I have nothing against smokers, your body your decision, but when your polluting the air that you share with non-smokers it gets to be just a tad annoying. To walk/or run by Northwood Senior’s Living Complex on Gottingen St, is disgusting and hard on the lungs! The staff and residents smoke on the street and always in groups so it’s a cloud of smoke you have to hold you breath to pass through. Why not make a smoking area that doesn’t affect the public – i.e. behind the big garbage bin at the side of the building.
This article appears in Apr 10-16, 2008.
I walk by Northwood every day on my way to and from work. The smoke doesn’t bother me so much, i’ve gotten used to crossing to the other side of Gottingen because i like my air fresh. What bothers me are the hurdles of uniformed employees standing on the sidewalks in front of the building. (On both the Gottingen AND Northwood sides). Like i said, i don’t care if you smoke..light ’em up and suck ’em back until your head pops off, it makes no difference to me. I just think it looks shamefully unprofessional, and a little ironic for a ‘health care facility’ to allow it’s employees to showcase thier image as such.
Why don’t you take another route or cross the street and shut the fuck up. Prime example of an anti/non-smoker, nothing is good enough for them until nobody smokes. It is still legal to smoke in public, piss-off.
So, Scott, poop should take another route to avoid a cloud of noxious, cancerous gas being spewed out by people who shouldn’t be doing it there anyway? You might want to re-read her comment, and see if you can find the point this time.
I do not see why they do not reinstate smoking rooms with a draw fan to avoid all this horseshit. As long as tobacco is legal, smokers should have a fucking place to smoke inside, away from the non-smokers. I am sooooo tired of the smoke-Nazis and their whining. Shit, if they ever make cigs illegal, what will those little pricks go after next?
I think he may have been talking about the OP, Mort.
How about you re-read my post, your post and the original post and see if you can see any point to your comment. I said take another route or cross the street. Since poop already stated that he or she crosses the street that would imply that I am talking about the original poster. And the poster mentioned that it is on the street where they were smoking, which there is no law or bylaw stating it is against the law to smoke there. So how about you shut the fuck up too.
You’re right, Mom (it sounded like he was responding to poop). But it doesn’t really change my argument: it is ridiculous to expect someone to go around a cloud of noxious, cancerous smoke that shouldn’t be there in the first place. And I do believe Scott missed the point of the OP, too.
Hey, Scott, you’re right. I did fail to see you were replying to the OP.But you’re wrong for the same reason as you would have been, had you been replying to poop.
Where else are they suppose to smoke? They can’t smoke inside. It’s illegal to smoke on the property. The only place left is the sidewalk. Which is funny because if you think about it, it’s the government regulations that are forcing them onto the sidewalk.
I’m no fan of smoking either, but non-smokers have to realize that catching the odd whiff of cigarette smoke outside is not really that detrimental to their health, even if they encounter it several times a day. Sure the effects are cumulative, but there are lots of other things in the environment you are being exposed to everyday that are probably worse for you. Acrylamide in your frenchfries, trans fats in your food, formaldehyde in your cleaning products, teflon vapours from your frying pan, hormones in your milk and nalgene bottle, car exhaust, acid rain, oil refinery in dartmouth, oil fired power generators, mercury in your CF lightbulb…i could seriously go on, but I hope i make my point. Everyday we are exposed to potentially harmful materials and somehow we are living longer and longer lives, even smokers! I know smoking is very unpopular, and I am not saying it’s not harmful…second hand smoke can be harmful too. But the occasional lungful of air you suck in outside as you pass a group of smokers is not that bad…even cumulatively. You probably just notice it more because you are aware of the smell and the smokers around you. So I say, let the smokers have their sidewalks, or parks or whatever tiny bit of the city they are still allowed to light up in. Non-smokers have their victory, the major threats have been dealt with, no lets try an play nice.
