Non smokers and moaning.

Archeron · 12-06-2006 08:12AM #1

Just thought I'd ask your opinion about non-smokers and moaning generally as I've been inspired by the smoking at concerts thread.

Do you think, be you a smoker or a non-smoker that a large percentage of non-smokers just moan so much about smoking? These days, smoking is permitted in virtually no indoor places, but it seems that people complain more these days than the days when you were allowed smoke in maternity hospitals and cinemas!! I agree with the smoking ban 100% (how could you not??), as I think its only fair that people arent forced to sit in smoky bars all night, but surely, smokers should be allowed enjoy their smoke in peace outside the premises or in the permitted areas without the constant bitching and moaning? When I smoked, I actually had strangers passing by me in the street decide to inform me of how disgusting and unhealthy my habit was, as if I didnt already know. Also, as if I give a damn what passing idiots may think of my decisions to smoke or not. The same IMO about comments about people smoking at bus stops and train stations and such places.

I personally feel that there are smokers and non-smokers, but even people who dont smoke can be smoke friendly. Even though I'm off them 8 months and would never smoke again, I feel I am still a smoker at heart and always will be, as I can still respect the desires of others to smoke, if they wish, without my wanting to have them banished first from the pubs, then from the streets, then from outdoors generally. A compromise has been arrived at but it still feels like there is a hardcore group who just want to take the choice of smoking or not smoking away from people.

Do you think people are moaning more now about smoking than they ever did, and do you think its justified?

I know the horrible effects of smoking on the body through family members who have passed away, but I'm just talking about the rights of people to smoke outdoors when the effects on other people is virtually zero. Should they be allowed smoke or do you think they should all be sent to Monster Island??

Zebra3 · 12-06-2006 08:17AM

Yes, I think non-smokers (I'm one myself) do moan, but I also think a lot of smokers have no regard for where their smoke goes when they are smoking one. And I would safely say that >99% of smokers have no problem littering the streets with their butts when their finished.

jcoote · 12-06-2006 08:21AM

i am a non smoker and it doesn't bother me in the slightest about the whole smoky atmosphere thing...its just the littering of butts thats uncalled for...now in fairness flicking a cigarette is one of the coolest things in the world but bins are provided and should be used

seamus · 12-06-2006 08:23AM

Spurred on by the smoking ban and the huge decrease in the number of smokers, you'll probably just find that non-smokers are more vocal now, it's not that they moan more.

I personally only berate someone when their smoking becomes a pain - leaving in the middle of a good pub conversation to have a smoke, getting up four times during dinner to go outside and have a smoke, etc.

Ex-smokers are usually the worst. "I could give them up, you're just weak", etc.

PiE · 12-06-2006 08:23AM

I've found that us smokers whine more about non-smokers whining about us, than non-smokers actually whine.

Dr Galen · 12-06-2006 08:24AM

smokings cool

_Kaiser_ · 12-06-2006 08:27AM

Don't smoke myself and never have, but both my mother and sister do.

Never bothered me in the slightest to be honest.

DublinWriter · 12-06-2006 08:28AM

Archeron wrote:

Do you think people are moaning more now about smoking than they ever did, and do you think its justified?

More people are complaining about smoking but I don't think it's because less people are smoking.

My theory is that people are becoming more and more stressed out and more and more tetchy, and more and more unhappy with their work-a-day lives in the Celtic Economy.

jor el · 12-06-2006 08:31AM

I think it's ex-smokers who do all the moaning. I've also never heard anyone complaining about smokers smoking outside. Why would you complain about that? The littering of fag butts all around the place is uncalled for, but not all smokers do this, just a lot of them it seems.

padi89 · 12-06-2006 08:32AM

Im a non smoker now for 5 years but i would never ever patronise someone about the dangers of smoking.To me thats just insulting someones intelligence as if they need reminding of the dangers.
The thing about the ciggarette butts being thrown on the ground is quiet ironic as there is an equal problem with chewing gum stuck on the ground and this is generally non smokers.Walk down your main street today and count the amount of white spots of chewing gum on the ground,its literally everywhere.

