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

There has some debate over the subject of smoking at official meet-ups. We have decided to hear the views of Researchers who wish to attend prior to making a decision. Let us know your views. Should the meet-up be smoking, non-smoking or have a designated smoking section?

The issue of smoking can be very emotive so please respect the fact other Researchers may not hold the same opinion as you.

Maybe a survey of who's smoking and who's not will give some estimate of which is the bigger part of the attendees.

Naark and I don't smoke, but we don't insist on a non-smoking event.

That is what this thread is really about. We don't want a debate on the rights or wrongs of smoking. We just want to who supports the different options.

I prefer no smoking (I hate going home reeking of smoke) - but I don't object overly to it - I don't have asthma or anything that makes it a problem, just delicate nostrils

H and I don't smoke and would prefer a non smoking policy, but accept this would probably not be realistic.

I do smoke and am happy to sit in a pariah's corner so long as I am not totally on my own.

To be honest, I'd kinda prefer that as I don't want to be the cause of someone else not enjoying the evening. Conversly if it is a totally non-smoking venue then I doubt I'd enjoy it as much.

Stick me in a corner with me beer and I'll not annoy anyone

Both Bruce and I are smokers. (no s**t)

Have smoking and non-smoking sections, size of each decided by how many people smoke and how many are crazy health freaks . It's important to make sure the venue has very good air conditioning tho', otherwise the split is pointless.

Ideally you want something like a Weatherspoons, which is already geared up that way- split level, the higher smoking, and well-placed air vents.

I'd agree with Ictoan... if we could find a venue suitable to give us filthy smokers a corner to hide in I think it would be best... I don't think any smokers would want to spoil anyone's evening but we'd all be ever so slightly "" & "" by the end of the evening if we couldn't smoke at all... Find a pub with a broom closet, that'll do us

Just had a thought Abi,

Most pubs have a large, unused room into which us smokers could be sequestered with no danger of us bothering anyone else. I refer, of course, to the cellar.

Can;t guaruntee that the beer supplies upstairs would not be somewhat....intermittent.....still, no gain without pain as they say

We are using the basement/lower floor in the venue we have picked.

I won't be able to go but if I were I would really think that the best solution would be to have an area where smokers can smoke. I don't smoke and really hate it but if some people want to I'll respect that. But I also want them to respect me and not smoke in my face so that I can smell their horrible fumes.

Or I suppose we could always send smokers outside...

Wotchit

I agree. It's unfair to expect smokers to feel comfortable if they can't smoke. But I don't want to be breathing cigarettes when I don't smoke, IF it can be avoided. Yeeehah.

Hmmm, personally Mina, I would have done it the other way 'round. Arranging it with the smoking downstairs, within half an hour the upstairs will stink, and they'll be no smoke in the smoking area .

Trust me on this one- I know a pub arranged like this, and the non-smokers are always complaining that the upstairs is filled with smoke, whereas us smokers find the air is wonderfully clear- every time someone opens the upstairs door, or the door on to the street, all the smoke goes *whoosh* upstairs.

I will be found lurking in the smokers corner (wherever it is)

I suspect there will be movement between the two areas anyway. I might have to give BB his gutter eating squirrel back

No !!!!

Mines still here, that ones definatly all YOURS

[BB]

Blast.

Perhaps we could get them together then they can go and chew someone's gutter elsewhere along the A3.

I just hope and pray for a ventilation system that works! I stopped smoking nearly three years ago and of course I wish the rest of the world would do the same, but I know that's not possible. Nicotine is a such a powerful drug!

There should definitely be a smoking area for us higher tax payers to sit around and subsidise the pensions and benefits paid to all the health freaks.

If this is not possible within the part of the venue that you've hired. Will it be possible for the smokers to use the rest of the pub, and will this cause issues over access to the hootoo section vis tickets etc?

If that is a problem and it proves to be insurmountable, and there is no smoking area available for h2g2 people, then I won't be coming to the meet.