to think just because it's not illegal to smoke outdoors doesn't mean it's always ok

[Fieldsgrowingdark]

Three of us were queueing at the bus stop this morning when along came a man who stood right beside us and lit up a cigarette.

Myself and my mum were sitting on a park bench chatting yesterday when a young woman plonked herself on the other end (about 18 inches from us) and enjoyed a cigarette.

I've also just been reading the thread about people standing around hospital doorways and underneath patients' windows puffing away on cigarettes.

You will often be told by smokers that it's legal because it's outside, as if that makes it okay.

AIBU to think even when you're outside, smokers should show some consideration for the people around them?

I think it should be illegal to smoke in any public space whatsoever.

If I started spraying harmful chemicals in the air for others to breathe in, I'd be arrested.

It's selfish and inconsiderate to smoke near other people.

MiL does this.

Smokers don't seem to realise how badly it smells and vlings to clothes and hair.

They're not being antisocial, most of them just don't realise how they/it smells.

You can't even enjoy a restaurant meal out of doors in really hot weather without people lighting up at adjacent tables.

I feel that a resturant should not allow people to smoke on outdoor tables anyway. Why don't most restaurants have this policy?

I hate this entitled attitude with a passion. It's like people forget that their cigarettes stink and think that people wont mind inhaling horrid toxic smoke. Well its fine if you want to do that but the looks you get when you move away from them is ridiculous.

Someone actually asked me what my problem was last week when I moved after they lit a cigarette, when I said I has asthma so I didn't want to be in the direction of their cigarette smoke they rolled their eyes and called me a twat.

This drives me mad! I remember being under a bus shelter with my baby in a
pram and some man came under and started smoking a cigarette, so I was forced out into the rain. He wasnt even waiting for the bus as he left after finishing.

AIBU to think even when you're outside, smokers should show some consideration for the people around them?

I completely agree and I'm a smoker.

Exception: I make no apologies for smoking in pub gardens in the summer (although I wouldn't join a table of non-smokers or people eating to do it). I've been out there all bloody winter and I believe I have the right under the law of adverse possession

It annoys me when people describe the outdoor area of restaurants as 'the smoking area'.

It isn't. It just isn't illegal to smoke out there, but it doesn't mean it's not rude and inconsiderate when people are eating around you on a nice sunny afternoon.

I gave up 8 months ago but I would never smoke in places like those described above other than the beer garden but would always check if there were children around me. Normally I would stand at the far end and smoke to avoid it travelling as much.

Smoking outside hospitals is absolutely disgusting and unforgivable.

Try to remember its an addiction tho

Yanbu. I was with dd As a baby once sitting in an area of a pub garden that was none smoking. Some woman came along and lit up. I pointed out this was none smoking area and pointed out the smoking area. She took one step to the area that lent close to me and said nothing you can do and puffed smoke in my face. Dd dh and i left but put off us going back to that pub.

I really hope the day will come when smoking anywhere except in your own home or specifically designated areas is illegal.

No doubt the loudest wailers about 'human rights' and 'nanny state' will be the selfish type of smokers who necessitated the legislation in the first place.

Smokers don't seem to realise how badly it smells and vlings to clothes and hair

They probably do realise.

But don't give a shit. Their fags are more important than other people's discomfort.

I hate walking past or walking behind a smoker, especially with my DS. We are both asthmatic and it can be a trigger.

YANBU, but it works both ways.
You can be completely by yourself nobody about, a safe distance from windows, entrances, doorways. In other words not bothering anybody and somebody will come and sit next to you, walk through your smoke and tutt.
It's not invisible and smells, if you don't like it stay away from those doing it.

I get that some people dislike the smell of cigarette smoke but I've never understood the moral crusade some people have against it.

Well presumably if they walk through your smoke it's because they have to walk past you to get to where they're going.
This happened to me a few times last week when I was already choked up with a really bad cough. It wasn't pleasant.

It's not a 'moral' crusade. It's a genuine dislike of being forced to breathe in noxious smelling cigarette smoke, and having your clothes and hair stink of it afterwards.

but I've never understood the moral crusade some people have against it.

Probably because unlike most other life choices smoking cigarettes impacts everyone around you, including strangers. If I choose to over indulge by eating too much then it's not going to make people around me unwell. If someone choses to smoke near me I have difficulty breathing long after they have finished their sneaky cigarette.

I smoke. I don't smoke in my house as I don't want my house to smell. I sit away from other non smokers. Wouldn't dream of standing in a bus stop to have my cig. I don't smoke when I go out for meals with people, even if we are outside. It's my choice to smoke not theirs to have to put up with my bad habit. It's called manners, something that seems to be lacking.

It's not a 'moral crusade' and it has nothing to do with a 'nanny state'. A lot of smokers don't get this.

The reason for the current ban, and the objections to people continuing to smoke in public shared spaces, has nothing to do with protecting smokers from themselves, and everything to do with protecting non smokers from the health risks and discomfort imposed on them by smokers.

I quit last year now and OMG can I notice how much dh stinks from smoking. I can’t go near him too soon after his smoked he smells like a stale pub ashtray. Yes I’m one of those ex smokers

I have nearly had to get off busses a few times when a really heavy smoker sat next to me. I don't think they have any idea of how bad they smell.

YANBU, I'm an ex smoker bit would like to think I was quite considerate about where I smoked, hated people seeing me smoking aswell but I'm sure I still annoyed people. Now I'm like the smoke police 😂, I get so annoyed when people stand in doorways or next to open windows. Happened in the softplay yesterday and I was the kitchen staff, outside the fire/delivery door! They had it wedged open so they could get back in! I still sometime like to breath it in as I walk by though 😂, I'm really weird!

If I started spraying harmful chemicals in the air for others to breathe in, I'd be arrested

Assuming you never drive any where then.

"You can't even enjoy a restaurant meal out of doors in really hot weather without people lighting up at adjacent tables."

That's because you're in that restaurant's smoking area. Banning smoking outdoors may not make sense for the proprietor, unless you'll be sitting out there year round, like the smokers do. If it was equally/more profitable to have outside areas smoke-free, it would happen. I'm not sure how many businesses are sufficiently secure to take the hit on the other 11 months of the year.