Why do smokers feel they are being persecuted by the smoking ban?

Question

If you felt like ingesting poison on a daily basis, then that's perfectly fine with me, but the fact that you choose to emit a dangerous amount of it to anyone who may be nearby seems ridiculous.

I clearly said that it's perfectly fine with me for you to ingest poison, if you felt like shooting up heroin inside a bar, I probably wouldn't care. If you sprayed the heroin in my face or jabbed me with the dirty needle I'd have a problem.

Answer 1

I'm a smoker and actually don't mind the smoking bans! It's actually given me incentive to cut back and attempt to quit; Also, I hate all smoking advertisements and companies like Camel who, with their fancy packaging, are attempting to recruit our young people; Why doesn't the government just say "NO" to Tobacco and prohibit the distribution; that would be a big help for "middle of the roaders" like me who really want to stop but are too addicted to stop cold turkey....unless I was forced to!

Answer 2

As a smoker, I can't say that I feel persecuted at all by the smoking ban. Most smokers now are aware that it is an anti social habit and I too hate being in a smoky environment when I am out eating. Noone (even smokers) likes the smell of stale smoke on their clothes.

I agree, however, that the health risks of second hand smoke are grossly exagerated and quite frankly, you also choose to be around smokers therefore you choose to be around these harmful chemicals. There are plenty of venues already who have gone smoke-free so YOU CAN CHOOSE to go there until the ban is in place.

It is comments like yours that leave me feeling persecuted. I will abide by the smoking ban and I have always been a considerate smoker (I certainly don't smoke around children or other non-smokers and don't even smoke inside my own home). I will leave you with your smoke-free air. Please leave me with the right to pollute my body with whatever I want.

Answer 3

I live in a town where chemicals have been made for about a century now. the company had the luxury to dump in our local rivers, automobiles produce more toxic gases than cigarettes, the cell phones we use have been said to cause brain cancer, breast implants cause all kind of health risks, MacDonald's just reformulated their cooking oil for french fries. ENOUGH!? Everything causes some kind of health risk, we can not escape all the dangers. As long has it is a risk in the name of progress it is acceptable. What happened to our freedom of choice? Isn't being oppressed the reason our forefathers formed this country. Our government local and national says you can't do this or that.....but we have to send our troops over to fight wars , get killed and kill and it is called duty to our country. I am offended because I don't have freedom to make my own adult, choices. I have to follow contradictions to be a part of society. That is what is offensive. Last year in the town I live in, the local government band smoking on sidewalks, period. But Dow Chemical, Consumer Energy, Automobiles, and Mac Donald still have the right to cause injury to the local community. Yes I feel it is unfair when insurance company charge higher premiums to smokers vs non smokers, I feel offended when the FDA approves birth control only to find out twenty years later it heightens the risk of breast and/or ovarian cancer. But it is still available to the general public.

Answer 4

Well, think of it this way:

Is smoking legal in the United States? Yes. It's not illegal to buy cigarettes at the corner store. Yet the restrictions on smoking seem to be growing. So it would seem that governments are seemingly concerned with the health of the population, yet "addicted" to the funds that come from tobacco taxes. So they are trying to have it both ways.

That said, smoking bans are fine with this non-smoker. I think I have the right to clean air wherever I go, and I think employees in, say, bars and restaurants have the right to work in a smoke-free atmosphere. I'd prefer a smoke-free world, but that's a tough assignment considering that people are physically addicted to the product.

Answer 5

You are misled. I don't wish to have anyone bothered by my smoking so I stay away from them or don't smoke. However, don't be mislead by junk science that grossly inflates the dangers of second hand smoke. I don't feel like ingesting poison such as alcohol, yet some do and kill thousands of innocent people on the highway every year. Not to mention just plain obnoxious drunks who are a real "joy" to be around.

Answer 6

I don't have a problem with it in restaraunts etc. but I think it is ridiculous to ban people from smoking in a bar or club. It is hypocritical for anyone that is sitting in a bar drinking to be worried about second hand smoke and getting cancer when they are setting there drinking and destroying their liver. So much for freedom in this country.....you can't smoke in public anymore and you are forced to wear a seatbelt etc. What freedom will they take away from us next.

Answer 7

Let me say this up front...I believe smoking is one of the single most destructive things a person can do to his/her body. Having said that, the hazards of secondhand smoke have been greatly exaggerated. Occasional exposure within an enclosed space is dangerous to someone with asthma and other types of allergic reaction. Unless you are exposed...day after day to second hand smoke your long-term risks are minimal.

Answer 8

Smokers are persecuted. You compain about the lack of clean air? Why don't you complain about auto emissions? They cause a lot more pollution to your breathing space than smokers ever could. And most smokers are conscientious enough not to smoke around others

Answer 9

I have already cut down to 16 cigs a day. I used to smoke 30/35 a day. So at least I have made a start to quitting for good.

Answer 10

It is rediculous and hopefully a TOTAL PUBLIC BAN will soon be enacted everywhere -- better yet completely outlawed !!!! The impact on the smoker and everyone who has to be near them esp children is ludicriss (sp?) !!!!!
The reason they feel picked on or put-upon or persecuted is because -- THEY ARE SO TOTALLY ADDICTED and the ADDICTION IS SCREAMING THROUGH THEIR WHOLE BODIES to try to MAINTAIN ACCESS to the DRUG WHEREEVER & WHENEVER POSSIBLE !!!!! Therefore COMMON-SENSE for them flies out the window (so to speak)!!! The ADDICTION is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO STRONG that they CARE ABOUT NOTHING EXCEPT being able to SATISFY THE ADDICTION regardless of who gets hurt or dies in the process -- that's why it should be outlawed!!! Anything that POWERFUL HAS N-O BUSINESS being for sale to the public (esp our kids -- and nothing short of erradication will keep it out of kids hands!!!! I know -- I was suckered into once as a kid !!! Thank GOD I was able to kick it !!! Or I probably would be dead by now !!!!! And I have to much to give to society & loved ones to die from self-poisoning !!!) .
Ever try to take someone's cigarette or cigarette pack and get rid of it ??? What is the reaction ??? USUALLY ANGER, SUCH ANGER IT'S JUST SHY OF V-I-O-L-E-N-C-E !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anything that POWERFUL MUST BECOME UNLAWFUL, since it KILLS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MANY PEOPLE, including innocent people like children, spouses, friends & co-workers !!!!!
LET'S JOIN TOGETHER TO START THE TOTAL BAN -- N O W !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Barbara Ann S.W. FLA.