h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Precisely. Globally, tobacco smoke pollution is negligible, but as a local pollutant it's far more of a problem. Also, unlike general airborne pollution, you don't know when you're suddenly going to hit a concentrated area of it.

Walking from the non-smoking train to the non-smoking tube station at Paddinton on Friday I got a lungful of exhaled smoke from someone. It was unexpected, and I didn't have a chance to try and get air from somewhere else. I always walk fast (hence I breathe deeply), so I got a complete lungful of second-hand tobacco smoke with no warning at all. Out with the inhaler again.

A lungful... You're not going to get cancer or die from it. (This does not excuse the smoker SOB in the non-smoking area, of course).

Have you ever been to a barbecue? Did you ever sit in front of a fireplace? Ever lit an incense stick? Ever got a lungful of that candle smoke? That was probably more dangerous than casually inhaling tobacco smoke from someone who is 10 feet away 15 times a year for 50 years.

Anti-smoke fanatics tend to exaggerate the effects of tobacco smoke. But technically it's not different from ANY generic form of smoke. You cannot allow some forms of smoke (the neighbours barbecue or so) and eradicate other forms (someone's tobacco smoke) on that basis. This is OK for subway stations and certain closed places (you will probably also not be allowed to light a fireplace or setup a barbecue grill there too). But in the free I can't agree. Be it in front of children or in the park or whatever.

(Again the YOUs are not aiming at anyone in particular)

Bye,

HELL

With this logic, does that mean a sufferer of hay-fever has the right to call for a ban of all florists, flower displays and gardens ?

Has anyone ever wondered, as I have done during my long trudges from home to work and back again, how much poor air quality is caused by, let's say, traffic and how much is caused by me smoking a cigarette. I agree that there should be no smoking environments but I will only give up polluting my lungs (and allegedly other people's lungs) when people stop using their cars and let me breathe fresh air.

As Dennis Leary once said, "I feel sorry for passive smokers, 'cause the stuff I inhale tastes GREAT!"

A lungful is enough to trigger asthma. On high polen count days people with allergies take medication. They can see florists' shops. People do not suddenly and randomly exhale clouds of pollen in front of you - although I have known people to be punced on by the perfume testers at department stores and have an allergic reaction triggered.

The point is one pf principle: the majority of poeple do not smoke, therefore it is reasonable to expect that public places will be free of cigarette smoke. I admit that I am more sensitive than some - mostly because I'm asthmatic so tobacco smoke is dengerous rather than just repellant.

On the other hand, non-smokers rarely cause asthma attacks in smokers by exhaling at them.

Only if they have bad breath...

Good bye,

HELL

Just a reply to Mr Bigot's last mail.
I found it highly amusing that he thinks smokers go around looking for people who don't smoke and 'suddenly and randomly exhale clouds of smoke in front of you'. I am asthmatic myself, so is my mum and we simply can't remember ANY time when a smoker puffed any smoke in front of us.
It's also rather strange he seems to think people have to be careful in case they are pounced upon by perfume testers - hmmm, makes you wonder wether he thinks someones out to get him!!!
Of course even if he thinks smokers and perfume testers are out to get him, it doesn't mean they're not!!! LOL

Smoke free

FACT: I have suffered asthma attacks because of unexpected tobacco smoke in public places (including one manwho lit up in a no-smoking railway carriage).

FACT: I know at least two peopple who have sufferd sever allergic reactions as a result of the application, without permission, of perfume by perfume testers in department stores.

FACT: I may be paranoid, but these two people weren't.

FACT: If I saw anyone lighting up in a no-smoking area I would make them put it out, I am a smoker but I also respect rules and laws unlike some.
I don't know what circumstances caused your second attack but if these are the only 2 examples you can come up with then I can't honestly see what you're complaining about.

FACT: Perfume testers do not walk up behind people and spray without saying anything, again without knowing the circumstances I would suggest that if these people had said something or walked a different way this would not have happened.

FACT: Wether you're paranoid or not you're the one who has got asthma and you're the one who has to be careful and look out for yourself, unless you want to wear a big sign on your head telling everyone who smokes to keep their distance from you.

I'm sorry that you may find this mean and abrupt but I wear hearing aids and I don't go around telling everyone to speak up. I know I'm as good (if not better) than the next person and I simply have to be more aware of what's around me - that's my responsibility, no one elses... I think you should have the same responsibility with your asthma.

I am pleased that you are happy to assume I am a liar as well as paranoid. Maybe the research which shows smoking causes brain shrinkage has a grain of truth?

