Is it anti-social to smoke in your garden?

[Mummy102]

Just that really, abiu to smoke cigarettes in my garden?

When I do, I notice my neighbour shut his window. It makes me feel awkward about doing it as I dont want to annoy him, but just wondered if other people even think about it annoying their neighbours? Or am i over thinking it?

'I haven't been out for a fortnight and so haven't had chocolate, wine or crisps as I've not been able to get any. It's one of those things that we don't need just like the OP doesn't need cigarettes.'

Because you've not been able to get any...

It always puzzles me why people go out to smoke in their garden and then complain about their neighbours closing the windows. Presumably smokers smoke in their garden because they don't want their house to smell of it or they don't want to expose others to the smoke yet they expect their neighbours to have no problem with smoke coming in their house.

beetrootrocks

there’ll actually be some people without irony nodding along to your post!

No, I haven't been able to get any. I have been getting shopping from farm shops who don't sell chocolate, wine and crisps and haven't been able to get supermarket delivery slots.

Presumably smokers smoke in their garden because they don't want their house to smell of it or they don't want to expose others to the smoke yet they expect their neighbours to have no problem with smoke coming in their house.

Smokers in the UK are statistically more likely to be of lower intelligence and lower conscientiousness than average.
I think that might have something to do with it.
Whilst I have sympathy for the addicted (nicotine is one of the more additive drugs, after all) - I struggle with sympathy for the moronic, which you would have to be to take it up in more recent years when all the health negatives for both you and those around you have been well publicised.

I own a 1st floor flat. The women on the ground floor smokes outside my window and the smoke comes up. The whole flat stinks of her filthy disgusting smoke - my carpets, curtains etc. Even if I have the windows closed it still smells.

There’s nothing o can do about it because (according to the council & management company) its her human rights that she can smoke. Not my right at all to the without having to endure the smell.

Of course you can do it. But no one seems to think of the effect it has on others.

It is absolutely antisocial to smoke in your garden. Neighbors hating you is a likely consequence. You just have to decide if it is worth it to you to deal with the fallout.

Moon baby quite, and note follow up post

78000 people a year die of smoking.

It is a bit shit if you're standing right underneath his open window and puffing away. I think going further up the garden is a good idea.

Last summer we had a neighbour who smoked at her back door, so underneath my young child’s bedroom. On the warm days when I had his window open, it basically smelled like he’d been smoking in his room. It really wound me up, but as she was smoking in her garden I didn’t feel I could say anything that wouldn’t offend her. She’s moved out, thankfully, but at the moment when the only outside space some can use is their garden- I think you should smoke in your own house, it’ll be reeking soon enough and maybe you’ll understand why people object so much and probably feel they can’t say anything to you.

Neighbours smoking below your flat window is extremely selfish. I think I'd be overcome with a sudden need to wash the windows. Obviously you need a bucket of water to rinse them properly.

Just to make it clear, I am not promoting smoking nor do I think it is a good thing to do. And although concerns over health are welcome I obviously know the risks of smoking. I am not complaining that he shuts his window, i was worried about him being annoyed with me.
I am a carer and so would never want to put anyone in direct danger, but I'm sure we all have habits that directly or indirectly harm other humans beings. With out us actually wanting to go out of our way to harm anyone.

Smoke in your own house and stop inflicting your vile habit ( not addiction) on others.

78000 people a year die of smoking

And yet there's never been mass society cries of 'IF YOU SMOKE YOU ARE OVER-BURDENING THE NHS AND ARE KILLING MY NAN YOU MURDERER'

Why not....?

Only read the OP but I think smoking is generally disgusting and hate the smell so yes i think it’s selfish and inconsiderate to sit in your Garden and smoke of your neighbours are so close they shut their windows because they can smell it

...Well, no, he probably isn't happy about having to get up to close the window(s) every time you light up a cigarette. That doesn't mean it's not your right to do so, however, but you'll just have to accept that he probably isn't smiling benevolently in your general direction.

Just like I mutter under my breath when someone in my (rural) neighbourhood decides to burn rubbish on a perfect-weather, open-the-window-and-breathe-it-all-in kind of day. I can't do anything to stop them and wouldn't even ask them not to (if I knew who was doing it on a given day), but I'm not happy about it.

I'm sure we all have habits that directly or indirectly harm other humans beings. With out us actually wanting to go out of our way to harm anyone.

Smoking is a choice, whereas catching a virus by wanting to go about normal life - not so much.
Why are we not directing the same amount of ire that we do towards perceived 'covidiots' towards smokers, one wonders?

@voiceofsanitary I am assuming you don't drive or eat meat and your life style leaves a completely clean carbon foot print

Depends. Large garden with you in the middle? No.

Garden with no house at the end and you sitting at the end? No.

Small garden with you by the back door and your smoke drifting right into next door's window or patio area? Yes.

It's not difficult to work it out yourself. Sitting/walking somewhere where your smoke won't bother others make you a considerate neighbour. Thinking that just being outside is fine by default, even if you are in close proximity to your neighbours's windows and doors or outdoor seating area makes you a selfish fuckwit.

You know which one you are, don't you?

My next door neighbour's son smokes directly outside his front door when he stays and I have to shut the bedroom window as it comes directly up into our room. It's revolting.

Dont smoke under his window, dont blow it in his face and you'll be fine in your own garden OP.

My neighbours used to do this and it was awful. We had to shut our windows to keep their smoke out. Revolting. We felt trapped by their smoking and inconsiderate behaviour.

If you enjoy smoking, why don’t you smoke indoors and keep the smoke away from your neighbours? You do care about people, that is clear ... so either stop filling your neighbours house with smoke or take up vaping which doesn’t impact on others?

It’s very much within your control, and you could make a big difference to your neighbours quality of life by changing your behaviour.

Mummy102

I don't drive OR eat meat, no.
I don't leave a carbon neutral footprint, either though - simply by living in the west my existence creates more problems for people in developing nations affected by climate change.

I hate the attitude around the current virus crisis almost as much as I hate smoking.

I don't see them as unconnected, but I do see an awful amount of hypocrisy...

What the attitude where people are keenly ringing the police if they see someone out more than once, and decide after years of advice that people should not smoke inside that they definitely should...

Me too