31 replies to this topic

[Ragamuffin]

I pretty much agree with Gchenz on this. A popular argument against smokers is that they bring up the cost of healthcare, but when you consider the fact that a pack of cigarettes gets its high price because of all the taxes placed on it, the argument ends up being in favor of the smokers.People who want smoking banned generally don't give a shit about the health of others, they just see smokers as unpleasant and want them gone. Funnily enough these anti-smokers are the ones who go around preaching "tolerance" towards any and every other group. It's morons like that that I intentionally light up in front of, because I know it bothers them. But instead of politely asking me to move or just walking off, they whine and cry about it and try passing retarded laws.I mean, you don't hear me telling some annoying yuppie to take his cell phone and STFU, so what gives him he right to tell me what to do?

[jpintano]

Yes, It would be absolutely good if smoking were to be banned. Why? I'm not talking for my own sake but I'm also talking for the sake of those smokers. Did you know that smoking takes away ten minutes of your life and the person who inhales the smoke gets worst. So imagine if a person were to smoke a pack of cigars a day, how many time is deducted from his/her life span. But it's okay for me, because when I see someone lighting a cigar, I stay away immediately but, I wonder what would happen to those poor guy that smokes more than ten packs a day after a decade or so. That is if he'd get to live that long, that is.

[Kyllorac]

Essentially, what I am trying to say is in terms of smoking, a total ban would be an impingement on human rights, especially since smoking doesn't really have that much of an impact on society apart from the health of the smokers themselves. What we need to combat smoking is better education and support for quiting.

I disagree with you on the impact. What about asthmatics? I have several friends who are severely asthmatic, and each of them have had attacks triggered by inconsiderate smokers smoking in designated non-smoking areas, like in front of the doors to a college parking lot. I would think that doing nothing to prevent others suffering life-threatening asthma attacks is a greater impingement of human rights than a total ban of smoking.That said, I do agree that a total ban of smoking is an infringement of human rights; what one does in one's home is private and should generally remain so. Only in public areas, where smoking potentially threatens the health of others, would I support a full ban with heavy fines.I also agree that better education and support are needed, support in particular. I have several smoker friends who know fully well the damage smoking does to their health, but they're so hooked that they fail miserably whenever they try to quit. They may last a week, maybe two, before the compulsion to smoke becomes too strong, and nothing (nicotine patches/pills/etc.) seems to work. However, I also have a number of ex-smoker friends, and the one thing they all have in common that helped them quit was a clear motivation, reinforced with determination, and often that motivation was having children. I think support groups, when they cultivate those clear motivations and reinforce that determination to quit, are invaluable in helping smokers stop smoking.

[Kyllorac]

If smoking was still allowed in adult areas it would be more easy to control.

There were (and still are) designated smoking areas around the campus. As a matter of fact, the nearest designated smoking area was within site on the other side of the parking lot less than a minute's walk away.Though I do agree with you that it is stupid to ban smoking in adult areas, like bars. Although inconsiderate smokers may smoke wherever they please, it is unfair to penalize the considerate smokers who only smoke in designated areas, or would if there were still designated areas, and smoking inside a bar is far less obtrusive than smoking on the street.

If there is people smoking in non-smoking zones at college you should let a staff member know.

She was staff (as am I). She went out to tell them to move to the designated smoking area. One bastard blew smoke straight into her face, which triggered the attack. By the time security got there, the smokers had scattered and she was in no condition to do much of anything for quite a while after despite using her rescue inhaler. As a result, there was a serious consideration to ban smoking completely from the campus, but as there were smokers on the staff, a compromise was made: there would be only one designated smoking area, and it would be located at the far end of the back parking lot, as far from the buildings as possible. Considering that it's a small branch of a community college, it isn't that far from the buildings, but it's still a decent hike up a pretty steep hill.I think it's fair to say that it's the inconsiderate smokers who ruin things for the considerate ones. And so, rather than focusing on finding a way to make people stop smoking, I think it would be more worthwhile to figure out how to persuade inconsiderate smokers to act more considerate without penalizing considerate smokers. It strikes me as unfair that the considerate smokers, who make the effort not to aggravate others, should be penalized for the actions of the inconsiderates.

You cant die just from walking into a cloud of smoke, it might not be nice but it doesnt make you cough.

Personally, cigarette and cigar smokes really irritate me and cause me to cough/choke/wheeze/sneeze/tear up. It's gotten better as I've gotten older, and I can suppress it somewhat, but even so, there's a reflexive gagging cough that's quite painful, at least until I get used to the smoke. Once I adjust, I can tolerate the smoke, but I am by no means a happy camper. But that's just personally speaking.

