should we ban smoking?

Interesting take. I mean it is quite easy to say that when you do neither. Surely there is something you do that is both repugnant and perhaps unhealthy that should also be banned?

My guess is we should look at banning a few of these things too:

1. Over eating
2. Fat chicks in spandex (spelling)
3. Women's Basketball
4. Drivers over 60
5. Farting in the privacy of ones own home (bad for ozone)
6. TV News
7. The NY Times
8. BO (goes with out saying)
9. Adultery
10.Ashsilly Simpson

There are invariably an endless number of things that others dislike that could certainly be banned. But I guess the really question is who is the "we" in this, "should we ban"?

 

I have a nice little story to share on this topic.

So me and my buddies are sitting in an Applebees, in the smoking section, this dude and his wife, sits across from us because they requested "first available". This ass actually had the audacity to "tell" me to put it out.....in the smoking section.... This to me is the wrong way for a non smoker to approach a smoker as it immediately put us all on the defensive. Look if my smoke bothers you, hell I am more then happy to put it out, other then in the smoking section.

Non-Smokers, if you ask politely, and do not preach, "most" smokers will put it out without incident.

Should they ban smoking....no they are my lungs and well everyone has to die from something, I just choose lung cancer...it's a family tradition.

Should they ban alcohol....no, they should just use a guillotine(sp) in public on drunk drivers.

Should they legalize all drugs....Well a spleef every now and then never killed anyone, when was the last time you heard about a bar brawl in Amstradam...people who smoke weed are to lazy to fight.

 

Smoking kills though and it does kill those around us as well. i used to feel like you but no longer do. When I moved to California, I cut down and I like it. If smoking was completely illegal, I'd prolly have 2 days of emotional outbursts but then would be fine.


Legallizing drugs would scare me, ppl would be doing lines on their lunch breaks and stuff. I just don't have a lot of faith in human nature and think we need to be protected from ourselves sometimes. I don't think pot would be dangerous but then some kids would start maybe earlier and do it more frequently and we will see our future blow up in smoke ...

 

There is a drastic difference between weed and cocaine, heroin and other drugs, although they are all harmful to you in some fashion. There are just as many nasty cancer causing chemicals in cannabis smoke as there is in cig smoke, and five times as much tar. Smoke that and you'll just get lung cancer sooner.

I also don't think it's a 'non smoker' vs 'smoker' debate. I used to smoke, don't anymore, and i didn't turn into any nicer or less nice of a person as a result. My point being there are jerks on both sides of the table. Some non smokers are going to be rude, some aren't, just as some smokers will be rude, some won't. I nicely asked a person to not smoke around me because i'm pregnant, and they bit my head off. People are people, jerks are there regardless. Just human nature.

edit: as for legislating morality, we've done it forever. Adultrey is illegal in most states, although rarely enforced. But that aside, murder laws, rape laws, theft laws....all based on morality, all based on someone's version of right and wrong. It's needed to a certain extent in order for a society to be viable. I think the issue is more of where is the line drawn.

 

I agree. The drug laws certainly protect us from this.

(A little off topic but sitetutor, I can get you some excellent land just west of where I am right now at a fantastic price! PM me )

 

Dont you think beers, wines and spirits should carry a warning....likethey have put on cigarette packets?

like
WARNING: DRINKING CAUSES LIVER FAILURE
WARNING: DRINKING CAUSES VIOLENCE

at a restaurant i think it would be hilarious to see a guy impressing his chick at the next table be served up a bottle of wine
that says WARNING: DRINKING CAUSES ERECTION FAILURE


and for drivers....
budweeeiiiser...."king of killers"?? perhaps?

 

I don't think that non-smokers should have to smoke other peoples smoke so I agree with a ban on public places. If there was a ban on smoking it would have a positive effect on societies health but at the same time it is infringing on peoples rights to be able to smoke. You wouldn't ban driving because the pollution caused people to die.

I really can't see any solution to the alcohol problems that face Britain in particular. There is no way society would accept a ban on alcohol.

 

In Ireland We Banned Smokeing From Public Places, And I Think Its Great, For Once I Can Come Home From A Night Club And My Hair And Clothes Dont Smell Like An Ash Tray..... And My Friends Find They Cut Out Chain Smokeing When There Out Because Gettin Up And Going Outside In The Cold 2 Smoke Isnt Nice So They Are Now Comeing Around To The Idea.

