Poll: smoking

[flip]

I think the regulations need to come from that state or local government.  Here's my thoughts:   ban smoking in public buildings not public places, that would be too broad to define.  Allow privately owned businesses to decide how they want to operate and those that allow smoking to post signs at all entrances to notify customers wether they are smoking or non smoking facilities.   Any business though that recieves federal or state funding is automatically a non smoking facility.

There is no bigger turn off to me than to see a pile of butts on the street, anyone caught pitching one should be fined $100.  Smoking does not give one the right to litter.

A lot of this has to do with choice.  When businesses are told how to run their establishment by the local, state or federal government we have give up all fundamental capitalist rights.  Clean air and suitably clean air are debatable and would be nearly impossible to define.  If a business is forced to go no smoke and they close down or loose a lot of revenue because of it who in the end ultimately loses?  I know the bars and food establishments produce a lot more revenue than average Joe and the way our taxes are now who is the city and state going to look to to bridge that gap?  Slippery slope here.  I think it needs to be presented by the local govts. but let the ultimate decision left to the establishment/business owners.  Govt. facilities are a different story, their land their rules.

[thurlow]

My grammar school principle, whom I really respected, usta' tell a story (probably apocryphal) about an immigrant who had done everything needed to become a naturalized citizen.  Big day came, he stood before the judge, swore his oath or whatever it took.  Came out into the hallway just ecstatic, twirling around, swinging his arms, shouting, "I'm free, I'm free."  Happened to hit a fellow in the nose who was passing by who cautioned him to watch what he was doing.  He said, "But you don't understand, I'm free, I'm free."  The fellow's response was, "Your freedom ends where my nose begins". 

[SwampDonkey]

Some people who smoke might not like what I am about to say, but I'll be brief. Smokers are not as productive at work as non-smokers and I've seen this weather it's in an office or in a potato packaging facility. Their whole routine revolves around that cigarette. For all you non smokers, just get out a note pad and jot down all the time outs at work the smoker takes in a month and add that total up and multiply by the hourly wage that person is paid.  Who's paying now? :

[Patty]

OK, maybe if the government owns the building they can say whether or not I can smoke in it. But that is the ONLY time I will allow them to modify a legal behavior of mine.   (hopefully)

[janet]

This got interesting.  I do smoke, and am sorry I do in many ways, but I AM a person who gets home with all the butts in her purse and pockets.  I have NEVER dropped a butt anywhere.  I smoke outside.  I assume I still occasionally bother some people, but I try very hard not to.  If I know I am, I´m gone or the cigarette is.  

And I have always been very productive at anything I do.  I suppose it might have slowed down in the U.S. if I´d had to go outside...

I voted ¨yes¨ because I don´t think it is a right to smoke in public places, but there have been good points made about what is defined as ¨public¨.  I once left a restaurant in CA, walked a BLOCK away, and got yelled at by a waiter who ran out after me.  That´s a bit much, I think.

Even though I think the government gets into our lives WAY too much, this is a public health issue....costs us all.
Janet

[Don_Papenburg]

Did you forget to pay the waiter?

[WH_Conley]

I smoke, most of what I have been reading seems to be "smoker's are slobs" is the apparent gist of the matter. Most of the complaints about littering are not because a person smokes, it's just pure bad manners. How many gum wrappers do you see on the street. I live in what used to be the Burley belt, insurance agent told me that this part of the country has the highest number of smokers per capita in the nation, but there is more trash on the street than butts.

My mother had a lung taken out when I was 2 years old, she never smoked a day in her life. I never smoked in her presence. I will never go into someone's house and light up unless they do first. If in close proximity to someone I will ask if it bothers them, if so I will move, if they follow, their on ther own.

I do not smoke in public buildings, except our courthouse, old building, tall ceilings, ash can is by the window that is always open, have never seen smoke in the place.

I don't think I have ever seen a restaurant or store that did not have the ash can by the front door, only other place to stand is in the flower bed they probably wouldn't apperciate that.

