Smoking in public places

[steve jones]

yes.  we should all start grabbing chocolate out of 'fat' people's hands to make up for it.

I wouldnt go quite that far. Though I do think that we should be careful to judge others for their vices - we all have them! And yes, I view sugar addiction to be a problem. The so called 'chocoholic', it seems, has a pretty grim outlook just as the smoker, the alcoholic, etc.

frankly, i find the ladder part the most disturbing of all.

Indeed! And this is the absolute, gods honest truth.

as i see it, if you're going to expect someone else to follow the 'signs' - then transfatty's should be in big bold letters on packaging and caffeine should be replaced with decaf.

I dont think caffeine should be replaced. People know that their coffee and tea are full of caffeine. Its then up to them to moderate their usage.

My problem with trans fats are that 99.9% of the population are completely unaware that their foods contain this highly dangerous muck. They use it because its cheap... pure and simple. This is not acceptable. Regulatory agencies should be on top of this, making sure that such harmful (and useless) chemicals are used in our foods. Or if they are, they're telegraphed so that people know exactly what they're eating.

  everyone should be in some state of withdrawl for society to work properly.

 

Im sorry, am I misunderstanding you? Are you actually trying to defend the proliferation of vices? Or am I misinterpreting sarcasm?

or, just forget the stress of the whole thing and secretly smoke wherever you like.

No tah. I quit smoking. But I might join you in an Angus Burger 

i haven't really seen anyone majorly cut down here for it.  perhaps there is some sort of glass encasing that you can put around the end of the cigarette so that you can get double the inhaling properties.  remember - losing your throat and tongue to cancer is really quite beautiful.  and, of course, if you accidentally burn the trash can up - well, it's just a trash can.  they're quite containable.  nevermind the incidents where people burn themselves alive in bed.  that's just something the fire department has to deal with. 

Smoking is a vice like any other. Our governments allowed extensive marketing of this stuff to people, and many people continue to enjoy it. When we live in a society where vices are actively promoted, I dont see that its fair to hammer one the way they do with smoking. People are abundantly aware of the risks, and I believe that those not taking part can be fully protected from the effects.

But if smoking is to be banned, well then lets just ban it. Outright. No pussy footing around. Indeed, I would be fully in support of such a ban.

SJ

[pianistimo]

let's just ban eating, too.  can you imagine the looks on people's faces.  'no eating in public.'  you have to go over in a corner and scarf it down when nobody is looking.

whilst at the same time - publicly breastfeeding women would suddenly seem like an unfair reminder of how the rules never apply to babies.  and, of course, those who are constantly feeding birds nuts might get away with scarfing down a few in public.  what i think ought to be banned is anything sticky in cars.  candy, gum, lifesavers.  try and police that!

btw, how do you plan on enforcing the 'no pussyfooting around?'  are you anti-cats?

 

[ada]

I say make smoking as difficult, inconvenient and unacceptable as possible. That will provide a disincentive to smokers and hopefully help them smoke less, if not quit.

I smoke around two a day, on my balcony, in the evening, but would probably smoke more if it wasn't so difficult and socially unacceptable. I would like to quit for health reasons but find it very difficult.

However, current restrictions on smoking mean I've cut down significantly in the last few years.

Since smoking was banned in the workplace I no longer smoke at work. Since it was banned in restaurants I no longer smoke there.  Because fewer of my friends smoke than they used to I'm less comfortable smoking around them. etc etc.

New legislation here also means cigarette packs here have to carry really grossed-out pictures of diseased lungs, leaking brains, gangrenous limbs and cancer-ravaged lips. It's kinda off-putting.

The only problem is that a cigarette provides a great break in a long practise session and helps you refocus and concentrate. I haven't yet worked out how to deal with this, and I must say I do like a nicotine hit.

[ahinton]

I say make smoking as difficult, inconvenient and unacceptable as possible. That will provide a disincentive to smokers and hopefully help them smoke less, if not quit.

I smoke around two a day, on my balcony, in the evening, but would probably smoke more if it wasn't so difficult and socially unacceptable. I would like to quit for health reasons but find it very difficult.

However, current restrictions on smoking mean I've cut down significantly in the last few years.

Since smoking was banned in the workplace I no longer smoke at work. Since it was banned in restaurants I no longer smoke there.  Because fewer of my friends smoke than they used to I'm less comfortable smoking around them. etc etc.

New legislation here also means cigarette packs here have to carry really grossed-out pictures of diseased lungs, leaking brains, gangrenous limbs and cancer-ravaged lips. It's kinda off-putting.

The only problem is that a cigarette provides a great break in a long practise session and helps you refocus and concentrate. I haven't yet worked out how to deal with this, and I must say I do like a nicotine hit.

Ada, I do sympathise (or at least I do try to), but there are surely better "hits" in life than those afforded by nicotinous products? (and I'm not talking recreational drugs here); whether such "hits" would work as part of intervals between bouts of piano practice I am unqualified to confirm from personal experience - even if only because I am not a pianist...

Best,

Alistair

[cmg]

I say make smoking as difficult, inconvenient and unacceptable as possible. That will provide a disincentive to smokers and hopefully help them smoke less, if not quit.

I smoke around two a day, on my balcony, in the evening, but would probably smoke more if it wasn't so difficult and socially unacceptable. I would like to quit for health reasons but find it very difficult.

Oh, smoking is definitely a negative habit.  No doubt.  I quit just after college myself.  But not because I'm virtuous.  No.  I was bullied into it and probably rightfully so.  Still, I resent the bullies.  Let me try to explain why. 