 

i like to ban both
if only one, ban smoking

i hate mad men driving car or
second hand smoke

 

Yeah.. I dont know, I think if they just outright ban it like they did in the early 1900s with achohol, it would be chaos and the blackmarket would just be too large to fight against.

I think that banning public smoking is a good idea, if you want to kill yourself in your own home thats fine with me, but don't share any of that second hand smoke

Um.. I kind of have to disagree with you there. I agree with toddieg, if drugs are legal, there will be a whole lot more of them on the streets, and potentially more young teenagers getting into it because they where scared of being cought before.

Seriosly, the only people I know (in real life) that want drugs legal are stoners



Josh


edit:

But driving has _positive_ aspects of it too, i.e. recreational purposes, speedy transportation, and emergancy transportation. Smoking has no real benifit, aside from a 'good time'.

 

Making drugs legal would take away the under the table money that those in power like, I had one old mafia guy tell me that those who finance the drug trade are mostly Judges, Doctors, Bankers and Lawmakers (Lawyers).

Today with the bankers pushing for electronic payment (and the government pushing for a cashless society to combat the underworld and terrorism), this may change and it will force the government to regulate and tax drugs that are not legal now.

But how will you get your stuff, get a script from a "Doctor" (drug pusher).....

 

I quit today... its been 9 hours or so, so far...and Im thinking lets just kill everyone, that way noone cares if you smoke of not.

 

LOLOLOL good luck with it...9 hours? I can do that in my sleep (literally)

VS said you can go to a bar...but when you leave you are breaking the law...how can ths be?
I did go to boston once...and i wasn't allowed to carry 2 beers to the table..the barman had to do it. One was OK...not 2 even though the otherone was for my friend///who the barman could SEE was sitting at the table.

 

Omg In Ireland You Could Trow A Crate Of Beer Across The Bar And No One Would Bat An Eyelid........

 

likewise down my local.....although i never go there as i don't drink.

they banned smoking in Ireland...but thats only for 'indoors' places? what about casino's?? heck i would die if i was losing money...and couldn't smoke!!

 

Ha Ha Yeah They Are Strict... No Smokein In Bars And Clubs, Or In The Work Place Public Transport Etc...... As For The Casinos.... Lol Any Casions In Ireland Are Little Low Key Places... But Emm You Would Not Be Let, Unless Of You Can Get A Lock In After Hours in that case you can drink out of the tap and smoke away

 

Being drunk in public is known as drunken disordely conduct and you can be arrested for it. They can also enforce the law where you can't drink on public property, but it's not always enforced. It's usually used for when something gets out of hand.

 

Legalize drugs and you'll be buying your pot from the drug companies at a ridiculously insane amount. It'll likely cost more. Insurance will not cover it btw, and your policy rates will go up if you test postive for any illicit (though they would be legal) substances.

 

I Was Goin 2 Work This Morning At 8 O Clock And 3 Women Walked Out Of A Pub, The Doors Shut Behind Them, They Were There Since Last Night And 2 Of The Women Were Just Falling Around The Place One Nearly Got Hit By A Car

 

I share your feelings - I also smoke but do not drink - yet watch people drink themselves into oblivion day aftar day then exhault themselves for being a non smoker.

Lets Do This. Lets make the taxes equal. Lets tax each drink the same as a pack of cigarettes, and each bottle as much as a carton.

I remember when there wasnt Non Smoking Sections - and Non smokers wanted them - claiming they had a right not to have to deal with the smoke. I dont remember a single smoker who had a problem with implementing a non smoking section. Now how about our rights? Was it a mistake to give non smokers the respect they deserve?

And while the high and mighty non smokers want to scare their kids about how smoking is sooooo addictive - why cant you remember that when looking at me? Ive tried to quit several times. Tried several methods. It isnt as easy as you think. Yet, knowing this - non smokers just think I should go without for a few hours and that isnt a big deal.

I've been in the restaurant business since I was 11. I can tell you this. Ask ANY bartender or Restaurant Server. They will tell you this. Non smokers dont tip as well as smokers, they require more attention and are way more bitchy. In general, servers will choose working a smoking section long before working a non smoking section. Try it the next time you go to a restaurant.

Oh, and while someone is worrying about second hand smoke, dont kid yourselves. A DUI driver T-Boning you and your family might just do more damage then sitting next to me in a restaurant. And if you think my smoke is bothersome, try sitting next to yourself and all that purfume your wearing. That has to be just as bad if not worse.


My .02