Extreme Non-Smokers?

[WonderfulDreamer2]

I smoke. I am an American citizen with the same rights as Non Smokers. I will smoke in my car if I want to. I will NOT put my windows up on my car if I don't want to. I will flick my ashes out the window IF I want to. (BTW What are ashes flicked out a window doing to your car that would hurt it? )

I WILL NOT smoke where it is prohibited. I DO NOT leave cigarett butts on the ground (I will scrape the lit end on the bottom of my shoe and put the butt in a trash receptical, or if none is available,I will put it into my pocket or in the plastic wrap on the cigarett package and put it in my purse.)

I drive a convertible. When people flick their ashes or throw their butts out the window and they happen to be driving in front of me....guess where it goes. Yep, right into my car, my face, etc. Just curious, what is wrong with flicking into your ash tray?

 

[sweet angel]

I drive a convertible. When people flick their ashes or throw their butts out the window and they happen to be driving in front of me....guess where it goes. Yep, right into my car, my face, etc. Just curious, what is wrong with flicking into your ash tray?

I can only speak for myself, but I'm left-handed. When I smoked, I probably would've gotten in an accident if I had to try to do it with my right hand in order to use my ashtray.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Technically, second hand smoke is murder.
Smoking in general is suicide.

Exactly.

Personally I don't care what anyone does in their own space. I just want to control what is done in MY space. Our city has no smoking most restaurants unless the majority of their business is in liquor sales. Since I don't barhop anymore it means I can eat at any restaurant without smoke wafting into my space.
Our state also has a no smoking in public buildings law.

We have the same laws here now too (at least in Indy). But I don't agree completely with that. I would really like to go to a club and dance without having to deal with the smoke. Unfortunately, that hasn't happened yet.

I really don't care how extreme it may be.

I'm tired of smokers making my world their "ashtray". Leaving butts all over the place. Flicking ashes towards my car at redlights. Having to close my windows on a nice day because I don't want to smell like that.

I have to pick up butts off my front lawn and sidewalk every week. It's gross. Hey, if you want the habit. Take it home with you.

I know. They all exclaim "we have a right to smoke". Well, I have a right to be able to breathe and not see butts and ashes in my yard.

I am a smoker, I can see where it would be in bad taste to smoke, around hospitals, someone trying to eat in a resturant, but when it comes to the outside, and you dont want to smell it, hold your breath .......

One problem there, ChuckB - breathing is a necessity of life. Smoking is a drug addiction that is not a necessity of life.

People with allergies to cigarette smoke have reactions to it that prevent them from being able to breath normally, but I don't guess that really fits your idea...

Nicotine addiction is the same as cocain addiction, heroin addiction, etc. It is a drug. The only reason it is legal is due to so many rich and powerful people that smoke. It should be illegal just like every other drug. There is nothing good that comes out of cigarettes. Those smokers who say it calms them down are only lying - if they hadn't have started smoking in the first place they wouldn't need one to "calm down".

If smokers don't mind it, then why do they drive with their windows down instead of up? Why do they flick their ashes out into the world instead of using their car ashtrays? Why do they throw their used butts around anywhere they happen to be standing or driving instead of throwing them in the trash like a decent human being?

If it isn't so bad, drive around with your windows rolled up and use your ashtray... Then you can smoke all you want and nobody else has to have a problem with it...

Amen!

Just rude... I think fresh air came first.... Why don't smokers put a bag over their heads?

I lost my MIL to smoking (she was only 56) My DD now will grow up without a DGM and my DH lost his DGF (paternal) to cancer also.

I am allergic to smoke and my DD has asthmatic reactions to it also since she's been an infant....

Would you still blow smoke in our faces?

That would be tantamount to putting a gun to someone almost.

