Are people too hard on smokers?

[Thamous]

People eating fast food and drinking beer don't affect me. If people are drunk around me or they eat whoppers around me it doesn't matter. But when someone smokes the smell gets everywhere. It gets on them on their clothes and furniture and when they smoke near me it gets all over me. It bothers my eyes and my lungs and as we all know second hand smoke is far from healthy.
However, am I simply going to blow off a person because I know they smoke? No. On the other hand that is assuming they make a concentrated effort not to smoke around me.

 

[Fanta Grape]

"I don't know why people smoke."

A common phrase uttered by the befuddled outsider with a simple answer. Because it makes them feel good. We don't shun people for having eating fast food but we do shun this sort of behaviour? Ridiculous. As long as it doesn't affect anyone else, I'm fine with it.

Hold on, that's not a valid comparison. Smoking doesn't make you feel good. Once you're addicted, not smoking makes you feel bad and agitated, and smoking stops that momentarily.

That's quite different from junkfood, which triggers some chemical reactions that make us feel a little happier. It's not like when you eat a hamburger, the next day you'll feel bad if you don't eat a hamburger.

For many people, it relaxes them and makes them feel cathartic. Not every smoker is an addict. They may like the smell and they may like the oral Freudian feeling.

But to make it more fair, alcohol. Many people drink a little every so often, as do smokers, but one is more socially acceptable than the other.

 

[The Red Bastard]

It's not about the habit, or writing someone off because of one weakness, I could never be with a smoker because the smell and taste are disgusting. If you are a non-smoker it is just impractical to date someone who you would not be able to kiss until they had showered, changed their clothes, washed their hair, left their smelly apartment, and taken a breathmint.

As I earlier, I am not a smoker myself, and I've never found this to be an issue. I've dated plenty of smokers and was never bothered by the smell or taste after 15 minutes are so. Perhaps some people are more sensitive too it than others?

To ignore the health effects and be bothered be the smell or taste seems to me like not wanting to date an athlete, or someone who excersizes regularly because they have BO

 

[TimeLord]

I'll hate smokers as much as I want since cigarette smoke can kill me due to my asthma.
That said, I don't mind smokers so long as they don't walk down a crowded street blowing smoke in the faces of everyone behind them, including me.

 

[wilsontheterrible]

Yes. Between the legislation and every other well meaning member of the public trying to explain to me how my love of fine tobacco will put me in an early grave I'm more than a little fed up with it.

As for people saying they'd never date a smoker I can honestly say that most of them are lying. I've dated plenty that hate it and I remember one woman that actually bought me nicotine patches to help me quit. Only problem is that I love fine cigars, even when I was cash strapped I could scrape up $9 a week for a good Padron, it's part of my heritage and I like the taste.

 

[Zantos]

Back in the day when people were always lighting up everywhere then it really used to annoy me and I used to hate it. Now it's less in your face I don't mind. A lot of my friends smoke, so long as they're not blowing it in my face I don't mind it.

 

[shadowsoul222]

I don't get the "smokers smell bad" argument. Around half of the people I work with smoke and I almost never smell it, and they smoke on their brake often...but maybe I just can't smell >.>

 

[Bobzer77]

I used to be very judgmental regarding smokers, but then one of my friends started and then my opinion changed.

Still hate it but I don't judge people because of it.

 

[Phasmal]

I dont mind smokers, but I wouldn't date one.
Purely because they smell. Its unfortunate but true.
And it would be like licking an ashtray.

 

[blind_dead_mcjones]

here's a repeat from a previous topic regarding smoking (with a couple of minor alterations at the end)

consider that the exhaust fumes from cars and burnt petrol is at least 10 times as toxic/poisonous/damaging to you than 2nd hand smoke, those that live in the city are effectively surrounded by such fumes and breathing them in on near constant basis, and there are far more car users around then there are smokers

to which i ask, why are there never any demonisation about the use of all internal combustion engines (cars, buses, trucks, motorcycles, lawn mowers, chainsaws, hedge trimmers, portable generators, etc) in public areas despite the apparent increased health danger compared to standing too close to a smoker? and yet smokers are treated like lepers? just a thought.

 

[The Red Bastard]

here's a repeat from a previous topic regarding smoking (with a couple of minor alterations at the end)

consider that the exhaust fumes from cars and burnt petrol is at least 10 times as toxic/poisonous/damaging to you than 2nd hand smoke, those that live in the city are effectively surrounded by such fumes and breathing them in on near constant basis, and there are far more car users around then there are smokers

to which i ask, why are there never any demonisation about the use of all internal combustion engines (cars, buses, trucks, motorcycles, lawn mowers, chainsaws, hedge trimmers, portable generators, etc) in public areas despite the apparent increased health danger compared to standing too close to a smoker? and yet smokers are treated like lepers? just a thought.

Well said my friend

 

[Laveno]

I don't really know, where I live I don't feel that kind of attitude exists. Many teachers on my last school were smokers. I don't like smoking, and I'll admit that if you smoke I'm going to (automatically) view you as 'worse', not saying that I dismiss you out of hand as an idiot. My biggest problem is that I can barely breathe if there's smoke in the air (not if someone blows it in my face but simply if someone in the vicinity is smoking).

