Smoking a nuisance?

[alanschu]

Eh, I suppose it could be to people with really young kids/babies, but other then that...I don't see a problem with it. Smoking is a choice. A stupid choice, but a choice none the less.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That helps kill everyone around you...

 

 

So? People driving like maniacs help kill people around them as well.

[Hurlshort]

Eh, I suppose it could be to people with really young kids/babies, but other then that...I don't see a problem with it. Smoking is a choice. A stupid choice, but a choice none the less.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That helps kill everyone around you...

 

 

So? People driving like maniacs help kill people around them as well.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That's why driving like a maniac is illegal...at least in the US. Those taxi's in Mexico are another story.

[alanschu]

Eh, I suppose it could be to people with really young kids/babies, but other then that...I don't see a problem with it. Smoking is a choice. A stupid choice, but a choice none the less.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That helps kill everyone around you...

 

 

So? People driving like maniacs help kill people around them as well.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That's why driving like a maniac is illegal...at least in the US. Those taxi's in Mexico are another story.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

To an extent yes. But you can get away with an awful lot, while still being within the confines of the law. Heck, do you see the police cracking down on tailgating, which is actually a pretty significant cause of traffic accidents? I'm sure most drivers all obey the two-second rule where you live.

 

I wouldn't consider a maniac driver as being someone that is breaking road laws. Heck, every time you change lanes you increase the chances of an accident happening.

 

 

 

Or perhaps you could look at the act of driving cars period. There are people that find gas emissions exceptionally irritating. I'm betting that hanging around cities that have frequent smog warnings is as bad for one's health as second hand smoke is (especially if you already suffer from breathing conditions). Any motions to outlaw fossil fuel emissions in the near future?

[Walsingham]

This is hwen things get taken too far.

 

I find it funny that smokers never used to bother me. It is only since they became rare that I notice them smoking!

[Hurlshort]

Cars are an important part of society. They directly contribute to the economy. The get people to school and work, they allow goods to be delivered around the world. I definitely think more needs to be done to keep them environmentally safe, but they don't really compare to smoking. Smoking is a personal pleasure. What are the positive contributions to society for smoking?

[LadyCrimson]

Alcohol is a personal pleasure, too. It harms livers and other things. it's addictive, it causes harm via consumption and lapses of intelligence or motor control. People still use it to party next door, being a part of both noise and trash pollution. It's still legal and most neighbors don't blink an eye or call the cops for 'violations' unless actual violence is a factor, because it's a socially acceptable drug despite it's rather proven 'harm' to society and people.

 

The thing about smoking is that's it's just currently trendy to bash and crusade against it. People always need something to bash and blame, and with all the media influence and the fact it's not a 'fun party drug' smoking is an easy one to do it with.

 

To me it's less whether such small personal pleasures are useful or not, or harmful/annoying or not - it's that such legal definitions/measures are often designed as the start of making things illegal, or for people abusing the system simply because it's 'trendy' to bash on the one thing vs. another, and that direction I disagree with.

 

Edit: ie, I'd feel the same if they were trying to make beer or burning inscense something you couldn't do in your own home.

Edited August 29, 2006 by LadyCrimson

[Deraldin]

Cars are an important part of society.  They directly contribute to the economy.  The get people to school and work, they allow goods to be delivered around the world.  I definitely think more needs to be done to keep them environmentally safe, but they don't really compare to smoking.  Smoking is a personal pleasure.  What are the positive contributions to society for smoking?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The billions of dollars in taxes on cigarettes that smokers always complain about? "

[taks]

Smoking is a personal pleasure.  What are the positive contributions to society for smoking?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

the first sentence answers the second. since when is YOUR definition (or anyone else's) of a "positive contribution" the only allowed? lots of things qualify as having "no positive contribution to society" yet they are allowed. why? because of freedom. freedom to decide what is and isn't "positive" to your own life.

 

remember, here in the US, we were founded on the promise of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." the latter concept has been ruled on in the supreme court, btw, as a valid "right" and nowhere in the constitution is the ability to govern such a concept away granted to the government. when someone's pursuit of happiness tramples your own right to the same, then you have a legitimate gripe. inside a private business, however, you have the right to leave. inside a private apartment building, you have the right to leave.