Actually, I've had that happen. Once (quite a while ago now) I and 4 of my friends went to a baseball game. By the time we were able to get to some seats, most of the stadium was full. We found the only place that all of us could even sit close to each other (open seating). Right in front of us were 2 empty seats and 2 guys sat down. They immediately lit up. I leaned forward and politely asked if they could move elsewhere since several of us are allergic and/or have asthma reactions to smoke and there was no where else that we could go to sit together. They rudely said no. They had a "right" to smoke if they wanted to and to sit where they wanted to. So what did they proceed to do during the entire game? Smoke. Chain-smoked. They held their cigarettes back towards us and purposely blew their smoke at us. My best friend (with asthma) started to have an asthma attack. I (allergic to smoke) ended up with my eyes burning, my throat burning, my nose plugging up, coughing, etc. So did another friend. We all had to leave very early because none of us could enjoy the game.

And ChuckB, you are one of these rude smokers. You care of no one but yourself. If your smoke gets anywhere near someone else, you could be causing them a multitude of problems. I have a right to clean air and decent health. You want to kill yourself, please do it in your own car, home, etc and please do NOT pollute my air.

I smoke. I am an American citizen with the same rights as Non Smokers. I will smoke in my car if I want to. I will NOT put my windows up on my car if I don't want to. I will flick my ashes out the window IF I want to. (BTW What are ashes flicked out a window doing to your car that would hurt it? )

I WILL NOT smoke where it is prohibited. I DO NOT leave cigarett butts on the ground (I will scrape the lit end on the bottom of my shoe and put the butt in a trash receptical, or if none is available,I will put it into my pocket or in the plastic wrap on the cigarett package and put it in my purse.)

A half way concientious smoker. I know there are a few. But most I've run across are extremely rude to non-smokers. Read above. And having ashes fly into your own car can cause damage to hair, skin, clothing, interior of car.

Any other time i would laugh it off, but we buried my beautiful 46yo cousin last week, dead from lung cancer caused by second hand smoke. There is a 9yo boy in Baltimore who will never again have a mother. The murderer? her father, a life-long chain smoker... and he has to live with that.

Exactly. I've known several people who have died from cancer. From either first hand or second hand smoke.

I can only speak for myself, but I'm left-handed. When I smoked, I probably would've gotten in an accident if I had to try to do it with my right hand in order to use my ashtray.

You need to have an ashtray installed in your door (if you don't already have one). The world is not your ashtray. Your ashtray is where ashes are supposed to go.

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

I can only speak for myself, but I'm left-handed. When I smoked, I probably would've gotten in an accident if I had to try to do it with my right hand in order to use my ashtray.

You hush up!

 

[sweet angel]

cteddiesgirl, if you notice I said "when I smoked". I don't smoke anymore, but I do think that people have a right to smoke if they choose to. yes, I agree they should be courteous to those around them.

I find it funny that your sig says "fight hate. teach tolerance." yet you don't seem to practice what you preach.

 

[AllyandJack]

Smokers can smoke all they want in their car. Just like I can eat and drink. How would you like to be sitting behind me while I toss my wrappers, empty soda bottles, and half-eaten food out my window? Maybe I'll eat some fish and dangle it out the window so you can inhale it in 100 degree heat.

When I walk down the street, I'll carry my perfume bottle and every now and then spray it over my head so it hits you smack in the face as you walk behind me. Just hold you breath.

Then, while we stand on the corner waiting to cross the street, I'll light a candle and hold it down by my side. Make sure you watch yourself so you don't bump into it and burn yourself.

I'm using a hypothetical "you" - not YOU.

 

[Froggyswife]

cteddiesgirl, if you notice I said "when I smoked". I don't smoke anymore, but I do think that people have a right to smoke if they choose to. yes, I agree they should be courteous to those around them.

I find it funny that your sig says "fight hate. teach tolerance." yet you don't seem to practice what you preach.

 

[Alice's Mom]

I wouldn't go so far as to write that particular statement on my car window, but I have always wanted to write, "use your ashtray!"

For every considerate smoker there are many inconsiderate smokers tossing their butts all over the place, including the dry, grassy hills of Southern California.

Fortunately there are so many anti-smoking laws here that I don't have to worry about dealing with cigarette smoke. In fact a neighboring city, Agoura Hills, recently made a city-wide banning of any public smoking, so if I were in a park in that city and someone lit up, I could call the police.

