PUT THAT OUT!

Taylor - posted on 07/24/2012

Yes :)

Sherri - posted on 07/23/2012

I agree have designated areas 90% of people abide by them and then non smokers and smokers are all happy. I went to an amusement park yesterday. I never smoked in the park the entire time we were there. I waited till we went back out to the car to eat and had a cigarette in the parking lot as to not bother anyone.

Mommy - posted on 07/23/2012

I am a non-smoker who used to smoke. I don't think that they should ban smoking in public places, but should have a designated area for smoking. I think it is really rude when I am already sitting somewhere with my child at a park or on the boardwalk and a smoker comes by us and lights up. If you want me to respect your right to smoke, respect my right to breathe and don't do it by me and my child. I think it boils down to being considerate of others, which unfortunately does not happen in most cases unless someone forces people, through laws and such.

Kristi - posted on 07/22/2012

Bernadette--

I was talking about the open parking lots. And I'm with you, really. I perfer to never smell or breathe in cigarette smoke ever again. As you should be able to tell from the rest of my post that I abhore smoking. But, I was trying to be fair and reasonable, compromise.

Bernadette - posted on 07/22/2012

Kristi C, I don't really agree with you about parking lots. Sure, you don't 'hang out' there, but the number of times I've come back to my car, with my very young kids and found the person from the car next time mine standing between the two cars smoking, while I have to squeeze in next to them to put my kids into the car (and the one still in the pram has to sit there as well, breathing it in) makes me so mad! Especially as the shopping centre parking lot we usually park in is underneath the shopping centre, so not very good ventilation. I actually think that here, it is not legal to smoke in these car parks, although I'm not really sure on that. If it's not, I think it should be. Open air car parks are a little different, I guess, but you'd think that people could just show some common courtesy and put their smokes out or at least move away when they see you trying to get your baby back into the car. Sometimes they do it so close that even after you've closed the door and driven away, the smoke smell remains in the car. That's not fair. I don't smoke. Never have. I choose not to put my body through that, or expose my children to it. What right do other people have to force it on us, even though I've made the choice to NOT want to breathe it in?

Kristi - posted on 07/09/2012

Beaches, yes, parking lots, no. Parking lots you are either coming or going. You (generally) aren't hanging out in the parking lot, alone or with your kids, to have a good time. Except at Walmart--ANYTHING can happen in a Walmart parking lot! LOL But beaches are where people from all walks of life go to enjoy some fun, fresh air and a little relaxation. Personally, I can't do any of that when I smell (choke on) cigarette smoke. If I'm at the beach, (as if--over 40 and have kids! ; )) I don't want to breathe that crap in and I certainly don't want my kids breathing it in. I also get migraines and my daughter had RSV, pnuemonia and other problems with her lungs when she was little. I don't think that our health and our "play" time should be put at risk and disrupted by having to pick up and leave because someone else is choosing to pollute their body.

My best friend smokes but when I was (we now live 1500 miles a part) visiting her she would only smoke out in the driveway. She doesn't smoke in her house at all. She has kids, she knows it is very unhealthy, she even admits it's disgusting but for whatever reason, has not been ready to quit. Nonetheless, she is respectful, even in her own home, to people who don't want to be, shouldn't be, or can't be around it.

Honestly, would you keep smoking if, well if you weren't addicted to nicotine for one thing but if you could find something else to fiddle with or have hanging out of your mouth or another way to relieve stress and/or relax naturally? I have a hard time understanding a desire to smell badly, to hack a lung up from a smoker's cough, to have your mouth taste like an ashtray to your partner (unless their mouth tastes like one, too), to make your teeth and fingernails yellow, and so on. I would imagine you don't smoke for those reasons, right? After considering all the pros and all the cons, minus the F-U it's my right, you still say yes, I honestly would rather smoke, I would hope you could at least, respect my right not to, at all, including your secondhand smoke. I respect your right to smoke, in your personal space, not my space or our space, just yours.

No public "gathering" places. I wasn't trying to offend anyone. I tried my best to be respectful and somewhat objective. I apologize if I did offend you. These are just my thoughts and opinions. Of course, I think everybody should see things my way all the time but if for some reason you don't, don't worry, once that nicotine wears off you'll return to your senses. TOTALLY PLAYIN!....just wanted to lighten the mood. : )

Sherri - posted on 07/07/2012

Actually if it is not ILLEGAL then that does make it LEGAL!!! and yes as long as it is legal then you have the right to smoke where ever it is legal to do so. Sorry Mandy. I find it a right for those that choose to smoke and yes I tolerate it because it is their right to do so.

Mandy - posted on 07/07/2012

BTW there is NO legal right to smoke, anywhere. Just because it isn't illegal does not mean that there is a legal right. Breathing is a god given right.

