Smoking Bans are Retarded
How much do we have to hold each others’ hands in this world? It’s getting to the point that making our own personal decisions are no longer acceptable. I agree that there is a line that needs to be drawn where our personal actions inflict harm on one another, but come the fuck on now. This is starting to get ridiculous when I can’t have a smoke ANYWHERE except the freezing fucking cold outside.
Here’s the deal. We have in place a set of rules and laws that govern what we can, and cannot do. When it comes to substances (Alcohol, drugs, etc.), these laws are even more defined primarily by situation. You can drink, but you can’t drive drunk. Why? Because the roads are public property. They are the living rooms of frat-houses. We have to be semi-respectful of everyone’s space so that we can all be safe on the road. Same goes with boating, you can’t boat drunk, because of that same principle. Drugs? Well you can’t use those at all, unless your doctor prescribes some goodies for you. With those though, you can still get in trouble for the above mentioned.
So now we come to smoking. Smoking doesn’t impair you or your judgement (unless you’re trying to quit, then you become a royal ass-clown). Smoking does however, cause the user cancer. That follows under the personal choice part, which I think is everyone’s right. Smoking is harmful to your health, but so is driving on the highway. At least smoking kills you nice and slow. The second part, is that secondhand smoke is harmful to others, and here is where our conundrum comes in.
I get that because smoking is harmful to others, the public should put restrictions on it’s public use. Libraries, government centers, state funded buildings, they all should be non-smoking. These are places that everyone can go to and use at their discretion. They fall under the category of public roads. Here’s where it gets muddled though. Businesses are private establishments. With the state taking away the ability for people to smoke in bars/restaurants/bowling alleys, etc they take away a plethora of choice.
Business owners no longer have the ability to even choose to offer that convenience to people. Bars have especially been hurt by this, with certain states banning and others don’t, people are driving to the place that will give them that choice. It used to be that if a restaurant owner didn’t want to allow smoking, he or she could. The choice was never that they HAD to allow smoking. Businesses are run according to their owners desires, and the consumer (you and I) had the choice whether or not to visit them based on their offers. So what do we have now?
1. Business owners no longer have the choice to offer the amenity
2. Consumers no longer have the option of not freezing their ass off in winter
3. Everyone’s choice is taken away.
People argue that “Well, employees shouldn’t have to work in those conditions, whine whine whine”. You know what? That employee knew full well what they were getting into, and they made the personal CHOICE to fucking work there. They can choose to get a new job if they don’t like it. The whole basis of this fucking country was to allow the FREEDOM of personal choice, expression, speech, etc. Slowly its all being taken away.
SMOKING BANS ARE JUST ANOTHER FORM OF COMMUNISTIC ACTION!
i agree u cant smoke anywhere pretty much but what the fuck soon enogh we wont be able to smoke at all.. i mean i live in ny and ever one nos bout the tax raise and i paid 8.39 for a pack of cigs the other day i wanna quit but i like a nice relaxing cigarette i mean who doesnt…. but i think people are capable to make there own decissions and if they want to or not smoke that should be there decission… we no its bad for u.. but we obs. dontcare.
Yea, thats rough. It’s about the same price in Chicago, about half that in Minneapolis. Although, you can always just find a relative out of state to buy some and ship them up to you. I know a couple people who do that
You got that right! I am so with you there. We smokers here in Jersey think it is very unfair to the business owners as well - and we laugh like hyenas at the non-smokers who have to walk through the smoke cloud and the twentyodd people smoking out in front of a building any building. You put us outside and than have the audacity to complain because you have to walk through smoke?! Before there were smoking lounges IN the building - so the smoke would never botheryou unless you went into the lounge - Now you walk THROUGH ‘the lounge’ gagging as you go into a building - not the sharpest tacks in the shed, eh?!
Dennis Leary was correct back in 93. He predicted that eventually well have to hide under a bedsheet in our apartment, while the cops are banging at the door trying to get at the smokers.
I’m going to comment. It’s my first time here.
“Well, employees shouldn’t have to work in those conditions, whine whine whine”.
That’s the point where you acknowledge the opposing point of view. Yet you don’t really acknowledge it; you don’t even give their opinion a properly punctuated sentence (intellectually or grammatically). You dismiss their opinion as whining, which nullifies any possibility for discussion. I’m not even going to comment on your argument, I just wanted to note that you’re not actually promoting debate. But then again I suppose you did title it a “rant.”
Hey Ben, UHHHH do you like big words in parenthesis because it shows people what you were thinking or because you have the genitalia of a Bull Hamster? just an honest question. Good catch on the difference between a debate and a rant, very non-confrontational. Might I add that I’m pretty sure your a douche bag, but I really don’t know you well enough yet.
Okay, let’s take Brad’s philosophy a little further: He says that privately-owned businesses should decide what to prohibit and what to allow on their premises. If non-smokers don’t like a bar full of smoke, then too bad. Either deal with it or don’t go inside. Okay, fine. What if the bar-owner decides to hang up swaztikas all over the place? Or how about a sign that says “No niggers allowed”. Hey, it’s his privately-owned business. He should have the freedom to allow or prohibit anything he wants, be it smoking, black people, whatever. If you don’t like it, then don’t go inside So… would you say the bar should have that right?
I’m a non-smoker and I really dislike cigarette smoke. That’s the only reason I like places where smoking is prohibited. However, I support Brad’s rant fully. On gov’t property: No smoking. On private property: Whatever the owner decides. Just because I don’t like something doesn’t mean others should be forced to ban it from their private property for my benefit.
