Are people too hard on smokers?

[Jacob Bengert]

I don't care if people smoke with two exceptions: smoking around children; smoking around hospitals.

 

[Joshimodo]

Because it's stupid.

Beyond that, it's also unattractive, and causes them to smell foul.


Not befriending someone who is a smoker seems ridiculous. As long as they don't smoke while I'm there (inside, outside is ok as long as they maintain distance so I don't have to smell that shit and choke).

However, for a girlfriend, yeah, it's a dealbreaker.

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, there is.

Anyway, the reason is likely down to the fact that engines have a purpose. They power things. Travel is necessary, smoking isn't.

 

[Remigus]

I used to smoke though

 

[Sunrider]

When smokers learn to never EVER smoke when there is someone close enough to feel and smell that second hand smoke, I will stop being hard on them. I'm sorry if this offends you, but your bad habit isn't yours alone.
If there was no second hand smoke, I wouldn't care at all. Your own body and health, and all that jazz.

EDIT:

I think people are harder on smoking itself than those who smoke.
I understand that it's an addictive habit, and the people who smoke can't really help it, but that doesn't make smoking (not smokers) any less repulsive to me.

Also this.

 

[MyNameIsNowNotMyName]

Yes, because I'm not a particular fan of any of the listed people.

 

[mrdude2010]

i have some friends who smoke and as long as they're considerate about it i don't mind. i would like it if they quit though. i wouldn't like it in a romantic partner though, since kissing a smoker is like licking an ash tray

 

[Artina89]

I don't smoke, but I wouldn't go as far as breaking a friendship with someone because they have a vice. A lot of my friends smoke and I wouldn't trade them in the world. There are worse things in this world than a cigarette.

 

[Darknacht]

Hey if you have to tax something tax cigarettes.
I can't wait until we get a full public ban in the US, or at least in my state. Smoking in public should be illegal for the same reason wandering around throwing draino in people's faces is illegal.

Fact is in Ireland alcohol abuse and obesity are the biggest health concerns yet no one is calling for massive price increases/bans on alcohol and junk food

I've never had trouble breathing because a drunk or a fat person walked by.

 

[Treblaine]

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?

People can quit smoking, my mum hates smoking and my dad used to smoke like a chimney.

But he quit.

I suppose would they shun them because they smoked (past tense) or would they be more willing to accept their partner if they quit smoking just to be with them?

 

[scorptatious]

Most definitely. I see a bunch of anti-smoking ads that seem to focus on discriminating against smokers. For example, back in High School, there was this one picture on a bulletin board that said "Kissing a smoker is like licking and ashtray". There was also one on a billboard that shows a girl smoking that said "She was hot... til she started smoking".

I know smoking is bad for you. But I highly doubt discriminating against people who do smoke is the best way to get people to stop smoking.

 

[WilliamRLBaker]

"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.

Bring me a casual smoker and I'll treat him like I would anyone else. Bring me a parent who feeds their kids McDonalds twice a week and I'll kick 'im down and slap some sense into him.

Although care obviously must be taken like making sure to do it in private, outside and far away from anyone who might dislike it.

I shun people for eating fast food!

Um...smoking does affect everyone else. And not just in the immediate area either. Smoking does add to emissions and it sticks to pretty much anything, leaving both scent and toxic chemicals wherever the stuff goes.

Even if one smokes in their own private location, they wouldn't be able to have anyone over, because then it would affect the visitor (third hand smoke).

Your logic be like Swiss cheese, holey.

Anyway, smokers are alright folks. They have personalities and shit like everyone else. If I had my way though I'd make whatever it is their smoking have a little container at the end where all the smoke is contained. That would certainly help the second hand smoke situation, no? Might put out the smoking utensil but hey, it's a business, and so we could use that to our advantage. Money money!

eating add's emisions, infact being humans add to emisions that weren't there...so the argument is moot as well they still have yet to prove second hand smoking causes cancer so...I think unless you are standing within half an inch from me and have your mouth open near my cigarette you aren't being affected by my smoking.

 

[Sparkytheyetti]

I ask to smoke places ive never been, they say outside, i say ok. I go outside 6 feet from the door generally. If someone walking by tries to give me shit about it (it happens) I tell them to lick my balls if their going to be in my ass.

