A Conversation for Talking Point: Smoking in Public
An Old chestnut.
Nosbod Started conversation Feb 6, 2002
This whole issue is, just one manifestation of a question that comes up anytime people live together in groups. There is always a conflict between each indivduals personal freedom, and the freedom of the group not to be adversely affected by the actions of the individual. One man's freedom to own a gun, effects the next man's freedom not to get shot. Analogously, the freedom of smokers to smoke effects the freedom of others to breathe clean air.
Essetially smoking should be allowed outdoors, and in designated smoking areas indoors if there are adequate means to stop the smoke travelling out of those areas. On the issue of protecting people from addiction and death. We all die sooner or later, if people choose to gain some enjoyment at the cost of hastening their death (you could include dangerous sports in this) that's their lookout. Of course minors should be protected, perhaps by raising the smoking age to 18. This would probably reduce smoking a lot as most people take up smoking at school, then try to give up, fail, and carry on.
nuff said.
R.
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An Old chestnut.
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