Pet gripe I have is the VA hospitals, had a buddy in there one time, when visiting him, had leg amputated, I could go outside and smoke, he didn't have the option. Old men sitting in wheel chairs, outside in November, I was wearing a heavy coat, they had on hospital gowns, so they could smoke. Some of these men had maybe an arm or leg gone, I'm sure a good percentage in the service of our country so everybody could express their own opinion were treated like second class citizens. Why couldn't they run people like me outside to smoke and give these worn out old men a warm place?

I know that I waste too much time smoking, only sawed 52 crossties today and 800 bdft of lumber on a LT40HD24G. Probably why we didn't get more than that is that the guy that helps me smokes too. As far as tracking time, I roomed up with a guy one time and remarked that the only I saw him smoke was on the job. He replied that if you just stood there the boss would get on his case, if he lit up he could get a couple of minutes and nothing would be said.

Time for me to smoke a last one and go to bed.

[asy]

I smoke, most of what I have been reading seems to be "smoker's are slobs" is the apparent gist of the matter. Most of the complaints about littering are not because a person smokes, it's just pure bad manners.

Never said smokers were slobs. Unfortunately you can't dictate where the smoke blows.  I agree that throwing butts is bad manners. The one I saw the other day took the cake, a young bloke rolled the window of his car down, and threw the cellophane wrap and inner htingy of his cigarette pack out...  THAT's a slob.  I thought, I bet he'd have a go at me coz the inside of my car is a disaster, but I don't leave a trail of debris wherever I roam...

Also, there are slobs of every variety, the point I made early on is that *most* slobs aren't throwing lit fuses away.

asy :D

[sawguy21]

I roomed up with a guy one time and remarked that the only I saw him smoke was on the job. He replied that if you just stood there the boss would get on his case, if he lit up he could get a couple of minutes and nothing would be said.

Time for me to smoke a last one and go to bed.

I very briefly, for about one nanosecond, considered taking up smoking to get the extra breaks the smokers enjoyed. Our shipper always complained that he was over worked and could not keep up yet took five minutes every hour to go outside with a cigarette. That was over 1/2 hour of non productive time every day. I also had to maintain the lawn which meant  cleaning up the butts that missed the can, usually by three or four feet. That REALLY got my goat >:(

[crtreedude]

When I used to smoke, I had no idea what it was like for people down wind - after all, I couldn't smell. Around that door where everyone was standing for a person who is alergic to the smoke is like running the guantlet.  :(

Our choices cannot harm others. When I choose to do something that harms others - that is when the law comes in. If we all would be considerate of others - well, we wouldn't need any laws.

For example, I really don't care if you have a fancy muffler on your car that makes you sound like you are a Nascar racer. Your money - your choice. But if you fire it up while I am sleeping... then I do care.

Most laws come into effect because the population which has a right, doesn't respect the rights of those around them. Yes, not all smokers are slobs - but, when your buddy throws down a butt - do you yell "Pick that DanG thing up!" ? After all - it is your right to smoke there that your buddy is putting at risk.

It has been my experience that around the places where smokers congregate - there is trash everywhere. There has to be a lot of "looking the other way" while people are throwing down their butts.

If smokers do not wish to be policed - they have to police themselves. Unfortunately, many times a person who is the slob will say "Butt out!"

[isassi]

And don't forget the irony of the sin taxes we pay! Here in the common sense state of Oklhaoma, you can go in a convenience store and buy rolling papers. You walk out the door with them, you better have a can of prince albert in your pocket or you can be arrested for possesion of paraphanalia (drug stuff). Oklahoma collects taxes on it, the store profits, and you take the risk. Cigarettes are the same....rather then make them illegal, nearly every state except the tobacco producers tax the product to "pay for health care, education, ect....." Kinda like traffic fines. It is funny how money makes it allright. Oklahoma passed a new tax a year ago on cigarettes, now over 1.55 per pack in tax. WOW...reasoning: you will quit, we will financially punish you til you do, and we want to fund cancer treatment, health care, ect.....now the tax revenues are falling short of projections...reason: smokers are quitting.....nope....polls find they are going to Indian smoke shops, across state lines, ect, ect...We just passed the lottery here and joined the powerball game, all because Oklahomans were driving to Texas and Kansas to spend money...now we are trying to guess the next move in Oklahoma.......By the way, I noticed yesterday, I smoked a total of 16 cigarettes, yep, 16.....I don't smoke in my home, and as stated before, I am cutting back to try to quit, for my own peace of mind. But I am not quitting due to the pressure or popularity of it. It has been my experience the more you yell and scream at someone, the more resistant they become. At least I found out I wasn't alone... ;)