Smoking costs the state a lot of money in healthcare costs too.

I am glad I never felt compelled to pick up a cigarette, its expensive and deadly and not just for the smoker. People have a right to smoke as it is a legal activity, I just never understood why people do knowing the dangers.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

I don't smoke. Never have, never will, but the definition of murder makes the statement on the car in the OP false for a few reasons.

Murder-The unlawful killing of one human by another, especially with premeditated malice.

Since smoking is still legal in this country and I've yet to hear of anyone who premeditated to kill someone with secondhand smoke, like it or hate it, it isn't murder.

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

I drive a convertible. When people flick their ashes or throw their butts out the window and they happen to be driving in front of me....guess where it goes. Yep, right into my car, my face, etc. Just curious, what is wrong with flicking into your ash tray?

Some smokers won't take simple and basic precautions because they are so selfish and so worried about their rights that they can't stop and think for a moment that other people also have rights.

I don't hate smokers. I live with a smoker but she is considerate and smokes outside and doesn't smoke in a car with other people shut in with her. At Disneyland she smokes only in designated places for smokers. Her habit doesn't make other people miserable. The smokers I despise are the ones who either carelessly ignore the health needs of other people or worse, the type who will purposely smoke near somebody they know is uncomfortable. What a pathetic way to live; gee, somebody disagrees with my smoking so I'm going to edge closer to that person with my cigarette and make him/her more miserable. This is exactly why many people hate smokers. The few rude, childish, immature smokers who couldn't care less about the rights of others make all smokers look bad. When somebody writes a comment on a car like the OP referred to, perhaps it is because of that person's own exposure to selfish idiots who get off on shoving their "rights" down everybody's throats. Maybe they are fed up because some idiot heard her cough and then blew smoke at her just to prove he had a right to do it. That kind of crappy behavior really does create a lot of anger and resentment. It's sad, really, because in my experience the majority of smokers aren't rude at all. But the ones who are just make such a bad impression that they mess things up for all smokers.

 

[L107ANGEL]

I don't smoke. Never have, never will, but the definition of murder makes the statement on the car in the OP false for a few reasons.

Murder-The unlawful killing of one human by another, especially with premeditated malice.

Since smoking is still legal in this country and I've yet to hear of anyone who premeditated to kill someone with secondhand smoke, like it or hate it, it isn't murder.

Hey now this is no place for common sense

 

[sweet angel]

Hey now this is no place for common sense

He's right though.

 

[vivilasvegas]

Some smokers won't take simple and basic precautions because they are so selfish and so worried about their rights that they can't stop and think for a moment that other people also have rights.

I don't hate smokers. I live with a smoker but she is considerate and smokes outside and doesn't smoke in a car with other people shut in with her. At Disneyland she smokes only in designated places for smokers. Her habit doesn't make other people miserable. The smokers I despise are the ones who either carelessly ignore the health needs of other people or worse, the type who will purposely smoke near somebody they know is uncomfortable. What a pathetic way to live; gee, somebody disagrees with my smoking so I'm going to edge closer to that person with my cigarette and make him/her more miserable. This is exactly why many people hate smokers. The few rude, childish, immature smokers who couldn't care less about the rights of others make all smokers look bad. When somebody writes a comment on a car like the OP referred to, perhaps it is because of that person's own exposure to selfish idiots who get off on shoving their "rights" down everybody's throats. Maybe they are fed up because some idiot heard her cough and then blew smoke at her just to prove he had a right to do it. That kind of crappy behavior really does create a lot of anger and resentment. It's sad, really, because in my experience the majority of smokers aren't rude at all. But the ones who are just make such a bad impression that they mess things up for all smokers.

and vice-versa....

I've been happily quit for a few months now, but let me share my favorite story....

I was standing outside with my cigarette in my hand. This man walks by me, looks at me, and then makes a big show out of coughing and waving his hands because of my smoke. Only problem? The cigarette wasn't lit yet!!! What a tool!!!!

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

and vice-versa....

