# Attention smokers: everything in your house is ruined. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 19, 2014, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471 "2014-04-19T04:43:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/221 "2014-04-25T21:09:25Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I live in China. Care to explain how I’m supposed to “not associate” with smokers when damn near every male in China smokes in public, regardless of the venue? Do Chinese smokers (unlike their U.S. counterparts) have a semi-reasonable argument in favor of smoking in public (that air quality is already so horrible that their contribution to it is miniscule)? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/222 "2014-04-25T21:58:06Z")
> [@armedmonkey](#): > > Close enough, asshole. You said “damn near every male”. What, you think “everybody” doesn’t include Chinese females? ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/223 "2014-04-25T22:14:07Z")
Fine, whatever. You want to be that precise? **Monty** said damn near every Chinese man he’s met reeks, but they deny it. Also, if these Chinese men say they don’t do something in their own homes, well, they are lying. Happy? ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/224 "2014-04-26T00:21:23Z")
I think I may need to clarify the above. I don’t think **Monty** is a racist. I’m just annoyed with him here. Too much “I didn’t mean that” when he clearly did, and a touch of “venom!? Certainly not me!”. It’s annoying. He’ll make broad statements, but then take umbrage when somebody calls him on it. It would be better if he just admitted to hyperbole. But, nope. He doubles down. Hyperbole isn’t necessarily bad, this is the Pit after all, but denying that just make him look like a jackass. So to explain the above post: If we must take **monty’s** post by their very letter, that’s what we get. I would _much_ rather believe that he is being hyperbolic. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/225 "2014-04-26T00:35:54Z")
armedmonkey may be armed, it certainly isn’t with intelligence. What a ridiculous buffoon! ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/226 "2014-04-26T01:01:43Z")
You’re a jackass. I’ve seen you in other threads besides this one. You’re just kinda dumb. Not _completely_ stupid, understand… just kinda dumb. And maybe a little bit spineless. When someone attacks your position, you do one of two things. Deny you ever said it, or post a one line insult as if that is somehow a rebuttal. Neither of which makes you look good. Yes, this is a personal attack on you, but the thing is I don’t dislike you. It’s just that your posts in this thread have annoyed me. I suppose that’s obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/227 "2014-04-26T01:11:21Z")
You’re full of crap, monkey. And it’s not my fault that you can’t read for comprehension. Oh, and racist? I’m not using the term “Chinese” to refer to a race. As I live in China, it’s rather obvious that I’m using the term to refer to the people of this country–for the comprehension impaired (such as you), that would be Chinese. If I were living in America and the US had a similar problem with smoking rates, wimpish anti-smoking legislation, and widespread disregard of what existing anti-smoking legislation exists, then I would’ve said “American” instead of “Chinese”. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/228 "2014-04-26T01:14:47Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Do Chinese smokers (unlike their U.S. counterparts) have a semi-reasonable argument in favor of smoking in public (that air quality is already so horrible that their contribution to it is miniscule)? [They’re apparently unaware of the detrimental effects of smoking](http://articles.latimes.com/2011/apr/30/world/la-fg-china-smoke-20110430). That article is from three years ago. I’ve yet to see the legislation mentioned enforced. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/229 "2014-04-26T01:21:44Z")
Armedmonkey, I don’t entirely disagree with you here, but think this one through. > [@armedmonkey](#): > > [**Monty**] claims everybody smokes in China. > [@Skywatcher](#): > > What, you think “everybody” doesn’t include Chinese females? > [@armedmonkey](#): > > Fine, whatever. You want to be that precise? … > [@armedmonkey](#): > > [**Monty** will] make broad statements, but then take umbrage when somebody calls him on it. Yeah, some people think just dismissing half the population is not a minor quibble. Pots and kettles here. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/230 "2014-04-26T01:32:19Z")
**Monty** , I thought I made it very, _very_ clear I didn’t think you were a racist. It was the second sentence after “I may need to clarify the above”. You are frothing at the mouth without even addressing my actual criticism, which is this: You made blanket statements, and then either weaseled or took umbrage when called on it. This isn’t even about smoking at this point. It’s about simple logic and the use of it. Let’s try an exercise. Imagine “Bob” says “My experience is the same: every Mormon I know thinks their underwear is magical. All the people I’ve known in person who are Mormon and who say they don’t think their underwear are magical …well, they do. I live in Utah and damn near everybody is Morman.” When called on it, bob insists that it’s not all Mormons, just the ones he knows. Now, can you tell me the numerous flaws in that train of thought? ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/231 "2014-04-26T01:40:56Z")
> [@j666](#): > > Yeah, some people think just dismissing half the population is not a minor quibble. > Pots and kettles here. I humbly apologize to all Chinese women everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/232 "2014-04-26T01:44:58Z")
