Intended to post this in time for the Great American Smoke Out.

As I recover from my 5th bout with pneumonia in 10 years, I'm reminded of what my doctor told me. "Both your parents smoked. You grew up in a house filled with cigarette smoke. You have smoker's lungs. You have a history of asthma attacks and other respiratory problems. You will be susceptible to bouts of pneumonia." Sure enough.

How do you like that? Smoker's lungs and never having had a cigarette touch my lips.

My sister grew up in the same house. She started smoking when she was in high school. She now has a handicapped placard because she can barely walk even short distances. Her husband smokes too. Their daughter has respiratory problems.

As I sit here wheezing and coughing up fluid, I just want smoking parents to stop and think about their children. You may not care about your own health. Do you care about your children's?

 

Good post Dennis.

Reminds me of when I was a kid, and on a long car ride with my parents and older brother, and they all chain smoked with the windows up.

Funny how life works out sometimes, now I am the smoker, and when my family visit, they are the ones who complian.
They quit well over 10 years ago, but sadly for my dad, it was too late... lung cancer caught up with him in 98.

I am planning on quitting new years eve, and reading your posts gave me more inspiration to do so.

I am getting tired of 'weezing' myself to sleep.

I predict that one day, smoking tobacco will be illegal; it may not happen in my lifetime, but it will come.

Thanks for the reminder and the inspiration.

Habibi

 

Dennis, this is where you and I differ the most.

I have read and heard dozens of times that the human body can reverse all ill effects of smoking within ten years. That is for the actual smoker, not the second hand person.

I guess this is one of those hot topics of the new millenium.

I agree that smoking is a dirty, rotten, stupid habit. I do it too. I have not been sick with even a cold in about two years. My grandfather smoked Pall Mall non filters fron age 9 to age 72 when he passed away. He was a victim of lead poisoning fron lead based paint. He had a mandatory autopsy because of the lead poisoning. The report listed that his lungs were in good health.

The problem I've always had with the smoking issue is that people force others to conform to their personal desires. If you get enough big guns to go against smokers, then smokers will be stripped of their priviledge.

It has happened here in Florida, the new California. Amendment 6 passed on Nov. 5th. Sometime in July of 2003 smoking will no longer be allowed in any public workplace, including restaurants. The amendment was worded something to the effect of "to protect the health of employees in their workplaces from the ill effects of second had smoke"

The whole smoking thing is just ridiculous. With all of the smoke from cooking, nasty grease traps, disgusting bathrooms, and poor service in restaurants these days, people want to gripe about smoking.

I have compiled a list of things that could be compared to smoking in it's ill effects on others but no one seems to care about.

1) Crack gangstas on the street corners making 10K per month tax free selling crack while the middle man makes 30K tax free. The crackheads smoking this stuff break in to my tenants houses stealing tvs to buy it fron the corner.

2) the proliferation of rap music and 10,000 watt car stereos that shake you to the core at intersections all across the country.

3) 5' blondes with one kid driving a damn Suburban at 75mph in the rain.

4) irresponsible gun owners, emphasis placed on "irresponsible"

All of these things, most people are so ignorant about. But if they are told that cigarette smoke makes their food tasteless, they are sold.

It makes me glad I can think for myself. And in all of my common sense and emotion, I can still say logically that the FRESH AIR IS OUTSIDE.

I also find it hilarious that most non-smokers I know are vehement former smoker ***** but they smoke weed. I know more people that smoke weed than smoke cigarettes. I say they should just legalize weed, it would make it easier for them. I don't even smoke weed. They say they can't taste their food in the presence of a cigarette, BULL****!

Now in July 2003, I will have to go to the resaurants in town, request one of the best tables and occupy it for 4-5hours sitting around drinking coffee and reading. Until I get thrown out. It will be fun walking through the line in the waiting area watching all of the non smokers waiting on tables to clear as I go outside for a cigarette.

And those poor resaurant owners that have been stripped of their decision making. What about the restaurant owners that smoke? They won't even be able to do what they want in their own establishment.

No wonder every other country on this planet hates us. Look at what a bunch of hypocritical *** holes we can be when we want to.

IN closing Dennis, I don't want anyone to be sick. I have noticed though that diseases and things get more attention and glamour than warranted. For a while it was AIDS, then Ecoli, blah blah blah. The media never does reports on how many die from falling off ladders, which is probably more than the amount that dies from some of these diseases.

Just look at what kind of a stir this "God wants to take our SUVS" issue has caused. Uh-oh, a segment of non-smoking ***** are celebrating their accomplishments by going after the SUV crowd. Smells like another "priviledge" is on the chopping block based on some groups STUPID desires.

"God wants to take our SUVS"
"Somebody is smoking 25 feet away and I can't taste my food"

Outlandish beyond belief. And so incredibly sad.

