I think Helena, Civilian and Ninja Duck covered most of what I wanted to say to your replies, Heccubus and Melissa. Regarding my analogy of spraying aerosol down people's throats, if you didn't get it, then I'm sorry. It seemed pretty straightforward to me.
The way you two are vigorously defending your rights to smoke is terrible. You have adopted a filthy antisocial habit. You knew it was a stupid habit. You knew it was addictive and you adopted it anyway. You don't have any cause for complaint if your habit is criticised.
You and Melissa are trying to turn yourselves into martyrs -
"Oh, the non-smokers are so inconsiderate of us."
Newsflash - the smokers who feel that they have the right to interfere with other people's health and wellbeing are the ones who are the inconsiderate party.
You also mentioned things like how if you're outside and you smoke near other people, that's not a problem. What's that? If you smoke outside, the secondhand smoke magically disappears? Other people still end up breathing it.
I'm pretty sure from your attitude on the subject that you'll only quit when hell freezes over. But at least,
at least, be considerate enough not to smoke near other people.
Regarding the idea of people coming up to where you are and asking you to put out your cigarette, in theory I think you're okay to say you don't want to. However, it depends on where you are.
If you're at the bus stop, put it out. Other people have to wait for the bus too. And the same goes if you're at the only available outdoor hangout at your workplace, etc.
You want to get into a rights argument with me? Here's the rundown...
Smokers choose to use a poisonous addictive substance that has no benefits, actually raises your blood pressure (defeating the argument of it making you feel calm) and affects the health of other people around you.
Non-smokers
don't want to use a nasty substance that affects not only them, but other people as well.
If there was a neutral third party, which side do you think they'd take?
And don't give me that rubbish about the pollutants of transportation, etc. Transport gets people from A to B and is a very important part of the running of our society. Smoking does... well, nothing good. For shame, Heccubus.
Now, what you are doing is falling into a very bad category of smokers. Smokers who feel that they have the right to get defensive when their habit is criticised.
You enjoy smoking - fine. But how dare you defend it as if it was some human right?
Just say "It's not good, I know. It's a guilty pleasure of mine. But I do try my best never to smoke around other people."
In my life I've encountered some smokers who when I ask them to be a little more considerate of the people around them, threaten to beat me up. With all due respect, these people are too mentally unstable to be doing their own thinking.
I really, really hope, Heccubus, that you are not one of those people.
Knowing that you smoke will
not diminish my respect of you. But your argument that you have some kind of right to smoke and nobody has the right to tell you to stop
will.
This post has been edited by Just your average movie goer: 25 September 2004 - 08:39 PM