[Mousey]

Just seen this argument raging on another forum and i'd like to know HH's stance on the issue. Personally i think it's the most retarded thing i've ever heard because if you outlaw tobacco, Not only are you encouraging people to do it *cough*USAlcoholProhibitioninthe20s*Cough* but you end up clogging up the system with people caught in posession of 20 marlboros and the guy that's just sledgehammered your car and chased you round the car park with a butterfly knife ends up walking away free.

[Jac]

Definately not.

I don't believe anything should be illegal, as in substances that people consume for whatever reason. The government should keep it's nose out of such matters. I am in favour of banning smoking in enclosed public places though as there's nothing worse than having to breathe some other person's foul smoke.

[Takaharu]

You know, I'm not entirely sure about this one. I'm very anti-smoking but the effects on society as a whole could be quite severe.

I'd favour banning smoking in public areas altogether if a vote came along but if it's in your own home or a friend's or even a public building that is for smokers then I don't have a problem.
When they banned smoking in buildings I was all for it - I still am - but the problem now is that people are massing in confined areas, chain-smoking and you get bombarded with massive wafts of cigarette smoke. Walking along the pavements is the same; loads of people are smoking, walking along in front of you. Sure, you can overtake them, cross the road or what have you but half of the time you find another one.

Despite the uncertainty of the impact on society I'd say ban it in public areas, rather than ban it altogether.

[Judas]

it's not ilegal to drink poison... it's up to the users own personal freedoms... if your stupid enough to do it... by all means...

As for smoking in public places, i do agree it should be ilegal in those enviroments.

But as far as smoking in your own vehicle, smoking in your own house, smoking anywhere in anything on your own property or on property where permission can be granted, that should never be taken away from anyone.

While i would frown upon those that smoke around their children, i do think it should be made ilegal, however id think they should deserve a slap.

And smoking while pregnant or around someone pregnant should deafinitely be ilegal.

[niceguyrichy]

Originally Posted by Judas

it's not ilegal to drink poison...

don't know about Canada mate, but deliberately killing yourself is illegal here in the UK.

i have no opinion on this matter, the can of worms potential is just too vast (what next? coffee? beer? all booze? cough medicine? chocolate? fast food? etc.. etc..)

[MIG-31]

Personally i do not smoke....But im not an anti smoker either...

I think the current ban in the uk (Public Places etc) is a little ott to be honest..

Im for the ban i resturants etc as i would not appreciate someone sitting close by smoking while im eating..I used to consider it to be quite rude when some one lit up in the past.

As for Public House i think this should of been left to the landlords descretion...The few Pubs that are open around my area do not serve food.And are struglling to keep going mainly due to the Smoking Ban...

The Ban also includes Company Vans...This is one part of the rule as i know is to stricked..I havew also seen news articles of people getting Fined for Smoking in the Van "They Own" which they should have a right to do so if they wish..

Also i have heard a few Anti Smokers say the ban should go further,Even to the extent of Including Homes! due one Comment i had seen goes beyoned stupidity..

"I can't Leave my back door open because my neighbour smokes"

Every one has a right to choose wht they do with there lives,Without more and more people saying what others should do...

Im one who is against Banning smoking as im not wanting to be one who takes the cigg from someone who enjoys it.

[Judas]

Originally Posted by niceguyrichy

don't know about Canada mate, but deliberately killing yourself is illegal here in the UK.

i have no opinion on this matter, the can of worms potential is just too vast (what next? coffee? beer? all booze? cough medicine? chocolate? fast food? etc.. etc..)

who said about "killing" yourself?

I said drink poison.... it wouldn't kill you emediately just over time..

This is no different then smoking.. because your consuming and inhailing poisons all the time.... you are indeed killing yourself.. it just takes a little time because really, what's the point of killing someone right away when they can potentially come back and spend more for the same self mutilation.

[Judas]

well another thing is.

everyone in their mind that is against something usually takes it to the extreme because they are only thinking for themselves in the fullest with total disreguard for others and themselves for other things.

I mean it doesn't take much for someone that is totally against smoking and wants it banned fully and everything to get right pissed off when you counter it with something they themselves enjoy such as beer..

You so much as mention to a few people that want it banned even in homes and as a product in total worldwide about banning something they enjoy that they do not need and is either just as much of a harm to them as smoking give or take..... they go total apeshit typically.

It's hypocrital.... stupid, selfish, and totally retarded.

[IvanV]

I'll repeat what I've said in another smoking thread: If tobacco were something new, I am confident no one would allow it to go into circulation. It's extremely psychologically addictive and not one bit healthy.

