Rant/Vent Something like that---Smoking in playgrounds

[LaraK]

So I know that playgrounds are outside, but today when I took my kids down to the playground there was a guy smoking right by the play equipment. My son is a severe asthmatic and smoke is one of his triggers. I had to remove my kids.

I know that it's not illegal to smoke in playgrounds, but doesn't that seem wrong to you? Not just because of kids like my son, but also because kids are running around and you could burn them!

Maybe I should have said something, but it was easier to just leave the area. What do you think?

 

[npmommie]

that is my pet peeve too.
the playground at our town recreation field is supposed to be smoke free. but i see people smoking in there a lot, it drives me crazy and they throw their cig butts on the ground

 

[Darsa]

Wrong or not, it's totally disgusting. Is the habit that strong that they can't take their kid to play for a while without having to light up?

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I have a dear friend whose asthma is triggered by cigarette smoke. I think some people simply do not want to believe that their smoking could be life-threatening to another person.

 

[mdrob214]

I will admit that I feel the same way as you. It especially irks me at WDW where they have a no smoking except in designated areas policy. But some people are just more special than others.

 

[perla75]

So I know that playgrounds are outside, but today when I took my kids down to the playground there was a guy smoking right by the play equipment. My son is a severe asthmatic and smoke is one of his triggers. I had to remove my kids.

I know that it's not illegal to smoke in playgrounds, but doesn't that seem wrong to you? Not just because of kids like my son, but also because kids are running around and you could burn them!

Maybe I should have said something, but it was easier to just leave the area. What do you think?

I am a smoker, but that's disgusting & so rude. I think all playgrounds and parks should be smoke free.

 

[mirmartinez]

So I know that playgrounds are outside, but today when I took my kids down to the playground there was a guy smoking right by the play equipment. My son is a severe asthmatic and smoke is one of his triggers. I had to remove my kids.

I know that it's not illegal to smoke in playgrounds, but doesn't that seem wrong to you? Not just because of kids like my son, but also because kids are running around and you could burn them!

Maybe I should have said something, but it was easier to just leave the area. What do you think?

I am a smoker and I agree 100%.
I made the choice to smoke not my children or anyone's child.

I do not smoke in my house, car, playgrounds, or any area that is crowded or children are present.
I find a out of the way place and light up

 

[Stacerita]

Ugh! Rude. I probably would have said something but left anyways.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I would have just explained the asthma without asking him to stop smoking or move away from the equipment. He would either be sympathetic, or not. If not, you could still leave...

 

[Cool-Beans]

I'm allergic to perfume. I consider it my problem and do not expect anyone to stop wearing it because I have problems.

I see the smoke thing the same way. Can't expect everyone else to stop their lives because it adversely affects you.

But that's me.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I'm allergic to perfume. I consider it my problem and do not expect anyone to stop wearing it because I have problems.

I see the smoke thing the same way. Can't expect everyone else to stop their lives because it adversely affects you.

But that's me.

Ahh, but second hand perfume scent doesn't cause cancer. I get your point, but EVERYONE is negatively impacted by cigarette smoke...

 

[Colleen27]

So I know that playgrounds are outside, but today when I took my kids down to the playground there was a guy smoking right by the play equipment. My son is a severe asthmatic and smoke is one of his triggers. I had to remove my kids.

I know that it's not illegal to smoke in playgrounds, but doesn't that seem wrong to you? Not just because of kids like my son, but also because kids are running around and you could burn them!

Maybe I should have said something, but it was easier to just leave the area. What do you think?

I think you should have politely said something. It is very likely that the man had no idea that his smoke was an issue for someone else that was on the playground and would gladly have put it out or moved to a more out-of-the-way place if you'd spoken up. Most people are not so sensitive that the smoke from a single smoker outdoors is problematic, so the smoker had no real reason to assume he was interfering with someone else's enjoyment of the park.

