Quote:
Originally Posted by Phalanx
But then, the nonsmokers "habits" don't as directly effect the health of those around them, whereas smoking can. Actually, not ALL smoking, just smoking (I'm sure this sounds unfair, but hey) in public. When you look at it, it's essentially a drug habit that's been made acceptable at large because a lot of people do it, and the govt. ok's in on account of profits...I personally believe that as such, it should be kept to the home and/or away from those that don't have a choice but to breathe it in. A far comparison, but it's almost like if a junkie were to stick you with a needle, and you had no choice in the matter.
The car driving thing isn't really something you can blame the consumers for either, more the companies for not making more environmentally sound products.
That said, my only beef with smokers is that a lot of them are inconsiderate, and consider their "wants" the be all and end all, fuck everybody else. I've said this before, but if one more person lights up right in front of me when I'm exiting a train or bus, they're gonna be spat on. Why? At least they don't have to INHALE my dirty habit.
But, I should point out here that I'm all for smokers only clubs/locations, I think that it's only fair with the eventual banning of public smoking, that if people continue to smoke (which face it, it's not looking like stopping anytime soon, it's their choice), that they should have locations for just that, just as us non-smokers should also.
I think if there's a mutual respect of rights, and the smoker/nonsmoker makes decisions based only on their own health, it's not a big problem. But...it's a mutual respect that has a long way to go yet. EG - If you're a nonsmoker, don't walk into a location/residence primarily occupied by smokers, and complain about it (and no, I'm not referring to "in public in general"), just the same if you're a smoker, don't go into nonsmoking residences and locations, and complain that you can't smoke.
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If you blame the auto companys for making the air toxic and not the consumers that buy & drive SUVs (Which incidently, if people weren't buying, automakers would stop making), then how can you put the blame of smoking on the consumers that buy & smoke them, but not the companys that produce them? I don't follow the logic there...
Ford makes SUV - Consumer buys SUV - SUV pollutes air & bodies
Camel makes cigarettes - Consumer buys cigarettes - Cigarettes pollute air & bodies
Where's the difference?
How can you blame the manufacturer of 1, but not the other? Neither product is entirely good, but the people that use them like them. If your reasoning is that you have to breathe in the second hand smoke, then you obviously havent been to Los Angeles or New York because you also have to breathe in the polluted air. And that is all day, everyday not just someone lighting up when you get off the bus.
I agree that there should be smoking bars & non-smoking bars & clubs or whatever because those have a tendancy to basically fill with smoke to the point that it sometimes even bothers those of us that do smoke, so I can entirely understand non-smokers objecting to somone smoking next to them indoors in public. Outdoors or in the home though... That is what I have an issue with.