to have put my biggest pair of judgey pants on, and to actually feel incredibly sad?

[geordieminx]

Ikea this morning.

Finished shopping, pops ds into the car and begins to unload the shopping. Family in the car next to me, playing loud music so I am drawn to them.

Guy in his 60's, smoking a rollie, window open less than an inch, behind him, a little girl no more than 18 months, eating her ice cream. Then I realise that "Granny" is sitting in the passenger seat, also smoking, again windown open about 1/2 inch. On the way back from putting trolley back, see that "mum" is in the back, next to the little girl, also smoking, and at this point, "Grsandad" throws his cig out of the window and lights another one.

I felt sick to the bottom of my stomach, that this wee girls ' family care so little for her health that they would think that it was ok to sit in a car chain-smoking.

Totally disgusting really, and as I drove home, thinking if they dont care that they are subjecting her to such dangerous amounts of toxins whilst smoking, I wonder what other aspects of the little girls life are the same.

Judgey? Probably, but honestly, its a long time since I have seen something so shocking. Maybe I've just led a shelter life.

Poor poor girl.

I am not sure I would have been able to be just judgey. I think I might have punched somebody.

I had a smokers cough for the first 11 years of my life thanks to my parents both smoking horrible French cigarettes. Within a year of them both stopping, my cough had gone.

I have no time for that kind of behaviour, especially in a space as confined as a car.

Absolutely not being unreasonable in my opinion.

I didnt even dare say anything never mind throw any punches - they were at least 4 times the size of me and rough as hell. I think I would have needed a new nose...

"Trice WTF? Where exactly are you getting this mis-information from??"

I don't recommend smoking in a small enclosed space like a car, but most of what people SAY about passive smoking causing everything from global warming to terminal illness 'because dc once walked past a smoker' is misinformation.

Got ill + doesn't smoke = must be passive smoking.

See this MN thread for more examples of that kind of logic.

Bollocks onager.

Children of smokers are 70% more likely to be admitted to hospital- asthma, ear infections, the list goes on.

Onagar - the specialist looked at her lungs and could see the same damage you get from a smoker - there was nothing assumed.

My friend did not 'once walk past a smoker' she spent her childhood in a house & car with parents who were heavy smokers.

The specialist can see the damage - what makes you so qualified that you feel able to say it's crap?

Some people do not deserve children

MoreCrackThanHarlem, children of black parents are more likely than children of white parents (in this country) to end up in prison.
Of course that doesn't prove what it sounds like it proves. There are complex reasons involving poverty etc and anyway I don't dismiss ALL claims of smoking being unhealthy (how many of those children smoked themselves btw?)

ChippingIn, As I said I wouldn't recommend smoking in an enclosed car. The fumes from cigerettes are NOT good for you. However the claims made and the outrage expressed are always annoyingly over the top.

Also it's a bit much when they are expressed so strongly by someone driving a car which also pumps out toxic fumes.

I know the argument "but I really need to drive a car" but it's still a decision which harms others including children so hardly the best position to be smug from.

I smoke, in fact I love smoking,(yes, yes, incredibly bad for me, stinks, costs a fortune, I know the facts) but would no way smoke in the car with my kids or in the house (even when theyre in bed).

I wouldnt like to be trapped in a car with 3 people fagging it, never mind being tiny and forced to breathe it.

YANBU!

Onager 'MoreCrackThanHarlem, children of black parents are more likely than children of white parents (in this country) to end up in prison'

How did this topic end up being about race? Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

I think it is wrong to smoke around children. Full stop. If you want to smoke, that is your choice. They should have just got out of the car and had a ciggie. It beggars belief...

"children of black parents are more likely than children of white parents (in this country) to end up in prison.
Of course that doesn't prove what it sounds like it proves."

What a f*cking stupid comparison. That is nothing like the statistic linking children of smokers with damaged health.

My parents both smoke heavily and have done so throughout my life. They smoked when I was in the car, room, house - everywhere. So far I haven't been ill ever!! Yet I'm a passionate non-smoker. Don't know how I've got away with it, my parents have also been in excellent health and in their 60s. My uncle and grandmother both non-smokers had cancer and died at early ages. Strange world.

...and if the black parents smoked around their children.....

I think you're right fleebee and I think you have been lucky

Nothing like a bit of passive smoking to get mn knickers in a twist ...on a par with babies ear piercing I would say

YANBU to be judgey about 3 people smoking in a car - urrgh! As a smoker, that would make me feel sick! As a mother, I would feel v bad for the poor youngster breathing in all that shite. I never smoke inside any building or vehicle.

However, I do think YABU to then
"be thinking if they dont care that they are subjecting her to such dangerous amounts of toxins whilst smoking, I wonder what other aspects of the little girls life are the same."

What do you know of these people? They may be absolutely lovely apart from their smoking habits, and to assume that because they smoke in the environs of a child means they may do something else to harm her is dreadful and don't "judgey", cos you've no evidence on which to base a proper judgement!

not judgey

Onager don't try to compare those statistics.

Issues of poverty/race/crime are hardly likely to be solved as easily as simply not smoking round your kids.

'how many of those children smoked themselves btw?'

Don't be bloody ridiculous. I very much doubt the under 10s suffering from glue ear or asthma have a 40 a day habit