Smoking Laws (1282 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.34 on 46 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Unabonger (View user info) at 2005-02-21 09:31:46 EST
This morning, on my daily commute to downtown Houston, I heard the most alarming thing on my standard morning radio show. Apparently in Houston there's a law ready to be passed to ban smoking in public places all together. When I heard that it included smoking in bars I swerved and hit a Durango, killing a pregnant woman, three kids and a dog. Then the show had a guest come on and rattle her cock holster for 30 minutes about how wrong smoking is and how dangerous second-hand smoke is and that smokers are responsible for baby seals being clubbed, and that big tobacco industries contribute to the downfall of western civilization and that if you smoke you are the reason for rapists and murderers. She flapped her DSLs for 30 minutes and noone, the host of the show included, got a word in edge-wise. This lady is the head of an orginization to stop public smoking. She'd be satisfied at people only being allowed to smoke in their bathrooms at home with the door shut and a towel pressed up underneath.
Let me get this straight...
These orginizations are putting time and energy and money into trying to get smoking banned in public places. When you walk into a mall or a store or even most resturaunts in Houston, you can't smoke there. Now they want it out of bars. The spend money on this shit. I am not so mentally challenged as to claim second-hand smoke isn't dangerous. I know it is. But there's a scale of danger and second-hand smoke just ain't on the top ten list if you know what I mean. If they took all the time, energy, and (most importantly) money they are spending on this shit and devoted it to things that are very dangerous in Houston I think the results would have a more profound effect.
For instance: In the summertime in Houston, local radio shows and television broadcasts advise people to stay inside for certain times during the day. Apparently the sun is getting to be too hot. Houston is about the 3rd most polluted city in the States. Consequently, there's a huge hole in the ozone layer above our city. the UV rays are killing people who are outside between the hours of 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm. I'm hearing this radio broadcast while sitting in traffic. The traffic isn't moving and it's a 6 lane interstate. That many cars, huh? I suppose getting smoking out of bars is pretty important. Mass transit improvments might let your snot-nosed, video game-playing, undisciplined, candy-eating, rotten-toothed, should-have-stayed-a-stain-in-mommy's-drawers shits actually get outside in the summer to enjoy some activity that DOESN'T contribute to the epidemic of FAT in America. Kids are dying in the summertime. They don't drive cars.
Are there actual documented occurances of people dying from second-hand smoke? Is there any way it could be the air pollution as well as the asshole smoking at the bar?
People who don't smoke and go to bars better fucking expect to breathe someone's cigs. You're at a bar, for christ's sake, how concerned are you for your own personal well being? Cause you've had five drinks and plan to drive home, you fucking moron. Your liver is recoiling in hatred at your tequila shooters and you're going to kill a car full of PETA activists on your way home but you have the nerve to be offended by my cigarette? When someone tells me that shit, it usually is followed up by my boot to their forehead.
"Oh, I went to LA and I had no problem smoking outside in public places...it's not that big of a deal."
"Oh, nobody complains when you have to step out of the grocery store to smoke. Why complain about bars?"
Nobody complains? Could it be because it wouldn't get them anywhere? We're at a point now where complaining will do some good. If the law's passes, we'll stop complaining again. While you have your foot of hypocracy poised over our freedoms, we'll bitch. When you cut off the air supply, we have to stop. Fuck you and your good health. I hope you die of cancer from your cell phone.
Eat more McDonalds
Drink more Coca Cola
Keep driving that Excursion ( 2 miles to the gallon)
Keep playing video games
Keep drinking alcohol
I'll keep smoking.
()______))________________))))~~~~~~
User Reviews
Submitted by pannerplant (user info) at 2007-01-06 08:45:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by hyprspacd (user info) at 2005-02-22 13:44:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Adam,
Those stats were from the Victoria Freedom of Choice Coalition's web page.
They probably are a bit skewed, but then again so are the stats from sources trying to ban smoking.
For the record. I'm not against a smoking ban in restaurants, I actually sit in the non-smoking section if the place has both anyway. But bars?
Why not leave the decision up to individual business owners? If they want to allow smoking let them. If they want to ban it. Let them. Why does the f*cking government have to get involved in it? People have a choice to smoke or not. People have a choice to go to a place that allows smoking or not. People have a choice to work in a place that allows smoking or not.
Funny thing is every bar in Houston could now declare their establishment smoke free if they so wanted but they don't. I wonder why if they don't think it would hurt their business.
