Why do smokers feel that they can smoke wherever they want to with total disregard to non-smokers' health?

Question

If they want to shorten their own lives by smoking then that's their business, but why don't they at least have the courtesy to do it where there aren't any non-smokers around?

Ozzy, this isn't about me judging anyone. If you want to endanger your own health by smoking then that's your problem, just do so at home or somewhere where I and other non-smokers don't have to deal with it.

brevejunkie- FYI, my main mode of transportation is city buses that are fuelled by compressed natural gas.

Answer 1

i don't think that ALL smokers are like this...but i do feel there are many...possibly the majority...

what really bothers me is when i am sitting somewhere first, and then a smoker will sit down with me, and start smoking (don't worry, i don't mind...since you didn't ask and all) and the smoke almost always comes straight in MY face...personally, i think it should go in theirs, if it must go in anyone's...that is what i really find the most rude of anything involving smoking...

if they were sitting there first, however, i feel they have dibs on whether they want to smoke or not...i mean, i don't have to sit there...just like they don't have to sit with me...this is a free country...but it seems there are too many rules that protect the people who are causing the most damage to those around them...this doesn't only apply to smokers, but criminals, etc...

i think there should be designated smoking areas, and those be the ONLY areas where people can smoke. People can't be drunk in public, why should they be allowed to smoke in public...they are both drugs...why are they treated differently? however, if someone is drinking, unless they become violent or something, their action is less likely to hurt those around them then secondhand smoke, yet there are more restrictions on drinking...to me, that is just crazy.

i don't know how many times I have taken a road trip with my family and instead of getting to our destination in a timely manner, we have had to stop repeatedly so they could take *smoke breaks*...when did this become a necessity? but, that comes from me not allowing them to smoke in my car ;) so it is a sacrifice that I am willing to make :)

Answer 2

"Smokers and Non smokers"
I just responded to this same question on the German Yahoo-Clever. I found the same reaction there from smokers as I find it here.

1. I am a non smoker - formerly a smoker and glad that I stopped 30 years ago. Anyone who does not yet listen to the health warnings, apparently does not care.
2. I basically don't care if others smoke to hasten their demise, since it is non of my business.
3. I am glad, however, that smoking is not allowed in official buildings and restaurants, as I don't want to inhale the poison, nor do I want to smell like a chimney.
4. As far as I am concerned let the smokers inhale to their heart's content while outside on the fresh air, I don't care. In fact let them light up 2 cigarettes at a time, speeds up their departure and gives us more room and fresh air.
5. I will stand firm and will not allow smoking in my home nor in my car because these places are sacret to me and I won't have them polluted by others.

Answer 3

I smoked off and on for 16 years and quit 16 years ago. My husband had to stop for health reasons and I decided it would be easier for him if I did at the same time. His health is much improved and we've saved a lot of money. I wake up in the morning without the elephant setting on my chest. I had no idea how offensive it smells until my lungs started clearing out.

Smoking helped me relax but I find that going for a walk does the same thing.

Don't get so defensive about your habit. Yes it is a free country, that's why we have the right to breath fresh air and you have the right to smoke in your own home, vehicle or designated areas. What gets me is when I go into a certain hospital and have to walk through the thick smoke right by the door.

Answer 4

If smokers want to smoke, let them smoke. I am not a smoker, never have smoked, and never will. If they want to spend their hard earned money on this habit,more power to them. What I hate, though, is that I live with a smoker, and he really has no regards for my health, or my daughter's health, or that of our unborn baby. I have asked him repeatedly to go outside to smoke, and not to smoke in my truck, but he feels like for some unknown reason, since he lives here, and rides in my vehicle, it is his right. When I ask him not to smoke around me, he gets an attitude. This is where I have the problem, with people like him. This is also where I get the attitude, that every day I am getting more and more fed up with cigarette smokers. I give a great amount of credit to smokers who do realize that not everyone wants to smell this crap, and make it a point to not harm others health with their habits.

Answer 5

Hmmm funny you say that.. Im a smoker and I have never smoked in a non smokers house or car, never smoked in Church, movie theater, waiting room of any kind, elevator, store ... where is this "anywhere they want" that you claim? I USED to sit in the smoking section in restaurants far far away from the non smokers until even they were taken from us. Instead of bothering smokers.. why dont you bother drivers?? Did you know more people UNDER 35 (and that includes infants) die in auto accidents in a month in the US than die in a whole year from smoking related illnesses which wont likely happen to anyone until they are over 50?

Perhapse if you had a cigarette, you might not be so nasty.

Answer 6

I am a smoker, but I do have to say I agree with some of what you are feeling. Not all smokers have the disrespect that you speak of, but yes, many of them do. Personally, If I am attending a function with children or elderly present I always find a quiet recluse area; as well as when I'm in a heavily crowded area. It is just polite and courteous, as you say, but I guess the problem is that a lot of smokers have the outlook now that "Smoking Nazis" are putting bans on the places that we smoke, so the way they rebel is by smoking where they please. It's a sad epidemic that's spreading and becoming worse, but what did we all expect? World Peace?

Answer 7

Yea like sometimes when your at a theme park people are smoking in non designated areas and smoking while there walking in front of yoo. That is gross. I use to smoke, but still i hate it when people smoke and they disrespect too. Geesh have some consideration. I don't know why they do it. Maybe they don't think that we can smell it who knows. When i use to smoke i never did that. If i had to walk while smoking i would look who's behind meeh and if someone was behind meeh i would just pull over. Honestly smokers don't think about ur health obviously they don't care about there health soo yea. SOme people are just RUDE!

Answer 8

Not all smokers are inconsiderate jerks, but many, many, non-smokers are. There are very few places left in this world to smoke. If a non-smoker does doesn't want to be around it walk away. And as to this allergic B.S. I never heard anyone say they were allergic until sometime in the early 1980s. Give it a rest. The governments all around the world are cracking down enough!

Answer 9

I guess smokers don't know/believe the hype about the effects of smoking (and second hand smoke) or they don't care.

Some smokers probably feel the same disgust/iritation/whatever for non-smokers that some non-smokers feel about them.

Answer 10

Firstly, I'm a smoker. No, i don't smoke in public places, but only because we can't now because the non-smokers rule the world now. I do not smoke in my house or car because I have 3 children. I do smoke outdoors. If you don't like the smell of my cig when I'm outdoors, then walk away and leave me be. It's the only place that the non-smokers CANNOT impose their non-smoking rule on me and I refuse to put it out if a non-smoker is near me when I smoke outdoors. I freeze my *** off in the winter, I go hours on an airplane when flying, I go hours when I work, so the least a non-smoker can do is leave me the **** alone when I'm outdoors.

Again, if you don't like it, stay inside all you non-smokers and just leave me be considering I can't smoke anywhere else. And now government is trying to make it illegal to smoke in your car when you have kids. I think non-smokers are a little too imposing and I for one want to be left alone and I am SICK AND TIRED of you guys bitching and complaining about it since it was YOU non-smokers who made it so we have to smoke outdoors.