Please accept my apologies, I was out of line. I usually live in the Pit and forget when I’m other places. It won’t happen again.
And thou shouldst know, lezlers, that even unto the Pit it is possible to flay the wanton swine that is the all-too-commonly-littering smoker, whilst avoiding vituperative verbiage.
I’m not new, Jack. I’ve seen the threads. I’ve apologized, no need to take any additional jabs.
“Are cigarette smokers pigs”? Well, in a word, no.
A pig is “Any of several mammals of the family Suidae, having short legs, cloven hooves, bristly hair, and a cartilaginous snout used for digging, especially the domesticated hog, Sus scrofa domesticus, when young or of comparatively small size.”
That being the case one is left wondering whether or not the OP is either unaware of what a pig is or has knowledge that some pigs do indeed smoke cigarettes (as opposed to cigars or pipes). Of couse one only wonders for a nano-second and then understands that the OP has chosen their words not to pose a debate position…otherwise they would have posed something similar to “I believe that people who smoke cigarettes are engaging in behavior that I equate to the commonly accepted perception of the behavior of pigs in that they are filthy (“Covered or smeared with filth; disgustingly dirty.animals”)”, but rather for the inflamatory effect guaranteed by the characterization.
Fair enough, so far. I believe I know where the OP is coming from. Of course many would argue that pigs are not filthy but the perception remains and appears to be a useful one to the OP.
So, here we are. Are smokers uniquely pig-like in their behavior? That is the only valid question imo. Any other phrasing is intellectually dishonest and un-worthy of “debate”. If smokers are are not uniquely pig-like in their behavior then the question falls into the non-sensensical realm of other questions like “Does the Roosevelt dime spend better than the mercury dime?”.
At this point one has no option but to establish a base-line for pig-like behavior. What constitutes pig-like behavior and how do smokers uniquely exhibit such behavior?
So far it appears that discarding butts and the odor are the primary causes for complaint. (the choice of where ones’ money goes is specious and demostrably a non-issue). Is the discarding of a cigarette butt without due regard pig-like behavior? In the context in which the OP posed the question, the answer is yes. Does this disregard rise to a level that would differentiate the smoker from other persons that would discard trash without equal due regard? The answer is no. Anyone that discards trash without due regard is engaging in pig-like behavior. Smoker without regard equals everest climber that defecates in the snow and leaves it without regard equals pig-like behavior etc., etc., etc.
The odor. Does the fact that some people find the odor of smoking unpleasant constitute pig-like behavior on the part of smokers? The answer is yes. Pigs do not smell good to most people. Does the odor rise to a level that would differentiate smokers from all other odor sources? The answer is no. The world is full of odors that cause varying numbers of people varying degrees of unpleasantness. If you smell smoke on someone’s clothes or a used computer it is simply unpleasant, nothing more (excepting the allergic or chemically sensitive. I think that it would be uncommon to be unique to cigarette smoke as opposed to residue from other smoke sources.). You may require that those items you buy be only those products or items that are unsullied by cigarette smoke. Do so. No one is stopping you. Odor from smokers is likely less unpleasant than the odors from the compost plant, pulp mill, refinery, stockyard, etc. that employs you, the smoker and non-smoker alike. Those odors are also free to inhabit public “airspace”. Odor of smokers equals other unpleasant odors equals pig-like behavior etc., etc., etc.
Second hand smoke. Choose your study.
Any question other than “Do we all engage in pig-like behavior on occassion?” is simply a transparent attack on a population that has become an easy target. Where I come from we call that bullying. Not a nice thing and generally engaged in by weak people, in my opinion. To me it smells a lot like “holy war”.
The position that one don’t like smoking or smokers is one to which one is perfectly entitled. I find no fault with anyone that takes that position. I do find fault with anyone that thinks that anything they “find unpleasant” or “dislike” equals a “cause”. I don’t like it that some motorcyclists/bicylists choose not to wear helments and may subsequently be injured and that my taxes are incrementally higher because of the care that they then require. But if I fly homebuilt experimental aircraft I cannot make their lack of foresight my “cause”. I would be a conscious hypocrite.
IMO there appears to be no behavior that smokers engage in that would singularly differentiate them from the standard population. That is not to say that I am not full well aware of the amusing polarity of smoker/non-smoker interaction.
Speaking for myself I cannot see anything in the original question that would stimulate “debate”. Unless of course teaching your dog your home phone number constitutes debate in one’s mind.
The position that one don’t like smoking or smokers is one to which one is perfectly entitled.
…doesn’t like smoking…
geeze.
At first I thought this practice was out of concern for others in the car. I should have left it at that, but I asked a few smokers I know. Turns out that the smell of smoke in the car decreases it’s resale value.
That would be three out of a sample of three.
I sometimes put the cidarette out, wait for it to cool, then toss it in the trash. Most of the time I toss it on the ground. And I’m one of those who does’t litter otherwise.
Good point, hoynt
Peace,
mangeorge