Let me smoke in peace

The BBQ Pit
21

Let me add a couple of comments:

  1. You were probably stinking up the whole area.

  2. RJ Reynolds died of lung cancer.
    RJ Reynolds II died of lung cancer.
    RJ Reynolds III died of lung cancer.

  3. You probably tossed your butt on the ground.

  4. You certainly are free to tell people to shut the fuck up, but people are certainly free to tell you to finally wise up and quit smoking. Lots of people say “lose some weight” when they see heavy people - you probably do. So, wake up! Quit! The money you spend on cigarettes in one week can get you into a quit smoking program. And, if that isn’t enough for you, consider that the people who run tobacco companies have been lying to you for decades and they charge absolutely outrageous prices for one of the cheapest products to produce in the world.

22

Gazoo, are you freaking serious? Read the OP. He was in a parking lot.

The issue here is not whether cigarettes cause cancer. The issue is whether obnoxious people should or shouldn’t come up to complete strangers and “remind” them that smoking kills.

Objection! Relevance? (And besides, calls for speculation) Read the OP. He was smoking when the hag accosted him, so he couldn’t have already tossed his butt on the ground.

Dunno where you live, Gazoo, but here in New York, you simply don’t go up to strangers and pass judgment on them. If you do, it’s usually grounds for a thorough ass-kicking.

BTW, the last guy to tell me to “lose some weight” came into my office yesterday and apologized profusely, as he should have. Are we all walking around with signs on our foreheads that say, “Judge me” or what? There’s a difference between being within your rights and being within the bounds of courteous behavior.

23

Please direct us to where the OP said that he has ever blown smoke in someone’s face.

24

So, courteous behavior in New York?? On the one hand, “it’s grounds for an ass-kicking” and on the other hand you want courteous behavior?? Maybe there is no middle ground. And beating up a old woman because she told you to quit smoking?? Man, that is low. :wink:

BTW, you can stink up the whole area in a parking lot by smoking. If the woman was close enough for him to hear her, she was close enough to smell it.

When the only garbage on the street is cigarette butts, and the OP states he was standing in a parking lot (some parking lots have ashtrays, I suppose), I don’t think it takes Sherlock Holmes to figure out he tossed the butt on the ground. But I wasn’t 100% sure, so I said “probably”.

On the RJ Reynolds stuff, the issue is that this woman is telling him to quit smoking. I’m just giving him a few more reasons.

And, lastly, you are being judged all the time. At least the women in the OP had the guts to say it to your face instead of calling you a moron smoker behind your back. Lots of people feel that way. Smoker = moron is pretty much the norm among non-smokers.

25

Quick qualification to that last Smoker = moron comment. If you are over 50, people usually give you a break. You started smoking before the health concerns were widely known, and now you are so addicted that you would have to get on methadone to get off of nicotine, and it’s just not worth it.

26

Wow, Gazoo. Thanks for enlightening me as to the facts. All smokers under 50 are morons? The only garbage in the street is cigarette butts? My, oh my. Aren’t we painting with a rather large brush today?

27

Yup. A big mess calls for a big brush :smiley:

In downtown Chicago, almost all the garbage is butts- I know, I said only, but that was for The Hyperbole Effect™.

And, at least with the people I have discussed it with, smokers under 50 (or so) are called morons. Sad, but true. Oh, some people are nicer, saying “Can you believe he/she still smokes?” with a shake of the head.

28

Gazoo, hop off the high fucking horse!

Yes, I’m sure your parents are unbelievably proud of you for not smoking. And might I add what a burden it must be, being as perfect as you. However, I live in the real world. For example, I know that the world’s evils in total do not stem from cigarette smoking.

I also know that human’s have frailities. They buy hype and they suffer from addictions. Going on and on about “smoking is gross, smoking is bad for you, smoking is offensive,” is just making you live up to Bill Hicks label – “whining fucking maggot.”

Having not smoked for more than four months, I would encourage anyone so inclined to quit, but I’m not going to piss on them for not quitting, or to rephrase

– I respect smoker’s rights.

It’s very narrow minded to automatically assume a smoker is an asshole or a moron, just because he smokes, despite the assholish nature of the OP.

29

Zette: “Moom”? An exploding cow?

Gazoo: You were beaten up by smokers in High School, weren’t ya?

30

Spoofe, don’t MAKE me come over there… :wink:

Zette

31

I dunno, I kinda like the response I heard from … was it Drew Carey? Greg Proops?

Irritating Nut-Wrinkle: “You know, smoking can kill you!”
Smoker: “Really?! Jesus!” frantically stubbing out cigarette “My God, thank you! You saved my live, citizen!”