What to do in the current situation? Gradually eradicate it. Increase public awareness, start programs to help people quit (genuine awareness and real programs, not just those stupid actions "a day without smoke" and repetition of "smoking is bad, m'kay") and slowly push the legal limits.

[Senor_Mota]

Trust me, I know "The Truth", and I still choose to smoke cigarettes on a daily basis. I know it's not healthy, useful, or aesthetically pleasing. But I will say that a cigarette after a steak dinner or a cigarette after sex is almost as good as the sex or dinner itself. In fact, I see it in the sense that there are so many other things out there that could potentially harm or kill you, you might as well just enjoy what you enjoy.

Maybe if people were more concerned with LIVING than LIFE, things like this wouldn't matter. Remember, you actually have a higher chance of dying from being in a plane crash, a car crash, having unprotected sex or drinking contaminated tap water.

Someone's sig quote here on HH back in the DH days was "Everything is best with Moderation". That rings more true than any group trying to influence another group to be like their group.

Think for yourself. Question authority.

[jandarsun8]

As an ex smoker I can say that people are going to smoke regardless if it's illegal or not however straight out making it illegal only creates more shit happening. look at what's going on in Mexico right now with the amount of violence, corruption, and the drug cartels. I'm in total agreement that it shouldn't be allowed in public places but outright making it illegal will do more harm than good.

[Optix]

My wife and I both used to smoke but we quit cold turkey. It wasn't too tough but we caved every now and then when we went out with friends for drinks. I haven't had one in over a year and a half and she hasn't had one in over three years. Neither of us have had any cravings for one but it's because I was a smoker that I will so no, it shouldn't be banned although it is really stupid.

Smoking inside a public place has been banned for a long time and recently my home province enacted a by-law banning people from smoking within a certain distance from a public entrance/exit.

What I would like to see is more enforcing of that by-law so I don't have to take my son through a cloud of smoke left by some arsehole who's worried about having their hair blown about.

I would also like to see some common sense shown by other people who smoke around children while they are outside. Why should I have to move from where I am standing with my boy before they showed up and decided to light one?

Grrrr!

[brainless_beginner]

I smoke. Because I like it. I am aware of the harm it brings. But wait a sec, is it safe just to breath? The answer is NO. Aren't there in your city any cars, chemistry industry, heavy machinery, etc? Well, YES, there are some. The harm from smoking is a drop in the ocean, compared to the harm from breathing. So, imo it all is senseless. It's that simple: give me clean air and I'll quit smoking immediately if I have a bit of intellect. Then you can ban it everywhere, none would care.

[IvanV]

Let's make a small experiment. Blow your nose now. Then go to a club where people smoke, stay 3-4 hours, go out and blow your nose again. A drop in the ocean? Something people around smokers should put up with?! Give me a break!

[brainless_beginner]

I aint gonna stand for smoking, I may be (probably am) wrong, but mean somewhat different,... lets say, from another point of view. And so, let us make another small experiment. Breath your nose now. Then go to a greenhouse, stay for 3-4 hours, go out and breath your nose again. beyahh! How many breaths of this you have already taken in your life? I'm not greenpeace&blahblahblah, but I even tremble to imagine.

[Judas]

lol yes each individual smoke is for lack of a better word... relatively harmless..

it's the combined value and the constant presence that does damage.

Everyones body has it's own filtering and cleaning and removeal capabilities.

But when you constantly coat those vital systems with the same stuff to the point of overloading it and doing damage to those systems... the real effects take place.

While your right, Breathing is dangerous, but that mostly only applies in the major cities with unclean air to begin with.

You step out into the fridgid cold air of saskatchewan during the winter, and take in a breath of that clean fresh cold air, there is a huge HUGE difference. It's actually healthy for you.

Several people have stopped smokeing and after a period of time, have shown improvement, some do not show a major improvement due to their living conditions and enviroment simply because they continue to excist around those that smoke or in areas which aren't exactly good air.

but the moment they get into real clean air it all changes much faster.


Another fact, working in DIRTY places, and i'm not talking dirty as in smog and exhaust and shit.... i'm talking dirty places where naturally occuring dust and dirt off plants and the soil have shown to further improve ones breathing and filting systems in their body considerably.

Lets take my father for example.. a smoker since he was essentially call it 8 or 10 years old... a heavy smoker by the time he was 12-14...

he hasn't stopped smoking for anything more then 2 weeks..

According to the x-rays, doctors, even inserted camera's... they cannot find any trace that he has ever smoked a day in his life.

And there are repeatable reoccurances of this. The amount of debris and dust that my father inhales is able to actually help clean him up. Where most everyone will put on dust masks because it "bad" or hard to breath, he doesn't... and it actually helps... sure that night when the real cleaning begins, it's not so great, but the end results is a healthier system.