LOL, oh dear resorting to insults now are you
If you'd read my last reply correctly you would have noticed that I haven't called you a liar or said that you are paranoid. Though if I had, I think your last mail would have just proved I may well have been right!!
Lets face it, your reasons for getting involved in this lovely 'discussion' about smoking and smokers are entirely based on you having asthma and you thinking everyone else should accept the blame for it, plus the responsibility to look out for you.

My advice to you is to get out of this while you still can, go outside and see all the people who are worse of than you are and accept the FACT that you and you alone are responsible for your own health.

Goodbye

Actually, it was you who resorted to insults. Check your own posts. But I see you have unsubscribed - good.

My reason for getting involved in this discussion in the first place is the simple principle that one smoker indulging their habit selfishly removes choice from all those around them. Even those who smoke may not choose to do so at that time.

Ina ddition, but only as a secondary issue, there are various factors which can make people sensitive to having tobacco smoke blown at them, including asthma, and it is basic courtesy to respect this and not smoke in public. The fact that you demonstrated a lack of understanding of the concept of basic courtesy by calling me paranoid (which I may be, but you don't know) and a liar (which I try not to be) really proves my point.

Clearly you don't think asthma is terribly serious. Charlotte Coleman died of it recently, as did Sir Ray Powell. Exercise can trigger asthme - so I take salbutamol before exercising. I do look after my own health - and then people go and compromise it by introducing tobacco smoke into public places.

Ultimately, though, I don't care that much. You will probably die a horrible death from lung cancer or heart disease, and I am much less likely to because I don't smoke. I do care about my children being subjected to second-hand smoke, and I do get very angry when smokers selfishly rob those around them of their right to breathe reasonably clean air.

LOL Apologies to all, I couldn't resist coming back and checking wether any replies had been sent to my last posting. And what an amazing suprise to find that McBigot has yet again thrown the responsibility of his asthma onto everyone elses shoulders...

I have just written several paragraphs in reply to your last mail but then realised whatever I say is not going to change your way of thinking, nor shut you up! You are paranoid, you are a liar (you've admitted this yourself) and I'm not going to waste my time breaking up every argument you make up.
What I do want to say is this, I am aware of just how serious asthma is. It runs in my family and I have the occasional attack too. I choose to smoke beacuse it's relaxing, it's peaceful, it relieves stress and I can afford it. I am very happy with my life, I enjoy it and I don't hold grudges against people for their 'bad habits' etc!!
And yes, you most probably will live longer than me and I'm sure you will enjoy those extra 5-10 yrs of dribbling, constipation, memory loss and baby food that I will be missing... you're welcome to them... so long as you're happy

If only I valued your opinion your insults might be deemed hurtful.

On the off chance taht you will actually read what I write (rather than inferring what I don't) I will try once more to explain the situation.

Some people smoke, most do not. Those who do smoke have a right to choose to do so. Those who do not have a right to choose not to breathe tobacco smoke. The reaosns for not wanting to do so are legion.

By lighting up in public space a smoker removes immediately from all those around him (or her) the choice not to breathe smoke. This is undeniable.

The issue of allergy arises only when a smoker seeks to excuse their selfish denial of others' rights by claiming that levels of exposure are low. There are those for whom even low levels of smoke can trigger allergic reactions, which in extreme cases can be fatal. But let's not go down that route again, because it distracts from the my original point which is:

ANY smoker who lights up in ANY public place has, by definition, decided that their choice to smoke takes precedence over the choice of anybody else around them, not to. If there is a better definition of arrogance I don't know what it is.

I have no problem with people who smoke in their own homes, or in smoking areas, or in pubs where there's a reasonable expectation of smoke (as long as I can find at least one smoke-free pub).

Just one final thought: your "harmless habit" caused the King's Cross fire.

You are just really stupid aren't you!? My personal 'harmless habit' most certainly did not cause the Kings Cross fire. It was started by someone lighting up on the underground and anyone doing this deserves to be shot, and I certainly would never smoke down there or on any other public service other than smoking carriages on trains etc.
Also using the phrase 'harmless habit' shows just how pathetic you are, since we both know it certainly isn't harmless.
Finally, by smoking in a public place I do fill the area around me with tobacco smoke. Anyone who doesn't like it can move away from me in this public space. Unless you are some sort of weird obsessive you wouldn't need to stand so close to people anyway!! And since smokers are a minority I'm sure you will have little difficulty in finding a space within a public space...
Just for the record my sister was caught in this disaster, fortunately she managed to get out early before thew worst happened. I think it's totally wrong to lay the blame on the entire smoking population because one person was smoking in the wrong place with disregard for those around him/her. making assumptions from this kind of thing like you have is not only dum, it's also dangerous!

