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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that people should not smoke in a childs outdoor play area?

157 replies

pamelat · 17/08/2008 19:51

I know it isnt illegal but surely its wrong morally?

I was at the park on Friday with my PFB (!) who is 7 months and we were on the swings when a set of grandparents turned up with a little boy who looked to be about 2 years old. They sat him on the swing next to my DD and the woman lit a cigarette and proceeded to smoke.

The park was full of children.

I think its really wrong?

OP posts:
southeastastra · 17/08/2008 21:14

there's so much of it. in the wider park you can (sort of) let it go.

it's not on in the play area and i can see why the op would find fag butts and smoking in the area offensive too.

we have to rely on the social niceties of other users but in reality they don't care.

KerryMum · 17/08/2008 21:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AbbaFan · 17/08/2008 21:14

YANBU

I hate people smoking anywhere are children...eeerrggg.

I just don't understand why people would smoke at all after they had kids.

Nothing worse than seeing a mother puffing on a fag while pushing thier child about.

PastYourBedtime · 17/08/2008 21:16

I smoke outdoors, including the park. Obviously I don't blow it into the faces of children. If someone asked me to put it out i'd tell them where to go tbh, its in an open space, outside where its legal.

expatinscotland · 17/08/2008 21:17

i don't smoke, ilove.

but you're perfectly free to remove yourself and your child away from any behaviours you find unreasonable.

do it soon, however, as the world is running out of land mass fast.

i suppose you don't expose your child's lungs to any sort of air pollution at all, or is it just smokers you subject your self-righteousness to?

for me, life is tricky enoguh without bitching and moaning about everything and taking absolutely everything and anythign seriously and believing it all to be All.About.Me.

one of the many things i love about life here.

ilovemydog · 17/08/2008 21:17

kerry mum - am not one of what?

KerryMum · 17/08/2008 21:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

southeastastra · 17/08/2008 21:21

i do smoke too but go round the bushes so no-one can see me

the amount of dog poo i've found in the play areas really does worry me, i did start a dog poo thread about it

SilkCutMama · 17/08/2008 21:22

Oh I don't smoke but I feed my children chicken nuggets, sausage rolls, fruit shoots, chips with everything, sweets, cake, chocolate, cola, lemonade, fried breakfast, lard, biscuits, ice cream.....

This is what makes me mad about this argument

If you have a problem with a smoker smoking OUTSIDE then please make sure you are the PERFECT parent to your child - I assume none of you feed your child anything other than vegetables and lean chicken?????????

MrsMattie · 17/08/2008 21:22

I think it's a bit off to be hanging around the swings fagging it, but if a smoker is considerate - ie. moves to the edge of the playground, makes an effort not to smoke right near the kids - I turn a blind eye.

Ewe · 17/08/2008 21:22

I went to Chessington on Fri and was very surprised at the number of people smoking around kids, in queues etc. It is really common and nasty.

expatinscotland · 17/08/2008 21:23

i remember that, south.

we mostly go to beaches so not many dogs.

dd1 is a dog person, though, so we have to try to get her to learn not to approach strange dogs.

CoteDAzur · 17/08/2008 21:23

ilovemydog - You were offended your DD saw pharmacist sell methadone? Why?

MrsMattie · 17/08/2008 21:25

p.s. feeding your kids chicken nuggets isn't quite as bad as inflicting passive smoking on other people's kids@Silkcut Mama! Come on!

CoteDAzur · 17/08/2008 21:25

And re 'wrong morally' - What on earth do morals have to do with smoking? Especially smoking outside, fgs.

CoteDAzur · 17/08/2008 21:28

You don't 'inflict passive smoking' on others OUTSIDE. At worst, others get a whiff of it.

Seriously, if you feel so strongly about it, move your children away from the smoker.

MrsMattie · 17/08/2008 21:28

Hmmm. I wouldn't talk about 'morals' with regards to smoking. Smoking is a horrible addiction, and I feel sorry for smokers more than anything, especially those who can't wait until they leave the playground to light up. I used to be one of them, btw!

southeastastra · 17/08/2008 21:29

i took a really irate complaint call from a dog owner, who complained to me that a mother had shouted at her for letting her dog go into the area.

her complaint was that the fence was broken and that was the council's fault for not maintaining it.

her dog, in her eyes, had the right to wander wherever it liked.

so many children are scared of dogs now. the bad dog owners are overtaking the good.

AbbaFan · 17/08/2008 21:29

''If you have a problem with a smoker smoking OUTSIDE then please make sure you are the PERFECT parent to your child - I assume none of you feed your child anything other than vegetables and lean chicken?????????''

This is a bit OTT and irelevant IMO. Why should parents that don't smoke have to put up with OTHER people puffing around them.

southeastastra · 17/08/2008 21:29

oops sorry for wandering ot

ilovemydog · 17/08/2008 21:30

this is getting absurd. No, I do not let my dogs crap near children's play areas. I clean up after my dogs. Always. Not just when no one is looking. Always

yes, I am concerned about pollution about my daughter's lungs. I can control smoke around her.

Not sure how this translates as a 'me me me' situation? I absolutely do my part for others also. CAT me of you want a breakdown of my activities - career wise, charitable wise.

shootfromthehip · 17/08/2008 21:31

Thank god it's been a crap summer because what I find really offensive is men who take their tops off and wander around half naked in the sun. It offends me. It's not good for my general well-being. And dogs. I don't like them either. Sorry but I don't. oh and people who feed ducks chips. And wasps. They suck. And my husband. I don't like him either at the moment. Ok so none of this stuff is illegal and it is therefore my problem and as a result I can't expect others to pander to my whims. Get the point anyone?

Oh and some people with kids smoke because they have an addiction (oh don't- shoosh) that they may not have control over. And if that's you (as it was me for a long time) see the Doc and get Champix on prescription- it's the only thing that has ever worked for me. It's always worth trying to give up. And before you start I did not smoke during either of my pregnancies right- it's complicated.

AbbaFan · 17/08/2008 21:31

P.S Can we stop talkiing about bloody dogs now

CoteDAzur · 17/08/2008 21:31

I used to smoke, too, although only one in the morning with coffee and a couple at night with some wine. Never smoked near DD, so obviously don't think it's a good thing, but still find the present day Inquisition against smokers ridiculous.

expatinscotland · 17/08/2008 21:31

'Why should parents that don't smoke have to put up with OTHER people puffing around them.'

I thought this was about the kids, not the parents?

Why should I have to put up with other, legal behaviours I find irritating!?

Dammit, it's my RIGHT and entitlement to have everyone else around me live and do as I see fit and not be put out by anyone.

Stamps foot!