 

[LaraK]

I know my son is hypersensitive, which is why I usually just remove us rather than confront others. (He can react to perfumes as well depending on the stregnth)

The guy was older, like a grandfather, and he was watching two young kids playing on the equipment. I don't think he could have left the kids alone.

 

[kidzmom3]

I see nothing wrong with it. You made your choice, he made his. This is how the world should work.

 

[Planogirl]

You should have said something nicely. He might have moved to an area where it would bother anyone.

I think that banning smoking from parks and other outdoor areas completely is going way too far. I would rather see designated areas. I doubt that a brief whiff of smoke from time to time will give anyone cancer though. Triggering asthma is a different issue.

 

[disykat]

I'm allergic to perfume. I consider it my problem and do not expect anyone to stop wearing it because I have problems.

I see the smoke thing the same way. Can't expect everyone else to stop their lives because it adversely affects you.

But that's me.

While I agree with the principle of this, to me, it depends on the venue. A children's play area - I would feel justified expecting no smoking. There are certain places perfume don't belong as well. Once I sort of complained about a nurse wearing lots of perfume. (The doctor came into the room and assumed I was being seen for an asthma attack and I had to explain that I was there about my ankle and the asthma attack just occured when the nurse came in the room.)

 

[Mickeyistheman]

I do understand how you are feeling about the smoke BUT

Outside is outside.

It is gross and disgusting and I don't smoke but if its outside, you could have said something to him or just went to another area if the trigger would have been that bad.

But I also am not one of those people that get in others faces about what they do to their body.

You could have said something to the man smoking, but he also could have said right back to you.....such as It's a free country and I am outside.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Well, yes, it is a free country. But no, you do not have the right to knowingly cause someone else harm.

Perfume should be worn so that only those one is intimate with (in the sense of being in good friendship or close family) know one is wearing perfume. Any stronger and you're potentially causing another person discomfort or harm. This is not something that is new. The only people who can be excused this rudeness, IMHO, are teenagers who have not been coached sufficiently in acceptable behavior and who, quite frankly, still have brains that are developing and so sometimes can't plan ahead very well.

Cigarettes are fine in an individual's private space or in an environment where smoking is expected. (Casinos and mental hospitals spring to mind.) In those places, one should expect to encounter cigarette smoke and the person who is in danger of losing his/her life if exposed to cigarette smoke should avoid the situation at all cost.

So to, I would expect someone allergic to perfume to avoid the mall-side entrance to a department store, where one is likely to get accosted by young women hawking overbearing, trendy scents, and would expect that someone who really enjoys perfume in a strong smell can happily do so in her/his own boudoir.

But to wear heavy perfume or smoke like the proverbial on the street, with full knowledge that others' health may be affected?

I would prefer to think that the individual in question is in denial about the extent to which his/her actions will harm another person than to think that the person would knowingly indulge in a behavior that might cost another individual time in a hospital.

 

[golfgal]

Our parks are smoke free. The SADD chapter at the high school drew up a proposal and presented it it the city council which then adopted a smoke free park policy. When we took the kids to the park when they were little it really bothered me that there would be people smoking, especially since they tended to hold their lit cigarettes at eye level for most of the kids running around there.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The guy was older, like a grandfather, and he was watching two young kids playing on the equipment. I don't think he could have left the kids alone.

Alone, no. But watch from a safe distance while smoking? Why not?

And who owns the playground? The city/town? If there is not already a no-smoking ordinance, see about getting one instituted. A private entity? Same thing - contact the playground owners.

Well, yes, it is a free country. But no, you do not have the right to knowingly cause someone else harm.

Key word highlighted. If the smoker did not know he was causing someone harm, he cannot reasonably be expected to behave in any way other than the manner in which he was.

I agree with Planogirl that a brief, possible encounter with smoke as it is dispersed into the air will not cause cancer; however, it WILL cause an asthma attack in the OP's son. Since the smoker does not know the OP or her son, he cannot be expected to know that his action would cause the son harm until/unless the OP so informed him.