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September 29, 2009 at 5:15 am #592502
Smoking! Really?
Back in the 50’s people used to smoke because it looked cool and gave you a buzz. They didn’t know it causes cancer…ED…lots of health problems.
So…I don’t smoke. And if you do smoke, go ahead; but, don’t blow it in my face.
I consider myself a peaceful and progressive individual, so when some a*s inadvertently blows smoke in my face I just get angry and walk away. I can only take solace in the fact that smokers blood pressure spikes, while mine falls as I mellow out.
When I walk past a bar (like the one going in on Admiral Way between Calif. and 42nd) I will inevitably have to walk through second hand smoke. The sidewalk is narrow.
So what do I do? Cross Admiral Street just to avoid the bar? Or, should I just politely ask drunk smokers to mind where they blow their smoke? Ha :(
Or should I just accept it?
September 29, 2009 at 6:06 am #678372
WSBKeymasterIf we’re out walking at night, we cross the street whenever possible to avoid smoking crowds outside bars.
Little-known fact relevant to some of our recent celebrity deaths: Smoking is a huge risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Few cancers are as ugly, horrific, ravaging as that one. My mom was 2+ packs a day dating back to age 15 and since it was way too late for help when she was diagnosed, she didn’t even quit until she left her Morgan Junction apartment for the hospice where she chose to spend her final weeks, and the Fentanyl made her forget. Brutal. I smoked for six years, back when you were supposed to be sitting at your typewriter in newsrooms with an ashtray right next to it. But I digress. Good topic, I vote for “cross the street” or else hold your breath and walk fast.
September 29, 2009 at 12:54 pm #678373
christopherboffoliParticipantThere was an interesting study done by Stanford University in early 2008 that demonstrated that cigarette smoke can be harmful to non-smokers even outside. The smoke does not not dissipate in the air very well. If you are close to a smoker, breathing the smoke can be as bad as being in enclosed spaces. I guess that’s why a number of municipalities and states have already passed or are considering outdoor smoking bans.
What I’ve also learned is that the smoke can be even more harmful for bystanders than it is for the actual smoker as the person smoking is inhaling the smoke through a filter whereas someone around them is breathing the smoke directly. And when a smoker drags on the cigarette, the tobacco burns at a hotter temperature, essentially burning cleaner than the smoldering, smoky emission as he or she just holds it in their hand. I have seen studies that have shown that blood vessels start to constrict within seconds of being exposed to tobacco smoke. Heart attack rates have dropped dramatically in every place that smoking bans have been enacted. The Surgeon General has said that no amount of exposure to cigarette smoke is safe.
Cigarette smoke contains thousands of chemicals including about 50 known carginogens, such as benzene, ammonia, acetone, tar, nicotine, arsenic and carbon monoxide. While any city will have pollutants in the air and life is not risk free, cigarette smoke (even outside) can be much more concentrated and more harmful to health than the ambient air. But because people cannot see the harm immediately, and because many of us can remember when cigarettes were everywhere (including on airplanes and in work places) people don’t really appreciate the real harm of walking through clouds of smoke on the sidewalks.
Don’t even get me started on the millions of cigarette butts that are on the ground everywhere around Seattle and how those filters (that don’t really biodegrade) leach all of those lovely toxins and carcinogens into Puget Sound.
September 29, 2009 at 2:43 pm #678374
bluebirdMemberI don’t understand this complaint. Rather than work to just make tobacco illegal, you’re attacking a by-product, so to speak.
As it stands, smoking is a legal activity. (and always will be, because we love our sin tax revenue)
It was contained to select private establishments, mostly adult only bars. Not allowed in any restaurants or other public buildings. You could easily choose to have a drink somewhere else, but that wasn’t satisfactory.
The smokers were driven outside. They are exactly where you wanted them, blowing smoke on everyone now, including your kids.
And I’m always amazed that this one carcinogen is singled out, while you happily drive your SUV’s around, eating your charred burgers, talking on your radiation cell phones.
Can we protest bakeries too? Fat is a much bigger health danger to me personally.
