About ‘aggressive’ smokers?

[Mynameyourname]

This is an extreme example of course.

I’ve got a rare day off and was sitting outside at a sidewalk cafe enjoying my lunch.

Another customer came along and sat down practically on top of me (I was on a long bench, she chose a spot with no table despite the many empty tables available) and lit up a cigarette immediately.

I was on the last bite of my sandwich and basically fled indoors as the smoke blew all over me.

I could see from inside that within a few moments she’d seated herself at “my” table, moved the plates somewhere else and then ordered a glass of wine!

Smoking is allowed there, so that’s fine, but AIBU to think that her behaviour was incredibly rude and basically inviting me to either have a fight (and still get covered in smoke) or simply flee? I feel like it’s ruined my lunch and I feel silly for letting it, but I don’t like cigarette smoke and I just washed my hair this morning

I'm a smoker and although I wouldn't be as thoughtless as the smoker complained of by OP, I can see no justification for banning smoking in public places. If you're looking at reducing harm and inconvenience caused by consuming addictive substances perhaps think about banning drinking in public. The behaviour of drunk and semi drunk people in town centres at the weekend is atrocious, and can be terrifying. And anyone who doubts the severe hazard that is passive drinking needs to visit A&E on a Saturday night.

Mimibunz, you must never have read a thread about overweight people on here!

OP, I agree it’s horrible and I hate that the lovely outside spaces get colonised by stinking cigarette smokers. I don’t care if that’s judgemental, it’s horrible!

OP it sounds like you've interpreted this as her "smoking you out" in order to get your table. Sounds more like you had a plum spot (in a patch of direct sunlight maybe?) so she sat close by on the bench to also enjoy it, then took advantage of the table once you'd vacated it.

A shade inconsiderate maybe, but it doesn't necessarily sound like the lynching you took it to be.

Prawn I'd get behind that one as well!

Prawn what is "passive drinking"?

Frankly your post reads as if it was a bit weird for her to sit so close to you even if not smoking! If there was so much other space.

But I agree it was inconsiderate and rude, and seemed like a ploy to make you move.

Garden that's super strange, you'd think anyone with a pushchair would avoid a smoker like mad. If they're trying to drive the smoker away it's a very risky game of Chicken!

I think this is as much about her being an aggressive table nicker as a smoker.

She clearly wanted your table, for reasons best known to herself, and if she hadn't lit up a fag she'd have, plonked a load of bags down and burped in your face or something!

Prawnofthepatriarchy
How is there no justification for banning smoking in public places? Secondhand smoke is a carcinogen and contains thousands of dangerous chemicals. If you want to get lung cancer, that's your choice. But why should I have to suffer the same because of your illness?

More info here:
www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/tobacco/second-hand-smoke-fact-sheet

I was a smoker until a few years ago and always made sure I removed myself from people when smoking. I would never have smoked near people who were eating. I never smoked outside doorways etc. It's about having a bit of respect for people around you not it's ok, that sign says I can.

Sorry that should say selfishness not illness

OMG I hope you survived the trauma

Smoking should be banned in all public places. You should only be allowed to smoke in your own home.

I smoke but only at home, in my garden and away from windows. I personally do not smoke in an outside seating area at a cafe etc because I'm very aware that others do not want to smell it.

If I'm out for several hours in the day then I just don't smoke. Others who do smoke in public should use a modicum of sense about where they smoke. I nearly shouted at a woman the other day who lit up in the bus shelter.

I wish they'd ban moanin bastards
I can't see a ban outdoors as the gov would lose too much money.
I also think parents (usually mums) should be banned from loud parenting and changing bloody stinky nappies where you are having a picnic.
Shouting in a loud voice, you say you want a poo Tarquin.
Perhaps we should just blow smoke in their direction, or swear loudly, or even talk about disgusting sexual practices.
We don't because we tolerate other peoples shit (literally).

When I smoked I would always make sure I was as far away from other people enjoying the outside space as possible. Obviously if there was only one table left in a pub garden I would sit there, however in this situation I would choose a table far away.

Not all smokers are inconsiderate.

As a vaper I now do the same. I'm very cautious about where I vape so as to not inconvenience others. However sometimes it's not always possible to please everyone. It is legal to smoke and vape outside in an open space and therefore you will always get assholes and you will always get someone who doesn't like it no matter how considerate you are. You can never win.

Not only is smoking a disgusting habit but it is dangerous. It is impossible to remain a non-smoker when someone lights up in your vicinity. Smokers cannot seem to understand this, and their 'right' to smoke should not have priority over someone else's right not to.
It absolutely should be banned in all public spaces. Prawn there is no such thing as a 'thoughtful' smoker (unless they do it in a bubble so no-one else can be immediately affected - even then, the longterm impact of that decision DOES affect their loved ones)

Having lost several relatives to revolting smoking-related illnesses (lung cancer and emphysema) I would not wish those outcomes on my worst enemy. I also don't think it is reasonable or fair to expect that your CHOICE to smoke outweighs another person's potentially fatal reaction to that choice (for example, someone with asthma who could have an attack triggered by cigarette smoke).

farangatang

Well said

smokers have to freeze outside in the winter?

diddums den. They could avail themselves of the free help to kick the drugs...

Also the 'I smoke in public places but not where other people are standing' doesn't help anyone.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/24904023/

This study found that the smoke remained in the air for 160 minutes. So even if you smoke where nobody else is then leave, the chances are that many others are going to walk where you were for 2+ hours after you and inhale dangerous chemicals. What some smokers just don't get is that they are literally the cause of carcinogens being inhaled by children.

YANBU. Sounds like she was trying to get your table.

Most of the people I know who smoke are aware of those around them when they light up and would never do so around someone eating etc.

Hurrah it must be summer! The first "a filthy, disgusting, selfish addict sat next to me and blew smoke all over the place when there was empty seats all around me" thread.
Always a treat to see folk fleeing from visible smoke yet quite content to inhale invisible toxins from vehicle emissions.

gillybeanz
That's different though isn't it, those annoying parents are not putting multiple carcinogens that can kill you into the atmosphere are they

ReginaldMolehusband
tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/13/3/219.full.pdf
This study concluded that cigarettes produced 10 times more the particulate matter than the car. So cars are nowhere near as harmful, as well as the fact that cars have a useful purpose, unlike smoking.