# Are you bothered if someone 'smokes' next to you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 3, 2013, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-bothered-if-someone-smokes-next-to-you/667866 "2013-09-03T05:01:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-bothered-if-someone-smokes-next-to-you/667866/41 "2013-09-04T14:42:37Z")
I can handle mentholated right by me, but not the regular stuff. At least, not for very long. I’m probably not going to say anything unless I can’t leave, though. And, even then, I’m going to be very careful, as I worry that the type of people who don’t naturally try to go off in a corner or something often are also the ones that have a chip on their shoulder about the whole affair. If my sister is with me, I’ll use her asthma as an excuse–that never seems to fail. I’ve honestly never seen anyone smoking in a non-smoking environment, but I’d guess I’d mention it, but only if they were near me or there were other people who were obviously wanting to do it but weren’t because of the crowd effect. Though, if an official person is nearby, I think I’d have them do it, instead. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-bothered-if-someone-smokes-next-to-you/667866/42 "2013-09-04T15:29:43Z")
> [@rhubarbarin](#): > > Other. > > Outside? Don’t care. Inside? Really annoying. This assuming both are courteous and don’t exhale right in my face. Smoke indoors is just so much more overwhelming, I can’t deal with it. Luckily, recent laws against public indoor smoking have mostly taken care of this for me. 🙂 > > I used to smoke cigarettes recreationally on a regular basis, and enjoyed it. I like the smell of the fresh smoke, especially menthols. I just don’t do it because it’s unhealthy. But now my body is completely unused to it and I find that direct exposure to secondhand smoke makes my eyes burn and my throat sore. Also, I don’t like my hair and clothes to smell like the stale smoke afterwards. I had to say other too. Doesn’t bother me at all outside. Inside I would prefer they didn’t. I’m a former smoker but fresh smoke does not bother me. Stale tobacco smell is awful. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-bothered-if-someone-smokes-next-to-you/667866/43 "2013-09-04T16:23:18Z")
As mentioned above fresh cigarette smoke won’t bother me as long as it isn’t in my face. Cigar smoke otoh is wretched and vile and stinky and the smoker can be a 100 feet away and I can still smell it. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-bothered-if-someone-smokes-next-to-you/667866/44 "2013-09-04T16:39:44Z")
For the first couple of years after quitting, I actually enjoyed being near someone smoking. But at some point I stopped enjoying it, then actively hating it. Now, even when I’m driving, I can’t stand it if someone in the car ahead of me is smoking. ---
**Author:** ![Zyanthia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Zyanthia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyanthia)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-bothered-if-someone-smokes-next-to-you/667866/45 "2013-09-04T16:48:55Z")
I voted other because it depends on what they are smoking. Clove cigarettes or cigars, not a chance. I will get up and leave if that’s an option. A nice pipe tobacco, and I might just sit nearer. Regular cigarette, I wouldn’t leave but if they asked I’d say I’d prefer they didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-bothered-if-someone-smokes-next-to-you/667866/46 "2013-09-04T18:26:26Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > … > > I’ve honestly never seen anyone smoking in a non-smoking environment… I see it _all the time_ here in Montreal. Bus drivers even smoke inside their buses! Which isn’t allowed, but they do it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-bothered-if-someone-smokes-next-to-you/667866/47 "2013-09-04T18:29:28Z")
Yes, it does annoy me, mightily. Especially if they are in a no-smoking area and think that doesn’t apply to them 'cuz they just gotta have a smoke. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-bothered-if-someone-smokes-next-to-you/667866/48 "2013-09-04T18:42:25Z")
In general, go right ahead. However, being a Camel quitter, I find that Marlboros in particular have a distinctive and somewhat unpleasant odor. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-bothered-if-someone-smokes-next-to-you/667866/49 "2013-09-04T19:02:31Z")
Yeah, anywhere and everywhere. Pisses me right off. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-bothered-if-someone-smokes-next-to-you/667866/50 "2013-09-04T21:08:14Z")
I actually enjoy it. I like the smell of the better brands, and I even get a buzz from it. BTW–I have never actually smoked, or even tried. ---
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-bothered-if-someone-smokes-next-to-you/667866/51 "2013-09-04T23:53:14Z")
Can’t stand cigarette smoke. Absolutely hate it. Though I don’t go telling people not to smoke in areas where smoking is allowed, I just hang out elsewhere. I’d rather someone light up a joint next to me rather than a cigarette. At least that way I could enjoy a contact high. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-bothered-if-someone-smokes-next-to-you/667866/52 "2013-09-05T00:32:10Z")
More than being disgusted by it, which I am quite, it is the inconsideration that really pisses me off. Thank goodness places where it is legal to smoke in the US are becoming fewer and that I don’t frequent most of them. I think outside of the arrival gates at airports are the only places I still have the misfortune of being assaulted by smokers’ effluvia. ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-bothered-if-someone-smokes-next-to-you/667866/53 "2013-09-05T01:47:32Z")
No – I’d encourage them. Have never smoked – am lucky maybe, that the smell does not trouble me – but hate the way in which smoking and smokers are nowadays demonised, when there are IMO so many far worse things being done, worldwide. I feel sorry for smokers, in these times. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-bothered-if-someone-smokes-next-to-you/667866.md?page=2)