Smoking?

[JaneyCartmel]

I was just wondering when it became ok to be so rude to random strangers.

I’ve seen a couple of incidents recently. In the first a woman was walking past a group of office workers who were smoking and she made such an obvious fuss - glaring at them, coughing loudly and waving her hands. She walked into them though, you could see that they were smoking, so she could have just avoided them.

I was walking up to a tram stop and a woman was smoking. Another woman stopped to use her phone and was giving the smoker dirty looks, very obviously. Again, the smoker was there first so the phone user could have stopped 10 metres up the road if it bothered her that much.

I was sitting outside a coffee shop, there were ashtrays on some of the tables (so it was clear that smokers may smoke there). Two men were sitting, smoking while they drank their coffee and a woman sat down on the table next to them and started complaining loudly to her friend about how disgusting smokers are - she could have sat at a different table to avoid them.

All of these incidents have been in the past couple of months. The smokers have just ignored the aggression in all incidents, maybe they are used to it.

I smoked for a couple of years, around the time I was at Uni but quit many years ago, mainly because it was so expensive. I have a live and let live approach though, so don’t have an issue with other people smoking (as long as they aren’t standing next to me blowing smoke in my face!).

^I don't drive I should add.

Some people are cunts. Abusing smokers is one of the few socially acceptable ways to flex their cunty muscles.

@twolungs

I didn’t think you could smoke outside hospitals anymore - they usually have smoking shelters well away from the door. When I last went to my local hospital the security guard was actively moving on the odd smoker who wasn’t in the designated smoking area.

It’s odd that asthma and lung disorders have gone up since the indoor smoking ban was brought in. Maybe it’s more to do with pollution?

I don’t think it’s going to be banned, as the government make a lot of revenue from tobacco. Which would have to be replaced by something else. Would the general public accept a total smoking ban alongside an NI increase to compensate for the revenue loss? I know some vehement anti smokers might but I’m not sure if the majority of the public would - I wouldn’t be happy about it, I’d rather just avoid the smoke.

I don't smoke and never have done. However, I accept that others do and so for example, if I want to dine outside at a pub / cafe / restaurant then I accept that smokers will also be sat outside puffing away.
Smokers were banned from smoking in pubs etc, which is great for us none smokers, however, I can't complain if they smoke outside too because the law sent them there, if anything I feel that I'm invading their space.
Live and let live.

@BumbleNova

But people seem to think shaming works for smokers. Are smokers worse than the obese? Nicotine is a highly addictive drug.

@DancingPyjamas

Exactly - live and let live.

@SimplySteveRedux @Cookit

Why do you think it’s ok to publicly shame smokers? Do you publicly shame people that are doing other things that you disagree with?

In the examples I gave, all the smokers were there first, the anti smokers deliberately entered their space and started being rude - trying to publicly shame them.

I'm a smoker and it's happened to me too. I'm a very quiet person and I hide my smoking from others as much as I can. I always try to find quiet spots or smoking corners etc so that I'm out of the way. I have an addiction. I'd rather not have this addiction as it's so expensive, but it is an addiction and judgemental looks and comments do nothing to stop me from smoking. It really does seem socially acceptable to be rude to smokers nowadays. I don't drive and I think that causes far more damage to the air.

Of course it's rude to be rude to people.
I also think it's rude to pollute my environment with smoke and litter.

@Mackerz Yes it's definitely to do with pollution. If you research the prevalence of lung diseases, they highly correlate to urban areas, proximity to airports etc.

When I had chemo, I had lost my hair. I was stood at a bus stop and a couple of early 20's ladies came up, they were both smoking. They couldn't help but look at my bald head. I pointed to it, then their cigarettes and said 'Yeah I used to do that'
I have never seen anyone put cigarettes out so fast.

@kerplunkypants

I don’t think that’s being rude though, just a very real warning.

It’s the passive aggressiveness of the situations I mentioned, that gets me.

Like @HarrietTheFly says, smoking is an addiction that’s hard to quit, a bit of empathy wouldn’t go amiss. It’s almost 20 years since I quit - more people smoked then and attitudes weren’t as hard.

I’m still not understanding the rationale behind the poster that said smokers should be publicly shamed but the obese should be supported as they have an addiction.

What about people who drive gas guzzling cars? Should they be publicly shamed too? Or supported to give them up.

@twolungs

Thanks. I’ll look into it.

I agree with you about inconsiderate smokers. I don’t seem to see that many of them though, smokers are usually huddled in corners away from everyone else in my experience.

@JaneyCartmel

That’s good old British class discrimination in action. Smoking is more prevalent amongst the poorer demographics, so it’s ok to tell them off. People who drive expensive, gas guzzling cars are more likely to be middle or upper class - can’t tell them off in public.

As long as you’re outside smoking is completely fine according to that weird thread earlier.

I only have a problem with a smoker if they’re blowing it near me or my children‘s faces. People have a freedom to do what they wish, within reason. I don’t understand judgement towards smokers. As long as it not affecting anyone whats the issue

Enough that if people stopped stuffing their faces with cakes and doughnuts essential services would stop being cut and waiting lists would shorten.

Because smokers don't cost the NHS anything?

Yes nicotine is addictive. But nobody made you start smoking. It's not as if the health effects have only recently become known. And there's more support to give up than ever.

I'm watching my parents (late 60s) smoke themselves into an early grave. They look decades older than they are, have chronic diseases, can't walk more than a few yards without having to stop, can't do activities with DS. It's heartbreaking.

That being said I'm not rude to smokers. I wouldn't pull my face or do theatrics. It's legal if unpleasant for others. And no, I don't drive.

Smoking is awful, if I had it my way it would be banned completely!

When I see people out smoking and they have children in tow i find it particularly awful.

I think to keyboard warrior stinks ! Yet many people do that .

No, I didn't say it rudely at all. Just with a shrug.

People say it's hard to quite, but honestly when I found out I'd need chemo I quit there and then. I'd been a smoker for 25 years. I think you just need the motivation/reality.

Since stopping I have realised how much it stinks though. I never say anything, but even when you are talking to a smoker outside they smell. Clothes, hair, breath. I honestly think they don't realise how bad they smell, I never did.

quit not quite

@KerplunkyPants

Getting into a confined space, like a lift, with someone who has just had a fag is not nice. Often happens to me at work.

Because they choose to smoke and not other people?
I hate having to walk behind a smoker with all the crap coming into my face.
I think it's disgusting and rude same goes for vapers. I just want to be covered in your fruity cloud you a hole.

@PixieDustt

But do you agree that it’s ok to try and publicly humiliate smokers?

@Mackerz did I say that? Or are you just putting words into people's mouths