Submitted by Unabonger (user info) at 2005-02-22 13:20:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
rad, your intelligence continues to astound us all.
thanks for being part of Ubersite, man. I feel better with samrt p3opl3z like you around.
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-02-22 13:05:55 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
I am from Las Vegas. Fully 33% of people here smoke. And I am for personal freedom.
I took a trip to LA in January, and the only liberal ideology I took back was the smoking law.
FUCK SMOKERS. You wanna smoke, do it somewhere else. Outside. Away from me.
And FUCK YOU FOR BEING A DRUNK DRIVER YOU FUCK!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by Adamdidit2u (user info) at 2005-02-22 11:51:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by hyprspacd (user info) at 2005-02-22 11:39:24 (#)
Ranking: 2
Somone said that <10% of the population are smokers...
----
From the front page of the American Heart assn:
"In the United States, an estimated 25.6 million men (25.2 percent) and 22.6 million women (20.7 percent) are smokers."
========================================
Even if you make it 30%, it still makes them a vast majority. My figures (I threw out the 10%) were from Maryland (courtesy of Census and Baltimore Sun research)
========================================
AND I would hazzard to guess that the percentile increases if you only include people who frequent bars.
A few statistics about a smoking ban in British Columbia.
March 2000
Note: This ban was implemented province-wide in British Columbia on 01 January 2000 by the Workers Compensation Board (WCB)
» Liquor sales were down by 11% in Jan/Feb 2000 compared with Jan/Feb 1999
» Draft Beer sales were down by 13% in Jan/Feb 2000 compared with Jan/Feb 1999
» This drop in liquor sales represents about $3 million
» 706 layoffs have been reported to the Coalition of Hospitality Organizations as of March 15th
» Five businesses have closed, one in Castlegar, two in Dawson Creek, one in Prince Rupert and one in Hixon.
» The reduced payroll alone from the laid off workers is $15.53 million, that does not begin to mention economic spinoffs, or the dramatically reduced number of shifts
» Businesses are reporting drops from 15% - 85%, dependent upon the geography, the demographic makeup, and the type of establishment. Worst hit are northern and interior liquor establishments, and rural coffee shops.
======================================
Cite where you got that information.
A site or source dedicated to opposing the ban wil obviously skew the facts in thier favor.
Submitted by Unabonger (user info) at 2005-02-22 11:47:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
about when it's implemented/voted on:
i dunno. i only heard bits and pieces of it between me screaming at the drivers in Houston traffic.
my argument isn't and never was that businesses lose money with this ban. i'm just sick of the right to decide being taken away from us. it makes it equal but not quite fair.
Submitted by 1Point21Gigawatts (user info) at 2005-02-22 11:40:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Very good points, perhaps where you live the smoking ban might not make sense. I think though, if you leave the decision up to the bar owner whether or not to go smoke free, you will have 99% of bars allowing smoking... Therefore, there would never be a non-smokey bar for nonsmokers to go to. True, before the ban, I used to go to a place called Tommy's over this other place Billy's because the ventilation was better, but all in all, it was still smokey. Having the ban makes all things equal, since it's an all or nothing situation.
Now, my statement "99% of bars allowing smoking" without a ban bolsters the idea that bars would loose business with the ban in place, but in my experience it isn't quite true. People will go to bars no matter what; to meet people, get drunk, play pool, throw darts, watch the game, etc. Munkey's point that the ban decreases alcohol consumption is also valid, but I don't think that's a bad thing either. It was sort of bullshit the way CT and MA made all those bars put in thousands of dollars worth of ventilation equipment, only to ban smoking 2 years later, but I'm sure all those places of business wrote it off as a loss expense.
By the way, when does this law go into effect? I'm taking a trip down to San Antonio and Austin in late April to visit a few friends. It will help me determine whether or not I should bring dry-clean only clothes.
Submitted by hyprspacd (user info) at 2005-02-22 11:39:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Somone said that <10% of the population are smokers...
----
From the front page of the American Heart assn:
"In the United States, an estimated 25.6 million men (25.2 percent) and 22.6 million women (20.7 percent) are smokers."
----
AND I would hazzard to guess that the percentile increases if you only include people who frequent bars.
A few statistics about a smoking ban in British Columbia.