randomname2005 · 12-06-2006 08:33AM

I dont have a problem with people smoking, its their choice, but as other posters have said, a little bit of consideration would be good, especially with the cigarette buts on the street.
But what does annoy me is when a parent is talking/fixing/playing with a baby in a buggy and blows smoke straight into their face. Grr!
R

TerrorFirmer · 12-06-2006 08:37AM

Zebra3 wrote:

Yes, I think non-smokers (I'm one myself) do moan, but I also think a lot of smokers have no regard for where their smoke goes when they are smoking one. And I would safely say that >99% of smokers have no problem littering the streets with their butts when their finished.

I would agree with this. I don't mind people smoking at all but I do ****ing mind when they blow smoke in your face!! This happens alot to me, people talking to me and smoking at the same time, blowing it straight in my face, its very annoying. And definately agree on the littering issue - I know people who would usually be the tidiest of people with great respect for public cleanliness, but wouldn't think twice about throwing their cig butts on the ground and stamping them out when finished...

But as for smoking itself I never moan about it. I don't smoke, so thats fine. Whoever does smoke, well, that's their business.

azezil · 12-06-2006 08:41AM

Non-smoker here, I've never complained about smokers, well maybe to take the piss but thats about it, I join my smoking friends outside quite often (assuming there's no other non-smoking peeps around to talk too), but I find, like seamus, it can be irritating when they just up and leave a conversation to light up, worse still is when they don't come back for an hour cause they got chatting outside!

The littering is totally uncalled for, that and its sometimes anti-social nature, are my only gripes with it.

Ciaran500 · 12-06-2006 08:48AM

I find the biggest problem is the attitude of smokers towards non smokers. I generally don't complain about them smoking, but when I do its cause its genuinely p*ssing me off and in my face and its normally met with the "tough sh*t, move" argument.

I agree completley with peoples right to do what they want, but not when it affects other people.

layke · 12-06-2006 08:49AM

Ex Smoker. Not in the slightest, but cigarette butts drive me mad. Especially when your in traffic and some 60 year old granny who's dolled up like a wrinkley barbie throws her lipstick covered butt out the window.

Littering annoys me more then the smoking.

Non smokers: you'll never claim the beer garden!

Red Alert · 12-06-2006 09:05AM

smokers always want concessions at work, and they think they're entitled to them too!

Dun laoire · 12-06-2006 09:07AM

I will say this. I am a smoker but not a really heavy smoker (10 a day @ the most but generally less) and i notice if i'm having a drink in a pub with a few mates or something and one or two go out for a smoke, the smell off them is rotten when they come back in. I dont moan about it because i'm a smoker and who am i to complain but damn the smell is bad. It must be hell for a non smoker.

Archeron · 12-06-2006 09:16AM

Red Alert wrote:

smokers always want concessions at work, and they think they're entitled to them too!

I've heard this a lot. In an old job, one person in particular always used to say it wasnt fair. Yes, he actually begrudged me 5 minutes to go down and stand in the rain and cold while shortening my life by 7 minutes. If it bothers people that much, why not take similar breaks yourself?
I know that since I've stopped smoking, I still make a point of getting up every couple of hours and taking a stroll to stretch my legs. One of the hardest parts of giving up was the feeling os missing out when on break, so I continue to have the breaks.
Sadly, I now head for the fridge instead of the smoking area, but thats another discussion entirely.

nesf · 12-06-2006 09:36AM

Personally, I think there is a bunch of non-smokers out there that haven't figured out what the words consent and choice mean but your average one doesn't complain unless they have a good reason to and that's fair enough tbh. There are plenty of idiots on the smoking side too though.