I've been happily quit for a few months now, but let me share my favorite story....

I was standing outside with my cigarette in my hand. This man walks by me, looks at me, and then makes a big show out of coughing and waving his hands because of my smoke. Only problem? The cigarette wasn't lit yet!!! What a tool!!!!

And I'm quite sure this does happen. And it's just as pathetic when a non-smokers makes a scene just to make a point. However, I really, really believe that it happens far more often the other way! I've never seen a non-smoker do what you just described, but I have seen many smokers blow smoke directly at a non-smoker. Sometimes they do it out of carelessness and other times they do it to be jerks. Either way, it is extremely common.

 

[Teejay32]

I smoke outside, sometimes in the car with the windows open, and I use ashtrays. I can't stand the smell either, go figure. And yes, I'm fully aware that it's bad for me.

I always wondered though...death from alcoholism is rampant in my family, as is heart disease. My father died fairly young of brain cancer and I'll probably lose my Mom in the near to future to MS...would I feel better if I had other people to beat up on for all this? I have nobody to sue, and it just doesn't seem fair.

</sarc>

 

[sweet angel]

Back in the late 80s when you could still smoke in offices at your desk, I worked at a law firm where most of the people smoked. A new attorney started and he had sensitivities to smoke. Rather than asking the majority of the office to stop smoking inside (or perhaps inquiring as to the smoking policy before he accepted the position), he made a point of coughing and gagging and commenting on how disgusting it was ALL THE TIME, and generally making a huge fuss and huge scene.

He came into the office one day smoking a CIGAR and proceeded to walk around the office and drop ashes into EVERYONE's trash cans (smokers and non-smokers alike).

He was divorced shortly thereafter -- I can't imagine why. He must have been a prince to live with.

 

[vivilasvegas]

And I'm quite sure this does happen. And it's just as pathetic when a non-smokers makes a scene just to make a point. However, I really, really believe that it happens far more often the other way! I've never seen a non-smoker do what you just described, but I have seen many smokers blow smoke directly at a non-smoker. Sometimes they do it out of carelessness and other times they do it to be jerks. Either way, it is extremely common.

I can see how you think that because you aren't a smoker, but when I smoked, you wouldn't believe the looks, the comments when they would walk away, the "you know you're killing yourself" statements. All this when I was in smoking areas. Very self-righteous. It's okay to say that to me, but god forbid I tell a fat person they are killing themselves when they are eating those fries. And I wouldn't do that anyways, because it's obnoxious.

My promise to smokers....Now that I have quit, I will never belittle you, make a fake cough, or tell you that you're dying when I see you smoke.

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

He's right though.

Eegads....we're actually having to...gulp....say Duck is ri,ri,right about something?

 

[cteddiesgirl]

cteddiesgirl, if you notice I said "when I smoked". I don't smoke anymore, but I do think that people have a right to smoke if they choose to. yes, I agree they should be courteous to those around them.

I find it funny that your sig says "fight hate. teach tolerance." yet you don't seem to practice what you preach.

Well, if you check out the website, it preaches tolerance for things that people can't help. Not for smoking, which can be helped.
And I do tolerate smokers more than I really should have to.
Having tolerance does not mean that I can't disagree with people. Tolerance means that you put up with things (or people) you don't necessarily like. And I do that all the time.
I should not have to tolerate people affecting my health and putting me and others in danger.
And as for the statement written on the car in the OP, that is something I would never do. I do have friends and family that smoke. And I certainly don't go around telling them to stop unless they ask me. In fact, I lived with a smoker and loved him very much despite his smoking.

You should really check out the site before you try to judge me as hypocritical.

*edit* Also, what I said is only what a courteous smoker should do instead of using the world as their ashtray.

 

[Acklander]

Last night, while driving to the mall, I was behind a PT Cruiser with the following message written on its back window in soap or shoe polish or whatever...

"YOU HAVE NO ARGUMENT -- SMOKING IS MURDER!!!!"

I thought that was kind of extremist.

Discuss....

It's an interesting comment from someone driving down the road with emissions burning a hole in the ozone.