Since when is smoking such a crime?

[HeathcliffMoorland]

I don't smoke. I never have (this is not a reference to the other thread, btw).

I find it unpleasant. Because of my field of work, I am more aware than most people of the health dangers. I would NEVER promote smoking.

If someone smokes in the same room as one of my children, I take the child away.

However, I've noticed a recent increase in the number of people talking about smokers almost like they're criminals, or disgusting people, or generally offensive because they smoke... It's not like they actually want to be addicted (for the most part, anyway).

It really does seem like there's a recent increase in intensity of people's negative reactions to smokers.

People seem very precious about the whole thing, or something like that. Anyone else noticed this?

cory how are you 'smoke allergic'? What happens?

Before you (or anyone else) jump on me, might I add that I am a non-smoker.

But you can't smoke in any closed public spaces in the UK anymore, can you? While I agree that perhaps smoke wafting towards you from someone on the street might not be pleasant it will not give you cancer, ffs.

Any citations for that?
Regardless though, it is unpleasant to be around a smoker if you choose not to be. Someone once compared it to being pissed on by a stranger. I'm not that extreme, but it's up there with that I think.

Breathing difficulties, strangling feeling at the back of my throat, really bad coughing- I can't function at all if there is smoke in the room. I supppose it's some kind of asthma, but thankfully gone since the public smoking stopped.

Discredited by who - Benson and Hedges?

Interested in some links to support the claims but not holding my breath (especially as there are no smokers nearby)

Plenty online, do have a look if you are interested in being better informed.

Of course it's unpleasant to be around someone smoking if you don't. No question, not arguing with that. Even before I started smoking at 27, I always had ashtrays at home for smokers, it didn't bother me. But, when the ban came in, it's amazing how many people lost their tolerance for smoke. But that's why it's outdoors now. And still the purists can't stop themselves moaning.

That's what I find annoying. That, and the fact they promised to frequent the new smoke free pubs, and lo and behold, said pubs are closing at the rate of 14 a week.

Cory, What happens to you when someone smokes?
You mention being allergic, and then your DH is asthmatic.
Is your reaction worse than asthmatic then?

Genuinely, as a mother of three and a non smoker, I think nappies smell worse than fags.

I don't like either, but wouldn't fuss over them.

perfumedlife, I think you'll find pubs are struggling because, you know, there's a recession innit.
And really, you are in an incredible minority to have been a non smoker who encouraged others smoking in their own home.

Anyone who believes passive smoking is a killer has had a job done on them, a very good one I admit. Time to use common sense and see through all the 'scientific facts' for what they are, lies, lies and more lies.

Ducking now!

Lies lies and damn lies innit ?

www.bmj.com/content/early/2005/01/02/bmj.38370.496632.8F.full.pdf

No, mugglewump, just that I never thought of my own problems as being asthma because I don't get the classic wheezing sound so much. But struggling for breath and really bad coughing, mainly. I think of dh as asthmatic because he was diagnosed and he sounds like my gran

And I think I can tell why there were fewer intolerant people in former days: it was because it was not socially accepted to be intolerant. Dh's workmates knew he was asthmatic: they still thought it was outrageous that he should want to impose a smoking ban in the porta cabin they shared.

I've been offered an ashtray in a non-smokers house before, it seems strange to smoke indoors now though so I always go outside.

C'mon then, what does an allergy do?

Is it worse than an asthma attack?

Does it just make you smell like fags?
Aye, that's minging.
I can say that now, given I haven't smoked for 5 months.
Eww, those nasty old stinky cigarettey smelling people.
Yack

I'm starving.
Kettle chips anyone?

Antismokers claim that secondary smoke is a Class A Carcinogen.

This claim would seem to be almost irrefutable. The designation of ?Class A Carcinogen? is established by a respected international body, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and any element designated as Class A by them is, by a matter of definition, Class A.

However, I feel that this claim is another example of what Dr. Kessler would say is "an accurate, but not true" statement. A review of IARC's 9th Report on Carcinogens reveals that the basis for that definition was drawn largely from the equivocal studies reviewed in Appendix A, a far weaker, indeed, uniquely weaker standard than IARC has applied to any other element it has identified as a Class A carcinogen.

Almost 95% of the substance of secondary smoke consists of such elements as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, water, carbon monoxide, and other elements that bear no relationship at all to cancer. The total weight of the six Class A carcinogens in ETS is less than one half of 1/1000th of a gram per cigarette; less than 1/1000th that given off by a standard alcoholic drink in an hour. These are the elements that, in sufficient quantities, could cause cancer, not the entirety of secondary smoke itself.