 

taks

[alanschu]

I was going to chime in with drinking as well. Nice work LC

[Calax]

Eh, I suppose it could be to people with really young kids/babies, but other then that...I don't see a problem with it. Smoking is a choice. A stupid choice, but a choice none the less.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That helps kill everyone around you...

 

 

So? People driving like maniacs help kill people around them as well.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That's why driving like a maniac is illegal...at least in the US. Those taxi's in Mexico are another story.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

To an extent yes. But you can get away with an awful lot, while still being within the confines of the law. Heck, do you see the police cracking down on tailgating, which is actually a pretty significant cause of traffic accidents? I'm sure most drivers all obey the two-second rule where you live.

 

I wouldn't consider a maniac driver as being someone that is breaking road laws. Heck, every time you change lanes you increase the chances of an accident happening.

 

 

 

Or perhaps you could look at the act of driving cars period. There are people that find gas emissions exceptionally irritating. I'm betting that hanging around cities that have frequent smog warnings is as bad for one's health as second hand smoke is (especially if you already suffer from breathing conditions). Any motions to outlaw fossil fuel emissions in the near future?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

round here the 2 second rule has every other person getting infront of you. And on my way into Sacramento I go over a rather large hill that on a clear day, lets you see all the way to the costal mountain range... (I'm in the foot hills of the Sierras) But when it's bad... it's really bad... maybe 1/4 the view range.

[Hurlshort]

I was seriously asking a question when I said "what are the positive contributions?", so I appreciate all the input. I'm still not entirely sold on those contributions outweighting the problems smoking causes, but to each their own. I just hope that eventually popular culture will move away from the whole idea that smoking is rebellious and cool. That will probably kill the tobacco industry without any legislation needed. I mean, seriously, there are better things to smoke than cigarettes, and the smell isn't exactly pleasant.

 

On a side note, California just passed legislation that allows police to ticket motorists who are smoking in the car with a child under 6 years old.

[metadigital]

More important to penalise people driving one-handed ... either on a 'phone or smoking or eating ... or reading a book, like one woman caught on the M1 a couple of years ago ...

[Walsingham]

Good points there, LC.

 

As for positive contributions, I haven't any clinical data, but do you think it is an entire accident that high stress professions seem to 'enjoy' smoking so much? I'm genuinely questioning this. I know so many soldiers, nurses, policemen etc who smoke.

[metadigital]

Well, for soliders in a war zone, the whole rationalization is that you have a significant (variable on the theatre, of course) chance to die in the short-term, so the long-term ramifications shrink, proportionately. I think it would be wrong to ascribe any stress-relieving benefits to it; in fact research would indicate the exact opposite (even if people would feel the reverse).

[Walsingham]

I hear you, Meta. But what about the nurses and doctors etc?

[metadigital]

There is a mistaken belief that smoking gives alleviation from stress ... but clinical evidence gives lie to this. Still, if people get some sort of placebo effect from it, who are we to tell them to stop? (Until they actually fall ill ...)

[Rosbjerg]

well it does limit your ability to use the air in your lungs.. so in effect you are actually mildly suffocating yourself, that usually calms people down (a mild lack of air)..

[metadigital]

[Arkan]

It increases stress in the long run, though. Ever been around someone who "hasn't had a cigarette in over an hour?" If you have, you know what I'm talking about.

[Judge Hades]

When I was in the Navy the last XO chained smoked a carton of cigarettes a day. He was a rail thin nervous sort of person.

Edited August 30, 2006 by Judge Hades

[alanschu]

When I was in the Navy the last XXO chained smoked a carton a cigarettes a day.  He was a rail thin nervous sort of person.

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Excellent empirical observation.

[Judge Hades]

Well, he was. Beyond that he was an alright sort.

[Craigboy2]

Eh, I suppose it could be to people with really young kids/babies, but other then that...I don't see a problem with it. Smoking is a choice. A stupid choice, but a choice none the less.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That helps kill everyone around you...

 

 

So? People driving like maniacs help kill people around them as well.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Do you think I like those people?

[alanschu]

I don't believe I said that at all.

[Llyranor]

You know what I think? I think people should make a law banning alanschu from breathing LOL