How about apologizing for tossing out the word _racist_? There’s nothing in my posts in this thread–or anywhere else on this board, for that matter–that would indicate racism. And, since you specifically said that you don’t think I’m racist, there was no reason whatsoever to put that word in that post. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/233 "2014-04-26T03:23:17Z")
Wow. What the fuck are you doing, armedmonkey. He didn’t weasel out of anything. He qualified all of his statements carefully to ward of just the type of shit you are pulling. And he isn’t frothing at the mouth. He seems cool as a fucking fan next to your sporadic rambles. The only other thing I came in here to say, MOL said pages ago. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/234 "2014-04-26T03:46:15Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > The only other thing I came in here to say, MOL said pages ago. Damn you. Now you just forced to go searching through this whole thread searching for “mean” to figure out what you wanted to say :D. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/235 "2014-04-26T04:00:54Z")
Oh, it was the thing that she called Lasciel out on. The thing about a library book coming back from a smoker’s house after a week all yellow and gummy and sticky with goo and giving all the other books cancer or some such horseshit. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/236 "2014-04-26T04:09:21Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Wow. What the fuck are you doing, armedmonkey. He didn’t weasel out of anything. Are you fucking kidding me? Did you just read that last post? He picked the _one_ thing that would cloud the issue, and he seized on that. He wants you to think I called him a racist! That’s some upper level weaseling. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/237 "2014-04-26T04:17:42Z")
No, you frothing moron. I did not say that. What I did say was that there was no reason whatsoever to put that word in your post. In other words: _you_ posted the word to cloud the issue. And post #230 is simple trolling. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/238 "2014-04-26T04:41:58Z")
You’re wrong. I liked you before, but I do not like you now. **Monty** , you make blanket statements, but claim that they are not blanket statements. This isn’t about smoking or race or anything specific - It’s about blanket statements. Just the logic of the thing. I’m about to give up, to be honest, but I will give it one more shot. This is the last attempt and then I’m out of this thread. There is no fundamental difference between “Everybody” and “Everybody I’ve met”. I don’t understand why this is hard concept for you. We are all humans, prone to see patterns and prone to make errors. You use “all” way too much, but you think if you think if you tag it with “that I’ve met” it’ll keep you immune from your own faulty human pattern recognition. It doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/239 "2014-04-26T05:03:57Z")
> [@armedmonkey](#): > > You’re wrong. Nope. > [@](#): > > I liked you before, but I do not like you now. Big whoop. > [@](#): > > **Monty** , you make blanket statements, but claim that they are not blanket statements. I did no such thing. > [@](#): > > This isn’t about smoking or race or anything specific - It’s about blanket statements. Just the logic of the thing. A. I did not make blanket statements. B. You did not evidence any actual logic. > [@](#): > > I’m about to give up, to be honest, but I will give it one more shot. This is the last attempt and then I’m out of this thread. There is no fundamental difference between “Everybody” and “Everybody I’ve met”. Not my fault you don’t know the meaning of the word _anecdote_. > [@](#): > > I don’t understand why this is hard concept for you. We are all humans, prone to see patterns and prone to make errors. You use “all” way too much, but you think if you think if you tag it with “that I’ve met” it’ll keep you immune from your own faulty human pattern recognition. It doesn’t. Once again, not my fault you don’t know the meaning of the word _anecdote_. For some reason, probably fathomable only to you, you degenerated into trolling in this thread. I really don’t care why. All I care about is that you decided to be a troll. You trolled. That’s pretty much your behavior directed at me in this thread. As I am convinced now that you are a troll, your posts will be invisible to me from now on. Not that you care, of course. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471/240 "2014-04-26T05:51:27Z")
Well, I know I just said I’d leave this thread, but what I meant is I was just tired of the argument. So… kinda back on topic, cigarette smoke isn’t some metaphysical bugaboo, but it’s sticky. Damn it’s sticky. Years ago I was given a desktop computer from someone who smokes a lot (I wanted the thing for parts). I cracked it open and _damn_. Everything was coated in this oily brownish residue. The fan wasn’t just cooling the electronics, it was sucking the ambient air in and running it over the electronic parts. I think it acted like a filter for the smoke. And well, _everything_ was coated with this yellowish/brownish oily goo. So I sympathize with a lot of the posts in this thread, it’s just that some of the stories are just not possible and some of them seem to be coming from people who may have larger issues. Even if your neighbor smokes, and even if the wall in your closet that abuts his apartment is less than airtight, that’s not the reason your clothes are turning yellow. Cigarette smoke will definitely turn things yellow, but Occam’s razor says that the human body is more likely than cigarette smoke seeping between apartments. Every human secretes urea through their skin. That’s what most likely turned the clothes yellow. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-smokers-everything-in-your-house-is-ruined/686471.md?page=13)