to think that smoking in a children's playground is just not on!

[macdoodle]

First sunny day, packed park, mum (with dad and toddler) puffing away without a care!
Now she wasn't stood away from the children, she was stood watching her child right next to the toddler's frame and slide, it was full of children going up and down (including my 2yr old DD2)!
I was stood a bit further away and was getting a good old whiff of smoke, so am sure the toddlers were too!

Now I know its open air, and blah blah blah, but come on, could she not wait till they left the park, or go and stand away from the children!

So AIBU????

Justgeton, I dont need to imagine,I know the harm done I am a GP so probably know more about it than you do!!
Apart from the disgusting lingering smell, its toxic nasty stuff, and for an asthamtic allergic child it could trigger an asthma attack!
But you know what you silly moo, I am sure your foul habit is just so much more important that the health of a child !

It's people like you that ruin the lovely afternoon smells of a fresh spring day, I was say a few yards away, and it stunk, must have been nice for the toddlers under her nose

How on earth is smoking a cigarette anything like pissing in public? Does that mean that it is offensive for people on a diet to have people eating chocolate nearby? If the harm is only to the smoker, which it clearly is in the scenario described, why do all you silly moos think it has anything at all to do with you? If your child farts, do you immediately pull them off the play equipment and demand that they apologise to all affected?

YANBU

It's disgusting, some people are just idiots that can't see past the end of their own nose.

Actually, I don't smoke, but neither do I think cigarettes smoked in the open air will have any impact whatsoever of any surrounding child. It is very disturbing to think that a GP could have such ridiculously unscientific views. I can only imagine your attitude towards smokers who come to your for a consultation expecting compassionate, objective, medical advice. Do you spray them with air freshener before they are allowed to come into your room?

Well, have a think about it.

How do you view pissing in public? A nuisance? Antisocial? Dirty habit?

I happen to think that smoking falls into all three of those.

And yes, quite frankly, if someone feeds their child so appallingly that they crack one off that is SO vile it offends and becomes antisocial, then yes, they should remove their child and give it some fibre before bringing it back.

yabu

But you are talking about a smell that YOU don't like because you imagine that it is harmful. If we agree that it is not, in fact harmful in this context, all you are really saying is that you are so hideously intolerant that you really shouldn't be allowed out in public. I don't like the smell of lots of things but I don't condemn the people who smell of those things as antisocial and disgusting.

Justgeton, what scientific evidence have I quoted that is incorrect!
Fact it is a nasty, offensive habit!
Fact it stinks!
Fact it can trigger of an asthma attack in a vulnerable child!
Fact I really don't like it around MY child!

Ummmm am I compassionate to smokers who come to see me, ummm no not particularly, I warn them of the health risks and offer them help to stop, my job!!
Do I spray them with air freshener, in some cases, yes I have got up to open a window, and have been known to spray my room when they leave!
On one occasion, the reek just on clothes and hands, suffering as I was with a nasty chest infection (but yes in work) triggered off quite a nasty coughing fit!

And all that apart from the fact, I find it a foul antisocial habit!

Of course passive smoking does not count in a park - are you people completely stupid. If cigarette smoke was that potent, all smokers would die within a week of taking up the habit.

But it smells the way it does because it is harmful. I'm not imagining it and I'm not hideously intolerant.

Of course passive smoking counts in a park.

It counts wherever the fumes are inhaled.

Are you completely stupid?

I am a smoker and never smoke near my kids or anyone elses. I remove myself if I need a fag, but I can go a good few hours without one so can do family trips etc without one.

I dont not like the smell because I perceive it as dangerous, it IS fucking dangerous!
When you have seen as many emphysema and lung cancer patients as I have, you come and be tolerant about smoking !
Dont you be a silly moo, no-were did I say I thought there was a risk to my child from someone smoking outside in their vicinity, I said I didnt like it full stop, and because of the WELL KNOW/SCIENTIFIC risks of smoking, I am vociferously anti smoking!

Lovely for all the older children to see someone happiky smoking around younger children, as if it is all ok and a delightful habit!

FFS I cannot believe anyone is defending smoking around children as a "good thing"

Passive smoking counts everywhere. Unless there was a force nine gale, it would have hung around for significantly longer than you seem to think, and would have been negatively affecting everyone present the entire time.

If you can smell the smoke, you care inhaling the toxic chekmicals contained within it. That's what smelling is. Fact.

Do you work for B & H or something? You are pretty adamant that smoking really isn't that dangerous when all the facts point towards the contrary.

Macdoodle - your job is to treat all your patients equally don't you think, for the symptoms with which they present surely? It's called professionalism.

Depressing to imagine such an unworldly GP treating real people.

And then of course, there is the litter. I don't see many ashtrays/cigarette bins in playgrounds, so what happens to the dirty cigarrette butts?

Smokers can be SO blinkered and inconsiderate.

Well I don't smoke but I couldn't care less if someone smokes outside in a play park.

Really- there are bigger things out there to get wound up about.

I have seen patients with nasty emphysema or cancers (smoking related) who dont smoke, but have lived/worked with smokers, who havent even smoked near them, just that lingering reek on clothes/hands/hair, sometimes in someone with a genetic predisposition that is enough!

If you want to take the risk with your children go right ahead!

Justgeton, you have the most bizarre world view!
I treat my patients entirely appropriately according to need, am I harder on the 30 something smoker, who really doesnt give a shit about anyone except himself, or the little old man with lung cancer because he worked in the mones for 50 years, umm well you decide!

Blimey JGOWI.

Questionning macdoodle's professionalism is right out of order.

There is so much research to confirm that smoking is a dangerous habit, that not warning smokers of the risks to their health and offering them help to stop is unprofessional.

Justgeton, you do know your manner and wording is exteremely offensive??

I don't smoke, do not work for a cigarette company and realise that smoking is harmful for smokers and potentially for people who are exposed to an equivalent amount of passive smoke (fact). There is no evidence whatsoever that smoking in the open air is harmful to anyone other than the smoke (even to an asthmatic - which I am by the way).

This ignorant intolerance is far more anti-social than a mum having a cigarette in the park while enjoying the company of her child.
Ask yourselves who is really destroying social harmony - that mum or mums like some of you who assume she is ignorant, oblivious, willing to harm her own and your child, stinks, is offensive, is doing the equivalent of pulling down her pants and pissing in front of you.