No ifs, ands or ... butts

[I like it]

As a smoker, I appreciate a good meal and no cigarette/cigar smoke. I don't mind not smoking in a non-smoking bar.
By the way, everyone knows that while the healthcare costs for smokers are high in the short-term, it's the exercising, vegetarian, non-smokers that cost the most in healthcare in the long run.
I'm paying for the privelege to die early: no walkers, no diapers, no retirement homes, just me and my DNR.

[Sarah-Sally]

stinky stinker wrote:

I'm sure your grandmother's house smells lovely. There's always that one in a 1000 lifelong smoker that has survived, that the smokers can point to if they need support for their habit.

If this was directed at me, I said that I do not refute anti-smoking evidence. By the way, my grandmother is long gone - my MOTHER is 85. And she only smokes in her kitchen, with an exhaust fan on - so only the kitchen is stinky ;-)

[Andrew]

The Paul wrote:

<quoted text>
No one's whining but you Andy...yeah, I cherish my health.

then be sure to frequent a smoke free establishment

[Just_Saying]

Documentation and links removed 3rd time. Obvious censorship. I was requested to name my sources. I did. They were removed for 3rd time. So this is only a forum for bashing? Sorry I didn't know that! Guess I'm not simple enough to qualify for here.
BYE!

[1m2smart4u]

a reader wrote:

What makes it OK to discriminate against smokers? What makes it OK to say smokers smell “rank”? As a person trying to quit smoking, I don’t go around saying fat people are disgusting. Nor do I say to people wearing cheap colon or perfume that they smell “rank” and are making me sick to my stomach. I don’t tell the loud person I’d love to duct tape their mouth shut because I’m sick of hearing them yammer on and on.
The point being I can go on and on about this, there is NO excuse for being rude and ignorant to smokers. If you want your establishment smoke free, you have every right. However this reporter is, in my opinion, a rude pompous a$$ for starting the article insulting smokers so blatantly by stating she smelled “rank” after coming home from a night drinking. First off, if you don’t like smoke smell don’t go to a bar that allows smoking. Secondly if you don’t like smelling like beer, don’t drink it. Thirdly – did you have someone drive your smelly drunk self home or did you drive yourself?
The fact that this treatment of smokers is so acceptable in this day and age of political correct tree huggers is amazing to me. I would be labeled many negative things if I went ahead and said what I thought of most fat lazy people that I come across. We all know smoking is bad for you but we also know heaving down those 3 whoppers, 4 crispy creams and 2 large diet soda’s isn’t good for you either but we have to sympathize with them and chastise smokers. I don’t think it’s right.

The difference that most smokers don't seem to "get" is that smoking affects the health of the people around you as much as it affects you. Fat people are endangering their own health but aren't posing a threat to your coronary arteries, lungs, etc. like smokers are. It's no longer an opinion that smoking causes disease in the smoker and the people around them, this has been well documented for many years now. There is no valid argument for smoking. It's an informed choice people make. Smokers need to take some personal responsibility for their actions and stop whining about people who are as concerned about the health of their families and friends as they are about their own so therefore choose not to smoke, first or secondhand.

[Andrew]

1m2smart4u wrote:

<quoted text>
The difference that most smokers don't seem to "get" is that smoking affects the health of the people around you as much as it affects you. Fat people are endangering their own health but aren't posing a threat to your coronary arteries, lungs, etc. like smokers are. It's no longer an opinion that smoking causes disease in the smoker and the people around them, this has been well documented for many years now. There is no valid argument for smoking. It's an informed choice people make. Smokers need to take some personal responsibility for their actions and stop whining about people who are as concerned about the health of their families and friends as they are about their own so therefore choose not to smoke, first or secondhand.

You're right on the money. You will be hard pressed to find an arguement with that explanation. Personal responsibility - yes. Government legislation - no.

[LV reader]

Susan wrote:

What a filthy, disgusting habit. Do smokers realize kissing them is the same as licking an ashtray!?
I'm glad to see restaurants finally start a non-smoking policy. It's a rude habit! And why should I have to inhale your nasty smoke while I'm trying to enjoy a wonderful meal?!!
It just don't make no sense!!!

Laws are being enacted to ban smoking in public places such as parks or on the sidewalk. If someone chooses to smoke on the sidewalk, why do you care? You're not going to kiss them!
The point is that laws are being used to limit freedom. Smokers are in the minority and can't do anything about it.

But what if there was a law to ban fat people from Wendy's? Would that be OK? How is the fat thing in a tube top with the double dip cone in her mouth acceptable, but smokers are not?

[LV reader]

1m2smart4u wrote:

<quoted text>
The difference that most smokers don't seem to "get" is that smoking affects the health of the people around you as much as it affects you. Fat people are endangering their own health but aren't posing a threat to your coronary arteries, lungs, etc. like smokers are. It's no longer an opinion that smoking causes disease in the smoker and the people around them, this has been well documented for many years now. There is no valid argument for smoking. It's an informed choice people make. Smokers need to take some personal responsibility for their actions and stop whining about people who are as concerned about the health of their families and friends as they are about their own so therefore choose not to smoke, first or secondhand.

I think it's obvious that smokers agree with you. No one is saying that smoking should be allowed in stadiums or theaters, and most smokers are fine with bans on resturants. But now bans are extending to parks and city streets. The excuse for limiting personal freedom is the claim that 2nd hand smoke is dangerous. That may be true is small closed spaces, but it is a weak argument for open environments.
You claim that fat people don't affect you, yet the biggest worry in the US is the rising cost of Medicaid. The cost of health care for our fat society is enormous.