Janszoon

This may sound like a strange comment coming from a non-smoker, but since all these smoking bans have taken effect I kind of miss coming home at the end of the night smelling like smoke. I don't know why but there was always something I enjoyed about that. It made me feel like I had really been somewhere, if that makes any sense.

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gogojessicat

huh, that's interesting. most people would say its gross. But i get what you mean, you know you've been out for a good night when you come back smelling of booze & cigs.

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Freebase Dali

You're forgetting that the people that have to work in the bars, I.E. the bartenders, servers (if applicable), security, etc... what if they don't smoke? See, if smoking is banned in the workplace, then why do not all workplaces apply? It's not exactly legal to require your workers to be smokers.

crash_override

I'm ok with a smoking ban in public. Some places take it too far, like California. Making smoking illegal almost everywhere, including your own car in certain towns. Myself being a non-smoker, couldn't really care less. But there is a point where government trying to protect the health of the mass public crosses over into denying people their American rights (assuming we are talking about America here). Now I can see the benefits of both sides of the argument, but the main thing I think people are forgetting is that we have to look out for everyones rights.

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Freebase Dali

True.
The key phrase here is "everyone's rights". It's hard to protect everyone's rights when you're protecting smoker's rights while violating non-smoker's rights. This is the situation in bars where workers and patrons may be non-smokers. But in your own car, alone... there's no reason to ban that. That's just infringement.
One thing I like about Louisiana... not sure if it's the same in most other places, but your car is legally an extension of your home. This means you can smoke in it, carry loaded weapons in it, and if someone hijacks your car and threatens your life, you can legally shoot them in your car and be operating legally under self-defense.

I guess it'd be even more extreme for some folks to claim that smoking outdoors would harm others... but then you'd have to go after emissions of cars and every other emission that industry puts out there. Personally, that's just going too far to be effective without trampling on everything in the process.

Neapolitan

But I can see it can happening, it's done by degrees. First smoking bans in office buildings, air planes, mass transit, then restricted areas in restuarants and casinos and bars are now being targeted. Some cities are banning the use of Cell phones while driving. It is only inevitable that people who smoke in cars will be targeted next. I would not be suprised in the least if they pass some law that would make it a moving violation, I can imagine sometime in the future State toppers issuing fines for smoking while driving like they do for seat belts.

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gogojessicat

yeah, i have no problem giving up personal rights for the good of everyone. I feel like that's part of being part of society.
but with the car thing - some people can't even smoke in their own apartments because their landlords dictate whether or not its a smoking environment. seems odd that i can smoke walking down the street passing innocent young children or whatever but not in the privacy of my own home. but whatever.

@ freebase - i see what you're saying about employee's rights but i think its their choice to work there or not. just like any other place that had rules they didn't like, they could just quit - or sue. that'd probably work too.

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gogojessicat

didn't they ban smoking in cars if there is a child in the car? or is that just certain states?

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mr dave

that's actually getting pretty close to Canada's current take on smoking, only it's already banned in restaurants, casinos, and bars for the most part.

restaurants i can totally understand, kids or no kids, i don't want to smell anyone's effing cigarette after their meal while i'm still chewing on mine. plus there have been multiple cases of non-smoking employees developing lung cancer from having to work where smokers rights trumped their own. sure they could quit and get another job but if they've been waiting tables for 30 years and don't really have any other marketable skills what are their options? it's either the smoky restaurant on one side of the street or the smoky bar on the other.

using a cellphone while driving can get you fined from pretty much coast to coast. then again considering how poorly people drive in the first place i'm not exactly against it. hands free headsets might make you look like a giant dork but at least you're still mostly focused on the road.

smoking in cars with children present is another one that's making the rounds. can't say i'm against that one either, but if your just adults in the car then who cares?

outdoor bans are absurd though, i can understand near business entrances for the sake of cleanliness or something but i'm pretty certain walking along a busy city street will do far more damage to your lungs than inhaling a couple of puffs of second hand smoke.

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Freebase Dali

So I assume you oppose the non-smoking rule in restaurants, elevators, public transit, offices, and every other place right? I mean... if people don't want to be bothered then they just don't have to eat at restaurants or ride in elevators or use public transportation or work in offices correct?

Does that really seem fair to you?

The problem with your argument is you're excluding the non-smokers with rights that don't harm anyone, while including smokers with "rights" that do.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a company or organization deciding to ban smoking in its own facilities. Smokers have a choice to step outside and have their cigarette, or just wait a while, but non-smokers can't just walk out of an organization and wait for the smoke to clear so they can resume utilizing the public services that should be available to everyone without risking their health and comfort just because smokers don't want to take it to a designated smoking area.