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Are non-smokers just as selfish as smokers?
vintage_girl
Posts: 3,573 Forum Member
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A couple of incidents have got me thinking about this.
I share a house with other students, only 1 of whom is a non-smoker. The rest of us always make sure we go outside to smoke. However, today we couldn't find a single lighter, so we lit our cigs on the gas hob and went outside straight away. Said non-smoker made a face and complained that there was now a smell in the kitchen. Also we aren't allowed to smoke in our rooms (with the window open), because apparenly a smell lingers in the house. Surely this is OTT, seeing as everyone already compromises by going outside, so no 2nd hand smoke is breathed in?
Also, a couple of times there have been people complaining about us smoking in the pub beer garden, because their kids were there. It's not like we stand directly beside them breathing smoke in their face, but inevitably they'll smell some of it. We've already been banished outside, can't we even smoke in peace there? What does everyone else think?
I share a house with other students, only 1 of whom is a non-smoker. The rest of us always make sure we go outside to smoke. However, today we couldn't find a single lighter, so we lit our cigs on the gas hob and went outside straight away. Said non-smoker made a face and complained that there was now a smell in the kitchen. Also we aren't allowed to smoke in our rooms (with the window open), because apparenly a smell lingers in the house. Surely this is OTT, seeing as everyone already compromises by going outside, so no 2nd hand smoke is breathed in?
Also, a couple of times there have been people complaining about us smoking in the pub beer garden, because their kids were there. It's not like we stand directly beside them breathing smoke in their face, but inevitably they'll smell some of it. We've already been banished outside, can't we even smoke in peace there? What does everyone else think?
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By smoking, you inflict smoke on others. You can't help it, it's the nature of the activity. Therefore your actions affect others, who have no choice over it. It's up to the person doing the activity to do their best to control it and minimise it's affect on people near them. If that means not having a **** for a little while, then so be it.
Non-smokers don't affect others, so have no actions to control.
Incidentally, the same is true for music, barbecues and public masturbation.
Don't expect the rest of us not to mind, though!
And for someone who hates it when people won't sit next to the window on a bus just so you can be comfortable with your bags, I'm surprised you have asked such a question.
The truth of the matter is that us smokers are modern pariahs and we can never be in the right.
I am a parent and an ex-smoker by the way. We take our son to the pub in the summertime for an hour or two in the afternoon in the beer garden. He reads his beano and plays with the other children on the climbing frame. Some people at other tables smoke. It really isn't a big deal. The breeze wafts it away. No harm done.
Why bring the other thread into this, it's a completely different topic
But they do with their attitudes. If you get a reasonable person who is logical and knows the mere smell of a cigarette isn't going to instantly turn their body into a cancerous wreck you are OK the trouble is with people like the OP mentioned in the beer garden.
There are far too many non-smokers that act as if being exposed to a cigrette is the same as being exposed to asbestos but I blame that mainly on the scare ads by the government.
Non-smokers, in general, just need to gain a bit of perspective and I don't agree that a smoker should just bow to unreasonable demands or bend over backwards because a non-smoker is hysterically exagerating just how much 'danger' you're putting them in.
It has nothing to do with danger and everything to do with smell and the generally unpleasant fug.
Would you mind if my friends and I violently fart around your table? There's no danger from it....
When smoking was allowed in pubs how many smokers would ask non smokers if they minded if the smoker 'lit up'?
In my experience of nearly 30 years - with friends, accquaintances or passing strangers -
None.
No, her parents aren't the landlords, and there's nothing in the tenancy agreement saying we can't smoke. As I said we already compromise by smoking outside, but not being allowed to light a cig on the hob?
I already did tell her to get over it, maybe that was a bit harsh, but I don't usually mince my words. I don't see why a whole household should have to tip toe around 1 person.
As for the OP, the room that you occupy in the house is classed as your home so you are perfectly at liberty to smoke in there, and I would. Fair enough, communal areas should be smoke free but it seems to me you are bending over backwards to accommodate one anti-smoker.
The smell of cigarette smoke does indeed linger and makes the whole house pong a bit even if only smoking in designated rooms so I can understand this bit.
However, if you lit your cigarettes in the kitchen and immediately went outside then your non-smoking friend should keep their opinions to themselves. The smell could only have been around momentarily. After all if you are all sharing I'm sure there are things they do that irritate everyone else.
As for smoking in pub gardens - you just carry on. Smoking is allowed there so if people are concerned about their children then they should keep them inside (or preferably away from pub premises - but that's a different subject altogether).
Right at the back of the garden if you want to smoke chez moi and also take your nasty **** ends home with you.
I know that the smell of smoke can be unpleasant, however I get very irritated when it is pointed out......it is just a smell fgs.
I seriously do not like the smell of some perfumes or after shaves, one perfume, think its called Kendo or something, actually makes me queasy, but I would not ever say so.
As to the selfishness of non smokers, yes some can be ridiculously ott.
I worked a few years ago in an office, and was told that after coming back from a **** break the girls in the office did not like the smell, so could I not smoke until after work :eek:
This comment coming from girls that constantly stank out the office with smelly crisps, egg sandwiches, burgers at lunchtime, and sick inducing cup a soups. Oh and their stinky perfumes.
Needless to say I ingnored the request
Yeah, I sympathise with the first bit, so after she complained about it I didn't smoke in my room anymore.
And yes, I did carry on smoking in the pub garden. Unfortunately I was too taken aback by the rudness of the woman (she practically yelled at me) to be able to think of a suitable comeback.