September 29, 2009 at 2:51 pm #678375
GoGoParticipantAmen, Bluebird.
September 29, 2009 at 3:01 pm #678376
KimberleyParticipantI believe the OP was walking through the neighbourhood, not chosing to drink at that particular establishment.
September 29, 2009 at 3:05 pm #678377
bluebirdMemberI believe I was talking about the law, that forced smokers outside to be walked by.
September 29, 2009 at 3:17 pm #678378
swimcatMemberJust hold your breath and walk through the smoke cloud- or wave your hand in front of your face to make a scene. The exposure will be so brief I highly doubt you’ll get cancer from it.
My big complaint about smokers is that they drive up insurance costs for EVERYONE (thanks- I love subsidizing everyone that chooses to not exercise, eat fatty foods and smokes/drinks excessively/does drugs), and they litter their cigarette butts EVERYWHERE. The littering is mind-boggling to me. Someone will be smoking in their car with the window rolled down (hello, your car is going to stink anyways, as are your clothes and breath), and they toss the butt out the window onto the road. Put it in your ashtray!! Lazy, lazy, lazy.
September 29, 2009 at 3:23 pm #678379
bluebirdMemberNo one ever has a fit about the lack of *fitness* though, and all it’s associated costs. And the litter is wrong from anyone. I live by a bus stop. The trash is unbelievable. Makes me want to ban beverages and chips:)
September 29, 2009 at 3:39 pm #678380
datamuseParticipantNo one ever has a fit about the lack of *fitness* though, and all it’s associated costs.
Actually, they do. Ask anyone you know who’s even moderately overweight about the deliberately delicate questions they receive about their diet and activity levels. For that matter, I *have* heard rants about fat people driving up insurance premiums. For realz.
Personally, I just think it’s kind of rude to blow smoke in somebody’s face. Sort of like chewing with one’s mouth open, you know?
September 29, 2009 at 3:44 pm #678381
GenHillOneParticipantI have to say I’m with bluebird on this one. You’ve hit every point for me and each one could spin into its own argument. When you boil it right down, why they didn’t simply limit smoking to over-21 establishments – who would CHOOSE whether or not they wish to allow smoking (read: adults may then choose to patronize or work in those establishments, or not) – I’ll never know. Place a big ‘ol smoking or non-smoking symbol in the window and there you go. Perhaps it would have trended to a 100% ban anyway, but I would much prefer to see it be a business decision rather than a mandate.
September 29, 2009 at 3:45 pm #678382
christopherboffoliParticipantWhether or not something is LEGAL doesn’t make it right. It might be perfectly legal for my neighbor to chain smoke right outside of the window of my house, filling the inside of my residence with smoke. But is it right?
In my mind this issue isn’t really about smoke per se but about courtesy. The OP was explicit in saying they didn’t care if people smoked. THEY just didn’t want to breathe it.
According to the most recent stats, 9 out of 10 citizens in King County are non-smokers. So it seems that smokers are an ever increasing minority. But interestingly it seems like you cannot walk on a downtown sidewalk for more than a minute without sucking on someone else’s smoke.
September 29, 2009 at 3:48 pm #678383
JoBParticipantI am not a smoker and am exceedingly sensitive to secondhand smoke and cigarette byproducts.. a full ashtray can trigger an asthma attack…
however… i believe our laws failed us when they forced smokers onto our public streets. Those unintended consequences will get you every time.
I vote for holding your breath or crossing the street..
September 29, 2009 at 4:12 pm #678384
swimcatMemberIf smoking had been banned from all bars when I was in my 20’s, I probably would have gone out a lot more than I did. I hated coming home smelling like stale smoke, with stinging eyes. YUCK. There were only a handful of bars that were smoke free before the smoking ban- there weren’t many options but I’d always try to go to those places rather than a bar like the Mecca, the Corner Pocket or the Poggey. If my friends decided to go to a super smokey bar, I’d usually just head home for the night. I always thought it was completely unfair that I would miss out hanging out with my friends because others felt the need to smoke, smoke, smoke and my only option was to put up with the stink or miss out on the fun.
