Society & Culture

Smokers - the biggest people being discriminated against

Society & Culture

Posted by: Ralphy

1st Dec 2010 01:04pm

I am a smoker and have been since I was 15 (quite a few years now) I always said when they reach $5 I would give up but like most of us, when they go up we increase our "price" when we will quit. Look to be honest, I enjoy smoking and unless some doctor says, "Your going to die within 6 months if you don't quit." then I am likely to continue for many more years... We smokers pay through the nose for our cigarettes and so much of what we pay goes to taxes... I remember the days when you could actually have a beer and smoke in a pub at the bar, you could even sit in a restaurant and smoke... Ok I agree that smoking in restaurants should be banned as should smoking in cars with small kids... but now they are looking at banning smoking in open areas such as parks and street side cafes etc... They are saying it is bad for our health but they are making us stand in the open in the middle of winter to have a smoke... ok it's our choice to smoke but we deserve to have an area designated for us that is protected from the weather.. Why do all the non smokers get the rights? How much money is the government making from our cigraette packs? lots. More than likely responsible for upgrades to these parks and the footpaths etc that we are soon to be banned from... Now that us smokers have been relegated to the alleys and out of the way places to have our smokes, litter is increasing as there is no designated ashtrays at these sites (most of them anyway).. we are longer away from our work as we have to leave the building and walk for ever to get to an area we area allowed to smoke in, basically we are being discriminated against in a very big way, and lets be totally up front and honest about this, the government doesn't really want us to stop smoking as they are making way too much money on it... if it was as bad as they say (and I believe they only say these things and spend money on anti smoking adds etc etc to satisfy the vocal minority who will whinge about anything) then smoking would be illegal... they have the ability to make it so but they wont as long as they can get so much from the sales tax on them...

I just think it is wrong that we can no longer have a smoke even in a beer garden whilst having a beer.... we are certainly paying for the right to smoke so we should have as many rights as anyone else....

I will now sit back and watch the outrageous replies from those very same vocal minority whiners who would complain that the sun is too bright in summer but not bright enough in winter lol... bring it on you complainers


trinketz
  • 18th Mar 2011 03:37pm

My view on smoking is: do what you want to your body, just don't inflict your habit on me and be considerate of others when you smoke in public. I don't smoke - actually I can't stand cigarette smoke, and after 2 bouts of pneumonia, my lungs can't handle smog or breathing in second hand smoke. I don't hate all smokers, but I can't stand inconsiderate smokers. Inconsiderate smokers are those that smoke in a crowd of people and don't think about others around them - a considerate smoker would at least step to the side, make sure the wind isn't blowing their smoke towards others (especially kids!), and throw their buts out in a garbage bin. Also people that smoke in bus stops - particularly covered bus stops. I hate it when people light up while sitting at a bus stop and they force people who were sitting down before them, or prevent others who need to sit down, to stand up because they don't want to breath in the smoke.

Growing up with a mother who smokes, I know better than to lecture someone about the health risks. Like I said, do what you want to your own body. Just be aware that there are other people out there who don't want to breath in smoke, and that some people can be quite affected by the smoke because they have medical conditions, etc. and think about them next time you want to light a cigarette when you're in public.


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