Kolodny · 12-06-2006 09:49AM

padi89 wrote:

The thing about the ciggarette butts being thrown on the ground is quiet ironic as there is an equal problem with chewing gum stuck on the ground and this is generally non smokers.Walk down your main street today and count the amount of white spots of chewing gum on the ground,its literally everywhere.

What, you mean that more non-smokers chew gum? What about smokers who chew gum to get rid of the smell on their breath?

Attol · 12-06-2006 10:40AM

I just hate it when people smoke in your face at the bus stop. I've had people flick their ashes on my bags. If I have a heavy bag why should I have to carry it when waiting for a bus? Especially if there is space to move and I was there before the smoker.

When I smoked I did my best to put my butts in the bin. It's not that hard to find them. I tried to be considerate to others. It's not fair to make them breathe your smoke. Passive smoking is damaging too.

Kinetic^ · 12-06-2006 10:43AM

Zebra3 wrote:

And I would safely say that >99% of smokers have no problem littering the streets with their butts when their finished.

Completely agree with you. Anybody know of anyone that's got done for littering by doing this??

zilog_jones · 12-06-2006 10:49AM

I don't think the councils are doing enough to tackle people throwing cigarette butts and chewing gum on the ground. Look at Limerick city for example - they put up those shatty gum/cigarette-only bins which no one bothers their hole using, because (i) they're retarded, (ii) with the gum part it is inevitable that you have to touch the side of the bin hole, which is *ewwy*, and (iii) most of them have rubbish crammed into the tops anyway making them useless and just proving the point that we need more REAL bins, not that stupid crap!

It's even worse when you go out of the city centre, because there's feck-all bins in general.

Giblet · 12-06-2006 10:58AM

I find you're all as bad as each other. All one big moany bunch. My house has been filled with smoke all my life but I wouldn't touch the stuff. I don't mind it sometimes, but when there's smoke trailing off into my face I hope you don't mind that I cast you a dirty look.

The thing about smoking is that it isn't a self contained bad habit, it's like a stream of farts coming from someone and going in every direction. If someone was in a room for a second with a cigarette I would know about it, that's how intrusive the smell is, especially if no-one has smoked in the room before (ie new house)

Mossy Monk · 12-06-2006 11:00AM

ex smoker

couldnt give a damn what smokers do as long as it isnt blown in my face or as long as they empty their ash trays. that annoys me no end

Giblet · 12-06-2006 11:02AM

And stop using cups and plates as ashtrays you dolts

zilog_jones · 12-06-2006 11:27AM

And especially stop using cans of beer currently in the process of consumption...

Mossy Monk · 12-06-2006 11:32AM

my cousin once used my can as an ashtray. revolting it was. all my fault apparently for not identifying the only can on the table as being in use. drinking from it doesnt seem to matter

Zebra3 · 12-06-2006 11:34AM

Keyser Soze 5 wrote:

Anybody know of anyone that's got done for littering by doing this??

Mate of mine (non-smoker) got done a few years ago by the cops (fined and all) cos his bird's mate threw her butt out of his car window. :eek:

biko · 12-06-2006 11:39AM

Giblet wrote:

And stop using cups and plates as ashtrays you dolts

Yes, this is so disgusting. I am a smoker but would never do this.
Just rip a beer can in half and use that.

quickbeam · 12-06-2006 11:44AM

Non smoker here.

I very rarely actually say anything to smokers, but I do get pissed off a lot. Most of them, in my experience have no consideration and blow smoke in your face or smoke up wind from you so that you have no choice but to move.

And being outdoors is better than being indoors but when there's a big group of smokers, you do still get the effect. And it's not pleasant.

We all know that smoking is bad for you, but I think the thing that gripes most non-smokers is the fact that smoker's bad habit effects non-smokers too. Somebody could be doing bad things to their health by doing anything from eating greasy food to injecting heroin, but none of those things effect anybody else. But with smoking it's different, and whether it's the smell or the health issue, it still effects non-smokers.

Non smokers and moaning.

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