September 29, 2009 at 4:31 pm #678385
jamminjMemberI used to fart whenever I was at a bar and someone was smoking next to me. It would have been better if I stood on the stool and faced my rear right at the smoker, but I restrained myself. Its amazing the look or comments I get from the smokers.
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I wonder why this one thing deserves special treatment as to not have to follow any regulations.
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We regulate everything coming into a bar/restaurant – the water, the food, the air, the staff – yet cigarettes get a pass??
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The smokers should have argued more along the lines of deregulation instead of privilege.
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Probably wouldn’t have won as well, guess people do want their food, water, air clean – but at least the smokers would have been more consistent.
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Anyways, I still fart when I walk by smokers outside, but its lost its luster. :)
September 29, 2009 at 4:45 pm #678386
biankatParticipantCross the street or deal. It’s not going away.
September 29, 2009 at 4:52 pm #678387
villagegreenMemberSmokers outside don’t bother me at all, but this statement from the OP definitely piqued my interest, “When I walk past a bar (like the one going in on Admiral Way between Calif. and 42nd).” What bar is that? Have I missed something?
September 29, 2009 at 4:54 pm #678388JamminJ…how do you pass gas on command?
Nice posts on this topic. It seems that most of you support a smokers right to smoke; but, also demand the right to clean air.
September 29, 2009 at 5:14 pm #678389
IrukandjiParticipantI vote for holding your breath. Crossing the street there means you end up breathing Jack in the Box. Ack.
September 29, 2009 at 5:21 pm #678390
bluebirdMemberI always wonder why this one thing deserves special treatment as well. Special bad treatment.
Like any activity, when something bothers us, we notice the offenders, not all the polite people. I’m in my 40’s and I have never had smoke blown in my face. And if I did, I would consider it rude and offensive.
But rude, is rude, is rude. It come in all shapes and sizes. Take a look at the side of the freeway. Do you really think all those yellow trash bags are filled with cigarette butts? Yet smokers are automatically labeled the worst?
And why can’t we take a little personal responsibility? Avoid what bothers us (when possible), or request the person not be inconsiderate. Have any of you said, could you please not blow that my direction (without being judgemental)?
I’ve asked people to please not have their stereo so loud after 10. It’s not that complicated and they’re often oblivious. Just as annoying, but not malicious.
September 29, 2009 at 7:04 pm #678391
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September 29, 2009 at 7:07 pm #678392
HomerParticipantHmmmmm….doesn’t RCW 70.160.075 state “Smoking prohibited within twenty-five feet of public places or places of employment”…if this is the case, shouldn’t the smokers then be sent into the street to smoke so that the sidewalk is clear for all walkers, kids included? Why should us non-smokers have to be inconvenienced to avoid people smoking on the sideWALK? Shouldn’t they be the one’s that have to be inconvenienced as they are doing what is not the intended use of the sideWALK? Wish law enforcement would crack down on this law as it would be a good way to make the city some extra cash to support it.
September 29, 2009 at 7:35 pm #678393
bluebirdMemberSince it’s a sideWALK only, lets ban bikes and trikes and strollers too. Enough of those babies getting a free ride. WALK or get out of the way.
Those cafe tables and chairs really irritate me too. Drink your dang coffee inside the restaurant. It’s what it is intended for and my dog is really inconvenienced.
Please. Could we be more picky. The 25 feet does not mean at a 90 degree angle out into the street, btw.
September 29, 2009 at 7:59 pm #678394
JenVMember25 feet away from one business’ door is smack-dab next to the door of another at times. I for one am just happy to be able to drink my adult beverage and not stink when I get home. You can’t have it both ways. Smoke dissipates outside in the air very quickly, and you have a ton of fresh air you can breathe when you walk past the smokers. or maybe business owners should build scaffolds outside for the smokers to climb upon so they don’t sully your air as you quickly walk by?
September 29, 2009 at 8:12 pm #678395
bluebirdMemberBeer garden on the roof!
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