[SwampDonkey]

I wanted to a give a real life spiel on your couple last sentences Roxie as it pertains to an uncle I once had. Also, pertains to about 8 other people who grew up with my mother within a mile of grandmother's house. I'll just say it never worked out too well for them. 

[Ron Wenrich]

joasis wrote:

"We just passed the lottery here and joined the powerball game, all because Oklahomans were driving to Texas and Kansas to spend money"

But, now they won't be buying as much gas for the trips, and gasoline tax revenues will decline.   :D

[CHARLIE]

No Ron, the Oklahoma guv'ment will just increase the gas taxes because less gas is being sold. ;D

[Modat22]

Man, all this talk about smoking is giving me the shakes. I haven't had a smoke since 1-3-06.

[beenthere]

Modat
Congrats, and you have been through a lot, IMO. Keep it up so's you don't have to go through the 'bad' part again.

[Modat22]

Modat
Congrats, and you have been through a lot, IMO. Keep it up so's you don't have to go through the 'bad' part again.

I've been avoiding the forum because I've felt so mean and just plain evil.

[Radar67]

Modat,
     I quit day before yesterday, and I know what you mean!  >:( I've been trying to replace my craving with sawing. I figure if I stay busy enough I'll be able to get through it.

Stew

[woodbowl]

     I quit day before yesterday, and I know what you mean! 

You did? Well ............. good for you!  I've heard that cold turkey is the best way and that it will stick if you can get to the 2 week point.

[Radar67]

it will stick if you can get to the 2 week point.

It's definitely gonna be tough, been smoking for 23 years.

Stew

[crtreedude]

Just hang in there - you are tougher than it is!

[Modat22]

It's definitely gonna be tough, been smoking for 23 years.

Stew

I just counted my fingers and toes, I've been smoking for 23 years myself. I have a couple of things that might help you out.

1. Loads of snacks around (you might want to use vegetables or your gonna gain 80 pounds)

2. plan work for 3 days in advance, You'll finish that work in 2 or less days.

3. Stay clear of your smoking friends for awhile.

4. Keep a small tin of vic salve in your pocket for the days that your around other smokers. Put a dap under your nose so the smoke doesn't tempt you.

5. Really deep breathing, each nicotine attach lasts about 5 min, Deep breathing.

Now I'm saying this stuff and doing it myself but I'm still irritable as heck.

[Radar67]

Thanks for the info Modat. I'll keep you all posted.

Stew

[sprucebunny]

I quit 8 days ago about an hour before having a molar extracted. Big hole in my gums was a big help to start.....   I'm not very grouchy.

I've quit two other times for 2 years each time. It's going to last this time.

I recomend cranberry and other fruit juices and nuts, particularly almonds.

It's all in your mind. Continue to review all the reasons to quit.
I refuse to be held hostage by a stupid and expensive habit that is bad for me both short and long term. It also leads to tooth loss and i got plenty of genes for that already :

[Chris Burchfield]

I was dumb and stupid by starting smoking in seventh grade. Four Uncles, one Aunt and my dad lost to some form of cancer. I'm 47 now, quit, started, quit, started, quit and started back again. When I say quit, I mean 2, 3 & 4 months at a time. Every laim excuse in the world to justify starting back again. Because I can identify this, I think I'm getting smarter. My dad had quit smoking and drinking before he left this world in March of 98. The odds are against me. I started smoking outside from the time my first born son came home from the hospital. I figured someone that small needed every advantage in the world. Moved into our first house with a fireplace 6 years to the day we were married. Started smoking inside with my head up the chiminey. Fire up a piece of newspaper to start a draft. Now, I never smoke in the barn (period.) I never smoked while hauling hay, though I did chew. I'll build up a head to quit another day.