to be shut outdoors to smoke so all the people inside who were smart enough to keep away from the cancer-sticks can breathe freely.

I've seen first hand what cigerettes do to a human. I watched as my grandfather suffered terrible terrible pain helped along by smoking. And for 21 years now I've been able to watch my uncles health deteriorate more and more from his smoking. It is completely stupid that someone would purposely do that to themselves.

I'm lucky enough to have smoking banned at my workplace, but that doesn't stop my workmates going out for smokos. Sometimes even about 5 times in 2 hours. It frustrates the non-smokers so much because we get no such breaks. One day I'm gonna say to my manager who smokes so much, "I'm just going outside for a quick puff of fresh air! Watch my bar will you?". I'll do it a few times a day and see how they like it.

In my opinion, smoking is one of the stupidest things a person can do. I know a lot of people are saying, "Eh, you're gonna die anyway", or something equally idiotic, but I bet that when you're in a hospital bed somewhere with lung cancer or emphasima, you'll be regretting your decision to take up smoking so. much.

Smokers DO have rights, but they do not have the right to take away my right to fresh air. You can keep your toxic cancer causing smoke to yourself.

...That being said, smoking around people eating/food prep is disrespectful, as is lighting up in a confined space with someone who does not like it. Don't litter your butts either. Don't smoke at work if you think you'll get fired.

But do not let them force you outside, force them to call the police, at which point the burden of proof is on them.

The informant will not be able to prove when you were smoking, only that you smoke. The police will be angry at the time wasted. They won't be angry at you, because you didn't waste their time. Chances are you will either be done your smoke long before they arrive, or simply gone somewhere else.

I prefer smoking in malls on the way out, or in wall-marts. Bus shelters too.

Smoking laws are a means of control, as well as a way of finding out who is willing to inform on their fellow citizens. Such people will be relied upon when the time comes to help give the government info on other aspects of your lives.

It is all about control. Control over everything. It is called Legalism.

Originally posted by xion329alpha
alcohol will be next. They allow the masses to consume alcohol because it keeps them stupid, violent and causes a great deal of murders.

Funnily enough, this is the reason I don't drink.

In all seriousness, despite the fact that I personally don't drink, I would defend people's right to alcohol because:
a) Used responsibly, it isn't a dangerous addiction.
b) This is the most important point - drinking doesn't directly affect those around you who choose not to drink.

Niether of those things can be said about smoking, there's a huge difference between the two. That being said, I wouldn't put it past the goverment to ban alcohol in public places. Here in the UK, they're already talking about drastically raising the tax to prevent kids and alcoholics from getting access to it (or too much of it).

You know, if you wanna piss and moan about smoking and smokers, take it up with the government. They're the ones continuing to allow the crap be sold to us. I would have no problem at all quitting if they weren't available. It's really very simple.

That's what I tell anyone who has a problem with smoking, and especially anti-smokers who wanna get in my face about it - I even told my own sister to go call up the local authority on it to begin her complaint.

I don't wanna hear it. I'm tired of hearing about it. I don't care and I don't know why anybody else does. Everyone just jumped on the freakin bandwagon about it. Think for yourselves people gee.

I am not addicted, I don't smoke a lot, I just do when I want. I like it and I have never allowed it to take control over me. I did recently experience a surge in the number I was smoking due to smoking American tobacco but I overcame that too - that's another topic though.

A lot of people I know from my hometown in Australia still smoke where they like, doctorrmcauley has a point. They can't actually stop you from smoking. Even in designated non smoking places. It's a joke. I don't personally condone it, I don't like to smoke around other people personally so I don't mind going outside to do it, I enjoy it more outside than indoors anyway.

And at the end of the day - It's (still) not up to YOU to decide whether I smoke or not.
Got it ? good


[edit on 5-3-2008 by ImJaded]

reply to post by mandrake


I won't argue that... Smoking causes deaths... we have established this... not in question... So does fast food, that oil they cook your food in, guess what.... it is carcinogenic, incase you don't know what that means... it causes cancer... How dare they provide you with a warm comfortable place to eat your burger and fries... you keep doing it you will be a fat piece of crap with heart disease, stomach cancer, and a burden to your family and society...

Lets think before we speak!

reply to post by sparda4355


that's different! [/sarcasm]

hehe

Nobody else cares if people eat themselves to cancer or death though, right ?

[edit on 5-3-2008 by ImJaded]

In our state they are trying to pass the ban on smoking. But with a couple of exceptions. Smoking will be allowed in gambling casinos and VFWs. Go figure. Take away the right of citizens and give it the power to someone els.

reply to post by TamtammyMacx


The more money people spend the better of course
They banned smoking in our casino in my hometown and it's flopped big time ever since.

They don't mind people dying as long as there is money to be made off it, smoking is just the flavor of the month bandwagon to jump on ... errr decade ?

Obesity may be next as someone mentioned earlier re: fat tax. They already discriminate against both on airplanes, won't be long till it's on the ground too.

[edit on 5-3-2008 by ImJaded]