Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To object to people smoking in town/city centre?

171 replies

ilovemyhens · 29/03/2011 14:42

Busy, shopping, lots of people crowded together type of thing. Then, you're walking along and having to pass people who are standing having a fag outside stores or walking along the street smoking and you have to follow in their smokey wake Hmm

I used to smoke and can understand that people like a fag, but surely they can hang on till they reach somewhere less crowded before they light up.

It's also annoying for ds2 who is 6 to have to walk along and get a face full of smoke when we walk past because of people standing with cigs.

Am I turning into one of those annoying militant ex smokers, or am I reasonable to feel angry about this?

OP posts:
NoHunIntended · 29/03/2011 16:43

YANBU. I would like a total ban too. I live in a block of mixed residential with business properties, and the workers smoke either side of my front door, and out the back which backs on to our bedroom, meaning I can't have the windows open. Selfish, arrogant, weak losers. I loathe it, and can't wait for it to be banned.

LadyOfTheManor · 29/03/2011 16:43

I hate seeing litter and bottles after a Saturday night. Shall we ban people from going out all together?

mayorquimby · 29/03/2011 16:44

I detest smoking but yabu.
There's far worse smells in a city and they're outside. Can't see a problem.

iPhoneDrone · 29/03/2011 16:44

Why, why is it gross? Is it anymore gross than other litter?

I really think people hugely exaggerate when it comes to smoking

LadyOfTheManor · 29/03/2011 16:44

As far as human rights go, I doubt they'll ever ban people from smoking all together.

Then again I would never live in a block of flats, so I don't have to deal with that.

usualsuspect · 29/03/2011 16:46

I have my own personal cable car, AmazingBouncingFerret ,Selfish, arrogant, weak loser that I am

DooinMeCleanin · 29/03/2011 16:46

Considering the tax revenue generated I very much doubt it will banned anytime soon.

A pack of 20 fags cost just over a £1, the rest is tax.

chubsasaurus · 29/03/2011 16:48

Banning it within 3 metres of non-residential buildings would be a start

sheeplikessleep · 29/03/2011 16:49
mayorquimby · 29/03/2011 16:50

"Banning it within 3 metres of non-residential buildings would be a start"

On what justification though?

PlentyOfPrimroses · 29/03/2011 16:52

I think they should round us all up and stick us in some sort of pen next to the park 'n' ride - preferably make us all wear ghastly coloured boiler suits, too.

madhairday · 29/03/2011 16:54

YANBU, but I have a good reason for that, having lung disease and having ended up in hospital with a severe exacerbation after breathing in smoke at a bus shelter.

I find it really hard, tbh. I am not all up for nanny state and spoiling people's fun. Honestly not. I just struggle to breathe near smoke, so it's kind of cut and dried. Car exhausts don't get me in the same way (probably a good thing as Franca I am going to Milan in a couple of weeks!!) Not sure why.

Find it hardest when I walk along our towpath (everyday). When someone smokes there the only way I can get away is going for a wee swim. Perhaps not the best way to get to school Grin

Those on this thread who think people who hate smoking outside are just being pathetic, but need to remember there are those who find it incredibly difficult and in some cases life threatening.

Usually I'm fairly live and let live, but the smoking ban has made things easier for me, I couldn't go in pubs or out for a meal at many restaurants before.

spiderslegs · 29/03/2011 16:56

I tend to smoke mine in my hermetically sealed dungeon, which is quite handy as I can induldge in a bit of flagellation whilst I'm there to atone for my crimes against society.

usualsuspect · 29/03/2011 17:03

oh yes ,I always wear a hair shirt when I'm smoking on top of my mountain

I fit right in with the mountain goats

Mishy1234 · 29/03/2011 17:04

YANBU OP. I hate it too.

We went to the zoo at the weekend and I was amazed at how many people thought it was ok to smoke over their own kids, never mind other peoples. We had to abandon watching one of the keeper talks because so many people were smoking in the crowd. Just because you are outside, doesn't make it ok.

There does need to be some give and take though. Smokers have to go somewhere, just not around crowds of children.

iPhoneDrone · 29/03/2011 17:04

madhairday, I'll give you a pass and smoking in bus shelters is not on I agree.

Will we all be issued with tape measures in your 3-meter world, chubasaurus?

madhairday · 29/03/2011 17:09

Thanks IPhone, but it's not just me, there are thousands suffering with lung conditions who struggle so much. Doesn't seem fair really. But I'm not a killjoy. I grew up around heavy smokers in my family (one of the reasons things are so bad now) and never cared until I started getting iller.

Shop doorways are hard because you can't avoid the smoke. I can't hold my breath either. Hospital doorways are the worst, especially respiratory depts Hmm

Yukana · 29/03/2011 17:17

It's true it's legal to smoke outside. I think it would be better if they smoked in places where a lot of people will have to breathe in their smoke though. Less populated places perhaps?

I was waiting at the bus stop a couple of weeks ago, I'm five months pregnant and worried about my health, when a young adult stood a meter away from me and started smoking. I also have asthma, and being so close to me it was making me cough.

So, YANBU.

MrsH75 · 29/03/2011 17:21

Women who can't drive properly

Not bothered about men who can't drive properly? There are plenty of those. In fact men have more crashes.

ivykaty44 · 29/03/2011 17:26

ban smoking and ban cars in city and town centers - lets have smoke free areas in towns and cities Grin make them places good to be - lets people go to out of town shopping centers in cars and they can smoke there if they want

LaurieFairyCake · 29/03/2011 17:30

What?? it's outside ffs - I hate smoking but even I can see that being outside is well........outside Hmm It's where pigeons and foxes shit, it's where car exhaust fumes are - it's even where giant TURDS fall from the sky from aeroplanes

have a wee word with yourself

ivykaty44 · 29/03/2011 17:32

yeah and get ride of those airplanes to - they will cause lots of damage you makr my workds...

dorie · 29/03/2011 17:41

OP do fuck off! I dont smoke. Others do. They are not allowed to smoke anywhere these days except in the open air. Do you drive a car that exhumes toxins btw?

AmazingBouncingFerret · 29/03/2011 17:49

I hate it when people smoke in queues I must admit. Because the non smoker cannot move away from the fumes. I remember queuing for the London Dungeons when DH and I were on a day trip out and I left DH to stand in the queue whilst I went and stood near a bin to have a dirty horrible fag. The people behind muttered about queue jumping I asked them which they would prefer. Me coming back into the queue to stand with my husband or me not movng in the first place and blowing smoke over them and their children. They didnt reply funnily enough!
But when people stand outside buildings and smoke you can move away you dont have to stand right next to them and glare and mentally word your AIBU thread for later on

livingindc · 29/03/2011 17:51

Shut up all your ex-smokers and non-smokers who think it is acceptable to judge smokers - and even go so far as to state what YOU think should be legal. I am embarrassed for you.

Get your own life - cross the road (whilst tutting and pouting - and probably waddling your overweight arises around), wear a face mask, and look at yourselves in the mirror. Live and let live and STOP judging.

God, humans can be such wankers sometimes.

Swipe left for the next trending thread