[Kiba]

Yes, It would be absolutely good if smoking were to be banned. Why? I'm not talking for my own sake but I'm also talking for the sake of those smokers. Did you know that smoking takes away ten minutes of your life and the person who inhales the smoke gets worst. So imagine if a person were to smoke a pack of cigars a day, how many time is deducted from his/her life span. But it's okay for me, because when I see someone lighting a cigar, I stay away immediately but, I wonder what would happen to those poor guy that smokes more than ten packs a day after a decade or so. That is if he'd get to live that long, that is.

Did you really just try to claim that smoking takes away ten minutes of your life? There has never been a study that has proven any sort of measurement for smoking vs. length of life. 1 cigarette does not equal ten minutes of your life. Before you post something that idiotic again please at least back it up with some sort of scientific study.As for your statement about what it must be like for someone who smokes ten or more packs per day. I don't know anyone who can A. afford to spend that much money, or B. wants to smoke that many cigarettes. Congratulations you bought into your parents' propaganda. You do realize that in some places in the United States ten packs of cigarettes would equal $100 a day. In certain parts of the U.K. it would equal close to 80 pounds. Since you argue for a ban, I will place the task of coming up with a new way for governments to get the tax money that they make off of cigarette sales.You didn't make a single compelling argument in your post and I really hope that you re-think the rhetoric that you spout out.

[Ragamuffin]

Being a non-smoker, I don't have the same degree of freedom to clean air as smokers have the freedom to smoke.

I don't know how it works in your country, but here in the states smokers don't have this "freedom" that you speak of. Smokers in the states can't just light up wherever they please, and even if in designated smoking areas, they still get bitched at. Speaking of, that reminds me; why would a non-smoker go to an area specifically for smokers anyhow?

There is no way of protecting myself from the hazardous (to my health) smoke when I'm walking down the street whilst some other person is smoking. I have no choice but to breathe in the polluted air.

Hate to break this to you, but out of all the pollutants in the air from cars, factories, etc., cigarette smoke should be the least of your worries if you're so concerned about your health. Hell, the screen you're looking at right now is giving off radiation, so if you're that concerned about your health, stop using computers, talking on cell phones, stop eating anything besides food grown in your own personal garden and live in a bubble.

I may not be correct with this statement, but I do remember being taught in health class during high school that second hand smoke is actually more hazardous to the health than first hand smoke because the cigarette has a filter.

I've heard that too, but for every study that states that, there's another that contradicts it.

I'm not sure a blanket ban on tobacco products would be any good. To ban it would be to make it illegal and as we've all seen with illegal drugs etc, it still happens. Ban tobacco and stop selling it in shops and it'll just be gotten hold of in other ways. The government would also lose a substantial amount of revenue as they have their taxes on tobacco products so I don't think they'd do it.

Exactly, no government would give up that kind of revenue, and cigarettes would just go on the black market, making the ban useless.

EDIT: I'm a little confused as to why my words have been edited out, am I missing something, what is wrong with the word ****? It's what we call cigerettes in the UK.

The site's word filter doesn't take context into account

[Auzzie Wingman]

Smoking is just the easy way to the end of your life. I don't reckon it should be banned, as that's not gonna happen, not with the money the tobacco industry generates.However, I say if you're going to put your life on the line, then you might as well put your savings on the line too. Raise the prices for a packet ridiculously, then watch as the world gets cleaner. Besides, most smokers couldn't give two ****s about anyone around them once they light up. I was walking down the street and some ***** almost burnt my hand because she was too busy feeling good to release she had the lit end pointing outwards. Then there are those who like to walk past children and think it's okay to smoke near them, just as long as it's not on the school grounds. It sickens me. It's like people want this http://www.chewingto...bacco-mouth.jpg and this http://static.guim.c.../smoker_372.jpg and this http://www.123muslim...tte-smoking.jpg and this http://whyquit.com/joel/buergers.jpg and this http://1.bp.blogspot...g Kills.008.jpg . I'm sorry, it's very graphic. And not only do smokers get this, but they can pass it off onto children too. Passive smoking is more or less BS. YEAH, I THINK SMOKING SHOULD BE THE **** BANNED! JUST LIKE COUGAR AGAIN, JUST FOR THE KICKS!

[Ragamuffin]

^ You sound like an authoritarian asshole, to be quite frank. It is up to the individual to decide what they want to put in their body. When the government gets to decide what one can and cannot consume, then in essence, people become government property. I find it absolutely frightening that so many people are willing to take away the rights of others just to make themselves feel a little "safer".

[Yuto]

I personally don't care, smoking disgusts me so i don't know, but don't you already have the freedom to smoke so in that sense why do you need more areas to smoke in..also get the electric cigarette if you wanna smoke in public places, otherwise just deal with the room you have to smoke, and being allowed to smoke in the first place..

Edited by Lord Anubis, 10 February 2012 - 03:59 AM.