Originally Posted By Socrates RE #54: ( & yes! I quit three times smoking because I never smoked while being pregnant) I'm curious: why did you start again? Socrates "The unexamined life is not worth living."
Originally Posted By beamerdog >>Does a dog count?<< lol Smoking vs. nonsmoking. Ah, a very touchy subject. I too was a smoker many years ago and stopped when I met my DH. So I understand that need. But, I don't make faces at people who choose to smoke as long as they stay out of my way in their designated spaces. But any rational person knows that if they smoke (even if it's always outside) they continue to smell like smoke even when the cigarette is gone. In elevators, restaurants, ladies/mens rooms, etc. gmp919399, it's obvious you love your family. I'm assuming that you know that smoking is a bad, dangerous habit and that by continuing to do so you are setting the worst of examples for your children despite your attempt to not smoke in front of them. Like TDLFAN I have lost some dear ones due to smoking. I lost my dad to lip and oral cancer. If you think that's a pretty way to go, think again. Thank God I live in Delaware where all public smoking is banned. *Including* casinos. Again, if you're smoking in your designated area, thanks. But you can hurt the health of other chidren, like my son, who has acute asthma and will have problems with even smelling smoke.
Originally Posted By beamerdog Whew, that was a rambling post. What I mean to say is that if you choose to smoke in WDW I guess it's okay in the designated areas, but please don't think we're fooled into thinking that the smoke aroma stays in those areas.
Originally Posted By basas <<Thank God I live in Delaware where all public smoking is banned. *Including* casinos.>> Same with here (indoors/Manitoba)...except Indian casinos, which are 'exempt' to the rules which is not fair at all.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Then the indians complain about being stereotyped in regards to peace pipes and smoking signals...
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost TDLFAN, I understand and am totally sympathetic about the harm that smoking has caused individuals. I didn't quit just because I got up one morning and said, "Well, I've outgrown that fad". I quit because I wanted to live long enough to see my grandchildren and maybe even a few great-grandchildren. Also you should never stop trying to persuade loved ones too stop. That being said I will let you in on a fact. The more you nag and cajole a smoker the more militant he or she will get about it. Insist that smokers stay in an area that, for all intents and purposes, will not harm you or your loved ones, but, as you pointed out, even death in the immediate family will not necessarily stop others from smoking. It is a life style change that HAS to come from the smoker themselves. It has been eight years since I quit and even though I personally do not want to smoke again and, frankly, I don't think about it much anymore, I still have times when I am tempted. I do believe, still, that second hand smoke, in an enclosed area, is a health hazard to others. I do not believe 2nd hand smoke in a designated area is a problem for the vast majority of non-smokers unless they have a respiratory problem. Then it is their responsibility to avoid areas that create a threat. The same as a person with an allergy to peanuts would avoid peanut butter. I was one that in the 80's walked through WDW with a lit cigarette in my hand. I was so militant that if someone told me I shouldn't smoke, I would light up another. Stupid, yes! At the time it was like an uncontrollable reaction. I felt that my rights were being infringed upon and I considered it a challenge. Things are different now, when I think about the number of smokers 20 years ago and the number today the difference is overwhelming. This is a good thing and continued insistence on compliance with rules will only help continue that trend. I guess my only arguement with this thread is the assumption that people can just quit with the same ease as changing your socks. I guess what I am saying is, it is important to keep on insisting that the "habit" be segregated to an area that will, in all probability, not cause any harm to anyone other than the smoker. This is 2006 it is perfectly acceptable and encouraged to insist on following the rules of smoking. What I am also saying is repeatedly making accusation that are not really based on fact, only speculation, will fall to the deaf ears of people that have a stupid "habit" but are not dumb. It is counter productive to attempt to make smoking into something it isn't. You have now ventured into the mind of a "reformed" smoker in an effort to explain how a smoker thinks. The path we are on, that is making smoking a socially unacceptable activity will succeed. Think about it...all the smokers will be gone soon!
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy Goofyernmost -- Well thought out and stated. Again -- I say to all -- try not to take comments about smoking as personal attacks, or simple "they just don't like the smell." Taking it personally is why the hackles of militant resistance and noisy exchanges on LP rise up so quickly. --------------- And what he heck you ask, is a "hackle?"