Mandy - posted on 07/07/2012

Smoking should be illegal because no matter where it is done, it affects the innocent bystanders around it. Chemicals and residues attach themselves to fabrics and other such surfaces, and linger there for years until disposed of, or very, very tediously cleaned. There is no good reason for smoking. We would never let people drink alcohol if we were getting intoxicated by their use of it, or any other drug. I also get migraines around smoke. My dad was a smoker when I was growing up. He's dead now. Second hand smoke is more dangerous than first hand because it is not filtered, and it all ends up in your lungs anyway! Also, the particulates in cigarette smoke are less than .03 microns which is the smallest particulate size the lungs can filter. Once they get into your lungs, they never come out, but rather burrow little lesions into the tissue. I don't see why we should tolerate smoking. It's not like it is a personal choice, it affects other people, and it is absolutely horrible for children - any bit of exposure to it.

Cyndel - posted on 07/05/2012

Yes and no

If I'm around smoke I get migraines, that puts a hitch in any plans for fun and or shopping or anything.

I don't mind if they have parts of the parking lot or the beaches set aside for smoking, but it makes life very difficult when I walk past a cloud of smoke trying to shop or play with my kid and have to go home half an hour later because I know that soon the pain will get so bad I can't function.

I don't want to deny them the right to smoke, but I would like to not have to abandon shopping or fun with my boys and have the rest of my day ruined because of smoking.

Hope - posted on 07/05/2012

Nope. If you want to continue loose your personal freedoms, then keep being in favor of bans! You all undoubtedly know about Mayor Bloomberg's ban on large sized soda's....well this is the same deal. Personally, I think pollution is a worse problem than cigarette smoke. Do you want to have walking and talking on your cell phone to be banned because people get hit by cars? No. I really think people need to quit telling others what to do....it's not your place nor is smoking a cigarette illegal. Where can a person smoke if you ban it in all public places? Their house? That doesn't leave many places left for them to go and you don't see smokers going about trying to ban things for non-smokers. Lighten up a bit.

Victoria - posted on 02/15/2011

Honestly, I think that smoking was such an integral part of society for such a long time, people forgot to have manners about it. Smoking near an entrance (especially with a high traffic volume), flicking those cigarette butts anywhere, and lighting up whenever or where ever don't occur to them as things NOT to do.
As much as I would like to ban it completely from the planet, I realize it's just not going to happen. But unless you have dividers and separate air systems; a smoking section in a restaurant is like a peeing section in a pool.
I understand that some people just HAVE to have that cigarette, but lets all use some courtesy about it. Many theme parks have designated smoking areas, so I don't go near them as the smell makes me sick. If you insist on smoking at the beach, or the park, police your trash. An estimated 88 tons of cigarette butts hit American highways per year. That's a whole lot of fiberglass being tossed around.

Chatty - posted on 02/15/2011

I think smoking in a confined space with a child is cruel, immoral and criminal. Yea, it bothers me too!

Amber - posted on 02/14/2011

Some states have actually started passing laws making it illegal to smoke in a car with child passengers. And for any foster parents to smoke in their houses while they have foster children living with them.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 02/14/2011

I have to say it does really bother me to see someone smoking in a car with small children. I realize it's their car, but the poor kids don't get a say in that one. I don't think it would hurt to do something to protect children. I realize quitting is hard. I watched my mom struggle with smoking for most of my childhood/teenage years. It was awful and definitely was one of the reasons I never ever smoked anything.

Jess - posted on 02/14/2011

I think rather than focussing on "banning" smoking put laws in place that protect non smokers, and the children of smokers plus hiking up the tax charged on the purchase of cigarette's will eventually see more people quit.

Smoking related illness's cost all of us. Higher tax's for some, increased insurance premiums for others. Its an issue that effects all of us on some level. Something defiantly needs to be done though because second and third hand smoke is really very dangerous.

Chatty - posted on 02/14/2011

Cyndel, who's talking about anyone smoking in their own home? I was asking about high traffic, crowded public areas such as beaches and parking lots.

Isobel - posted on 02/14/2011

I say create designated smoking areas...most smokers would be happy to stay the hell away from you and your family...just TELL US WHERE TO GO.
I'm not allowed to smoke in my house, in my car, near a door, in the street.

While I WILL quit eventually, how bout you guys remember that we are still human in the mean time?

Cyndel - posted on 02/14/2011

I don't know, I simply know that a law forbidding a person from smoking in their own home, or other things similar, should not ever be passed. A person should have the right to decide what is or isn't done in their own home, within certain bounds of course. Child abuse, underage drinking in the states it is illegal even in the home (in TN a minor is never legally allowed to consume alcohol, even in their parents home, with permission under supervision, my father told me of a few states where a child over age 10 could even drink in public if the parent orders the drink and passes it to the child, can't remember where though, or if it is still legal). Anyway, I don't know exactly, I could understand a beach though! Or a play park specifically for children.

Lise - posted on 02/13/2011

Yes. Smoke can cause many health problems, even when second-hand. And while I always go away from the smokers, wind carries the smoke.

Teresa - posted on 02/13/2011

You're nice Kati. Fishing cigarette butts out of my extremely young toddler girls mouths wasn't a very pleasant 'past time' of mine.....



