Why is it that smokers don't consider everyone else?

Question

I used to smoke so know what it's like to be addicted, also know that you can quit, but why are smokers unable to see what their smoking does to the rest of us. I know that as from the 1st July smoking is banned in public places but it really makes me cross when smokers tell me that it is their right to smoke in front of me. Not only do I have to inhale their excess smoke but go home with my clothes smelling so much I have to hang it outside before I wash it. Why are they so selfish that they mind this ban. Would appreciate some of the smokers out there telling me why I should put up with their habit, and don't tell me that I can drink elsewhere if I don't like smoking because the answer to that is, why should I.

Answer 1

I'm a smoker and don't think I have the right to inflict my second hand smoke on others.
I smoke at home (I live alone) or outside.
Not all smokers are selfish.

Answer 2

I too am in your same situation, being an ex-smoker myself I now realise how non-smokers must feel, I cannot even go near a smoker now without recoiling at the smell and coughing.

Thankfully in Guernsey we have been smoke free for nearly six months, and it is great when going to the pub or club as you can have a drink and a laugh without stinking of smoke at the end of the evening.

The only bad thing is when leaving the club you have to fight throught the smoke to get out, if people were only more considerate and smoke away from the door the evening would be perfect.

I too would like to know why we should put up with their bad habits, I mean they would be a bit annoyed if we went round, farting, picking our noses and any other dirty habit whilst we were out on the town.

Answer 3

First of all, why are you being so quick to judge, when at one time you were a smoker just like so many others? You should be more worried about things like Global Warming! It's not gonna matter too much about the smoking ban, if we die because were gonna be cooked from the inside out. Instead of worring about the ban on July 1st, you should be more concerned about the hundreds or thousands of people that are gonna be killed that weekend! The fourth of July and New Years' kills so many innocent people and your worried about a smoking ban, I think you may want to rethink your priorities...

Answer 4

The smoking ban is fine with me but I do believe that there should be places open to smokers because it's not fair to have every place closed off to smokers it is going to far. If you have most places closed to smokers and certain ones open then the non smokers can have a choice to go where the smokers are or go to the other place plain and simple! If your going to close every place off to smoking what is next drinking? Where I live they keep closing bars pretty soon your only going to be able to drink at home.

Answer 5

"I used to smoke so know what it's like to be addicted"

it's proven EX smokers are worse than none smokers at nagging.

people think its funny about the ban, well none smokers do...

due to all the people probably giving up they are gonna be more stealth taxes elsewhere.. so still laughing at smokers expense?

as for the ban, good in ways... but why ban it in work vechicles when your the only person in the vehicle.. THAT i find dumb, and the argument about second hand smoke in that case is rubbish if your the only person who ever drives the vehicle without passengers. or if you do have a passenger that smokes.

I do find it funny about the phone ban, yet i see loads of ppl driving around with their phones on their ear still.

as for the £80 for dropping a cigarette end.. is it the same for normal rubbish.. if not... WHY not.

i don't drink so much, so if the banned drinking.. can u imagine the uproar? lol

Answer 6

On the other hand, why do non-smokers go into places where they know people are smoking then make a big production out of fanning their hand in front of their face or scowling at people? Also, walking up and standing by smokers, acting like they are SO BOTHERED!! by the smoke when all they have to do is walk a few more steps away from it. There was an article in our paper about a woman who was at a school football game and reported a smoker was bothering her. Turned out she was standing clear across the field from the person.
Bottom line is, I think it's non-smokers high and mighty attitudes that are a good part of the problem
The other answer to that is Why should they? Works both ways. Ever stop to consider the fact that some people find perfume offensive? It can do bad things to people with sinus problems. Also deodorant (or the lack of it).
It's a big world--lots of people. Guess we all just have to learn to cope.
Personally, I think if non-smokers want fresh air, maybe they should go outside.

Answer 7

I hate smoking, and can't wait for the ban to come into effect so I can go to the pub without coming home smelling like an ashtray. However, the anti smoking lobby in many places (California is the one that really springs to mind) go way too far. We all know that smoking can kill you. The warnings on packs are clear enough. We all know that it's expensive, mainly due to the punitive tax levied on cigaretes and cigars. So if you are an adult and wish to smoke in the comfort of your own home or vehicle, or out in the open air, IT IS NO ONE ELSE'S DAMN BUSINESS. If every smoker gave up tomorrow, the same anti smoking lobbyists would be screaming blue murder that petrol/alcohol/road tax/airport tax etc had gone through the roof to compensate for the loss in revenue. In some countries it is legal for companies to insist that their employees not smoke at all, ANYWHERE,not even at home. This is clearly going way too far, and it's not what I want to see here. I've heard the old chestnut that smokers cost the NHS millions, but why stop with them? Excessive drinking also costs it millions but I don't hear any calls for an aolcohol ban. People who eat to much cost the NHS millions, but should we ban fattening food too? The government interferes far too much in our lives as it is, and I am sick of living in a nanny state, being lectured by patronizing "Do as I say not as I do" politicians.

It's called CHOICE, and while we still have it people should have the total freedom to smoke in places where their smoking doesn't affect anyone else.

Answer 8

Mike L -

What about the children??? Your "right" to smoke in your home and car means that smokers' children have no right to clean air! You may not care about your own health, but surely you would prefer your children not to suffer from asthma, etc?

Also smokers never seem to consider the health of people serving food, drinks and so on in the places they like to smoke. Employers are legally required to provide a safe workplace, and they can be sued if a worker gets ill from working in a smokey place.

Answer 9

I use to smole as well. I think you are finding the smaller percentage of inconsiderate smokers. Most that I see go out of their way to make sure non smokers don't breathe it in. Businesses and government were pretty dumb with the "no indoor smoking" rules. Now, you have have many people standing by the entrances and exits of most buildings and you have to walk past it. When I smoked we had smokers lounges with those big smoke eater machines that are in bars. It's a shame that once society becomes fixated on something they end up doing it half assed.

Answer 10

My bf became right into a heavy pot smoker and that i defiantly have faith all of this is genuine. He has been clinically determined as Schitzopheranic and has had some physchotic episodes, the only concern with that suggestion is that as quickly as they end the phycs and docs wil positioned them on an anti psychotic for some months then take them off it whilst they have completely detoxed and an excellent sort of the time there schitzopherania or psychosis is drug brought about and via the time the drug is out of there physique, the schitzipherania is carefully long previous and that they could lead on a classic life. The psych that my bf observed extremely informed us that he has seen over a hundred those with drug problems are available in with those sorta of subjects and then as quickly as they get off the drug and completely detox all there psychological wellness subjects are thoroughly long previous, this is physically powerful. Im no longer condoning medications in any respect, i thoroughly hate them, and ive seen first hand what they could do.

Answer 11

What do you mean it is only smokers who do not consider anyone else? Do drunks care about their beery fumes? The noise they make at 3 in the morning when making their way home? Do you care about your car exhaust and the polution it causes? Loud car sound systems which bombard my ears with crap music or the office worker who has overdone the cheap perfume?

You live in a society, in which every member does something that someone else does not like but which we put up with. If you want a sterile world, you will have to live in a bubble or the middle of a field. I agree with you when indoors but do not see the point in telling people they can't smoke outdoors. Do we ban everything which annoys someone else? If so, mine would be small kids - other people's kids, my idea of hell!