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom While we are on the subject. We are NOT Indians ( they are from the continent of India ). You can call us by our native tribe or call us "Native American". I don't have a problem with anyone calling me Iroquois.
Originally Posted By beamerdog >> I still have times when I am tempted.<< So true. After 30-some years I still get those thoughts every once and a while.
Originally Posted By gmp919399 "I'm curious: why did you start again?" I don't have a good enough reason for starting again.I admit it was one of the most stupid things I did.All I can say is that with every one of my children when I completely done nursing them the very next morning Iwoke up & needed craved that smoke like crazy. I never once craved it while I was pregnant it actually literally made me want to throw up if I smelled it anywhere.I had the same affect while I was nursing. Like I said everytime I stopped nursing the next morning I just "had " to have the cigerett. Dumb! Dumb! Dumb! I know I do need to quit & when I do you all will be the 2nd to know LOL =)
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> I don't have a problem with anyone calling me Iroquois. << Me, I'm a Scorpio.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Me too! and we RULE!! >>While we are on the subject. We are NOT Indians<< There we go. I managed to offend one more person without even trying. My apologies. >>You have now ventured into the mind of a "reformed" smoker in an effort to explain how a smoker thinks.<< Thank you Goofyernmost. I pretty much figured that one out...it's an addition most can't help themselves out of it.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< This is true, but oddly enough I've heard arguments that would suggest that smokers can actually be LOWERING their OVERALL cost to Medicare. How? By dying off earlier and only burdening Medicare with their higher costs for a relatively short time. >>> Not to mention Social Security. You think it's bad now - imagine what it would be like if smokers lived an extra 10 years.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad ONE QUESTION FOR SMOKERS AND EX-SMOKERS: How is it "okay" to throw a nasty cig butt on the ground and that's not littering? Even in designated areas like stadiums and what not there are always a billion or maybe a few less than that butts all over.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros As a non-smoker, I will attempt to answer your question: "How is it "okay" to throw a nasty cig butt on the ground and that's not littering?" The nasty ones, that's not OK. The non-nasty ones, they're OK. Of course, there is no such thing as non-nasty ones...
Originally Posted By DVC_dad I think the whole adiciton of smoking is a much and far deeper manifestation of a not so hidden personality flaw in smokers. I'm not sure what that is, I think its different in all smokers, but it has to do with caring too little aobut other people. One can argue that they do no harm to their kids and whatnot becuase they never smoke inside the house. However, that isn't really true. Kids who see parents smoke (more often than not) will become smokers themselves. Kids who see parents drink to excess(more often than not) will become drinkers of excess themselves. Kids who see parents do drugs... Kids who see parents stay home on the couch and collect a gov handout... Kids who see parents not go to college... Kids who see parents fight and divorce... As a parent, It's not HOW you do what you do, it't that you do it at all. As a parent we are examples both good and bad no matter if we want to be or not.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy I've often thought that they just ought to remove filters from cigaretts altogether. It's the filters that don't biodegrade so much when they are discarded and hit the ground. And they do practically NO good in preventing bad tars and nicotines from permeating to the human over time. So why have them at all? Smoke the pure paper and tobacco all the time.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost "How is it "okay" to throw a nasty cig butt on the ground and that's not littering?" Simple..It isn't OK! Anymore than it is OK for non-smokers to throw, napkins, paper plates, cups, gum wrappers and gum, coffee cups, left over coffee or just walk in a group of people and pass gas. It is because some people, regardless of their desire to smoke or not, are uncultured slobs. Yet another arguement attempting to target a specific group with what is essentially a general human flaw. Another problem has come about because of the smoking police that have removed smoking related receptacles in an effort to make smoking "go away" by having no place to dispose of their cigarettes. Therefore, the ground gets it.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> by having no place to dispose of their cigarettes. Therefore, the ground gets it. << Understood. But when you're smoking while walking along in a no-smoking area there are no butt receptacles because there aren't supposed to be any. So the butt goes on the ground. Sometimes the smoker will at least step on it to extinguish it (thank you!), as it gets ground into whatever themed walkway is there. Custodial! Yo! Come pick this up!