Im polite about my smoking, if you want to be impolite to my politeness, go fuck yourself.

 

[NightHawk21]

As far as for smoking indoors, I downright hate it and "your choice" is void when you negatively impact those around you, but smoke outside all you want, just don't do it in public places like bus stops and I don't care. And the whole why hate smoking when alcohol is just as bad and whatnot argument is also void in that alcohol doesn't have any detrimental health effects on those around you (short of certain illegal activities of course).

 

[The Electro Gypsy]

Probably. I tend to instanly dislike smokers because I find the habit and it's effects repulsive, saying that I've befriended a few people who smoke.

 

[The Electro Gypsy]

I used to smoke though

That just makes me want to smoke

 

[ProfessorLayton]

I don't think so... I believe that if you're going to make the personal choice to start an expensive addiction that can cause health problems to you and everyone around you while also having your house, car, clothes, and breath smell awful, you don't really deserve sympathy in the terms you're thinking of.

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.

There is an amount of necessity in tools like that that balances it out, I believe. A car chews through a lot of gas, yes, but it is also a tool that is used to get from place to place more effectively than, say, a horse or a bike. While horses and bikes can easily get you from place to place, you simply cannot ride them extremely long distances with little work like you could a car. Personally, I believe that all these gas powered things are mostly transitional. We've proven that chainsaws and lawn mowers work with gas, let's find a more effective way to do it, not go backwards in technology because it's not working perfectly right now.

But either way. Those are tools and are used to complete tasks easier. Cigarettes have no practical use, or at least not enough to justify doing it. If you're really worried about pollution, why would adding on to the amount already in the air be a good idea?

 

[JET1971]

I am a smoker and anyone that hates on me because of it is a hypocit because they have bad habits too that could be considered just as bad as smoking to some people. And if they hate me for it then good for them i dont want that kind of person around me.

I also respect non-smokers and go away from them to have a ciggerate and usualy downwind. i dont smoke in the house or anywhere indoors for that matter except the 1-2 times a year i go to a casino and any non-smokers there can go eff themselves because they full well know that it is a smoking area that they choose to enter. I do have family and friends come over that do not smoke and if they choose to follow me out to the back porch when i have my lighter and a ciggarete in hand then they make the choice to be around it so thus have no right to complain.

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.

Except that nicotine functions in a way that you don't feel anything, unless you're addicted. The relaxing effect due doesn't truly exist. Smoking doesn't relax, not smoking while addicted to nicotine makes one feel agitated, and smoking relieves that effect for a period of time.

You sir are very very misinformed to the point of spouting ludicrous bullshit. Whats next the world is flat?

http://www.medicinenet.com/nicotine/page2.htm
http://archives.drugabuse.gov/NIDA_Notes/NNVol13N3/tearoff.html
http://odyb.net/mental-health/15-nicotine-facts-everyone-ought-to-know-about/

6.The pleasure feeling generated by nicotine is similar to that caused by cocaine and heroin, thus causing the addiction associated with the need to sustain high dopamine levels. Smoking has been reported to make you feel relax, calm, and alert.

7.Even concentration and memory are increased, but all nicotine effects will only last from anywhere between 5 minutes to 2 hours. To sustain pleasant the effects, a smoker would have to puff an average of 20 cigarettes in 24 hours.

8.Quick puffs by smokers produces a stimulating effect, whereas deep puffs produces a relaxing effect. This is because quick puffs produce low blood nicotine levels, whereas deep puffs depresses the passage of nerve impulses, producing a mild sedative effect.

Basicly If you do not know what you are talking about then do not hesitate to STFU.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Peter Venkman smokes... So yeah; smoking kicks ass!

I know plenty of smokers, and the only ones who smell bad are the ones who smoke cigars or who generally smell bad simply because they smell bad.

 

[JET1971]

Well, smoking sure as hell isn't hygenic.

Hygene and healthy are not the same thing. The smells from smoke are not a hygene issue the same as the perfumes in soap are not or even better perfume/cologne sprayed onto you.

stains on the fingers? Blackberry stains on fingers.
stained teeth? Coffee or tea.

Smoking has absolutly nothing to do with hygene.

 

[Greatjusticeman]

Yes, they do.

Especially since it's entirely ignorant people that say this and yet all the idols they look up to, (singers, actors, etc.) are smokers. It's retarded.