to hate smokers

[onemiddlefinger]

I don't actually hate the people (well, not all of them anyway), but I find it so disgusting walking though someone's cloud of smoke. There was just a woman having a cigarette next to the door of my office building and there is no way for me to enter the building other than though hercloud of death! And that happens frequently. Would IBU to bring this up with our office manager and ask for this to be banned?
Actually I wish all smoking in public could be banned, or at least in all bus stops and doorways that have people coming in and out of. In fact they should have designated areas only and those areas should be easily avoidable by others. But I don't suppose this will happen anytime soon...

I can't even stand the sickly cloying smell of an unlit cigarette and find it hard to even touch one.

So we're not just talking about a rational dislike, but the rationalisation of a phobia. Lots of people have irrational fears and there's no shame in it. I have one too.

No I wouldn't describe it as a phobia really. It's not a fear, it's just an extremely intense dislike of that particular smell.

But because of my intense dislike of the smell I have developed a perhaps irrational dislike of even watching other people smoking, and everything associated with it.

The way it distorts their lips into something pinched and ugly when they suck, the way it discolours their teeth, hearing that faint high pitched crackle and wheeze of the cigarette as they draw really hard on it, that 'pah' sound as it leaves their lips, even seeing people seeing holding a cigarette in a certain way makes me feel a bit queasy, and seeing someone hold a cigarette between their teeth Arrgghhh!

Even handling unlit cigarettes leaves a trace of the smell on my hands. I know what you mean, it may appear to be bordering on phobia, but I don't see why that should somehow invalidate my arguments.

I have other things that do border on actual phobia but I don't expect other people not to do them around me, because I recognise that my feelings regarding those things are completely irrational. Some things bother me because I am weird about them, whereas smoking quite clearly smells and pollutes my air and bothers lots of people, weird and non-weird alike.

Honestly, if it makes you feel that bad most people if they knew would keep it out of sight.

1. Most of us who are anti being forced to breath in other people's smoke do not "hate" smokers. It's an addiction. They cannot help themselves. Why hate someone who has no control over what they draw through their lungs?

1. Most of us do not mind if people are holding cigaretters whicha er unlit as you cannot smell them.

1. The thing we object to is being forced to breath in the smell. I have huge lungs and in various choirs am always the person who can hold the note longest. I am very lucky. So I can take that massive breath as I approach the tube station, keep my breath held right in and virtually run past the smokers outside and through into the station without having to breath or smell a second of the appalling odour. I don't see why I ought to when we have masses of non smokers who hate the smell and a very very few smokers making things awful for the majority.

Sorry not read the whole thread so this may have been said before but as an ex smoker I hate the smell of smoke I had no idea how vile it was until I stopped. I think if most smokers truly understood the stench they create they would be horrified.

I don't hate smokers.

However one thing I find interesting is that every single smoker I know without fail underestimates how much they smoke.

Most claim to smoke 8-10 a day when it's more like 20.

That works for 'how many cream cakes did you eat" too :)

Smokers pay full rate VAT on fags as well as tobacco duty so no, tax revenue would fall dramatically.

This probably goes some way to explaining why ex-smokers are often the ones who make the most fuss. Once their senses have returned to normal levels they start to experience just how unpleasant passive smoking is and they do all that very ostentatious arm flapping and face pulling.

I'm an ex-smoker and I do none of this nonsense. I prefer not be next to someone who is smoking or has just put one out but it really isn't a big deal.

Yet another 'smokers are bastards' thread.
Yawn.

I find the intolerance to smokers,many of whom are struggling with a physical addiction they'd love to shake,quite staggering.

What about all those people who unecessarily use large polluting vehicles for easily walkable journeys?
Or people who have bbq's?

We've done that bit, ThatBloodyWoman. Apparently health doesn't come into it, it's all to do with cigarette smoke not smelling very nice to some people.

Soz,couldn't be arsed to read the same old same old page after page smoker hatred yet again!

You've not missed much TheBloody...pages of the same repetitive ill-thought posts, misconceptions and disgusting attitudes alongside the vast majority of the anti-smokers ignoring posts that draw from fact and show them the full picture. Same old, same old.

People saying bonfires smell nice- they don't necessarily

And when there are lots of fireworks the air smells of gunpowder strongly, not a very nice smell.

Well smokers may think anti smokers are not put out by the smell but we are and the tide is against the smokers. They are a smaller and smaller group and they will be allowed to smoke in fewer and fewer places so now might be a good time to try to give up.

