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in reply to Re^3: Do you smoke tobacco?
in thread Do you smoke tobacco?

The way I read it at least, it was in a place where a non-smoking policy was in effect, and probably the author had previously asked someone not to smoke, and gotten the response "oh, you can't really be allergic to it."

If that's true, then someone trying to hit him would probably be about on par with most of the responses I get when I point out to people that they're smoking in a non-smoking area. Apathy and aggression are by far the most common responses, which is why I usually just complain directly to whatever authority happens to be present and make them deal with the problem. Unfortunately that doesn't work either...I can remember going to the security guards to complain about people smoking in the airport outside of the designated smoking area. I found the guards patrolling with lit cigarettes.

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Re^5: Do you smoke tobacco?
by runrig (Abbot) on Sep 03, 2004 at 00:01 UTC
    ...about on par with most of the responses I get when I point out to people that they're smoking in a non-smoking area.

    Standing in line at "It's a Small World" (I had the kids with me, honest!), I pointed out to the guy in front of us that you're not supposed to smoke in line. He started to get angry and replied "Where's it say that?!?". I pointed at the map/schedule he was holding and said "in there." He let out an "oh" and at least he wasn't angry after that.

      Personally, I think waiting in the line (plus with kids!) for "It's a Small World" is sufferage enough for one person. Having to put up with a smoker throughout the line is totally unthinkable! Leave it to ol' Walt Disney to turn a classic love ride (tunnel of love) into one of the most nightmarish (for adults at least, somehow most children are immune to it) rides I've ever encountered in any park. I rode it once back in the eighties and I still have the occasional flash-back nightmare!

      - - arden.

        The more smokers you have in line, the shorter the line will be as people will get annoyed and leave. So, smoking is good, because it shortens queues.
Re^5: Do you smoke tobacco?
by kudra (Vicar) on Sep 03, 2004 at 23:46 UTC
    I got another dose of the apathy tonight; at least it wasn't aggression.

    I was taking the last train home and a man got on. He was talking loudly and drinking a beer, so I put on my headphones so I could ignore him. A little while later I happened to glance up and noticed he was snorting coke off his house keys. Not that I really cared, but it demonstrated his mindset.

    Not too long after that I smelled smoke. It was no real suprise to me who was smoking. I pointed out that it was a non-smoking train, to which he replied that he knew. I then asked him to quit smoking but he didn't, so I had to go call for the train personnel to deal with him. Then I moved to another part of the train.

    Yet another nice evening out made less fun because of some jerk with no consideration for others... (Note that I don't think this describes all smokers, but I sure encounter a lot who are like that.)

      i think this thread should be considered in the context of vigilante justice, even though the 'crime' is mundane and the rational supported by a majority of the public.

      kudra did the right thing, above, by being annoyed, asking, then bringing in outside authories when the person wasn't cooperative.

      my ideals on public health are not really worth a broken nose, which is a very realistic outcome of smashing a strager's cigarette. i do care, however, about things affecting my health, so there is a responsiblity to either do something active to change the situation, or to remove myself from it.

      in general, extremism begets extremism. in breaking the cigarette you're not even helping to change the smoker's behaviour --which was, more or less, the basic point.

Re^5: Do you smoke tobacco?
by DrHyde (Prior) on Sep 03, 2004 at 09:06 UTC
    The way I read it at least, it was in a place where a non-smoking policy was in effect, and probably the author had previously asked someone not to smoke, and gotten the response "oh, you can't really be allergic to it."

    Then you didn't read the same post that I did. Nowhere did he say that this was in a non-smoking area, and nor did he say that he had politely asked them to stop (although I'll accept that he might have; however, if smoking is permitted in that place then if he doesn't like smoke he should go elsewhere, not stop everyone else from smoking perfectly properly). What he said he'd done was to take someone's property and destroy it (which I think you'll admit is quite rude), and had then used the broken ciggie to deliberately hurt himself.

    If I were to take your property, destroy it, and then hurt myself on the bits, would you apologise? No, you'd be angry at me for destroying your property, and you'd laugh at me for being so bloody stupid. What Arden did was very rude and very stupid. He even admits he was being stupid!

      If I were to take your property ...

      Let's not forget that the property in question was a cigarette, not one of your fine cigars, Dr. Hyde. Congradulations -- you just built a mound of shit and now you are King of the Mountain. Silly jock, computer nerds don't care about macho antics. Hope you brought flame retardant -- you poured the gas on your head and lit the flame yourself this time.

        Well, while arden may and probably was justified in his action on one level, I personally think DrHyde has a point and that you quite frankly dont. Why should it make a difference if its a cigarette or a cigar or a mobile phone or a piece of jewelery or maybe their car? Do you drive? I dont. I never learned and I just might never learn at all. As such I consider the vast majority of car use to be pollution that I shouldnt have to suffer. So is it acceptable for me to jump on to your car and smash all of its windows in with a baseball bat, tear out all of the hosing and slash the tires, and then pour gasoline over my head and light it just because you parked in my drive-way? (Which is a no vehicle zone.) Because that is the equivelency you are arguing. You're saying that "just because its a cigarette its ok", which is a big heap of steaming dung.

        So if anybody in this argument has poured gas on their head its you. And I bet if or when someone does punch you in the nose for being a moron you'll care a lot more than you pretend in this post. Having your nose broken ain't fun.


        ---
        demerphq

          First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
          -- Gandhi

          Flux8