I saw an episode of Penn and Teller’s ‘BULLSHIT’ show that said all claims that second-hand smoke is based on a faulty study done back in the early 90s. P & T are very anti-smoking but they state that there is no hard core evidence second hand smoke harms anyone, especially out of doors.Miles, you are spot on in your post. There are so many fucking things in our everyday lives we should be fearful of, that if we thought about them too much, we’d jump off the Angus L. with a dozen seagulls tied around our necks.
Thank you, Miles!!!!I hate smoke, too, but for the love of fuck, people, when somebody is smoking outside, the smoke in the air is so diluted! Yes, it’s stinky and gross, but that in no way justifies the rude and ugly treatment so many smokers have to put up with, for doing what is their right to do (and it is their right – smoking is not a crime)!
I’m an ex-smoker (since January) and all this crap has gotten wayyyyy ridiculous. I can’t understand anyone complaining about cigarette smoke when 18 wheelers and buses are belching all kinds of shit that is probably a lot more harmful.
I know TTFN – really, unless you walk everywhere you go, and don’t use heat or electricity in your home, you really have no business bitching.
Personally, I find the “cigarettes are legal so I’m going to smoke wherever I want to” argument weak. Alcohol is legal, but that doesn’t mean we can walk down the street drinking a six-pack. Driving is legal, but that doesn’t mean we can take our cars for a spin in the Public Gardens.If you want to smoke, fill your boots – and lungs. But do it in the privacy of your own home. Some of us care about our bodies and don’t want to breathe that crap in.
Newsgal, it’s against the law to drink in public, and it’s against the law to drive around the Public Gardens. It’s not against the law to smoke. This isn’t an argument, it’s a fact. The argument would be whether it SHOULD be illegal to smoke.
I hope that day is coming, and soon.
I don’t think it’s fair to say that smokers should have to light up behind the closed doors of thier homes. That’s just unreasonable. A little puff of second hand smoke now and then isn’t going to kill you.My point about the Northwood sidewalks was this: I know that their employees have to smoke somewhere. Obviously the sidewalk is the closest (legal) place. I just find it very ironic that a health care facility allows them to do so. Does anyone else here share my opinion?Scott: this isn’t the flaming thread. Caliulus is gonna ban your ass.
*caligulus*
Newsgal with respect to your point about having to breath that crap in….its not going to damage you like you seem to be afraid that it is. The reason why it is still legal to smoke outside is that there is no evidence that a waft of smoke here and there is going to harm you. Pick the deadly chemical or chemicals you fear most in cigarette smoke, and you can probably find another source of that chemical that you are exposed to more frequently and at higer doses. I know a lot of people that chain smoke all their lives and live into their 80’s. I know smoking increases your risk for certain diseases, but it does not guarantee certain death. Less so inhaling the occasional bit of smoke outside.
I’m with you poop. There is a certain irony to it.And newsgal, I would probably like to see smoking outlawed as well…but I am not going to go and call out people who are abiding by the law, especially when we have taken all other alternatives away from them.
yeah matt, this dead horse is pretty flogged.
Oh, I didn’t mean to flame anybody. I just want them to shut the fuck up. Thankfully smoking is not Outlawed, yet. But when it is outlawed I am going to walk around bowlegged and carry a sidearm on my right hip.
TTFN congratulations on quitting the habit in January…and poop I like the way you say *caligulus*
Good question matt…My guess is that illegal smoke would be not that much different than it is now… The price in the black market follows the market forces of supply and demand without the govt interference…Instead of the lion’s share of a $12 pack of cigs going to the govt in taxes, it would go to the black marketers… Sure the fancy packaging and machine rolling would be gone… it would come in a baggy probably by the ounce…In the end the product would be just as readily available and just as much consumed as it is today… I think the illegal cannabis industry is a pretty good indicator of what you could expect..
once agianit is our rights to smoke if you dont like it then a) take another routeb) get used to itc) stop bitching about it because of the fact that all of our “smoking rights” have been taken away and if we choose to smoke thats an issue of our own we have to face the fact of all the chemicals and diseases it comes with we are aware!