I almost prefer they just outlaw cigarettes and be done with it instead of insulting people with time-wasting laws such as these. It would also create another nice black market income for the crack gangtas.

 

Second hand smoke is a helluva lot worse for you tan any "smaoke" in the kitchen, I know Im a professional Chef. And if you think second hand smoke isnt unhealthy your on crack. You dont have a right to make me stink from your smoke or force me to smell that garbage.

 

My father smoked when I was growing up. It's just one of those things you've got to deal with. What should we do, sue? I for one think if they outlaw cigarettes, they need to outlaw alcohol too. The government will never outlaw either one since too many tax dollars are made from their sale.

 

i would guess that over 1000 people die cause of smoking in USA .. If 1000 would die in Plane crases every day you would ban planes..........
BAN CIGARETTES......They sure kille.....

 

Just to add a funny twist on the second hand smoke thing. My tattoist had a sign up in his shop. It was a sign discussing second hand smoke and this was in 1985. The jist of it was asking people not to smoke around him because he didn't like the by-product of their ciggarettes "smoke" because it got all over him. He enjoyed wine/beer and the by product of his enjoyment was urine. How would you like it if I got up and pi$$ed all over you. So please don't smoke around me.

Everytime I read that I howled. I am a firm believer that smoke is nasty, however, I sure as hell don't want anyone telling me what I can and can't do. Now the issue becomes when anyone else intrudes or forces their (in this case)smoke on us who don't like it then it becomes an issue. I think that places that have established a smoking/non-smoking area are fine. Banning it outright is wrong.

Back to the subject original, parents do need to not subject their children to smoke, but that is ultimatley for them to decide. Again I do not want some one telling me how to raise my children.

 

Never touched a cigarette in my whole life and I am proud of it.
My mum smoked but gave up smoking, my dad smoked all his life.
First cigarettes,the heavy stuff from France (gauleoises), then cigars.
He died of longcancer in 1996 at the age of 68.

I can't understand why people smoke 2 packages a day.
Smokers do cost healthcare a lot of money.
Raise the price of healthcare premium for smokers and raise the price for cigarettes.
Cigarettes should be banned.(IMO)

 

I think that if you want to smoke it is your right. I smoked for 14 years now I don't.

Second hand smoke can be put in the argument, "I don't care what you do as long as you don't try to force it on me" our country is very proud to be able to say this.

The problem is that you can stand 30 feet from someone and smoke and they will still feel/smell the affects of the smoke. When I am in a restaurant and the smoking section is right next to the non-smoking section and people are taking drags inbetween each bite of food and then exhaling over the wall into my booth with my young children they lose their right to do whatever they want because they are trying to force me to deal with what THEY do, not what I want to do. Here in lies the issue.

You are absolutely aloud to smoke as much as you want whenever you want that is your right as an American. However it is NOT your right to infringe on MY right NOT to smoke or have my kids exposed to it.

So the government is perforimg a delicate balancing act. It would be much easier if smoke stayed in place. Like being able to smoke a whole pack and then exhale it all into a toilet. (Just like the above urine analogy)

What do you think?

 

Well, I did not necessarily mean to twist any panties with my statements. I am glad to hear people speak their minds instead of blanket statements like "I can't taste my food".

I completely understand the food/restaurant thing. I completely understand health care costs, stinky clothes, littering, taxes and every other thing that cigarettes stand for. I hate the fact that I became addicted to it or ever tried it to begin with. However, I am still at the point that I enjoy it. I won't try to quit until I no longer enjoy it. Even when I do I won't sell my soul and blast others who choose to do so.

Cigarettes produce second hand smoke, beer produces urine (and drunk drivers), young crack gangstas in purple Impalas produce deafening rap, inexperienced drivers with good credit can go down to the local car lot and sign for a 3 ton station wagon. All of these things affect us in some way, many times negatively. It's called life.

I would reason that there is no such thing as *good* smoke of any kind, I mean isn't that why fireplaces have chimneys?

My off topic point was the choice of the restaurantuer (did I spell that right Swofford?) and every other employer that chooses to smoke. Now they can't in their own property.

There is an Italian restaurant down the street from my house that opened as a non-smoking restaurant from day one. I ate there anyway and smoked on the way home. I had no problem with the restaurant owners choice. Now, the decision has been made for all of them.

BTW, smokers are better tippers or so I've been told.

It is not so much about smoking as it is stupidity and communism.

Guns will be next on the chopping block. It may take another ten years to pass something stupid but it will happen. Now that's gonna **** some people off. Including myself.

 

All of the same laws apply to guns,booze, and anything else that can cause someone else harm if used improperly.

