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

Not to mention the machines built by car manufacturers (ahem VW) to get around emissions limits....

Why do people always go on about cars when smoking is mentioned? I don't see the connection of transport you need to get about to work etc and somebody sucking on a rolled up piece of paper full of drugs to get a buzz. How are the two comparable?

It would be lovely to sit outside a cafe with a cuppa on a nice day but no I can't because the smokers are all outside puffing away.

You don't get vehicles in pedestrianised town centres so the argument about car times is pointless.

Fumes

Tobacco tax brings £12bn a year into the treasury
Smokers tend to die younger, thus saving on pensions.

Have some compassion, I doubt either of those ease the pain and mourning for the families and friends of smokers. Also you're only equating NHS costs, what about loss of revenue due to health, fires and other costs. I've heard the total cost of smoking on the economy is around £14b. Also these are people not cash cows!!

Smokers just don't realise how much they stink and I'm an ex smoker

If someone did this to me when I was eating I'd tell them to get the fuck out of my personal space (and I'm a smoker)
I would never inflict it on others.
Not even if it's allowed where other people are eating.
It's horrible and not OK.
Some smokers are so fucking entitled though it drives me mad.
Seeing them just flick fag butts on the floor etc...
Gives me the rage!

Ah now THIS is more like it! Got teeth this fucker has, bravo

No token asthmatic though, maybe later.....

But this little gem

So cars are nowhere near as harmful, as well as the fact that cars have a useful purpose, unlike smoking

Walk through a vehicle heavy city and then test your carbon monoxide levels, see if it shocks you.

I posted earlier, I suppose I’m the token asthmatic.

Cars are a problem for me too though. I’ve been considering some sort of mask to wear when I am waiting for the bus or walking along the road.

OK so I've just been out with DH and we walked past the cafe, I showed him where I'd been sitting.

Apparently it's not all in my head, she sat weirdly close to me on the bench and wasn't at a table, DH was a bit surprised when I pointed out exactly where I'd been.

It's our local which is (yet) another reason why I was hesitant to get into a potential shouting match with another customer.

Anyway I think she must have just been your standard CF who happened to have a cigarette in her hand. Ah well.

As you were.

Cars are a problem for me too though. I’ve been considering some sort of mask to wear when I am waiting for the bus or walking along the road

Cars and the like are a massive problem in their present form and I'd hazard a guess in a chunk of time in the future when more environmentally friendly transport is readily available we'll see these sorts of threads about aggressive air poisoning drivers who have to pay a fortune to run their beloved diesel/petrol cars ripping them to shreds. Tales of woe if how they fled the scene incase they breathed it in.

There will always be a group of people who will be a target. Smokers are a safe bunch to pour scorn on at present.

@RebeccaWrongDaily WHY didn't you point out the double standards?! That's insane!!!!!

@Mynameyourname "Fled?!"

I have no sympathy for smokers at any point at all. Cold or not i couldn't care less. Disgusting habit.

Ha ha ... I agree gillybeanz .. ban the bloody whingers !!!! ....

I gave up smoking a few weeks ago,and strangely,when I was still a smoker,I found the opposite to be true. I would always try to sit somewhere that was not near to anyone eating,or not smoking themselves,or with children. But I've lost count of the times that I'd find myself a deserted bench and light up,only within a minute or 2,someone eating their lunch or vehemently anti-smoking would sit slap bang next to me,as close as they could by the looks of it,and then start complaining about the smoke. Am I right in assuming that it's first come,first served? That you don't deliberately sit right next to someone who's obviously smoking if you want to eat,have a child in a pushchair with you,or just dislike it?

gamerchick

Yes its much better, It even has the martyrdom. :)

Ah I do live a good smoking thread, gives me the proper fuzzy feels it does

I gave up over a year ago now but was always super considerate. I would never smoke outside a restaurant or bar if anyone near me was eating. I rarely smoked on the street because of people walking behind me. I guess it all just boils down to manners.

But I've lost count of the times that I'd find myself a deserted bench and light up,only within a minute or 2,someone eating their lunch or vehemently anti-smoking would sit slap bang next to me,as close as they could by the looks of it,and then start complaining about the smoke

That might just have happened once or twice, but not so many times that you've lost count.

I would’ve done same as you. She was obviously driving you inside. Oh well, she’s the one potentially shortening her life, not you!

As a smoker if I’m in an area that sells alcohol I.e beer gardens, I think people should expect smokers to be present outside. I try and sit as far from others as I can unless I can see they have cigarettes on the table, I don’t smoke near people eating or if children are there.

One of my friends was punched to death by a drunk person. So yes passive drinking definitely can have a negative effect on others.

I would love to not smoke, I hope one day soon I will be able stop but it’s an addiction and I hope I won’t be judgemental as a non smoker

cars don t usually sit down in gardens and turn on their engines. specious argument but then smoking isnt for the smart.

I actually think smokers do this deliberately. It’s their revenge for not being able to smoke inside.