To cross the road when I see a smoker?

[hippohippohippo]

I really dislike smoking and find I'm extremely sensitive to the smell, so have always been very aware of smokers and will notice a smoker earlier than others do if I'm walking around a town centre etc.

Now I have a 7mo I'm particularly conscious I don't want him exposed to the smoke so I make a point of crossing the road and getting as far away as possible when I see a smoker.

Well MIL was pushing the pram earlier as I was looking after my toddler nephew and when I asked her to cross the road she refused, telling me "it doesn't even occur to anyone else so you'll be fine, stop being so anxious". Said smoker then took a huge puff just as we walked past, so we walked through a cloud of fresh smoke.

AIBU to do this / ask this?

People (like me) won't be making disgusted faces at smokers, I try to be as discreet as possible.

Smoke is a trigger for my asthma and makes me cough horribly, so I will actively avoid smokers and the fumes. There's nothing wrong with choosing not to breathe in smoke.

Oh yes I see. Well you are not being unreasonable to do it, but you can't force others even if they're pushing the buggy. So next time hold on to the buggy yourself. It wasn't great of her to call you anxious but that's just as likely projection as she felt anxious at the idea of being seen to dodge the smoker iyswim, so I'd not dwell on that.

Yanbu. I have a sensitive nose too and I cross the road to get aeay from stench too. And yes to the poster who asked you, I also avoid people with BO and smelly cars. I actually still put my face mask on outside because it is brilliant at filtering out traffic fumes.

I wouldn’t ask anyone else too unless they had my child…

People who don’t have a sensitive nose won’t get it.

I'd be fine with you crossing the road to avoid me, saves me being forced off the pavement by people with buggies

They could make good use of you at border security.

Seriously, it's a bit silly to cross a road to avoid air pollution.

Im sensitive to smells. A puff of cigarette smoke could induce a migraine which would put me out of action for 24 hrs. I would expect someone who cares for me to care that I not be wiped put for a day plus a days hangover.

Other than being unpleasant does it affect you physically?

I don't cross the road but hate second hand smoke when running errands.

It’s entirely up to you really. If you feel better crossing the road, then do so. I rather think the risk from roads and cars is significantly more than a second or two’s exposure to a bit of smoke, but I don’t know the exact stats.
You are, however, being completely ridiculous saying you can smell smoke for days having walked past someone smoking in the street. Completely fair enough not to like the smell but I think you need to settle down a bit!

@StrictlyAFemaleFemale

Im sensitive to smells. A puff of cigarette smoke could induce a migraine which would put me out of action for 24 hrs. I would expect someone who cares for me to care that I not be wiped put for a day plus a days hangover.

Other than being unpleasant does it affect you physically?

A strong smell can often give me a headache yes, a bad one if I don't shower and change my clothes soon afterwards. Mildly asthmatic so can always feel it in my chest too.

I think you are being ridiculous.
The cars that are driving past you will be giving off a lot more harmful substances, the same as factories but you aren’t bothered because your brain doesn’t put the two and two together.

Do you not wear perfume or deodorant as these can also be harmful for young children (or adults) to breathe in, as well as using flour in baking, talcum powder etc.

Hm so when I’m alone or alone with a pram then yes, I do dodge smokers. It’s not because I believe it’s particularly harmful to me but if I can do anything to avoid the smell I will.
I wouldn’t make someone else cross a road to avoid a smoker though. Asking your MIL to do the same was OTT.

@WonderfulYou

I think you are being ridiculous. The cars that are driving past you will be giving off a lot more harmful substances, the same as factories but you aren’t bothered because your brain doesn’t put the two and two together.

Do you not wear perfume or deodorant as these can also be harmful for young children (or adults) to breathe in, as well as using flour in baking, talcum powder etc.

It's as much (maybe more!) about being particularly sensitive to the smell of smoke than the concept that it's harmful.

And since COVID no I don't wear perfume or deodorant.

@WheelieBinPrincess

Not just from walking briefly past them. If your nose is truly that sensitive I suggest you utilise the skill and go into detective or spy work.

😂

Days afterwards? Are you a bloodhound, OP?

I am a smoker, and I would not care as long as it does not affect me. It's up to you, and what I think of your affectations has no impact on you.
Just don't ask me to cross the street for you, and you are welcome to zigzag your afternoons away!
But yes, car fumes are far more noxious than stray second hand smoke....

You are quite extreme. A bit of secondhand smoke will not hurt you.

I grew up with my dad smoking all evening.

I do not believe for a second that a mild asthmatic can walk past a person smoking in the open air, and feel it in their chest for days after. (My son is asthmatic. I am quite careful about his exposure to allergens and triggers. This has never ever ever occurred to me to be a risk or an issue).

Why don’t you wear perfume or deodorant since covid??

I do this too! I'll cross the road, walk fast to get ahead of a smoker, or hold my breath walking past them. Of course there are risks everywhere in life, and there's not a lot you can do about car and city pollution, but I'm not going to add to them if there's an alternative! We only have one set of lungs any I don't want to coat them with any more cr*p than I have to. Plus I hate the smell of cigarettes.

I agree with you, OP, and I think you're being given an unfairly hard time on here.

Yes, there's pollution from the traffic, but for me, it's the stink more than anything. I don't think I've ever walked past a car and really screwed up my face at a disgusting stench coming from its exhaust; but a smoker....

If you had a way of knowing that somebody ahead had done an eye-watering fart, would you breeze on forthright and happily drink it in as you stride through it, or might you just hold back or cross the street to avoid passing close by the parpetrator and their fumes? You're obviously not going to die or get ill from smelling somebody's putrid eggy fart, but it doesn't mean you wouldn't want to avoid the experience if you could easily do so.

Surely the worst are the ones you can't see? You walk along, think you are OK then breathe in their smokey stink.

You are not being unreasonable to want to cross the road. It’s one of those personal things. But you must see why others will think it’s a bit OTT? How many times does this actually happen?

With all due respect, no you can't smell smoke for days after being exposed to it, it is in your head.

Yanbu to do it when you're on your own, your choice, but yabu to insist others do it and your MIL is perfectly reasonable to point out that it isn't logical.

Yes I would do this as it stinks

If you don’t wear deodorant they are probably pleased you cross the road, I think you’re being ridiculous.