Whitewind wrote:
It shouldn't be banned though. It's a matter of freedom so as long as it doesn't infringe on the rights/freedom of others, let people make their own choice. That includes the infringement of me (as a non-smoker) not having to pay for their smoking related health costs.

The idea behind banning smoking is that it does infringe on the rights of others. According to the NY times, The Institute of Medicine put out a report showing that shortly after public smoking was banned in certian towns, the heart attack rates in non-smokers fell by up to 47%. If this correlation is a cause-effect relationship, then by smoking around others you are putting their lives and health in jeopardy.

On the other hand, The Huffington post had an article about a study which showed that statewide banns on public smoking appear to have no correlation with heart attack rates. I believe that the reason for this discrepancy may be enforcement. There has been a smoking ban in my town for several years now, but the local police don't ever bother to enforce it, and neither do most business owners.

Ruger9mm wrote:I think it's amazing how many people want to make smoking illegal and yet want to legalize pot.

I've YET to have a pot smoker blow smoke in my face.

I find it amusing that so many people say that this is the land of the free and we should not take away the rights blah blah blah....
But when a smoker walks past me or in front of me and blows their smoke right where I am, isn't that taking away MY freedom? I choose not to smoke yet I have to suck down their toxic waste?
I voted for designated areas. If a person wants to smoke, fine, let them. I don't really care. I care when it infringes upon my freedom to take a breath of fresh air.

geojef wrote: Never underestimate the power of stupid people
It got Obama elected

Just as a reminder, problems that this country is experiencing have been happening for years, longer than any one president has been in office.

And, reading through the comments, I wonder whether Woot! wanted to get a conversation going, or to get entertainment by reading all the comments posted.

ChronoSquall14 wrote:So what you're saying is that I shouldn't have the right to stop you from smoking (and I shouldn't, obviously), but you DO have the right to impose your cigarette smoke on me?

Who talks like this? Who is trying to impose anything on you? File your complaint with the person or persons directly affecting you. Also grow up, how about that. You act as though as soon as you step outside someone is blowing it in your face. There are many things I do not like, things people do that I do not agree with. But you don't see me telling them they cant do it. I don't like the smell of fish, therefore they should ban people from cooking fish. I know this is an argument neither side will ever win. Think I will go outside an practice my individual right to smoke, you may want to vacate the area.

wmaincmt wrote:I think MOST (not all of you)have a very low opinion of smokers and a very high one of yourselves (not all of you). Judgmental is a word that comes to mind. I'm sure (not all of you) have no problem driving your SUVs, cramming crap food like Mc D's in your mouth and down your kids throats. Smoking is a choice and yes sometimes an addiction. It doesn't make us bad people so Start Trolling for Urchins.

cramming crap food like Mc D's in your mouth and down your kids throats is a choice and yes sometimes an addiction. It doesn't make us bad people so Start Trolling for Urchins.

Yes, lets ban all things that we dont like. What a bunch of cry babies. I cant stand whiners and complainers. I think we should ban them in public places.

Wow, these comments made me lose a little faith in humanity. Seems like everyone is of the opinion that if there's a smoker on the beach, everyone on the beach is going to breathe their smoke and get cancer. More realistically, the wind at the beach would disperse the smoke before *anyone* could breathe it. Even in other public places, like sidewalks in normal areas, the smoke rises and disperses VERY quickly, and if anyone happens to breathe any of it, it will be a tiny, negligible amount. Just because it smells bad doesn't mean it should be banned - maybe we should ban every cologne you don't like, as well?

This is a little off topic, and maybe a little hypocritical, but I love the casinos here in Colorado. They are smoke-free. I enjoy gambling once in a while, but hated that when I even walked through a casino (in New Mexico), I came out smelling like smoke. Plus when I sat down, it didn't take long for a smoker to sit on a slot machine next to me.
I don't mind smokers as long as I can get away from their smoke.

Smoker's are already segregated enough. Its personal freedom. An idea that our country was built upon.

Imagine if I stood outside of McDonald's and screamed at everyone walking out that they are killing themselves. I wouldn't be lying. But who am I to decide what someone should and shouldn't do?

We need common sense restrictions on smoking. "The right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins"

If you want to smoke - fine. But as soon as your smoking interferes with someone else or with public space (wind blowing the smoke in other people's faces, littering, being a fire hazard, etc) then you no longer have the right.

