National smoking ban?

[residentofcre]

I heard a report on WTOP this morning... they say that the average person gains about 20 lbs when they stop smoking so the weight gain is not a health concern.

I quit smoking in December but let me tell you the 50lbs I gained [so far] is causing me some serious health problems and it isn't doing my self esteem any good either.

I am all for educating others not to start. I am also for educating people about the effects of second hand smoke.

I am not in favor of a national ban on smoking. I don't think that is something the government should be regulating.

 

[Coaster]

I quit smoking in December but let me tell you the 50lbs I gained [so far] is causing me some serious health problems and it isn't doing my self esteem any good either.

Quit eating so much fatty.

 

[Coaster]

Why should I be worried about your health? If your the one concerned, then you do something about it, not me.

I am doing something, seeing to it that smokers keep that nonsense to themselves. Additionally, I hit the gym 5 times a week, Yoga class once a week, aerobics at home, study and practice nutrition too.
You worried? You've never stated if you yourself are a smoker. And yes, I am concerned about the 'slippery slope' that legislation like no smoking bans causes. It's like a liberal control thing. I... am worried.

 

[Bustem' Down]

I am doing something, seeing to it that smokers keep that nonsense to themselves. Additionally, I hit the gym 5 times a week, Yoga class once a week, aerobics at home, study and practice nutrition too.
You worried? You've never stated if you yourself are a smoker. And yes, I am concerned about the 'slippery slope' that legislation like no smoking bans causes. It's like a liberal control thing. I... am worried.

Yep, I'm a smoker, and whenever someone opens thier mouth to complain to me, while I'm in a bar or the smoking section of a restaurant or anywhere else I am allowed to smoke, I blow it right in thier face and tell them they can piss off.

 

[residentofcre]

Quit eating so much fatty.

Yeah... that's exactly what my husband tells me....

Easier said than done these days... guess next there will be a ban on being fat....

 

[Coaster]

Yep, I'm a smoker, and whenever someone opens thier mouth to complain to me, while I'm in a bar or the smoking section of a restaurant or anywhere else I am allowed to smoke, I blow it right in thier face and tell them they can piss off.

Damn right, it's your decision, and perfectly legal.
Just be sure to inhale deeply and smoke as much and as often as possible.

 

[residentofcre]

Y'know, lots of people survived to old age just fine before we had surgeon general's reports and hyperactive activists.

I'm a cancer survivor (so far) and a former smoker who was also subjected to constant doses of second-hand smoke as a kid. Tobacco smoke stinks terribly (the longer it's been since I smoked the worse it smells), and few would argue that it's not bad for you, but we're taking things to extremes here.

I've little doubt that the whining pot-stirring spoiled brats of modern America will push hard and eventually win a national smoking ban, but when they do it will be a stupid and sad day in this country's history.

Let me give you a Surgeon General's warning you can take to the bank: The Surgeon General has determined that living is hazardous to your health.

Life is a temporary condition of unpredictable length followed predictably by death, and no amount of legislation will change that. Whining and pushing legislation because somebody else's habit might offend you (and if you're that easily offended you have no grasp on the realities of living) is ridiculous. Might as well ban earthquakes, forest fires, traffic accidents, and steep cliffs.

Definitely

 

[BuddyLee]

Whatever happened to the compromise of 'smokers sections'?

 

[BS Gal]

Damn right, it's your decision, and perfectly legal.
Just be sure to inhale deeply and smoke as much and as often as possible.

I don't think I like you and I mean that in the nicest way.

 

[Ken King]

Damn right, it's your decision, and perfectly legal.
Just be sure to inhale deeply and smoke as much and as often as possible.

Why not, smokers "according to experts" will live shorter lives and be less of a drain on retirement and social security programs. As such, they should be embraced as contributing to the common good. We are only doing it for you.

 

[Masey]

You, the crybaby, are violating the smoker's space. You have legs, move.

When it burns your hand to touch a hot burner, stop touching the hot burner instead of screaming for mommy to turn it off.

You, the smoker, are endangering everyone’s health in your vicinity - you have legs, move.

When you are factually warned for over fifty years not to smoke, stop smoking instead of screaming at the tobacco company for making them so addictive.