My email is digitalgenesis2000 at yahoo.com if you want to rant back at me.
I’m with Brad. Once they get their foot in the door and are able to tell owners of private places what they can or can’t do it won’t stop there. Next they’ll be telling don’t run with scissors in your own house. No farting in the bath tub, etc. I don’t smoke but I don’t give a shit if you do. I do chew tobacco because second hand spit apparently isn’t dangerous and it is allowed in restaurants.
That “runnin with the devil” reminded me of somebody who should shut up.
P.S Where is that bar I can smoke in and has that sign that says no niggers?
I smoke, but I also see both sides to this. I acknowledge that it’s a disgusting habit. It smells..it burns your eyes..it’s just not pleasant to a non smoker at all.
I do wish that more clubs, restaurants etc had separate, outdoor patio areas for those who wanted to smoke, but you know..most clubs I go to allow you to walk out to have one and come back in, so it’s not that big a deal.
I see no reason offices should let people smoke indoors.
However..those job ads that state you must be a non smoker? oh, get off your throne, jerkoff! You are not allowed to tell me what I can do once I have walked out the door, whether it’s for lunch or to leave for the day. You might be allowed to dictate the rules IN the office, but when both feet cross your door? nope!
I carry a toothbrush and perfume..I wash my hands..what more do they want from me? I do my best to minimize the smell of it.
Now, for those non smokers who get angry when people smoke near them in public..I hear you. Really, I do.
I always walk away from the crowds if I’m going to smoke in public, and make my best effort not to be close enough that anyone will be offended by it or have it blown in their faces.
This goes double for those with children. Believe me, I have no desire to subject a toddler to it.
One favor though? If you see someone smoking up ahead, and they were clearly already doing that when you came along, could you maybe try to steer clear since we considerate smokers probably already played dodge the people five or six times?
I think if we could just work together on this, no laws would be necessary.
stephanie is a fucking dumb cunt
Agreed! The only rule or soon to be law I agree with is smoking with kids in a car. I’m a smoker with two babies and they have no choice but to be around me all day, everyday. For their health I will gladly step outside.Also, as a concerned mother if places were available to smoke at I would avoid those places with my children. It really should be a personal responsibility but since people suck this is what happens.
This ban will be another way to pay a new tax soon enough….mark my words. Soon, I bet there will be some type of special license or tax a business owner can pay to have a smoking establishment. You better believe if that happens a cover charge or menu at that smoking place would be ridiculously over priced giving me something new to complain about.
It would seem most people here agree it’s not the smoke thats the problem. It’s the lack of respect people have for each other.I recently quit smoking after more than 20 years. I’m also a business owner.I only ask no one smoke in my office or waiting room.The breakroom or the shop floor is fine I’ll even let my customers come back to the employee breakroom to smoke if they want.
I believe I have the right to make the rules in the building I own , pay taxes , & make my living from.
I AGREE WITH THE LAWS THEY SHOULD BAN ALL YOU NASTY ASS SMOKERS FROM BEING ANY WHERE IN PUBLIC YOU FUCKING SMELL LIKE DOG SHIT.
hey, TJ-
Fuck you.
that is all.
The way I see it there are many non smokers who walking by
a bar or store upon seeing a smoker inside would complain.
Even if they had no intentions of entering the place.When
you start allowing the Gov. to dictate what you WILL do
or wont do your opening up a large can of worms.I used to
smoke over 50 years then I quit cold turkey.I will not
frequent a place club or bar that has imposed no smoking
in their place of buisness.When a place says I can’t
enter because I refuse to accept being controled then I
choose to take my buisness elsewhere. I’d be willing to
bet a lot of these places have lost customers because of
this. Most people who frequent bars smoke if you had
a show of hands you would be lucky to find two non
smokers.If I don’t like something I avoid it. This
is why we have choices.There are some non smokers that
would complain if they saw a smoker across the street.
Ex smokers are the worst.Don’t forget when they outlaw
smoking altogether Who do you think is going to make up
for the lost revenue from the high taxes on cigarettes???
As long as smokers are outside and attempting to avoid non-smokers, I dont see what the issue is. Except honestly ive seen some non-smokers like T.J. who are the biggest jerks around. Your probably the same ass hole plugging up the ozone layer with your crack pipe and some old hippie bus that burns shit in the air just like your mouth. All the same its just another method for the government to get more control of our lives but im sure crackheads like T.J. will eventually get their way and have smoking completely government controlled. Next will be, alcohol, food, tax the twinkies then take them away from the fat people. Then maybe they can decide how much money you get to make, how many kids you can or can not have. What religion you have to be, or not be, depending how the government wants it. People should think before they start giving the government any more control.
All I keep hearing is “what about the smokers rights” well what about the non-smokers right to go anyplace they damn well please in a healthy environment? My right as a non-smoker has NO effect on your health! Your right to kill yourself with your disgusting, filthy habit has a DIRECT effect on my health! I heard some moron comment that the non smoker knows what they are in for when accepting a job where there is smoking, Doesn’t that filthy cancer ridden smoker know what they are to expect when entering the new work place where it is not allowed! Your rights to light up in a public place should not interfere with my “healthy” life when I’m enjoying a meal in a restaurant of bar! Face it the day of the smoker is winding down GET USED TO IT! In a nutshell your rights as a smoker is in DIRECT conflict with my health and your rights as a smoker is in direct conflict with both of ours. I think the government should lower the taxes on fuel and to make it up just quadruple the taxes on cigarettes! Now feel free to kill yourselves just do it the fuck away from me!