The point is that, with VERY few exceptions, smokers know it’s bad for them. Why the hell does a sanctimonious passerby have to “inform” them of that fact?
Dragonblink the Courteous Non-Smoker

32

Yup, smoker here. I understand that as smokers, we are truly the Lost Tribe. I think it was Stephen King who pictured us wandering through the desert, following Joe Camel. Fuck HIM for quitting.

Regardless, we have the last truly filthy habit that can not only kill ourselves, but lead to others demise as well, yet still be legal. Icky habit, indeeed.

However.

Anyone that thinks we do not know that is truly <ahem> blowing smoke up their own asses. To think for one second you will convince anyone to quit anything, especially something as habit forming as smoking, merely by pointing out the obvious, is truly more of a social faux pas than smoking, IMOSHO. Wake up, gang. Most (notice I did not say “all”) smokers are well aware, not only of their habit, but of the social stigma attached to it. I, for one, will not smoke in a public place, unless I’m in a designated spot or a bar. Even if I’m in a designated spot (in a restaurant, for example), I still will not light up if there are children around. I cannot smoke in my sister’s home, even though she and her husband do, because of their three kids. If I’m dining with a group and the nons outweigh the smokers, I would never push for a smoking table. I do not throw my butts on the ground, as a rule. <okay, I get drunk like the next guy. At least I don’t puke> I do not like littering and I do not like foisting my own bad habits on other people.

Being fucking obnoxious is a bad habit, too, though. And, BOY, does it rub off.

I’m reminded of the old saying about tattoos, way before it became socially acceptable*. The only difference between people who have a tattoo and people who don’t is, people with a tattoo don’t care if you’re tattooed or not.

We’re respecting your rights. Hell, we’re getting edged out more all the time. How about giving ours a little consideration?

[sub]*And, no, I’m not saying in any way that smoking is going to become socially acceptable. Our golden days have passed.[/sub]

33

Um, I wasn’t on the Debate Team, but I don’t think the argument “My friends think I’m right” makes a statement valid.

If you are going to assume that people who knowingly engage in risky activities that have the potential to annoy another human beings are assholes, why stop at smokers? How about people who drink?

Look at the similarities:

  • Smoking can hasten death. Drinking can hasten death.
  • Some people start smoking because of peer pressure or they think it will make them look cool. Ditto for drinking.
  • Cigarettes fuck up your lungs. Alcohol rips up your liver.
  • Smokers often reek or tar. Drinkers often reek of whiskey breath and beer farts.
  • Smokers apparently threaten the lives of others with second hand smoke. Drinkers do so with bar fights and DWI.
  • Granted, drinkers don’t have the potential for litter as much as smokers, but I’ve never heard of a guy taking advantage of a woman after she smoked too many Newports.

I could also point out the obnoxious behavior associated with and life threatening side effects caused by driving a car. Drinking coffee. In-line skating. Recreational sex.

Presumably you do none of these things, Gazoo. As they are clearly moronic.

34

Thank the gods. I considered the smoking/drinking arguement but left it for more capable hands.

35

Fuck, I had that happen to me yesterday.

Assholes, yes I am aware of how my actions effect my life, but these assholes need to quit acting like their shit does not stink.
Bunch of assholes in this town.

Osip

36

Even though you were being sarcastic, and even though it wasn’t directed at me, I just thought I’d say that I actually do do none of those things you mentioned, for precisely the reason you state - they’re moronic.

I lead a very dull life, but well… whatever.

37

I have to take issue with your comparison Alphagene, smokers smoke …what?.. 25 times a day? EVERY day.
Not many drinkers get drunk when they get up in the morning, and stay drunk all day, EVERY day, for years on end.

There are social drinkers, which (correct me if I am wrong) are the norm, not the drunk-all-day drinkers.

I dont see alot of social smokers.

I just dont think that comparison holds water.

(nice to see you BTW, and I hope you are ok, sorry about the new job-that sounds lame, but I hope you understand my meaning)

38

For the record, I do none of those things. Haven’t owned a car for 21 years, never drank coffee, never even had an interest in on-line skating, no recreational sex.

If you want to whine about some woman saying “What are you trying to do, kill yourself”, then I will whine about second-hand smoke, garbage, cancer, higher insurance rates (ooh, I missed that one!), and tell you what a moron you are. Quit or have many people think you are a moron. There’s no third way in this society. That’s the way it is.

39

I was a smoker and I beat up people in High School, so I was a REAL moron!! :smiley:

40

I feel that I must point out that I was a smoker until about 1980 (when did it go up to $1 a pack - that’s when I quit)

I know how difficult it is to quit - I had to quit several times before it took. I feel your pain.

But, quit already. This is just stupid.