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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 250
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 250 |
YEAH! And while we're at it, let's ban wood burning fire places and stoves because I don't want to breathe that [censored] coming from my neighbors' houses. Why stop there? I'm tired of your car polluting the air I breathe. Would you kindly stop driving it around me? These things are affecting my health! Okay, enough sarcasm. On some points, I agree that it sucks. Most people probably don't like to walk behind or stand near someone smoking. You can always try to politely ask them to accommodate your smoke free preferences; you may be surprised hom many people would. However, this country was formed on the basis of freedom, and I get a little tired of the "we need to protect people from themselves" laws; i.e. banning smoking in all public places, mandatory seatbelt laws, etc... If someone wants to do something that is known to potentially harm them, they should have the right to do it. This type of thinking is starting to get out of control. I certainly don't want the government to start regulating what I can eat because it may increase my cholesterol and lead to heart disease. What it boils down to is that there is no reason that there cannot be sectioned off areas for smokers to enjoy their habit without bothering others. I personally think New Hampshire has it right with the "live free or die" motto. Just my thoughts on the topic. If you don't agree, you can feel free to think less of me if that makes you feel better.  p.s. - I quit smoking yesterday, so I'm a little bitter at the moment.
Matt
2000 SVT Toreador
#1210 of 2150
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 443
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 443 |
Originally posted by xdouble:
If someone wants to do something that is known to potentially harm them, they should have the right to do it.
Second hand smoke isn't a choice, that's the point. Smoking doesn't just affect the smoker, it affects everyone around the smoke. Delaware did a study last year and found that incidents of heart attacks during "bar times" have gone down as much as 30% after the smoking ban went into affect. Many of the actual heart attack victims weren't even smokers (both before and after the ban), but used to be around secondhand smoke pre-ban. The study didn't all out blame second hand smoke, but there is a correlation there that cannot be ignored as the study indicated.
I agree wholeheartedly with freedom to choose your own doom. Anyone wants to drink themselves to death, that's their decision to pickle their liver. But get in a 3000lb automobile and kill someone while DUI, and to prison the person will go, as it should be. It is the affects of smoking on others, just as the affects of alcohol produce unwanted societal results when driving, that are producing these laws.
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What it boils down to is that there is no reason that there cannot be sectioned off areas for smokers to enjoy their habit without bothering others. I personally think New Hampshire has it right with the "live free or die" motto.
That might work, if the area is completely sectioned off and does not share ventilation systems with the non smoking area. This was debated here in DE during the legislative sessions and the end result was that it would be prohibitively expensive for most businesses to provide a completely sectioned off area with independent ventilation systems just to cater to smokers. Hence the complete ban.
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Just my thoughts on the topic. If you don't agree, you can feel free to think less of me if that makes you feel better.
Everyone's entitled to their viewpoint. Don't think any less of you.
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p.s. - I quit smoking yesterday, so I'm a little bitter at the moment.
Understood, and best of luck in your quest to quit, I know it's not easy giving anything like this up.  I still haven't been able to get away from caffeine/coffee myself.
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,065
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,065 |
We need to have the goverment regulate some of this. People are naturally stupid. Smokers are still free to smoke as much as they want, but they have to just not "share" their smoke with other people that don't want it, hence the 50ft or outside laws. Same thing with driving... I don't care if someone wants to drive 100mph, but I'm gonna be pissed if it puts my life at risk too.
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,882
Addicted CEG\'er
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Addicted CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,882 |
Originally posted by todras:
i have to get that for my uncle who is a hardcore Christian and smokes! 
ps JB1, are you sure about that 50ft law/rule? ive been to the LA County building and there are employees smoking right in front of the entrance with sheriffs standing right there. 
when the statewide ban went down some bars tried to ignore it and allow it anyways, secretly, but they got busted and fined big time. they had a toll free # you could call and complain if a business was allowing it. I remember when I used to smoke and went to a Dodger game. i had to walk 1/4 way around the stadium to stand in a painted square that was the official smoking area for that level. now beaches in CA are starting to ban smoking, for two reasons: 2nd hand smoke and retards who just throw their ashes in the sand like theyre biodegradeable 
when i go to vegas its like a shock to be asked "smoking or non-smoking" and the smoke just travels over to you anyway. i think its good when restaurants have outside seating so you can smoke while you eat/drink or just after you finish. i used to like to when i smoked. in the open outdoors, i really dont thinking 2nd hand smoke should be such a concern.
Originally posted by Tourgasm:
Sometimes you can mess up a word so bad that spell check doens't know what the hell you're talking about.
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,825
Cool Toe Chris
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Cool Toe Chris
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,825 |
Originally posted by Matt R:
Ah. Come into New York. Already done. New York has banned smoking in all public buildings... schools, malls, bars,... all that stuff. Anyone that wants to smoke has to be 50ft from any building. I love the law, and am glad because they are really enforcing it... $50 fine every time you don't comply. Same thing with the cell phone law, I'm glad they enforce it.
I love going out in the city, no reeking of smoke after going out for a few drinks with the work buds. But when the woman and I go out in NJ, blech! The first thing we do after getting home is shower. Of course, what happens after...heh heh heh 
Seriously though, I too am much happier that smoking is banned in public places.
Chris
NJ
98.5 SVT Silver Frost
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,045
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,045 |
Originally posted by svt4stv:
ps JB1, are you sure about that 50ft law/rule? ive been to the LA County building and there are employees smoking right in front of the entrance with sheriffs standing right there.
i have not seen the law myself so i suppose i am not positive. this is just what we were told at home depot during a store meeting. they said it was law. they may well have been wrong. hay, theres your homework for tonight. lol
00 black/tan svt, #2052 of 2150, born 2/1/00
formerly known as my csvt
"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than a sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." -Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 5,854
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 5,854 |
Originally posted by Matt R:
Ah. Come into New York. Already done. New York has banned smoking in all public buildings... schools, malls, bars,... all that stuff. Anyone that wants to smoke has to be 50ft from any building. I love the law, and am glad because they are really enforcing it... $50 fine every time you don't comply. Same thing with the cell phone law, I'm glad they enforce it.
I dunno about that 50ft rule. EVERYONE smokes right outside their building, and most clubs/restaurants have some sort of outdoor smoking lounge, and they are certainly not 50ft away from the building.
You can't fight the rest of the world, but I leave you with this. You always see those stupid commercials telling you "50,000 people die each year from second hand smoke." Well, how many people die every year from the exhaust of millions upon millions of cars in the us? Pollution from factories, power plants, etc.? Burning garbage? Yes, in alot of states you're supposed to burn your garbage...not to mention full fledged incinerators. Mysteriously, there's no statistics on that. Go figure...
I recently went to vegas where you can smoke EVERYWHERE, and I have to say, it was everything i thought it could be. Sittin at a slot machine, drinkin' my corona and smoking my newp as I won $600. Ah yes, good times.
And also, there was no noticeable stink upon walking into a building with smokers in it, nor restaurants. And yes, I asked my cousin's who don't smoke. So, apparently proper ventilation isn't that hard to achieve.
1999 Silver Frost SVT
#609 of 2760
Quaife, lightened SVT Flywheel, SPEC stage II clutch, removed resonator, k&n drop in - various other goodies too.
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