 

[czygvtwkr]

Why not, smokers "according to experts" will live shorter lives and be less of a drain on retirement and social security programs. As such, they should be embraced as contributing to the common good. We are only doing it for you.

I don't believe that government should ban smoking. But I sure wish they could keep government workers and contractors from smoking while on the clock. Of the 8 people that are on my team 5 of them are smokers and I get more work out of the 3 that dont smoke than the 5 that do. Every time I need to find a smoker I just go out to those stupid little gazeebos they put up for them.

 

[Masey]

I don't believe that government should ban smoking. But I sure wish they could keep government workers and contractors from smoking while on the clock. Of the 8 people that are on my team 5 of them are smokers and I get more work out of the 3 that dont smoke than the 5 that do. Every time I need to find a smoker I just go out to those stupid little gazeebos they put up for them.

That problem was fixed where I work. We punch a time clock and if you take a break for any reason (other than restroom) you are required to punch out. So now, if you want to go out and get a breakfast sandwich after you arrive in the morning, you have to punch out. If you want to take that morning smoking breaking, you have to punch out. You take a lunch - you punch out. You want that after lunch smoke, you have to punch out.

 

[hwyman3]

It already happened in Charles County. You are no longer allowed to smoke in restaurants except in La Plata.

La Plata is in the process of a smoking ban that is even stronger than Charles County's!

I am an asthmatic and do not support the smoking bans. If I walk into a bar, and there are smokers and I have an attack, who's fault is that? It is mine. I know there is a reasonable expectation of there being smoke in a bar. Therefore, I avoid the potential for harm to myself. It's not right of me, through legislation, to force a bar owner to change their policy for me.

These bans may not hurt businesses, but do they help? We've heard for years that going non-smoking helps with revenue. This says it may be good for business. If this were true, wouldn't you have seen a national chain, like TGI Fridays, Bennigans, Applebee's, etc. institute this policy on their own, without legislation? What happens is you may see increased revenue from food, but a decline in revenue from alcohol purchases, which is more profitable than the food sales.

 

[forever jewel]

That problem was fixed where I work. We punch a time clock and if you take a break for any reason (other than restroom) you are required to punch out. So now, if you want to go out and get a breakfast sandwich after you arrive in the morning, you have to punch out. If you want to take that morning smoking breaking, you have to punch out. You take a lunch - you punch out. You want that after lunch smoke, you have to punch out.

Hypothetically that would work, but I know too many devote smokers who are more than willing to punch out for their cigarette breaks.

 

[Angel]

I lived in Maine when they passed the state wide smoking ban. Not a problem for me, I would walk outside to have my smoke. The problem I have is when non-smokers get on their high horse. Give it a rest. If you have a problem with those who smoke then avoid them. The smokers already have to avoid everybody else regardless of whether they are respectful of the non smokers or not. The door goes both ways.

 

[Railroad]

You, the smoker, are endangering everyone’s health in your vicinity - you have legs, move.

When you are factually warned for over fifty years not to smoke, stop smoking instead of screaming at the tobacco company for making them so addictive.

I'm not a smoker anymore but I'll make believe I still am and tell you to learn to get along with others. We tolerate you, so you should tolerate us. You want to be smoke-free, that's great. Go find some smoke-free space.

As for the other stuff, the only folks crying about addictive tobacco are lawsuit-happy people, smokers and non-smokers alike. I doubt that any smoker gives a rat's behind about the issue.

 

[czygvtwkr]

Is smoking around someone really any different than farting around someone? You are introducing something that was not there before, that does not need to be there, and often not wanted.

 

[Bustem' Down]

I would like to see the testing they did for it. I'm interested to see how they got around all the variables that would screw up the results, genetic factors, air pollution, auto exhaust, etc. It would be interesting becuase getting any kind of control for a test like this would be almost impossible.

 

[Vince]

I don't believe that government should ban smoking. But I sure wish they could keep government workers and contractors from smoking while on the clock. Of the 8 people that are on my team 5 of them are smokers and I get more work out of the 3 that dont smoke than the 5 that do. Every time I need to find a smoker I just go out to those stupid little gazeebos they put up for them.

I have one smoker that works for me. He takes minimal smoke breaks and I get more work out of him than anyone else.