Smoking...

[Elmer BeFuddled]

Eire had the ban before we did. I'd worked in Cork for nearly 2 years and after a years sojourn went back to visit friends, post smoke ban. All the pubs with a good craic in them were dead, more people stood on the street than inside. My favourite pub in Middleton (Roses) when I went back after the ban and a year away was empty. Went out the back for me tab. Found everybody! The only people in the pub itself were (a) non-smokers who (b) had to sit down, i.e. like me, old. Two years later the Celtic lion stopped roaring and that virtually killed them off.

 

[Des 56]

I thought I had said all the needed saying,yet have need to respond once again

Yoiu continually trumpet the health hazaed issue as if it still existed,it is gone,it is no more,the battle for clean air and isolation from secondary smoke has disasppeared
There has been a smoking ban imposed and you have your safeguards,why are you continually repeating the hysteria of the implications of smoking on the non smoker ? it no longer exists

What does exist is this obsession of the anti smoking agenda to keep beating the repetative drum
What others choose to do is of no concern to you or anyone with the same attitude,.your agenda is threatening my freedom to do with my life what I chose (as long as it does not infringe on others freedom do what they wish)

Calling smokers drug addicts.it may or may not be the case,it is irrelevant to this discussion,it was possibly intended as some sort of admonishment from on high and is taken with the disdain it deserves

Health
A lifelong smoker, having used the doctors surgery once in perhaps thirty years (that was for a first ever broken bone)with contributions and tax paid (plus the punitive tax on cigarrettes) having to be told by others how to conduct my way of life,that I cost the health service or that my actions are bordering on assault of the non smoker.it is both ludicrous and wrong
The stress levels of these anti smoking lobbys must be through the roof,the health implications alone should make them keep their interference minimal


As I stated earlier,it is time this obsession with smokers was put aside and greater thought should be given before supporting further restrictive legislation which will invariably come

As long as it is seen.post smoking ban,for it to be OK for one group of people to dictate their wishes to another group,freedom of choice will be the payment for interference where its not wanted,as long as you are not affected, the smokers choice is not yours to share





have a smoke with your full English and cup of tea



There lies a perception of a smoker that is far from reality

I have always been as passionate as yourself where food is concerned and served,in fact, my attitude in this regard is the same as yours and always has been,smoking and food were never thought of by me as bedfellows
Neither do i smoke at home(since years before the smoking ban)so smoking outside of pubs was not a new experience to me because I always did so at home

That does not mean that I should dictate my actions to those that do otherwise, neither should you or anyone else
freedom and freedom of choice is much more precious than all other matters, whatever they may be

 

[Darkwood]

Was responding to your views Des with regards of it been an infringment of your personal right to smoke of which i agree it is your choice of which i have no issue, im also responding to your distaste at US non smokers inplementing all these changes as though we were personally on a mission to make your life a misery .... not at all just expressing that every restriction thus far imposed has very good reasoning both for the health of the non-smoker and believe it or not to try improve the future health of the smoker.

Yes its no longer the issue it was the only area left is those that dont get that choice (namely children) and as you may have realised its going to be the next nail in the coffin of the freedom to smoke.

All this aside Des i hope there is no cloudy skies between us its just a subject off topic where we have differing strong opinions and other than that i still hold the same respect as a valued member and excellent contributer to the forum that you are .....

 

[Des 56]

My final post on this subject,(about time said the bored audience with relief )lol

I accept quite a large portion of your argument about health implications of smoking for those people who have been unfortunate enough to suffer the effects

I do not support the view that smoking is anything other than a poor lifestyle choice,apart from the health issue,cost is a very punitive reason not to take up smoking
Neither my Mrs or my sons smoke,both of my sons have opinions much the same as yourself,I am relieved and happy that they have never smoked

Having said that,if they had chose to smoke,it would be their choice and their business only,myself and society has no right to make that choice for them
Whether it be smoking or any other lifestyle choice,the mammy state has encroached on personal liberty far too much for my liking, this subject is the one that reveals to me the dangers of allowing the agenda to go beyond its remit

Your views are the complete opposite of my own in this subject,but as with smoking,my view is that each person has as much right to their opinion as any other,its essential and welcomed if we want to maintain a free society

My opinionated responses in this thread are for this subject alone,your contributions and well presented and informed knowledge for our trade subject has not been changed for one moment.I would be cautious about being argumentative if this were an electrical debate
I and others respect the quality of information you present on a regular basis and long may that continue

Shall we agree that if this thread went on for another ten pages,you and I will not compromise our views
I welcome and enjoyed the debate, because of,not in spite of,the difference of opinion

 

[SPARTYKUS]

I am going to be controversial here, oooft....



I'm a non-smoker and always have been, i am a minority amongst work colleagues and drinking mates...and i for one am glad of the smoking ban, especially when im having a meal - the last thing i want is to be breathing in someone elses second hand smoke when im trying to enjoy a greasy burger. Yes, my pals do often go outside every half an hour but thats completley fine by me i can enjoy my meal and go home smoke-free

On the flip side, the amount of 'birds' that smoke and say "you got a light" in a smoker area is unbelievable - easy way to break the ice & chat the females up :38: ....so stop bloody moaning you smokers

Do agree that pubs have compleley changed with the ban though, and you're all right - probably for the worse. Endless amounts of kids their all hours of the day, less lock-ins, less randomly organised amature poker matches & to be honest an all round worse atmosphere. But still, i don't have to breath in others smoke anymore Can see both sides to the smoking ban debate to be fair.

iquite enjoyed that once at a secret location in Wimbledon.

Knocked on the door at 2am and a rasterman opens a side door with huge plumes of rather herbal smellingsmoke puffing out

"ehh man, whats de password mannn?"

"erer errrr .....I don't fooking know"

"good enough for me man"

you didn't need to spliff up in there I could hardly see it was so thick

 

[tazz]

Arh smoking...I cant help it, but such a split deverse subject, have tried to quit so many times, tried patches, chewing gum, mints, etc....but now on the Joan Collins anti smking program...its great I only have a cigarette after sex....down to 20 a day now.....Brilliant...!

 

[Rich306]

I used to work at a cash converters where one of the workers used to walk outside the back and light up a spliff. Could smell it in the office lol!
I don't mind smokers as long as i'm not breathing it in...

 

[SirKit Breaker]

Its horrible, it stinks, it costs a fortune, its bad for you (and everyone else). But it must be allowed to continue, if it ever gets a total ban, then up goes our income tax by about 5% to cover it.

I packed the bloody things up recently, and wish i had done it sooner. If i had my time again i would never have touched one. Stopping smoking is one of the most difficult things to do. But the important thing to remember is to not give up giving up, a doctor told me this, and he also said that if it is what you want, and you stick at it you will beat the smokes. He was right, i have been off them since October, and have never wanted one since, i had been trying on and off for a good year or 3 though, and always found it difficult until now.

I dont have any problems with those who choose to smoke, i can remember how nice they once felt.

Cheers.............Howard

 

[PEM]

It is interesting that smoking generates debate whereas drinking is socially acceptable.

Few if any incidents of violence, wife battering, kids being killed by drivers, violence on a Friday night are the result of wanting a smoke.

Yes smoking is a life choice those that do have the right to choose so leave them in peace.

Focus on the drunks with the wet patches on their trousers instead.

So much Nanny state it's bl**dy ridiculous.

Makes me angry! Get a life

 

[ruston]

well put, des. pubs are no longer pubs, you can't move for tripping over pushchairs. they're like mothercare shops with bad attitude

Then there is the mobile phone........................