to think that people have the right to smoke without being villified as if they were using cocaine?

[stitch]

i'm a non smoker. make that a never smoker, apart form one incident when i was 13 and had a huge coughing fit.
i am really really shocked at how people are reacting towards people smoking. it is not the worst thing in the world, and i just feel really uncomfortable athow they are making smokers out to be pariahs.

Why?

Because I find it terribly sad that folk can't enjoy life as it is, without a crutch, drug, or social statement to kid them into thinking they are having a better time of it.

I find it incredibly sad that people don't feel they can enjoy life, and life's experiences at face value. That they need something to give them a 'lift', or a 'high' or whatever.

That's why.

Madamez, I couldn't quite summon up that kind of devil-may-care attitude when my four year old child was hospitalised with an asthma attack, brought on by my stupid, selfish, ignorant MIL, who smoked in the same room as him, when she had promised not to as I left him in her care.

There is nothing virtuous about watching your child struggling to breathe.

"They'd enjoy life a whole lot more if they gave up.

"

while i'm pretty anti-smoking myself and make people in smoke outside in my house as far as i can tell from my smoker friends they seem to think of smoking as one of lifes great pleasures.
and while it may not be for me theyseem to enjoy it and do their best not to force their habit on others.

Thankyou TheWoman

I'm glad we don't have to sit with smokers in bars etc.

I didn't smoke much, but I really regret smoking at all.
I don't mind a friend having the odd fag in my vicinity, but I would never let anyone smoke near my children. I ask people not to at bus stops etc.

One of the pubs near us has so many heaters and brollies outside for the smokers you can't sit out there on a sunny day because the smoke hangs in the air like it was a smoky bar.

Cocaine can make nice people very tossy, IME, like people who can't drink without becoming an arse. I'm being very sweary, it's not like me.

What?

maybe I find it sad that people enjoy watching soaps on television. Or doing life-threatening sports and activities.

Personally, I think that being able to diverse your experiences in any way is quite the opposite of sad. Finding enjoyment in something, is not sad.

Well I feel very sorry for you. It tastes foul, it's an addiction, it costs ££££££ and it affects the wellbeing and health of those around you. For you to say that you enjoy it (how you can when it tastes foul, impedes your breathing and makes you stink) really makes me feel like you are just kidding yourself (part of the addiction I guess?)

Pinky - why would you want to sit under brollies and heaters on a sunny day? Just sit out in the fresh, open air where smoke will not bother you as much.

ANd I fail to see how smoking "diverses" your experience. Now I know you are kidding yourself.

Ha ha, please don't feel sorry for me! Nothing to feel sorry about. Trust me, I do enjoy it.

It does not taste foul to me. I personally think Prawns taste foul, I would not tell a prawn-lover that prawns taste foul. I would tell them that I think they do. Please do not dictate my taste to me.

It may affect my health, but it is not affecting the health and wellbeing of those around me.

DSM- that's my point- they've filled the beer garden with brollies and heaters for the smokers to sit outside in all weathers.

I wasn't referring to smoking there, specifically, just anything.

LOL - how can you possibly know that prawns taste foul? Your taste buds will have been burned away by the smoking......they must be in fact, if you think smoking tastes nice.....!

Yeah, which is handy when it rains and is cold.. but surely when it is a hot sunny day they turn off the heaters and put the brollies down.

If not, ask them to.

No, my taste buds are fine, thanks.

Anyway - the operative word there is taste. Everyones taste are different, I like the taste of cigarettes, you don't.

You are definitely kidding yourself.

Message withdrawn

ANd actually, it's not a matter of taste is it? It's an addiction.

DSM, I used to enjoy smoking.
I can understand that you do.

But I wanted to be healthy for my children even more than I enjoyed smoking.

And the documentary about John Diamond strengthened my resolve to quit.

Message withdrawn

Sorry - my smoking is not going to make anyone die of cancer, but potentially myself.

And yes, while it is an addiction, it is also something that people enjoy. But that goes for many addictions.

I used to really enjoy smoking.

I still really enjoy drinking (& I wouldn't say no to a line of coke either, but agree it's pretty insupportable in terms of its global impact).

But I'm still glad I've jacked in the fags. Far better things to spend £30 a week on.

DSM, spend the price of 20 fags on the Allen Carr book? What have you got to lose? If I'm right & being an ex-smoker is a jump worth making, you'll be saving ££££. If you still want to smoke, you're down six quid. Worth a punt surely!

Well say someone smokes - and they trudge outside in all weathers to do it - enforced nowadays - what harm is it doing anyone else - really? why is it such a bleeding problem? what happened to live and let live, eh?