I have been on the beach and been coughing and choking from cigarette smoke (yes, I AM that sensitive) and not even been close enough to the smoker to have any idea where they were coming from. I would be thrilled if smoking became illegal. I like to breathe. :)

Toni - posted on 02/13/2011

Ideally I would love to see smoking banned completely I am sick of having to walk past people and their smoke, but I doubt that will ever happen due to the amount of money the government make from the tax on them. I think it should be restricted in any place that people spend a fair amount of time, such as beaches and parks.

Christina - posted on 02/13/2011

Um, no. You are OUT SIDE! People who smoke have a legal right to smoke, just as non-smokers have a legal right to be in public buildings without dealing with second hand smoke.

Rosie - posted on 02/13/2011

no i don't think it should. i think they should enforce stricter litter laws there, but not ban the smoking together.

when i went to hawaii, you couldn't smoke on the hotel grounds but you could smoke on the beach (our hotel was right on the beach) since every beach in hawaii is considered public property. everytime we smoked we took a can out there with us and put the butts in it. i couldn't stand defacing that place with my crap.

Jess - posted on 02/12/2011

Smoking is all but illegal here in Australia and its great ! It wasn't a popular decision but as a non smoker its wonderful. Smoking is illegal on beaches, in parks, at schools, in shopping centres, within 4 metres of the entrance to any public building, in cars carrying children, anywhere food is served.

I enjoy the fresh air.

Johnny - posted on 02/12/2011

I too agree with Laci. I get really grumpy with my friends who can't even be bothered to carry around a little itty bitty tin for their butts somewhere in their gigantic purse. Very low class. Nothing sadder than sitting in a park watching a bird eat a cigarette butt. If so many smokers weren't also litterers I might be inclined to live and let live, but I'm sick of their trash.

Johnny - posted on 02/12/2011

I too agree with Laci. I get really grumpy with my friends who can't even be bothered to carry around a little itty bitty tin for their butts somewhere in their gigantic purse. Very low class. Nothing sadder than sitting in a park watching a bird eat a cigarette butt. If so many smokers weren't also litterers I might be inclined to live and let live, but I'm sick of their trash.

April - posted on 02/12/2011

I definitely think smoking should be banned on beaches. When I am laying on the beach, trying to enjoy the weather...the last thing I want is someone else polluting my air. Not to mention the litter...my little boy always seems to find old butts. Parking lots I don't have a problem with. The general public doesn't tend to hang out there, so I'm fine with that. Ideally, I'd love for smoking cigarettes to be illegal, but that's never going to happen!

Amber - posted on 02/12/2011

I'm also with Laci.
When I was pregnant, I had to walk past a huge clump of smokers to get into my classes. The smoke would literally make me vomit. I asked them to only stand by one door because it made me vomit and they were nice enough to always move when they saw me coming.
My campus is now non-smoking. And I like it that way. There aren't cigarette butts everywhere.

Also, my biggest pet peeve is when people throw their still lit butts on the ground. (Which happened to me at an outdoor mall today.) There are tons of children around that can be burned by them, especially at a beach.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 02/12/2011

I agree with Laci. It's not that hard to find a trash can. My husband smokes occasionally and he always flicks the hot stuff off the end and then throws the butt away. It's already banned inside buildings where I live and I agree with that. I also agree with not smoking in front of entrances because I don't like walking myself or my daughter through smoke to get in some place. Parks and beaches would be nice, but I don't think you could go much beyond that.

Lacye - posted on 02/12/2011

In the town I live in, it already is. You can't smoke inside any public building and you have to be 50 feet away from the entrance of the building.

Do I agree with it, partly. No people shouldn't really smoke inside public buildings. But should smoking be restricted to a certain place, no. That is taking rights away from the smokers. Non smokers don't have to go near the smokers. I don't think smokers should do it at the beaches unless they have something to put the cig butts in.

LaCi - posted on 02/12/2011

Beaches I can understand, because of litter. Parking lots for the same reason. In your car, not so much, but out of your car, sure. I'm anti cigarette butts. I voted to ban smoking on my campus just because people can't manage to put the cigarette in the cigarette disposal unit (and there are several around every building) sooo fuck 'em. It's disgusting. The sidewalks are covered in filters. If people can't show some common fucking courtesy and put trash in the appropriate receptacle... I think we should fine them. A ridiculous amount of money. Or just ban it.

And, I am a smoker.

Amy - posted on 02/12/2011

No.

Let's take away everyone's right to do anything because it might conflict with someone else's rights. If there is a public spot where people tend to hang out and smoke and you don't like smoke, don't go there. I could see beaches due to litter and people could step on them and get burnt [small kids or anyone walking along].

Chatty - posted on 02/12/2011

Not unpopular at all...I happen to agree with you!

Teresa - posted on 02/12/2011

Yes. :)

I know that's an unpopular opinion, but I seem to be good at those. ;)