I respect your choice to poison yourself, why don't you respect me?
By inu1711
@inu1711 (5285)
Romania
August 24, 2010 10:27am CST
The other day I was so unlucky to have to stop at the traffic lights near a smoker. I had to wait for 54 seconds, but that 54 seconds were like an hour to me. I made a few steps away from that guy, but the smoke were still there.
I have nothing against people who smoke. It's their choice if they want to smoke their lungs out. It's ok for me if they want to ignore all the dangers of smoking even if they are aware of the risks.
But why do I have to inhale their smoke in certain public places? It is my decision to be a non-smoker. Why don't they respect my decision?
It is true there are laws against smoking in closed public places, but I don't think that's enough.
Were you ever bothered by a smoker in public places? What was your reaction?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@taiwanlife (745)
• Philippines
24 Aug 10
I also smoke but I see to it that nobody's bothered by it.I also hate smelling the smoke coming from another smoker and in my experience I usually tell the person to be sensitive if there is no enough space that I could go farther so as not to inhale it. They actually would do something about it. They are just so unaware that they are doing something wrong because more often than not it is the non-smokers who would move away or cover their noses instead.It just became an accepted norm. You have all the right to protect yourself from this bad air especially so that it is coming from a co-human being. Just tell this person next time.
2 people like this
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
24 Aug 10
Maybe you're right. I have never seen the things this way. Maybe that's because I have never smoked.
So you said the smokers don't do this by purpose, and they're not aware that they're doing something wrong. I think being a smoker yourself make you understand their behavior better than us, the non-smokers. I'll take your advice and, if I can't move away I'll tell the smoker he disturbs me. Thank you, taiwanlife.
Have you considered quitting smoking?
So you said the smokers don't do this by purpose, and they're not aware that they're doing something wrong. I think being a smoker yourself make you understand their behavior better than us, the non-smokers. I'll take your advice and, if I can't move away I'll tell the smoker he disturbs me. Thank you, taiwanlife.
Have you considered quitting smoking?
I wish all smokers do the same like you.
But, unfortunately, too many of them seem they don't care about the others. @carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
24 Aug 10
As an ex-smoker I know how hard it is to quit and I believe lost want to, but sometimes it takes years, (it took me at least 15-17 years)
When I do come upon someone like that, if I can I walk so that the wind blows the smoke away from me, or I just hold me breath as much as I can..I heard that they do want to ban smoking in opened public places, but that I don't think is a good idea..For one, you are going to have a lot of rule breakers or two, you are going to deal with a lot of anger..Withdraw symptoms are real and if you think there are crazy people out there now, try taking smokers and forbid them to get a smoking break the whole time they are out..
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
24 Aug 10
Me too I don't think it's a good ideea to ban smokers from opened public places. After all, if they want to kill themselves slowly, it's their right to do so. But I think too many of the smokers are rude when, being in a crowded open space like the trafic lights or a bus stop, they still smoke their lungs out.
Sometimes, when I have to pass by a smoker on street, I do hold my breath like you do, but I couldn't hold my breath for the long, long 54 seconds at the trafic lights.
Maybe I should start training myself to hold my breath longer 
Maybe I should start training myself to hold my breath longer 1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
24 Aug 10
If you do, when you start feeling lightheaded, take a breath..
I'm sorry you have to deal with this, in a crowded street I guess it is hard on both the smoker and non-smoker..1 person likes this
I'm just curious, why did you decide to quit smoking?
And how did you succeed? I know a lot of smokers who say they can't quit... @GemmaR (8517)
•
25 Aug 10
Although many smokers would disagree with this, I do think they're being extremely selfish. The health risks from passive smoking are actually even worse than first hand smoking- as the smoke that we breath in has not gone through a filter. It annoys me when I'm walking down the street and someone will blow smoke backwards into your face, with absolutely no consideration about the fact that you might choose not to be a smoker yourself.
I think there should be specific places where people can smoke- and it should be completely illegal for them to smoke in any places where there are non-smokers present.
@p3ks626 (6538)
• Philippines
24 Aug 10
I have asthma and I am always bothered by those who are around me who are smoking in public. I always have the courage to tell them to go away if its bothering me a lot. I always have to tell them cause they also need to know how to respect those who dont smoke and they are not going to know or some are just stupid, they only know once you tell them.
1 person likes this
@Catana (734)
• United States
24 Aug 10
I've never smoked, and having to be near someone who is smoking is very difficult because it makes it hard for me to breathe. Just the same, I think that laws controlling what people do need to have limits. I'm glad that people aren't allowed to smoke in places like restaurants and stores. But trying to control that outdoors is going beyond what's reasonable. If you're going to define all of outdoors as a public place, then the only place left for smokers is their own homes. There was no reason why you couldn't have moved further away from the smoker at the traffic light. That's what I would have done.
1 person likes this
