alldiz
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2006
I have watched this discussion through the years, but stayed out of it as I can't seem to formulate an opinion squarely on either side. I am a non-smoker who can't stand second hand smoke and will refuse a smoking room. However, until the hypocrites in Washington ban tobacco, I can't in good conscience say we should ban smoking everywhere. Restaurants and other public places, sure, because I do believe it is enough of a nuisance (and hazard if concentrated) to other people. But as annoyed as I can get when smoking rooms are all that's left, I don't think they should be eliminated. I do, however, believe the different rooms should be 100% guaranteed, and if your preference isn't available at reservation time, suck it up and find alternative plans (and for smokers, DO NOT take the N/S and smoke anyway.) I still have no idea why this isn't a guarantee with DVC, it is with most hotels! DVC must have some statistics that show percentage of smoking requests so that they can allot an appropriate number of rooms.
As for smoking on balconies, I think (and no I am not a doctor, so this is my opinion/gut feeling) that second hand smoke is not as dangerous as they say and is more political than anything. Being trapped in a car or room with a smoker or somewhere where its concentrated with no ventilation, yes, I can believe the health detriment. Catching a whiff of smoke outside on a balcony, while annoying, I can't imagine poses any significant health risk. I would be willing to bet the benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene exposure on gets every time they pump gas is FAR more detrimental than the occasional whiff of second hand smoke. Same goes for the formaldehyde in carpeting, volatile organics in paint, or half of the household cleaners out there, etc. If they keep the smoking rooms somewhat blocked in one area, floor, side, etc. I'm sure they could minimize the disturbance on the balconies.
Okay, I am going to be a little nitpicker here. SMOKING is the leading cause of preventable death. Not secondhand smoke.
Do I think secondhand smoke is dangerous? YES YES AND A BIG OLD YES. But when stating that statistic, I feel it is important to differentiate, since the study that the statistic is based on was on Smokers themselves.
Should Disney ban smoking and have all NS rooms? Probably.
I am not sure that will happen though. The second leading cause of preventable death is obesity, according to the CDC. And we all saw on the Restaurants board what happened when Disney attempted to change the kids menus to low fat, healthy choices. All heck broke loose.
Smoking stinks. Second hand smoke is a danger to those around you. Many smokers know that. I am one. I know that. I have tried to quit. Many times. The National Institute for drug addiction reports that half of all smokers try to quit each year and only 5% are successful for more than 3 months. Many smokers wish they could do it, quit, and be done. Almost everyone I know who smokes has been trying.
Villianizing the people who smoke in n/s rooms and in non-designated areas I can accept. But as someone who makes a conscious effort not to do that, I would appreciate not being treated as some kind of monster, out to kill you all. I know it stinks. I know it is bad for me. I know I will die from it if I cannot quit. I wish I had never started. I once told my 14 yr old that is the only thing I would change about my life if I could.
However, it seems that saying anything other than smokers are horrible human beings who should all be shot is like being a pariah in these parts.
Well said
Kerri