Smokers are selfish and clearly not very clever

[forever390]

Today I tried to enjoy the sun but everywhere I went there were smokers puffing away in front of my kids and their own children. It was at the cafe, ice cream store, restaurants, park. Absolutely disgusting. It's hot and my family want to enjoy outside spaces too.

I dont know anyone that smokes. Smokers must have pretty low levels of intelligence if they are willing to slowly kill their bodies even though there is loads of information out there regarding the harms. Why do people smoke still? And do they just not give a damn about smoking in front of children? What goes through their head when they light up in front of a baby in a pram?

Of course... I have a couple of glasses of wine a month, could do with losing a few pounds and exercising more

so in other words you are fat. And you think breathing in SECOND HAND SMOKE occasionally is worse for your body than being fat? No it isn’t OP. How can you be this much of a hypochondriac yet you’re fine with being fat?

I don’t smoke but how can you say smokers lack intelligence any more so than someone who eats too much? Smoking is addictive, food is not. You could eat less tomorrow whereas a smoker would find it much more difficult to quit cigarettes.

A lot of people start when they are teenagers and are trapped in an addiction they find hard to get over.

so in other words you are fat.

In my days as a smoker I was in Florida having a quiet cigarette with nobody around me. A family plonked themselves down two yards from me and the dirty looks and flapping of hands started. I didn’t extinguish my cig so the mother had the bloody cheek to waddle over to tell me that she objected to me putting her family’s health at risk. Mum, Dad and both boys were grossly, and I mean grossly obese. Her arms were so fat they stuck out at 45 degrees from her body, her thighs so huge her feet were permanently 18 inches apart and her abdomen hung down to her knees. I confess I felt compelled to point out that given their obesity, good health obviously wasn’t an issue for them.

@forever390 I think you could have phrased this better and less judgemental OP. Instead maybe why are some people inconsiderate? I smoke and yet have a degree and a successful career, I’m not stupid. My choice my body, just as those who choose to drink, take legal drugs or any other vice. However I never smoke around non smokers and would never think to smoke in public around children

I'm a smoker. I have a degree but I must have been off the day they taught about the effects of smoking 🙄

So no one with any intelligence has ever had an addiction?

I’m intelligent, I have a degree and I smoked heavily from the age of 12 to a few weeks ago (mid 30s) having only managed to give up twice before, once while pregnant.

I got addicted to smoking because my sexually, emotionally and physically abusive father bought me a carton of 200 Marlboro red when I was 12 and made me smoke them all during a stay at his house (I think it was a week). After that I never managed to quit.

There is a massive correlation between smoking and mental health issues, trauma and / or a history of abuse. Absolutely huge. Maybe you are the unintelligent one who needs to educate themselves?

I’ve given up with the help of vaping, thank goodness. You clearly have no idea how hard that is.

I smoke and without it I'd have probably offed myself years ago but I have a rule, if I sit at an outside table and it's 'safe' to smoke (if its busy or no one within 1 table of me on any side) I'll light up, if someone with a baby or toddler turns up I'll put it out but if any adults decide to sit down next to me then tough shit, you can see it and you can smell it if that didnt warn you away then 'oh well' I honestly would give more of a shit if you (non-smokers) spend at least a few days worth of time outside with me in winter but until then get fucked

Smoking got banned at outdoor food service areas over 10 years ago where I live in Queensland. Pubs and clubs and cafes and restaurants have survived and thrived.

I do agree with some points of the op (not the intelligence part) and I know smoking is a addiction so you can't just quit but I do think some smokers are selfish and a bit of consideration would mean they can smoke if they choose to but not inflict it on others who don't.

There are loads of posts of smokers on here who say they wouldn't light up in front of a child and are considerate etc.
This isn't usually the case in everyday public I find though.
I find usually smokers light up sat at a bus shelter forcing me to move away.
The same at a holiday hotel outside every table with kids seemed to be lighting up all night whilst me and my son decided to go back to our room as it was awful breathing that in.
There are many times where I have seen smokers light up without a thought for anyone else and not just move away for 5 mins so although everyone on Mumsnet says they are considerate which is great in real life it doesn't happen

Smoking is a stupid thing to do. So perhaps the logical conclusion is that stupid people do stupid things and I include myself in that ocassionaly - although I don't smoke. Stop defending smoking. It's a stupid activity.

I've not read the full thread apart from your initial post but I have to say I agree to an extent. I've worked in research in this area, but my personal opinion is still similar to yours. Obviously I have a little more understanding about the reasons why people smoke and the issues surrounding this.

It's an antisocial habit which will hopefully eventually die out. Although this won't be in my lifetime, looking at the number of children I still see smoking in school uniform.

Er no as smokers we are now already very limited as to where we can smoke, you do realise you inhale more pollution walking down the street past cars?

Depends where you live but I'd love to get rid of polluting cars too and its nit really comparable - People don't generally rev their cars up outside cafes where kids are although some do I'm sure.

This comes up every time there is hot weather on here. Places that allow smoking outside know that smokers use that area all year round (like a pub garden). You get the fair weather pub garden users who use it for about 10 days a year when it's a gorgeous day. From a business model which do you think you would implement?

If you dont like it, you need to move, but be aware that you will get more damage from walking along the road and breathing in the car fumes.

And no I'm not a smoker, I just know what businesses need to survive in this day and age.

Those that say it should be banned in public spaces, what about in people's gardens when it drifts over your fence? Should that be banned to? Even though the owner owns their own garden?

*not

Have to agree with you @Vulpine

Smoking is a stupid thing to do. So perhaps the logical conclusion is that stupid people do stupid things and I include myself in that ocassionaly - although I don't smoke. Stop defending smoking. It's a stupid activity.

Not all smokers are unintelligent but smoking is an unintelligent thing to do.

I wish it was banned from entrances to bars/shops/other buildings because of the unintelligent, inconsiderate smokers that don't give a flying shit about anyone else. Coming out of your hospital appointment with your child into a cloud of toxic shit. Thanks very much.

I'd recommend you picnic in the parks in future OP. Find a large field, sit in the middle.
It's not so much so you can avoid smokers, it's so smokers can avoid your attitude.

Unfortunately there's not alot you can do about our car-centric society - people need to get around, hopefully in the future, in cleaner ways but there is something we can do about 2nd hand smoke. Just go some where far away from others or give up. It's selfish to inflict your addiction on anyone.

Oh doctors lawyers dentists vets that my dad knew ( he's 80) all smoked cigars when they came round our house

I slightly get what you mean. My in-laws smoke but they were in the last generation of smokers who didn't know it was harmful! From 40 and under people who started smoking knew it caused cancer. But at the same time we know meat and dairy causes heart disease and alcohol causes liver damage! So unless your a T-Total vegan you can't comment really!

Ah well thst clinches it then. Smoking is super clever

*tobigchris

Someone having a glass of wine at the next table is not a problem. What an inane argument.

Mn hates smokers. They seem to put them in the same category as abusers and rapists. Lots of sanctimonious attitudes on here when I doubt these people are in the best of health.
I’m not a smoker by the way. Just making an observation.

Bigchris saying people your dad knew and he is 80 years old like lawyers and drs doesn't prove your point you are trying to prove about intelligence and smoking.
Back then nearly everyone smoked if they could afford it and no one knew the risks like we do today.
The question is would those people still be smoking knowing the risks we know today?