Just today, I was standing on the corner of Sixth Avenue and Eighth Street in NYC and three buses and innumerable noxious-fumes belching cars, cabs and trucks roared by.  I could smell nothing but gaseous emissions for 30 minutes.  This is a fact of street-life here.  And in all major cities.  This is what we breathe on a daily basis.  And I'm not alone.  Do you actually think air, uncontaminated by the by-products of smoking, is, by definition, suddenly SAFE?  Not.

The poor, poor smokers -- the last group on earth that every other minority group on earth is free to hate -- stand huddled in groups on the sidewalks, weeding it up, sucking in their drug like hideous outcasts in some primitive society.  Please.  Let's give these folks a break.

Let's kindly alert them -- over and over again-- to the dangers of their addiction, but then, let's let it go.  Patiently wait for them to kick their addictions.  And realize, in the meantime, that what we breathe in out there -- excluding the byproducts of tobacco smoking -- is 20 times more hideous than their silly second-hand smoke.

But we find that difficult, don't we.   I mean, God, SOMEONE must be discriminated against, yes?

[ada]

But we find that difficult, don't we.   I mean, God, SOMEONE must be discriminated against, yes?

you misconstrue my comments, cmg. I'm not suggesting we discriminate against smokers. I'm just saying that making it hard to smoke works for me 

[steve jones]

let's just ban eating, too.  can you imagine the looks on people's faces.  'no eating in public.'  you have to go over in a corner and scarf it down when nobody is looking.

whilst at the same time - publicly breastfeeding women would suddenly seem like an unfair reminder of how the rules never apply to babies.  and, of course, those who are constantly feeding birds nuts might get away with scarfing down a few in public.  what i think ought to be banned is anything sticky in cars.  candy, gum, lifesavers.  try and police that!

btw, how do you plan on enforcing the 'no pussyfooting around?'  are you anti-cats?

 

Lol, actually yes! Toxoplasmosis sucks! 

How would I enforce the 'no pussy footing around?' I probably wouldnt. Id probably leave it the hell alone and focus my energies on figuring out why as a society we seem to need these crutches.

Thankfully, I am not running for office though.

SJ

[steve jones]

But we find that difficult, don't we.   I mean, God, SOMEONE must be discriminated against, yes?

Never a truer word said!

Once upon a time it was blacks, jews and gays.

Now its the smokers, fat people and gingers.

Society needs a bad guy. No one is safe!

SJ

[thalbergmad]

How would I enforce the 'no pussy footing around?'

Remove "footing" and you have described Sheffield.

Thal

[steve jones]

Remove "footing" and you have described Sheffield.

Thal

Mate, I made the mistake of going to Sheffield once. Got my car stereo nicked! 

Any you know whats best? I riot van was parked next to me!!!

SJ

[zheer]

Never a truer word said!

Once upon a time it was blacks, jews and gays.

Now its the smokers, fat people and gingers.

  Smokers, muslims, immagrents,very fat people.

[thalbergmad]

Well, i am 3 out of the 4.

Thal

[ramithediv]

Well, i am 3 out of the 4.

Thal

Only 75% Thal. 

You must work harder. 

[pianistimo]

he's only 1 out of 4. he pretends to be the others - but i can't really see him praying three times a day.  even in christian religion we don't see such fervor.  probably to our shame.  anyways - thal, you don't smoke either, do you?  and i wouldn't call yourself an immigrant even though you might feel like one.

remember, smoking makes you look and smell beautiful.  people who smoke get these lovely lines around their lips.  my grandfather didn't care the heck how he died - and used to tell people off.  except me.  i'd say - 'grandpa - you shouldn't smoke.  it will kill you.'  he's say 'yeah, i know.'  i think it helped his stress levels.

[thalbergmad]

I pray well over 3 times a day actually.

Thal

[pianistimo]

when do you have time to smoke?

[ramithediv]

when do you have time to smoke?

Unfortunately, I think pianistimo has hit a good point here, without actually realising it. 

Since giving up, I have found that I'm getting more work done. No fag breaks. 

[thalbergmad]

I only smoke 3 a week and only on Friday

[ramithediv]

I only smoke 3 a week and only on Friday

Is that because of religious beliefs? 

[thalbergmad]

Yes, the rest of the time i am praying at the Mosque.

I have switched to Islam as i was fed up with being in a minority.

Thal

[ramithediv]

Yes, the rest of the time i am praying at the Mosque.

I have switched to Islam as i was fed up with being in a minority.

Thal

Where I live it's becoming hard to buy a car that has not got Polish plates on it.

I'll have to become a catholic, or jewish, or something. 

[thalbergmad]

Any sins committed prior to Islam no matter how bad they were are forgiven. One is totally reborn and starts with a clean record.

“ASH-HADU ANLA ELAHA ILLA-ALLAH WA ASH-HADU ANNA MOHAMMADAN RASUL-ALLAH”.

Thal

[ramithediv]

Any sins committed prior to Islam no matter how bad they were are forgiven. One is totally reborn and starts with a clean record.

I might try that. 

Sounds easy. 

[thalbergmad]

https://www.muslimconverts.com/

This is very helpful for those wishing to convert.

Thal

[ramithediv]

https://www.muslimconverts.com/

This is very helpful for those wishing to convert.

Thal

I did not see any of your posts on the forum. 

Or, do you use another name???

[thalbergmad]

Clean start, new name.

Thal

[ramithediv]

Clean start, new name.

Thal

Nice.

I will try it!!!!