I have no problem with people smoking tobacco anywhere outside, but those processed chemical sticks most people smoke are pretty obnoxious.

BAN? no.
.Keep well-ventilated designated areas(when outside isnt an option)
.Force tobacco companies to display full ingredients - From metal tinctures to pesticides
.Never smoke in front of babies/children
.Pot vs cigs
I think both can give birth to cancer/neither is "healthier"(you guys are funny)

pot is pot and cigs can sometimes be surf boards
(fiber glass in menthol)
Smoking surf boards might be unhealthy

We should ban everything. Cars, alcohol, walking, smoking, rodeos, white t-shirts, everything.

I work at a fast food place (18 here) and a lot of people smoke when at the window, I completely dislike that... It's rude and offence and frankly I don't treat them as nicely as others. Just the other day after I handed the guy his food and closed the window, he flicked his cigarette at the window! I was about to yell at him when he took off.

Normally I would be for individual rights, however I believe that smoking is a public health issue. I am highly allergic to cigarette smoke, and getting a good whiff of it can send me into an asthmatic attack. If I see smokers blocking my way into a building, I take a big breath of clean air and try to hold my breath while walking as fast as I can past them. This often makes me dizzy. Sometimes I can change my breathing to be very shallow so as not to trigger the asthma. But why should I have to do that? I have rights, too! My vote is to ban it in ALL public places. If smokers want to kill themselves with nicotine, let them do it in their own homes.

fefniir wrote:Same here. I don't smoke a pipe often, but I've never had someone complain about the smell. What's your favorite brand of pipe tabac?

Frog Morton right now, but Solani Aged Burley Flake is coming in a close second lately.

Banned. Or maybe some sort of enclosed smoking booths should be put up.

I have asthma (never smoked in my life), I'm tired of having to move not only away from smokers, but to a place where hopefully the wind won't carry it to me, and I'm tired of explaining my medical condition. I'm sick of having to hold my breath every single day I go to work because most smokers disregard the signs saying not to smoke in building entrances.

Yes, I feel my rights as a NON-smoker should be considered above those who smoke, because what I don't do isn't bothering ANYONE. I think people should be able to do whatever they please providing it doesn't threaten the health or safety of others. Smoking does. End of story.

After living in China for a year, I found it very ironic that people have more basic freedoms (like their right to a cigarette because it makes them happy) in their communist country than we do for *some* things in America. Let people smoke for crying out loud. It's a big enough country

Sure are a lot of hateful people in these comments

I don't smoke cigarettes and I don't like being around people that are smoking, but that's their choice to do, as long as they don't blow it in my face it's not a big deal, same with any drug

In Utah they're already forced outside 25 feet from pretty much all buildings; Parks and public areas are about the only areas left for them to smoke.

yes this poll was dumb and limited to only three answers when there are many more options, i dont smoke cigarettes on a normal basis and when i do its alond but screw people that are just saying it should plain be illegal...

angryviking23 wrote:Smokers(not all of them)for the most part have no respect for others. They stand right by people and blow that smelly cancer causing crap in our faces. It needs to be made illegal, but the government would never do that because they make to much money taxing it!

i dont smoke cigarettes but id like to light one up and blow it your face right now for your "reasoning"... the government could make a lot of money on hemp/cannibus but they dont and its not carcinogenic...

DiGiTyDarKMaN wrote:Who talks like this? Who is trying to impose anything on you? File your complaint with the person or persons directly affecting you. Also grow up, how about that. You act as though as soon as you step outside someone is blowing it in your face. There are many things I do not like, things people do that I do not agree with. But you don't see me telling them they cant do it. I don't like the smell of fish, therefore they should ban people from cooking fish. I know this is an argument neither side will ever win. Think I will go outside an practice my individual right to smoke, you may want to vacate the area.

nice, you told that jerkface... lol

dmaz wrote:After living in China for a year, I found it very ironic that people have more basic freedoms (like their right to a cigarette because it makes them happy) in their communist country than we do for *some* things in America. Let people smoke for crying out loud. It's a big enough country

I'll take smoking restrictions and freedom of speech speech restrictions and freedom to smoke, thanks.