Oh dear, all this time I've been quietly getting on with my life without realising that my problem is stupidity. The scholarship to a thousand-year-old public school, all those A levels, the degree, the invitation to study for a Master's, being headhunted to work for my university department on a consultancy project straight after graduating, the interviews on radio and in the press, all these things I've achieved and I never realised I was just stupid.

It goes to show what you can miss when you're concentrating on other things.

You remind me of someone called Bob Briant. He eventually got himself LARTed off the board we both subscribed to.

Any time you want to correspond, please don't hesitate to get lost.

LOL, you are a funny guy. I respect your academic achievements, and say well done for all the things you have achieved aswell.
Although it is very strange, I would never have guessed such an educated guy would have written all the emails above - because some of your comments WERE very stupid!
As for the education, I happen to have 'all those A levels' too, including 2 Degrees and a Masters in Biotechnological Law and Ethics, all passed with distinction - oh, and I almost forgot about the 2 NHS Managers courses I have under me.
It's a shame I also happen to have the social skills you seem to lack, like respect for an individuals right to do what they like within the law!? If I don't like it, I'll turn away and go somewhere else!

Oh, and something else...

Have a very merry smoke free xmas and a I wish you happy new year devoide of all those perfume sellers and smokers who are always on your tail...

You couldn't ask for a better xmas wish than that!!

One point you haven't addressed.


Are you one of those people who walks along a pavement blowing smoke into the air?

If you are then can you please stop - as I do not want to breathe in the smoke that has been in your mouth.

Smoking in your own home - your business.

Forcing your smoke on other people - that's something else.




Myriad.

LOL, okay let's start with your first sentence. If you'd read any of the previous mails you would have noticed that 'blowing smoke in the air' has been completely over-adressed by now.
Secondly, since when did you own all the air in the world and gain the authority to tell everyone else what to do! I can legally smoke outside and will continue to do so until this changes. And for your information I have never forced my smoke on anyone, I'm assuming you have legs - use them!! Go walk somewhere else...

Yes but . . .

Obviously I didn't read all the previous stuff - I am dangerously underinformed!

I would not dream of telling you where to smoke or not to smoke - just as you maybe should not tell others where to walk and not to walk.

It comes down to health. A cigarette smoker, with all the reams and reams of evidence at his or her disposal, still chooses to smoke. A non-smoker, likewise, chooses not to. When does it become acceptable for the smoker to create an unhealthy atmosphere - particularly one that the non-smoker has specifically rejected? Is it acceptable, for example, for an alcholic to pour whisky out his window into the mouths of sunbathers? Would you accept a heroin addict running around with a needle accidently on purpose injecting people? Of course, all these arguments are a load of rubbish.

I think the truth is important. The truth is that smoking is an extremely filthy habit. Every single smoker I have ever spoken to wants to quit but can't. It is an addiction. The great comedian Bill Hicks revelled in smoking and he died at a very young age. Smoking is clearly an ancient curse of biblical proportions and must be fought.

When dogs foul the pavement, the owner could be fined. The owner cannot in his defense say "well people should walk somewhere else"; it just doesn't work like that. We all have rights - and one is to walk along the highway freely and without hindrance. Saying that someone should walk elsewhere because of your preventable addiction is clearly wrong - in all possible ways.

You also have a right to smoke. You can damage yourself as much as you want. But the problem is that no one is an island. Your behaviour affects others - just as other people's behaviour affects you. It is clear that there is no solution to this debate.

Ardent smokers will continue to demand the freedom to smoke wherever they like.

Ardent non-smokers will continue to object to being obliged to inhale other people's smoke.

Luckily for my side of the debate non-smokers are winning. It will soon be impossible to smoke anywhere apart from a person's own home. And for the health and well being of future generations I look forward to that day with clear lunged anticipation.

Just one more point. On reading the other entries it is clear that people are upset and annoyed at other people's entries. I don't think this is constructive. There should be a certain amount of politeness in speaking to other people - even strangers on a message board. We are all passionate in our own way - but I believe a subject like this can be debated in a civil manner and without resorting to personal attacks. I hope I have done this here, but I doubt it. If I have offended anyone please accept my sincerest apology. It was not my intention.




Myriad.