So my DH goes up to this kid at Wal-Mart....

[Tikitoi]

I saw a teen girl pull up to a gas pump, get out with a cigarette. then grab the nozzle of the hose with the hand that is holdinng the lit cigarette! Not the handle part, she was switching hands and grabbed it all the way at the tip! Where all the fumes are!

one: who touches that dirty part? the handle part stinks like gas bad enough...

and two: THAT IS WHERE THE GAS IS!!! and the GAS FUMES!!!

Mikeeee

I would have driven off so fast! This is why I hate having my DD12, yes, 12 in the back seat when I have to fuel up.

 

[sbell111]

And just because something has a very small chance of happening doesn't make it perfectly okay to do the stupid deed.

I completely agree with you. However, just because some people do stupid things doesn't give others cart blanche to wander over to them and tell them that they are stupid.

The fact is, smoking near those propane canisters was very, very, very unlikely to result in anything beyond long term health risks to the teen. It was not a clear and present danger that required the OP's husband to step in. The kid was stupid, but the husband was out of line.

 

[S. C.]

I saw a teen girl pull up to a gas pump, get out with a cigarette. then grab the nozzle of the hose with the hand that is holdinng the lit cigarette! Not the handle part, she was switching hands and grabbed it all the way at the tip! Where all the fumes are!

one: who touches that dirty part? the handle part stinks like gas bad enough...

and two: THAT IS WHERE THE GAS IS!!! and the GAS FUMES!!!

Mikeeee

 

[MrsKreamer]

A couple of years ago we stopped at a gas station. I look over at the next pump and see a pregnant(had to have been in her 3rd trimester) young woman smoking while pumping gas. My DH calls over to her and says"Hey, you may want to put that out!" Well I guess she thought this was a critique on her choice to smoke while pregnant and starts yelling profanities at my DH. He said back"Hey lady I don't don't care what toxins you put in your and your baby's body, but smoking at a gas station could kill the rest of us" She stared blankly at him...He moves his arms around "You know....boom!"

Idiots

 

[DizBelle]

I completely agree with you. However, just because some people do stupid things doesn't give others cart blanche to wander over to them and tell them that they are stupid.

The fact is, smoking near those propane canisters was very, very, very unlikely to result in anything beyond long term health risks to the teen. It was not a clear and present danger that required the OP's husband to step in. The kid was stupid, but the husband was out of line.

And when he and the Wal-Mart blow up, everyone is wondering why no one said anything to him.

You just can't win, can you.

I guess as long as this kid's actions don't take out you or your family, it's ok?

 

[nuke]

And when he and the Wal-Mart blow up, everyone is wondering why no one said anything to him.

You just can't win, can you.

I guess not because God forbid you point out the obvious. That's just out of line!

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I completely agree with you. However, just because some people do stupid things doesn't give others cart blanche to wander over to them and tell them that they are stupid.

The fact is, smoking near those propane canisters was very, very, very unlikely to result in anything beyond long term health risks to the teen. It was not a clear and present danger that required the OP's husband to step in. The kid was stupid, but the husband was out of line.

When a stupid person is doing something that may endanger the lives of others (including yourself), yes, it is necessary to tell that person they are being stupid.

 

[Imzadi]

The odds of one of the propane tanks having a leak, the propance not having already all leaked out, and there being the perfect gas/air mix in the exact location of the cigarette to cause cumbustion is unbelievably small. There is a much greater chance that the lightpole in WalMart's parking lot falls on you while you are smoking.

Actually propane is heavy and tends to collect on the groundand stagnate in spots and not simply waft away. There is a remote possibility that the teen could have tossed down his lit butt next to a slowly leaking propane tank, and if the tank was in a sheltered area, the residual gas may have collected there.

 

[Sandy V.]

When a stupid person is doing something that may endanger the lives of others (including yourself), yes, it is necessary to tell that person they are being stupid.

Absolutely.

 

[MineMail]

She stared blankly at him...He moves his arms around "You know....boom!"

