Extreme Non-Smokers?

[Viking]

As an accounting major my concern is the financial impact. What is the cost to Medicare/Medicaid for treating smoking-related stuff?? In our state Medicaid is out of control, it's one of the top expenses. It just keeps going up up and away! I think states should focus more on anti-smoking campaigns.

As overweight people in the USA far outnumber (I was shortly tempted to write 'outweigh' ) the smokers, my guess would be that the cost to your health system caused by them is larger.
I once read in an article by a sociologist that every group or society needs an 'enemy', a scapegoat, someone to project its hate onto. As in the USA -as in most Western societies- it is highly un-PC to mistreat the minorities of yesterday it's now the smokers' turn to be society's 'lightning rod' for bad vibes - especially as it perfectly distracts from the bigger health problem: FAT
But you're not alone: The same starts more or less over here in Europe as well. Even though I think it is good to put pressure on the smokers, there should a) be a limit to that pressure and b) there's other groups who could use some pressure too - aforementioned people with a weight issue for example.

 

[TCPluto]

You might be surprised at how much more common it is to see people with their pets in the mall and various other places. It's quite stylish to own a tiny dog and carry it along in your purse or whatever. I see them quite often now.

You seem to make the assumption that I don't go to these places.

When I go to the malls, stores, restaurants, or any public venue in a 7 state area, they must hide these critters, as I've not seen one.

Maybe it's regional, it doesn't happen as you suggest in the midwest.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

You seem to make the assumption that I don't go to these places.

When I go to the malls, stores, restaurants, or any public venue in a 7 state area, they must hide these critters, as I've not seen one.

Maybe it's regional, it doesn't happen as you suggest in the midwest.

I've started to see these little purse dogs in the malls in the 'burbs around here in the past year more and more frequently.

 

[wvrevy]

You guys are still missing the point. I do not need to be exposed to the cat itself in order to suffer an allergic reaction. Simply being exposed to the person that has a cat is all it takes. Not sure what isn't clear about that. It is exactly the same as someone that has an allergic reaction to a brief encounter to second hand smoke (not talking about going to a smoke-filled bar...just someone at, say, a bus stop). They are exposed to an allergen for a very brief period, just as I would be if they had a cat and stood next to me in line at the grocery store. There is no difference.

My point, which seems to be lost in all of this, is that it is MY health problem, so I have to deal with it. I do not expect everyone else I know to deal with it for me.

 

[Michelina]

Originally Posted by Honu
For the life of me I don't understand why anyone would go out into public and do something they know will cause discomfort to others and just not care.


Selfishness. It's the "me me me first" attitude that is so prevalent these days.

It's the same "me me me first" attitutude that makes people freak out about coming into contact with 5 seconds of cigarette smoke.
You may be horribly allergic to smoke, I get terrible migraines from some perfumes, Joe Shmoe could be hyper-sensitive to freshly mown grass. Such is life.

 

[wvrevy]

Joe Shmoe could be hyper-sensitive to freshly mown grass. Such is life.

(And you don't have to call me Joe...Eric is just fine )

Maybe I should go whine at my neighbor for causing my allergies to act up.

 

[TCPluto]

You guys are still missing the point.

Not missing your point, but disagreeing with your position.

Unless you're talking about people reacting to you having smoked elsewhere and then gracing their space with your presence, though not currently filling the air with cigatette smoke. If that's what you are saying, your "cat at home bothers me when you come out in public" arguement would make sense.

 

[Planogirl]

Not missing your point, but disagreeing with your position.

Unless you're talking about people reacting to you having smoked elsewhere and then gracing their space with your presence, though not currently filling the air with cigatette smoke. If that's what you are saying, your "cat at home bothers me when you come out in public" arguement would make sense.

Keep in mind that cat hair and dander sticks to clothing unlike smoke. We have a nephew that can't visit us no matter where we put the cats and how much we clean because some cat dander remains in spite of our best efforts. If he were very sensitive he could also react to that which sticks to our clothes.

 

[Aidensmom]

Keep in mind that cat hair and dander sticks to clothing unlike smoke. We have a nephew that can't visit us no matter where we put the cats and how much we clean because some cat dander remains in spite of our best efforts. If he were very sensitive he could also react to that which sticks to our clothes.

Just a note, the smoke DOES stick to clothes.....and pets, and wallpaper, and curtains.....

My brother and SIL smoke....my son's Christmas presents have reeked so bad of it I have had to wash them good (be they clothes or toys so they do not bother my smoke insensitivity.

I don't hold any ill will towards them for that fact, as I stated earlier my asthma is my illness and my responsiblility to control, but people do need to realize that smoke DOES linger and DOES cause sensitivities in those cases.

Maybe some of these misunderstandings is what causes all these arguments?