All I breathe is second hand cigarette smoke!
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Breathing in second hand smoke is not nice for anyone, smokers or non-smokers alike. However while walking down George Street in Sydney’s CBD a few days ago, I discovered something that seems to be becoming commonplace wherever I go nowadays. No matter where you turn when walking on the street there is all too often a cloud of second hand cigarette smoke that is near impossible to avoid.
Before I go any further, I want to try and keep this as two sided as I possibly can so I do welcome feedback from smokers, non-smokers and ex-smokers as well. So please, after you are done reading, feel free to leave a comment.
Before I delved into writing this post, I requested some input from my friends and followers on twitter. The question was: Smokers and non-smokers “What are your feelings on passive smoking”.
In almost no time at all a few people had responded, before we go any further I just wanted to mention that fridley is a self-confessed ex-smoker, which is why it seems that he is so knowledgeable about the topic (and kudos to him for giving up the habit).
@fridley My only real prob is walking smokers. (when in front of me). You want to smoke? Fine. Go for it. Just dont hold the damm thing!! Main probs with Aust cigi is the chemical smell/taste (inc menthol), cost, rubbish, & ppl who just hold it while walking. I still now and then smoke a cigar, but not in places that affect others. Besides, I like to savor good things when possible.
@BethTana As a smoker, I think it’s extremely rude, harmful and unnecessary to smoke around others. Going outside is so easy to do.
@alanjlee I don’t mind… but I don’t know how bad it is these days as i am hardly ever near smokers/in the city. Just don’t blow at me!
Initially I was interested that two of the people that comented were either active smokers or ex-smokers themselves. I must also commend BethTana for her attitude to not subjecting non-smokers to smoke. It is funny from my own discussion with people (offline that is) I have discovered that the only people that hate second hand tobacco more than non-smokers are ex-smokers.
Personally for me I am at a loss as to why when I go out I am forced to endure the inhilation of second hand cigarette smoke. Be it walking down the street or even leaving my building at work at the end of the day, I find it a rare (pleasurable) occasion when I can walk along without having smoke trailing in front of me or blown in my face.
So what I wanted to do was ask two questions:
For the smokers/ex-smokers: How do you feel about going out and blowing smoke around often when people may not desire to be subjected to tobacco.
For the non-smokers: What are your thoughts, does passive smoking not bother you or do you have your own pet hate?
Of course I welcome any other comments, those questions are only a guide. I would really love feedback on this one.
(And finally if you do not follow me on twitter feel free to add me, I would love to do more of these discussion type posts in the future. @ereality is my twitter ID.)
Hi Stuart,
Here in Bulgaria smokng everywhere is part of the culture, this will change, but not in my lifetime. I accept that and second hand smoke is something I put up with. I take more offence to cars that expel more poison fumnes that any smoker can draw on cigarettes! Smokers aren’t the problem cars are in my opinion, why aren’t they banned from public places!? And what about airplanes dropping their exhaust on us from above? Powerstations? Cigarettes to me is a drop in the ocean!
Martin In Bulgarias last blog post..Skalitsa Village Farm – Planning Crops
Hi Martin,
I guess this is true, I guess I see cigarette smoke to be higher on my list because it is something that is a) so avoidable and b) so smelly and makes my chest hurt (where as the car fumes are far less apparent etc).
But a very good point nonetheless.
Stuart
While I agree with Martin, and look forward to the day when cars no longer enter the Sydney CBD, I believe that cigarettes are a drop in the ocean worth worrying about. Even in Japan, a country with a high percent of smokers, have just initiated a non-smoking policy for the Tokyo metro line. Walking around Tokyo you can see smoking stands which are set places where you are allowed to smoke on the sidewalk.
As someone who is doing their best to be healthy, and goes for walks every lunch time to get out of the office, the last thing I want to do is run into smokers. Yet as it is lunchtime, and their chance to get out of the office, everywhere you go they are there.
Maybe some small steps like the Tokyo smoking stands, or non-smoking time periods when pedestrian traffic is expected to be highest (i.e. lunchtime) could be good first steps.
I don’t believe total bans on smoking are required as each person should make that choice for themselves, but there should be ways for people who choose not to smoke to get around the city.
@fridleys last blog post..TrueCrypt – Security made for everyone
Hi Stuart.
Do you know that in Sweeden for example they have special rooms for smokers. If you are driving with train there is special carriage just for smokers. And it is funny to see them smoking, like monkeys in cage.
Really, there is so much smoke and they breath it and breath their smoke from their cigar. It is like if you want to poison your self we will help you by finding another persons who want same and you can poison each other to boost effect. I think it is very clever.
Mark
Hi Mark,
That is an interesting one, LOL they would almost not need to smoke it all, they can get passive second hand smoking at no cost LOL.
I guess that is a smart idea as it gives them a place to do it rather than always out on the street. But can you imagine what the carrige would smeel like *ick*.
Stuart
I don’t smoke and it does annoy me to be stuck behind a smoker, breathing in the second-hand smoke, while walking. What’s worse is when you finally get away from that person just to end up near another smoker!
Another thing, I miss sitting outside at restaurants… Smokers always sit outside now and I don’t want to be breathing in their smoke while eating. Is just a shame having to sit inside on a nice day.
I hate it when smokers try to use “you’re crippling my freedom” argument. I mean come on – you’re not going to like a baby puking on you (and the baby can’t control it) why would you think that blowing smoke on non-smokers is any less annoying than that.
@Setai – That is one I have never heard before. But my retort, “your crippling MY freedom of breathing fresh air” haha.
*sigh* and we won’t even get me started on smoko’ breaks!