ROFLOL! I can just picture that.

sbell, the OP's husband never called the smoker stupid. He pointed out that the young man was doing something wrong in a way that I thought was very entertaining, lol. Best of all, it made him THINK about what he was doing and where. Here's the original post:

My DH went to Wal-Mart the other evening. As he is approaching the store, he sees this kid (age 17 or so) smoking outside the store. He goes up to the kid and says "Do you really think that is a good idea?" The kid looks at him confused and says "Huh?" DH says, "Well, smoking itself may not be a good idea but do you really think you should be doing it here?" The kid is still looking confused. DH points behind the kid to the SHELVES OF A FEW DOZEN PROPANE TANKS and the NO SMOKING sign. This kid was smoking while leaning against the propane tanks..

I give him credit for addressing it in a way that wasn't insulting. It's a free country and if more people tried to head off problems, there would be far fewer accidents.

I was at store the other day and saw a little kid pull out the drawer of a display dresser so that he could climb and reach a toy on the top shelf. I quietly put my hand on the dresser to hold it and handed the kid the toy. The kid walked away happily, but the mother gave me a nasty look like I was a masher (I was with my own kids!)

I just said "I was afraid the dresser would fall over if he climbed on it." Suddenly a look of comprehension came over her face and she thanked me for preventing an accident.

There are subtle ways to prevent accidents. Perhaps the smoker will start to notice "No Smoking" signs that will matter -- before he flicks an ash into a puddle of gasoline and sets his pants on fire.

 

[sbell111]

And when he and the Wal-Mart blow up, everyone is wondering why no one said anything to him.

You just can't win, can you.

I guess as long as this kid's actions don't take out you or your family, it's ok?

You are grossly exaggerating the danger.

If WalMart were in danger of esploding due to nearby smokers, they would not have the tanks where they are. WalMart would not want the potential legal risk and the city would not allow the danger.

Some time when you have a minute, go to your propane grill and barely turn on the gas to simulate a leaky tank. Next, stand next to the grill and light a match. Nothing will explode because 1) there is too small amount of gas leaking and 2) the air/gas mix is wrong.

The same thing goes with those tanks at WalMart. If there were a leaky tank (which would defy the tanks engineering, but lets ignore that) the leak would either be large, in which case the gas is long gone and therefore could not ignite or the leak is crazy small, in which case it would not create a risk of explosion.

Finally, does anyone remember the mythbusters episode involving smoking at the gas pumps? they tossed a lit cigarette into a puddle of gas. Nothing happened because the air/gas ratio was off.

 

[Sandy V.]

If WalMart were in danger of esploding due to nearby smokers, they would not have the tanks where they are. WalMart would not want the potential legal risk and the city would not allow the danger.

As an attorney, married to an attorney who handles personal injury lawsuits, I almost fell on the floor laughing at this. It's the whole creation of an unnecessary risk (among other factors and legally recognized duties) that keeps my husband in business. And it happens EVERYWHERE, all the time. By businesses, municipalities, and individuals. It's called real life.

OP, I forgot to add that I thought your DH handled the whole situation very well, and in a great non-confrontational way that may make the young man actually stop and THINK. Which it sounds like we'd all be better off if he did!!

 

[sbell111]

As an attorney, married to an attorney who handles personal injury lawsuits, I almost fell on the floor laughing at this. It's the whole creation of an unnecessary risk (among other factors and legally recognized duties) that keeps my husband in business. And it happens EVERYWHERE, all the time. By businesses, municipalities, and individuals. It's called real life.

Given that these 'propane corrals' are pretty widespread and that they already incorporate fairly significant safety features, would it be logical to conclude that they don't present a large clear and present danger to the public? After all, if they were that dangerous, would we not have already heard of one blowing up?

 

[Sandy V.]

Given that these 'propane corrals' are pretty widespread and that they already incorporate fairly significant safety features, would it be logical to conclude that they don't present a large clear and present danger to the public? After all, if they were that dangerous, would we not have already heard of one blowing up?

What is logical to conclude is that you don't hear about them exploding is because INTELLIGENT folks don't smoke near them. The OP's husband performed a public service to the general public by pointing out the danger to one of the OTHER kind of folks.

 

[DizBelle]

You are grossly exaggerating the danger.

If WalMart were in danger of esploding due to nearby smokers, they would not have the tanks where they are. WalMart would not want the potential legal risk and the city would not allow the danger.

