Friends behaviour towards this smoker

[Sherlocked1606]

I met a friend this morning for coffee, it was dry out so we sat outside at the café's table and chairs.

A few minutes after we sat done another couple sat down and proceeded to light a cigarette. Unfortunately due to the breeze the smoke was wafting towards us.

My friend asked the woman to not have her smoke in our direction the woman apologised and kind of moved her hand in a fan motion.

A few minutes later my friend was getting annoyed and asks again to stop the smoke traveling. The man at the other table just turned and glared at us.

My friend got out a small portable fan and turned it on and pointed it at the couple which loudly saying how selfish smokers are, how disgusting it was. People were starring and the couple (and me) was embarrassed. The couple then left.

I told my friend that she was being ridiculous and we could have moved. My friend seemed to think I wbu rather than her. Wsbu?

HappyHippy - your neighbour's kids shouted at you to stop smoking in your own garden so now you have to go to your allotment to do it?

No way would someone tell me to stop smoking in my own garden.

Yes Salmotrutta. I don't smoke a lot. It's like a treat. I don't enjoy smoking in my garden now, knowing I'll get passive aggressive reactions from neighbours.

I think they were both unreasonable to be honest.
I am an on/off smoker.
Yes, we can smoke outside and we have every right to. Your friend was being a dick.
However I wouldn't ever knowingly blow my smoke all over a non smoker, its not fair and not their choice to smoke, it's mine. I would have moved away.

I hate this. Smoking is pretty much the only hobby to which I have been dedicated my whole adult life but:

It does stink and is unhealthy to inhale secondhand. Wash hands before children but I have to say I don't understand the third hand arguments
Most smokers I know are considerate and wouldn't light up near children. Personally if I'm smoking children have come running over for a hug and I'll ask for a mo to put it out (not finish it, get RID of it) away from them
Many smokers endeavour to remain downwind. Shame the weather makes this variable
Yy agree there are plenty of outside non smoking venues. I go to them. I also don't smoke near. Or playgrounds etc not just because it isn't permitted, it also wouldn't be RIGHT
Outside venues that are smoking friendly are pretty clear - ashtrays, people smoking. If I want to sit outside and smoke I'll check if there are ashtrays before assuming okay. FUCK OFF if you can't also clock this if you are an anti smoker and it is so important

If it is health: apparently one inhales as much benzpyrene barbecuing a steak as if smoking 700 untapped cigarettes. Didn't put me off my steak, either.

Untipped. Aurocorrect

Aargh autocorrect. How did THAT happen?

I'm in Australia where you can't smoke anywhere near Cafes where food is served. So over here your friend would have been perfectly justified in going a bit cray cray at someone whose smoke was wafting through an outdoor sitting area. The fan was possibly a bit over the top, but I'd prefer a bit of a scene than sitting in a fug of cigarette smoke, so loving her reaction!

She was being very rude. If you sit outside you risk people smoking, the lady can't control wind direction. If I don't want to smell smoke I sit inside.

Australia, New Zealand and various parts of the US ban smoking in outdoor eating areas. Bristol does too. It is of course up to individual restaurants whether they impose their own ban - some do.

I don't think your friend was unreasonable.

Outdoor smoking ban starts in Bristol | Daily Mail Online
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2935634/Outdoor-smoking-ban-starts-Bristol-City-UK-introduce-zones-popular-squares-six-ten-locals-favour-idea.html

Anyone saying "the woman doesn't control the weather" are being rather short-sighted. While correct she doesn't control the weather, she does however control where she puts her stinky self in relations to the weather.

Sitting up wind of anyone and lighting up is rude and ignorant.

I recently asked, then told, a young lad to change ends on a bench because he sat upwind and sparked up while I was sat there half way through my sandwich. I'll treat others the way they treat me, and as for the friend in the OP, yes she was a little OTT but it'll teach them to be more thoughtful in the future.

Boo her! If there's an ashtray, they could smoke. It's funny how smokers are the only people you don't have to be tolerant of nowdays . Fyi before I get heat, I'm not a smoker. I just think people need to chill out now days and not get their panties in a twist

I'm just laughing at the ineffectiveness of a small portable fan being able to blow away smoke, anymore than it is capable of blowing cool air at you from a distance so short that you risk getting your nose whipped by the blades...

I love it when people smoke near me as an ex smoker of 7 years I really miss it - I try to inhale it sneakily ! sorry not helpful at all and i like weird smells anyhow