The things smokers are saying here just amazing insensitive to non smokers. Yes once a year we might for 2 second smell a bonfire or a smelly tramp but that is 0.001% of the time. We endure the smell of smokers day in day out on a very regular basis. There is no comparison at all.

The tide isn't against the smokers at all you fool. Have you actually looked at any of the comments regarding how much money smoking rakes in? Have you not picked up on the naff anti-vaping propaganda? Do you not think it's a bit odd how the only decent smoking cessation tool on the market is so much bad press despite its contents being in so many other things we use? PG is in asthma inhalers, pharm-grade nicotine is in inhalators, etc...

It's very much in the government's (and some would argue, the population's) best interest to keep a certain amount of the population cigarette-dependant.

I'm not a smoker.
I endure stinky exhaust fumes daily.
I don't drive and the emissions from people taking unecessary car journeys are injurous to my health.
I hope all the smoking haterz on here either don't drive,or don't undertake any unecessary journeys.....

Well smokers may think anti smokers are not put out by the smell

Actually what I think is that some of you are put out and ignore it. Others are put out and demand to have their own way like a toddler wanting the toy truck all to themselves.

We all have to put up with things others do in order to live together. You make allowances in the hope and expectation that others will make allowances for your habits.

Do you not think it's a bit odd how the only decent smoking cessation tool on the market is so much bad press despite its contents being in so many other things we use? PG is in asthma inhalers, pharm-grade nicotine is in inhalators, etc

You're right of course, but surely he point is that inhalers don't produce anything visible. It doesn't seem to matter that ecig vapour hasn't been proved harmful - sadly, like the woman who told me of the mental harm vaping does to others, some see a "cloud" and automatically leap into an hysterical reaction

You'd think we'd be used to clouds in England .

I hate smoking.
I think young people are silly to ever try it. As clearly its very addictive for some people.
Especially women who should/might want to quit in pg.
Wasting so much money going up in smoke. Gov money (benefits) coming back to gov.
Extra breaks that non smokers dont take. Certainly my work would have been better if all workers had a time off to chat etc at a proper break.

I dont mind vaping but hopefully its properly tested because it needs to be 100% safe not just better than smoking as kids could still be breathing it in.
I dont like the way a lot of the smokers here are so dismissive of peoples dislike/disgust/nausea.
Just because you dont agree/cant smell it/dont feel ill doesnt mean that others dont feel it.
Maybe the consideration of not standing right next to babies/children and bus shelters full off people. But then if there had been some consideration there would have been no need to enforce no smoking in pubs etc as smokers would have known its not very nice for others.
Example :no sign by chikdrens play area. Now why would they need a sign of course noone would smoke there and drop fag ends for babies toddlers to eat. But surprise there are now signs there. (It wasnt even parents but workers on a break)
Unlikely to harm the kids, barring eating ends but clearly inappropriate just as drinking cans of beer would be in a whole park.

I dont mind vaping but hopefully its properly tested because it needs to be 100% safe not just better than smoking as kids could still be breathing it in.

Can you name anything else that's 100% safe? Anything at all? Science doesn't work by proving things safe - that's impossible. It works by finding evidence of harm or NOT finding evidence of harm. So far, in over 100 studies, no evidence of harm has been found. A few minor (and I do mean minor) theoretical risks have been identified - for vapers themselves - all the evidence suggests that vaping is no cause for concern to bystanders.

Even with their small theoretical risks, ecigs have a tremendous potential for improving public health and should be allowed to flourish. If we don't fuck it up it's likely vaping will make smoking obsolete in a few decades.

For anybody who's a bit about vaping or would like to know more, is very good. Prof Stimson also explains why there has been such antipathy towards ecigs from parts of public health.

I have to smell the stink of smoke every day as soon as I open my back door...........it is my neighbour's coal fire and the chimney fumes are appalling.

I have to put up with exhaust fumes every time I go into town.

Oh, poor me

My neighbour opposite my flat has a very smelly home. It's unpleasant and if she's opened her door any time recently, the hallway hums. Nothing to do with smoking but if we're banning smells, can hers be included please?

I notice too naty that you dislike people spending money they get on benefits on their addiction. Isn't it just lovely to think about a world where only those who are financially comfortable get to choose how to spend their cash and the less well-off should be subject to restrictions and scrutiny.

Actually the 'money goung up in smoke' was for everyone who smokes.
The benefits relates to all the quotes of how much tax we get in from it- so it goes out in benefits and comes back as tax on cigs.
I guess i do think if you want to spend all the money given for you to live on on booze/drugs/fags and you smoke say 40 a day either the tax could go up or benefits down as smoking is a luxury item (its not exactly food or heating/ housing)