Not to say that I hate smokers; I don't really hate anything. However, I really, really, dislike smoking (close to hate there... probably the only thing).

 

[The Cor]

I am lucky to hardly encounter anybody who bashes on smoking around here and I am rather happy about it being a smoker myself. When I do encounter people who bash on smoking though they never engage an discussion with me or they make clear with their own behaviour that their they are quite short-sighted so going into a discussion with them will be of no use.

 

[Biosophilogical]

I think people are too harsh on smokers because the best way to get someone to quit isn't to sit there yelling at them, or making them feel like a lesser human being. The proper way would be to disapprove, but if they choose to quit to be supportive the whole way (Re-intergrative shaming. It is a criminological technique Braithwaite came up with about how best to prevent further criminal activities).

OT: I have friends who smoke/d and when I found out, it was fairly draining and hurtful. It is hard seeing someone you care about take up an addictive, harmful, stinking, expensive habit despite knowing about the risks, and then watch as they slowly kill themself all while burying themself ever deeper into the very thing that is killing them.

So I don't think I could have a relationship with a smoker, because I couldn't take the emotional stress. And I find it difficult to be friends with a smoker for the same reason (but because they are friends and not 'partners' the stress is somewhat bearable).

 

[cameron196789]

People argue that they are killing themselves, but are people drinking alcohol and eating fast food not killing themselves, yet I don't see people being as harsh on these people as they do on smokers.

Actually, I think people who eat fast food *are* treated quite harshly. McDonald's jokes, anyone? Alcohol is somewhat different, because it's not perceived as being as dangerous physiologically (even if it is) - most people associate the health risks of alcohol with addiction, car accidents, drunken violence, and alcohol poisoning, not with "normal" consumption (whereas "normal" consumption of cigarettes and fast food are both perceived as unhealthy).

Hmmm, yea I can see how that works, though I personally have not seen many people eating fast food treated as harshly, but perhaps I just have not gone out enough/to the right places, thanks for correcting me on the alcohol thing though.

 

[WolfThomas]

Meh, one of my best mates smokes, I don't hold it against him. He always does it outside and avoids being near any involuntary people. It's all in the atitude.

 

[The Red Bastard]

You people bring up alot of good points. Originally I thought people meant it as "you smoke so you're a bad person" I had not considered that you wouldn't want to get emotionally involved with someone harming themselves. I suppose that thought never crossed my mind with any of my smoker friends/girlfriends. Guess I'm a little self centered hahaha.

 

[The Red Bastard]

I was recently reading a thread that asked the question: "what are your deal breakers?" I noticed there was a very large amount of people who claimed smoking was an instant deal breaker, no matter the person, some even going as far as saying they would not even befriend someone who was a smoker.

Now I don't smoke myself, but am I the only person who thinks people are way too harsh on smokers? I find it shocking that so many people are willing to shun someone over one habbit. It seems to me smokers are one of the relatively few groups people are willing to openly hate.

What are your thoughts on the topic?

No, its not too harsh. Smoking is a habit that impacts others. Smokers smell, all the time. Their homes smell, all the time. And they taste like ashtrays when you go to kiss them. I've tried dating them, its unpleasant.

So is it okay to treat someone who wears too much cologne all the time that harsh?

and I suppose eats too many onions or something for the taste hahah

 

[MartialArc]

I hear this a lot, usually from smokers. I'd say yes, they're treated too harshly, except for one critical issue.

Smokers stink.

It's not personal, but smokers stink, all of them, you can be half a street away and they still stink. I just don't like having to live my life around people who smell like the back end of a mule all day.

Couldn't agree more. I couldn't care less about the health risks, etc, all personal choices. The only hangup I have is that it smells bad. Don't think you should be able to smoke indoors, call that a bit of forced courtesy as cigarette smoke is very offensive to non-smokers. So yeah, if you don't smell like an ashtray it really doesn't bother me. If you do then the reason I'm shunning you is probably the massive headache that's developing on account of the smell....nothing personal.

 

[MartialArc]

I was recently reading a thread that asked the question: "what are your deal breakers?" I noticed there was a very large amount of people who claimed smoking was an instant deal breaker, no matter the person, some even going as far as saying they would not even befriend someone who was a smoker.

Now I don't smoke myself, but am I the only person who thinks people are way too harsh on smokers? I find it shocking that so many people are willing to shun someone over one habbit. It seems to me smokers are one of the relatively few groups people are willing to openly hate.

What are your thoughts on the topic?

No, its not too harsh. Smoking is a habit that impacts others. Smokers smell, all the time. Their homes smell, all the time. And they taste like ashtrays when you go to kiss them. I've tried dating them, its unpleasant.

So is it okay to treat someone who wears too much cologne all the time that harsh?

and I suppose eats too many onions or something for the taste hahah

People DO hate on and avoid folks that wear too much cologne, or have awful breath, or that don't shower. Go eat a few sprigs of garlic and try to spark up a conversation with some stranger, see what happens.

If you smell unpleasant it changes how people react to you. Doesn't much matter how you arrive there.