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AIBU?

Other parents smoking in a kids play park

97 replies

brunettebunny · 14/07/2015 11:55

Was at the local kids play park the other day with my DS who is 3, and we were just playing in the sandpit when I started to smell cigarette smoke wafting over, I stood up to see where it was coming from and there was a dad and a grandma (I guess) sitting on the bench nearby (within the play park) puffing away (they had a couple of kids playing in the park).
I looked around to see if there was any no smoking signs but couldn't see any inside the park, but when we left I saw pinned to the fence on the outside of the park was a 'Young lungs at play' bored with a message about not smoking in the park. But this sign didn't look like an official 'no smoking' sign. So I guess my question is really more around what people are legally allowed to do regarding smoking in a kids play park. Is it just advice not to smoke, but not enforceable?
I was really annoyed about this as we left the park sooner than planned (I am also 28 weeks pregnant so didn't want to be passive smoking), and I feel annoyed with myself for not going up and saying something, but then as I say I am not sure if I would actually have a leg to stand on! It was only us and them in the park at the time too, so I kind of felt a bit wary of approaching them. Maybe i'm just a wimp! What would you have done in this situation, do you think I ABU for thinking they could have waited half an hour before lighting up when they left and being considerate about other people and children (and their own) or is just how the world works these days?

OP posts:

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Nurserywindow · 14/07/2015 14:44

I'm not missing the point Questioning. But I think some smokers are completely oblivious to the real discomfort their smoking causes other people, and I really don't see why people should continue to be allowed to smoke in public spaces.
It might be different if all smokers exercised consideration, but so many don't.

RachelRagged · 14/07/2015 14:48

Oh Boy another smoking thread.

OP YANBU in one way but you are in another.

I personally do not smoke in playgrounds, hospital entrances, bus shelters or near people eating and small children , just don't , but on the other hand there was no official sign and smoke dissipates into the air .

Ottosaurus · 14/07/2015 14:48

This happened in our local park last week. Not only that but smoking and drinking in the park with one of the men obviously drunk. I left early. I just don't understand the mentality of people who think it is in any way acceptable.

It's not precious to leave early, as pp suggested, it's making a sensible choice to avoid your children being exposed to something that you feel shouldn't be in their lives at this age.

When they can chose to be around smoking and drinking then that choice will be theirs, however a child's playground (and ours is for 8yrs and younger) is not a pub garden.

romeomorningwhisky · 14/07/2015 14:52

You left the park outside early because there were people smoking ?
Wow!

It's not very nice & a bit smelly but if you're outside?

What about traffic fumes...?

I don't smoke & if I do see people smoking at the park I think they are mingers but that's as far as it goes.

RachelRagged · 14/07/2015 14:52

NurseryWindow how bloody ridiculous

The anti's GOT THE INDOOR BAN enforced , back the Hell off smokers smoking in the open air ..

sweetgrape · 14/07/2015 14:56

I hate having to breathe car fumes but not a lot I can do about it.

fakenamefornow · 14/07/2015 15:00

It's unpleasant but what can you do, move away I guess. Really I would rather that they did that, than smoked inside around their children, although they may well do that as well.

I have seen some really shocking smoking behaviour recently. One a mum carrying a tiny baby in a sling, smoking and two people in a leaving a supermarket car park in car, windows all up both puffing away with a baby in a car seat with them. And yes I did the ultimate no-no on MN, I judged.

fakenamefornow · 14/07/2015 15:04

Just had a very quick google, some countries do ban smoking in children's play parks.

RachelRagged · 14/07/2015 15:14

Don't blame you for judging fakenamefornow

Smokers like that give us all a bad name. They are selfish , YANBU

Nurserywindow · 14/07/2015 15:24

Gosh Rachel, how dare the 'antis' express a view and lobby to have it respected.

brunettebunny · 14/07/2015 16:16

OK I get that maybe I was a little precious to leave early and understand its not going to put my health or my sons at higher risk etc, valid points.
I guess I just found it a bit unnecessary and thoughtless really. Yes car fumes are probably worse but we don't play in the road.

OP posts:

usualsuspect333 · 14/07/2015 16:20

I always needed a fag to relieve the boredom of taking the kids to the park.

DragonWithAGirlTattoo · 14/07/2015 16:23

Really - you are complaining about people smoking outside????

totally BU - just move to the other side, or stand out of the way of their devil breath

(ex smoker here, stopped 15yrs ago)

kissmethere · 14/07/2015 16:24

In the play area, not really on . In the rest of th park it's got nothing to do with you.

alrayyan · 14/07/2015 16:24

I love the smell of outside smoking. I have never gotten over giving up

noeffingidea · 14/07/2015 16:28

I can see the case for smoking being banned in children's playgrounds, because that space is specifically for children. A pub or restaurant should also be free to designate their spaces as smoking free (same with hospitals, etc).
Certainly not in other open public spaces though. There is no real need for it.

SunnyBaudelaire · 14/07/2015 16:31

I really do not think there is anything offensive about smoking a roll up in a park. There are plenty of other environmental dangers that probably do not even cross some people's minds.

SunnyBaudelaire · 14/07/2015 16:33

i mean as long as you are not sitting on the swings with a giant zoot of course.

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve · 14/07/2015 16:39

I don't smoke but I can't get too annoyed by this tbh. People used to walk around the supermarket smoking! We've come a long way. I suppose yanbu, smoking in a kids play area is a bit yuck but I don't think it warrants a confrontation.

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve · 14/07/2015 16:44

Wonder why all the smoking threads lately? Who will be picked on next in mumsnet land?

SunnyBaudelaire · 14/07/2015 16:50

" mumsnet land "

it IS a different world isn't it?
What amuses me is the professed disdain for the Daily Mail, when an awful lot of threads read like the DM post article comments thread!
People cannot really be themselves in mumsnetland can they?

sweetgrape · 14/07/2015 16:54

I actually remember having a fag in the maternity hospital with the nurses blessing, straight after giving birth.

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WorraLiberty · 14/07/2015 17:09

Yes car fumes are probably worse but we don't play in the road.

No, but you'll spend far more time walking up and down it in your life than you will in play parks.

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve · 14/07/2015 17:10

Sunny Yes! I like to think there are more of us who don't Daily Fail. I'm probably wrong

southeastastra · 14/07/2015 17:16

i think smoking should be banned in children's play areas. it really isn't hard to go outside the area and light up is it. little kids picking up fag butts is pretty grim. of course there will be more threads like this as people are playing out in parks in the summer

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