Some time when you have a minute, go to your propane grill and barely turn on the gas to simulate a leaky tank. Next, stand next to the grill and light a match. Nothing will explode because 1) there is too small amount of gas leaking and 2) the air/gas mix is wrong.

The same thing goes with those tanks at WalMart. If there were a leaky tank (which would defy the tanks engineering, but lets ignore that) the leak would either be large, in which case the gas is long gone and therefore could not ignite or the leak is crazy small, in which case it would not create a risk of explosion.

Finally, does anyone remember the mythbusters episode involving smoking at the gas pumps? they tossed a lit cigarette into a puddle of gas. Nothing happened because the air/gas ratio was off.

Then why are there "NO SMOKING" signs posted on them if they aren't needed?

 

[PanamaMike]

Seems to me if the propane tanks posed no danger, they'd be stored inside the store.

 

[Imzadi]

It's not the tanks themselves you have to worry about. It is the faulty VALVES. More and more, those tanks are being recycled. People bring in their old tanks and are given a newer full one (which was also recycled.) It has been found more and more that the values are wearing out and the employees who refill them don't always check to make sure the values & gaskets are properly fitting and in good order before they refill the tanks. Just because an explosion hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it can't or won't happen.

Seems to me if the propane tanks posed no danger, they'd be stored inside the store.

Yes, they'd be more of a danger inside as the propane would be stagnant and have a chance to collect in one spot. Fire regulation-wise & insurance-wise, they probably can't store flammable gases in large quantities inside.

I work with a jeweler's torch that uses propane. We are warned all the time on a jewelry forum about leaky propane, not storing or using a tank in the basement, not expecting that just because you you use an exhaust fan high up, that it means you are really exhausting out all the propane which tends to settle.

And yes, there HAVE been incidents of fire and people losing their studios being reported. If an insurance company finds out the fire started from a propane tank illegally stored INSIDE, against fire regulations, it may void the insurance contract. Believe me, a fire marshall WILL go through the home to find out what caused the fire. Depending on the state's fire regulations, most homes are only allowed to have 3 of the individual 1 lb. canisters in the home at any one time.

 

[DizBelle]

You are grossly exaggerating the danger.

If WalMart were in danger of esploding due to nearby smokers, they would not have the tanks where they are. WalMart would not want the potential legal risk and the city would not allow the danger.

Some time when you have a minute, go to your propane grill and barely turn on the gas to simulate a leaky tank. Next, stand next to the grill and light a match. Nothing will explode because 1) there is too small amount of gas leaking and 2) the air/gas mix is wrong.

The same thing goes with those tanks at WalMart. If there were a leaky tank (which would defy the tanks engineering, but lets ignore that) the leak would either be large, in which case the gas is long gone and therefore could not ignite or the leak is crazy small, in which case it would not create a risk of explosion.

Finally, does anyone remember the mythbusters episode involving smoking at the gas pumps? they tossed a lit cigarette into a puddle of gas. Nothing happened because the air/gas ratio was off.

It wasn't smoking at the gas pump but using a cell phone at the gas pump.

Adam also lost an eyebrow in that episode due to explosion of gas/air mixture.

The point is that under the right conditions, an explosion is possible. The same is true for the propane tanks at Wal-Mart. Even though the probability is small, it shouldn't be dismissed because when it does happen, it can be catastrophic.

If someone comes in to your neighborhood randomly shooting a gun, it's unlikely that they are going to hit you. Still, would you be ok with someone randomly shooting a gun in your neighborhood?

 

[sbell111]

It wasn't smoking at the gas pump but using a cell phone at the gas pump.

Adam also lost an eyebrow in that episode due to explosion of gas/air mixture.

The point is that under the right conditions, an explosion is possible. The same is true for the propane tanks at Wal-Mart. Even though the probability is small, it shouldn't be dismissed because when it does happen, it can be catastrophic.

If someone comes in to your neighborhood randomly shooting a gun, it's unlikely that they are going to hit you. Still, would you be ok with someone randomly shooting a gun in your neighborhood?

We agree. The danger is very small, but danger still exists. What we appear to disagree on is whether the chance of danger was large enough to excuse the OP's DH's behavior.

 

[airhead]

did somebody wake up cranky this morning??