Complaining about the poor restaurant owner that can't smoke on his own property (Which by the way he prolly only leases the space and doesn't own it) is a weak example. Mister restaurant owner depending on where his restaurant is can't keep a gun or drink in his own restaurant and then drive because he could harm someone else. It is the same for smoking. You do not have the right to harm someone else and second hand smoke is proven to harm people.

If you were the government what would you do?

Again, I was a smoker for 14 years and during that time I always did my best to not offend other people with my smoking. I am not a militant non smoker BUT if someones second hand smoke hurts someone in my family I will protest.

Oh, and I own guns and occasionally drink.

 

Smoking is a freedom, if they take your right to smoke then what is next?? Personally I would rather they not eliminate my rights one at a time. If they do "outlaw" cigarettes, they will lose the taxes from that. Knowing my goverment they will still want that money, where do you think they will get it from?? They will simply tax something else. And for what its worth I am not a smoker nor have I ever been. I do not smoke but I will fight for your right to smoke.

 

that is exactly how I feel... Im an ex-smoker and MY GOD I feel so much better, but I dont like govt. control at all.

 

OK, time for me to weigh in on the subject. Dennis me and you just may agree on some of these issues, so hold on ok...

First, people, stop complaining about us smokers we fund alot more gov't and local programs then do you non-smokers.

As far as resturants. Though I am a smoker I don't have any problems NOT being allowed to smoke in there with other non-smoking people. Now if they could divide the place with a wall, and seperate ventalation, one for smoking one for non-smokers then I would say it should NOT be banned. Since no one will do that I think its fair to keep people from smoking in there. When it was allowed I never did it for the reason some have mentioned here, my smoke would travel and myself while I was eating I didn't want smoke blown over my way. There were many times I seen other smokers who could give a sh*t about the other people. Second, though the owner may own the place it is still a PUBLIC business, and must be ran that way. I don't drink much at all, maybe 1 beer a year if that so I don't like going to a bar to have a nice dinner with my daughter. Therefore it is good that resturants are NOT allowed to serve drinks other then soft. I don't want the drinkers around me, thats just me and it is what I expect when I walk in for a nice dinner.

If I want to drink I will go to a bar with other people like me. If I want to smoke after I eat I too can eat at some bars, that still allow smoking with people like me.

The point I draw the line is for anyone to tell me where and when I can smoke so long as it don't interfer with someone else, as in my truck, my garage, outside my house, where I usally smoke since I have custody of my daughter, or where ever else I may wish that is MINE.

I would really like to see some of these NON-smoking wackos go after other things that are even more dangerous then smoking how about DRINKING? or more to the point DRUNK drivers?

Another point to remember is us smokers add no more to medical cost and insurance cost then non-smokers do, that I believe to be a fact. If you want to raise our rates then you MUST do so for drinkers, anyone that uses drugs, anyone that is 20lb overweight, anyone that eats Big Mac's more then 3 times a week, anyone that has over 1 speeding ticket in 1 year, anyone that rides a bike with NO helment, anyone that plays sports, anyone that is under 4' tall that like to mouth off to people 6' and taller,

Get the idea here, MANY, MANY things add to the cost of medical cost and insurance cost, especially those of you who have insurance and take you kids in every time there nose begins to run. So get over the FALSE fact that smokers add to medical and insurance cost, its a myth, an illusions, a theory...

 

01 makes some good points.

It is not just restaurant owners that can no longer smoke. It's offices, garages, workshops, etc. or any other workplace.

I never had a problem not smoking around others. I even went to family dinners and sat in the non smoking sections. When I go to Applebees, or Chilis, I always sat in the bar to eat. I won't be able to do that anymore.

Smoking is bad for you and so is second hand smoke. I will always maintain that the FRESH, HEALTHY, CLEAN AIR IS OUTSIDE, NOT IN A DAMN RESTAURANT. The air isn't even clean inside most homes and most people don't know it.

If we were to apply this same convoluted logic to other issues. We could start writing Amendments about a lot of things.

For example, Swofford told me he is a professional Chef, but he drives an F-150. I use my Tundra daily for my work and I have to have a pickup without any other choice. Swofford could possibly live with something else, I don't know and I don't care. If he wants a SuperDuty V-10, I think that's great. If his wife or my wife wanted to drive Excursions, I think that's great too. But there will be a percentage of people that don't like it, when that percentage grows too big there will be a new agenda to ban chefs from pickups and women from Excursions. And there will be some dumbass that will justify it by saying, "you have no right to burn up all of my gas, or drive 3 tons of vehicle right off the back bumper of my Kia".

With all of the real criminals, the economy, terrorism, etc. in our country now. Cigarettes and smoke should be the least of our concerns.

The good news is that some restaurant owners have said that there will be a way around Amendment 6 by becoming a "private club" which will not require a non-smoking section. It closes the doors to non-smokers instead of smokers. Remember, the fresh air is outside.