Come on now…you clearly stated it as -public-…that means, the public can do what they wish (as long as it’s decent and legal). Smokers on a sidewalk is legal, and it’s really not too hard to cross the road, turn onto a different route, or do whatever you have to to not suffocate on their second hand smoke. Suck it up, like the smokers suck up their cancer sticks. Speaking of…it’s smoke time.
Ok – so smokers have the “right” to smoke.Don’t non-smokers have the “right” to not breathe in the 4,000 or so chemicals that are in second-hand smoke? And I’m sure someone will bring up pollution/car exhaust/whatever, but that’s not what we’re talking about here. We’re talking about second-hand smoke.
Apparently not. Maybe you should petition your MP, MLA or city councillor. In the meantime, though, smokers have the undisputable right to smoke.
If you look up some of the anti-second hand smoke websites the discussion is always about the effects of second-hand smoke indoors or in an enclosed space…the danger is because the smoke accumulates and lingers in the enclosed space…even after the smoker has gone. That is the real danger in second hand smoke…the fact that is gets concentrated by being confined, or that your exposure is longer because you stay but the smokers keep coming and going.
Just out of curiousity, and for argument’s sake, where is it stated or written that a person has the undisputed right to smoke?
From the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms:7. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.It may be a streatch but for my 20 seconds of research, I would suggest telling a person they cannot smoke would currently be an infringement on their right to liberty. Newsgal might argue that second hand smoke infringes on her right to life and security of person. That’s what makes the smoking debate so much fun. Newsgal, I think that the documented danger of second hand smoke in confined spaces has led to the legislation of indoor public smoking bans. Until there is evidence that outdoor smoking poses a significant health problem, non-smokers should revel in the public smoking ban victory and not stress themselves out…it’ll give you health problems.
Miles I agree with you on both the liberty and life/security points. Somehow I think our forefathers would be disappointed to know “liberty” now includes intentionally poisoning ourselves and burdening our health care system!On any given stroll down Spring Garden Road results in either walking through a cloud of smoke or having it blown in my face no less than two or three times. Perhaps it hasn’t yet been proven that’s detrimental to my health, but you can’t tell me it’s good for me…
No, I won’t tell you it’s good for you. It just may not be bad enough for one to worry about. And I really don’t think it is bad enough to berate a smoker over if they are obeying the law and being as considerate as possible (not accusing you of this at all Newsgal). A non-smoker can take steps to avoid smokers as easily as smokers can be considerate enough to avaoid blowing smoke in people’s faces.
Granted, this is American, but – “The Surgeon General reported in 2006 that scientific evidence shows there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.”All those clouds I walk through everyday add up…And you’re right, I would never berate a smoker. I may think it’s a filthy habit, but I still have manners.
Yeah, I cought that line from a few Canadian sources too, and it is essentially true…it does all add up. I aslo found that line associated with a link to a study that only looked at short exposures to second hand smoke in enclosed settings however…and that is the context I believe that statement is made in. For example, I think the conclusion was based on the symptoms of “minimal exposure” which included red eyes, swelling in throat and exacerbation of symptoms in asthmatics….all symptoms I have had when I have been in a smoky room or bar, but not from passing someone on the street (asthmatics excepted of course). So I think that statements referring to “second hand smoke” typically refer to these scenarios where the smoke has been accumulating. But i would not say catching a waft of smoke does you any good…it just may not cause you enough harm to be worried about. It could take more than a lifetime of outdoor exposure to give you any negative health effect at all (of course that doesn’t mean much if you lifetime is cut short by cancer….i guess i should be more careful of my words 🙂 )
Yeah that Lynn thing was truly bizarre… I could be wrong but I thought I read she was locked out for flaming ex-haligonian in response to comments ex made about cab drivers at the airport… As I recall ex’s comments were much worse than Lynns… There was nothing out-of-bounds I read by Lynn which is why this is so strange… I am sure the nazi knows why but won’t say… We will probably never know for sure unless Lynn (or her friend NMH) comes back to set the record straight…