If one were to examine the smoke from candles, the reflected wavelengths of light from a full moon, the dust in the air at a horse show, or the impurities in an ordinary glass of tap water, and apply the same sort of reasoning and examination to these, one would be forced to classify all of them as Class A Carcinogens. In these other cases though, it is correctly recognized that it is the individual components, and the concentrations of those components, which determine carcinogenicity. Only in the case of tobacco smoke does the IARC abandon such scientific determination in order to classify an overall compound of elements as carcinogenic with the specific goal of mass behavior modification.

Antismokers claim that secondary smoke as a whole is a Class A Carcinogen, without any regard or concern for concentrations of exposure.

I call this claim a lie.

From the Truth is a lie. Sorry, no good at links

Sassy, only read the first few paragraphs but can see there are lots of 'mights' and such like used. There isn't any actual evidence of passive smoking killing anyone.

No, not the recession, although that will not help. Thousands of smokers just not willing to pay for drinks and stand out in the cold. Common sense really.

I think the OP's point is well made though

I agree it's illogical to give grief to drug addicts, whether it's tobacco or crack.

Apart from anything, I'd hate to still smoke:

You can't smoke in the workplace, or any enclosed area where you might choose to socialise: it's illegal.

You shouldn't smoke at home or in your car, at least if you have kids: it's horribly bad for them.

You shouldn't smoke anywhere upwind of anyone else: it's antisocial.

Honestly, I can't see how it could be pleasurable enough to compensate for the hassle of finding somewhere you could smoke without it having a negative effect on someone else.

Whereas I suppose you could be injecting heroin, &, at the point of use if not origin, not bothering anyone else...

RavenUK, it's strange isn't it that people still do it even though they have put all these obstacles in the way, could be addiction, could be that it's enjoyable in another way. Not sure myself.

Wow.
I found it pleasurable, and didn't bother to find somewhere it wouldn't affect others.
Do other smokers do that?
I'd not have smoked at a crowded bus stop, but I would have just a bit away from a bus stop, you stand near me, your problem!

I don't get why folk are overweight and eat too much, or drink too much.

I'm sure non smokers don't get why I smoked.

If you haven't been there, and been addicted, you'll never know.

Aaaaah, nothing better than a coffee, newspaper and a cigarette sitting outside a cafe in Paris- when weather gets cold they put the heaters out, so you're very comfortable. Same for evening drinks and dinners.

Mind you, here you don't get dirty looks for smoking.

"C'mon then, what does an allergy do?

Is it worse than an asthma attack?"

Have already explained this twice. I should probably have called it asthma, it probably is but was never diagnosed, seems of about same severity as a moderate asthma attack- so feel very ill, but never ended up in hospital. But rather more unpleasant than just smelling of fags.

I just don't get why this is so funny. Though I admit that in those days I used to feel very embarrassed about it- because it was expected of you.

A glass of wine in a pub £5 a bottle of wine at home £5, where one can still have an accompanion cig, if they chose to. So no competition. Think it's both the recession and the smoking ban that have contributed to the pub industry going down the pan.

This is a subject I feel very strongly about. I grew up with a mother who is a very heavy smoker. I was subjected to 17 years of someone else's smoke with no choice. She never made any effort to quit.

Throughout my childhood I suffered frequently from chest infections and always had a cough - this went away as soon as I left home.

She smokes in her own home - that is her choice but it makes things difficult. I have 2 dc's, one of whom has asthma. Even though my mother does not smoke when my children are in her house the smell is unbelievable. I have to bath them the minute we get home from visiting. I can't take my children to spend a night there - I just could not allow them to spend a night in that environment. My dd frequently needs her inhaler after we visit my parents.

My mother knows this but quitting is not something she will consider.

She spends an occasional night with us and I tolerate her having a cigarette in the spare room before she goes to bed as I understand she is addicted but it is about as much as I can handle.

I think many smokers genuinely do not understand how strong the smell is to people who don't smoke.

I don't agree you can equate smoking with social drinking. I can drink two or three drinks on a night out - it doesn't impact on anyone else at all but sitting next to a smoker having a few cigarettes does impact on the other person. Maybe it doesn't give you cancer - I haven't read the latest research - but it smells horrible and is uncomfortable to breathe.

Maybe I am precious about the whole thing but then I value my health and that of my children so I think YABU.

I love how people get all uppity about an occasional waft of smoke going their way when they are outside, yet they're not petitioning the government about lowering pollution, are they?. So it's totally fine for your kids to spend every day inhaling car exhaust, hmm? That won't give them cancer? What about pesticides?

Get a grip.