Category: Let's talk
I've been a smoker for about three years now. I live in New Jersey, which has got to be one of the most nonfriendly states towards smokers, from the high taxes to the ban on smoking in almost all public places. I'm a member of
http://smokersclub.com/
and have
http://www.forces.org
bookmarked. I'm a light smoker (about two cigs a day) but am always keeping a lookout for what's going on around the nation with regard to smoking. It's one of the few American political issues that I follow. So anyway, do you live in an area that's friendly or unfriendly to smokers? If the former, then how so? Is smoking banned but some places are still considerate with their smoking areas? Is it not banned? How are the airports etc? If you're not in America, then how does your country view smoking, both officially and on the street? Finally, how do people react to you as a blind or visually-impaired smoker?
I think the friendly places for smokers wouldn't be so friendsly for non smokers and the other way round. You can't suttisfy both partice at the same time. I don't smoke myself and i have to say that i agree with the countries who don't allow smoking in pubblick places. Smokers have the right to do it if they want but others don't have to suffer as well. I was singing in a cafe in Cyprus a few years ago and i couldn't sing because of the smoke. Here in Cyprus only in very few places smoking is not allowed so smokers would be happy here lol.
Madison is more friendly towards smoking than some places in the state, but I've heard rumors that may change soon.
Personally I don't have a problem with that. It's one thing to smoke in your own home or on your property. That's your right. But when you smoke in places that are public property, you're subjecting others to harm. On a personal note whenever I'm near much cigarette smoke at all, my nose starts to stuff up. Not to mention I've had cancer once already. I'd like to avoid getting it a second time if at all possible.
Most of what they say about smoking is untrue, including the cancer etc. Check The Evidence Section at forces.org to see some unbiased studies, also the article about 10 cigs a day being ok on the same site. Nicotine has actually been used in many positive ways. If you do anything in excess, it'll hurt you, and I do agree that there are things people shouldn't do at all. But personal opinions are another story, and I certainly respect those who choose not to be around smoke cause it makes them sick or because they don't like it. I'd never light up in their faces or cars etc. However, if an area like a restaurant or a bar/pub either offers a smoking room or smoking areas that are well-ventilated, I don't see the problem. It would also help these places from an economical standpoint, since many have been losing customers, especially the bars. Hypothetically, I could turn it around and say I don't wanna be near people who drink because I don't like the smell and they have the potential to get violent. Not angry at anyone btw, just pointing out things. And while we're at it, take the commercials. It's ok to advertise alcohol but not cigarettes? What's up with that? But anyway, back to friendly and nonfriendly places, I do think there's a way to satisfy both types of people without alienating one group.
Almost all bars in east lancing are smoking, most other places arn't.