March 2000
Note: This ban was implemented province-wide in British Columbia on 01 January 2000 by the Workers Compensation Board (WCB)
» Liquor sales were down by 11% in Jan/Feb 2000 compared with Jan/Feb 1999
» Draft Beer sales were down by 13% in Jan/Feb 2000 compared with Jan/Feb 1999
» This drop in liquor sales represents about $3 million
» 706 layoffs have been reported to the Coalition of Hospitality Organizations as of March 15th
» Five businesses have closed, one in Castlegar, two in Dawson Creek, one in Prince Rupert and one in Hixon.
» The reduced payroll alone from the laid off workers is $15.53 million, that does not begin to mention economic spinoffs, or the dramatically reduced number of shifts
» Businesses are reporting drops from 15% - 85%, dependent upon the geography, the demographic makeup, and the type of establishment. Worst hit are northern and interior liquor establishments, and rural coffee shops.
Submitted by Adamdidit2u (user info) at 2005-02-22 11:36:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
OK
Munkeypants, Shlony ect.
When I was working in MD still they were beggining to propose Non smoking legislation, specifically in Rockville MD and Montgomery county. Now I was working with the agency responsible for public planning and zoning (why this issue fell under their command I don't know)
The firm I worked for studied the economic impacts of the already in effect ban on smoking in New York City.
All of our findings were uniformly consistent.
Business increased.
Munkeypants, regarding your comment on Tabs. How can you correlate people walking out on tabs with smoking? Anyone who is an asshole enough to do that will do it either way. Also what ever happened to them holding your card when opening a Bar tab? You really can't directly correlate those two things.
Shlongy. Like 1.21 said, bars/clubs/restaraunts often change hands and you could always misinterpret the evidence to suggest a direct link to smoking. Also consider they cite California. 350 establishments in a month for a state a large as California is ridiculously low, break it down statistically.
Less than 10% of the population are smokers. Once smoking ceases in bars and clubs, the other 90% (of which many avoid going to bars because of the smoke) will begin to patronize the establishment.
It's proven that Second Hand smoke kills people.
While I do agree it's everyones god given right to kill themselves, it's not your right to harm others.
Simple as that.
A small minority of the population can effect public health adversley, but economically they won't simply because they won't stop patronizing these places because they'll just smoke outside
Submitted by Unabonger (user info) at 2005-02-22 11:17:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
ok, childish comments to the side and an apology for being that way.
when you stated that drinking doesn't hurt anyone like smoking does i think that was inaccurate. the fact is, if a bar owner goes against the law and lets people smoke in his/her place, they'll get busted alot faster than a drunk driver. on average, someone will drive drunk 500 times before they're ever caught for it. in Texas (mainly houston) the roads aren't congested with traffic like in NYC. People don't take cabs anywhere, really. you can't wave down one, you have to call for a pick up. bars, every night, are crammed with vehicles and more than half of them are going to be driven by someone who's intoxicated. i never said we should ban drinking or that we should ban bars. but to say that alcohol isn't a big factor in deaths per year, is ridiculous. more people die from alcohol-related incidents than people who die from second hand smoke.
if your argument is about letting people decide to smoke or not to, i agree. if your argument is that smoking is disgusting, i can see that point. if your argument is to force people to comply with a law, banning something that doesn't cause any harm to those who aren't aware of the dangers in partaking in it (it's still your right to not go to a smokey bar), then i don't agree. nor can i see your point. as it is right now, any bar owner can decide to remove smoking from their establishment. it's a choice that all business owners should have available to them. if they think they can make more money by getting rid of it, let them. if they don't feel like doing that, it should be their choice. there's oxygen bars in Houston, NYC, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Las Vegas, Las Angeles, Seattle, Cincinnatti, Cleveland, Jackson, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and every other city I've ever been to. I've gone to them. I've gone outside to smoke when I'm there. I don't complain. When I can't smoke in the mall, i don't complain. when i can't smoke at a grocery store i don't complain. but to make me go outside to smoke next to the owner of the place i'm at cause he smokes? fuck all that shit.
decision is something that will continue to be stolen from us for the sake of safety as long as there are those to stifle the voices of the obsrvant.
and yes, i'd love to smoke a j with you...i'm all out and it's too early.
Submitted by 1Point21Gigawatts (user info) at 2005-02-22 11:04:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Unabonger (user info) at 2005-02-22 10:47:57 (#)
Ranking: 0
"All you dumb smokers are clearly missing the point. Drinking alcohol at a bar does not affect another human being. You are not exuding any toxins, maybe just bad breath. The smoking ban is NOT about you, the smoker, you egotistical bastards, its about us, the NON-SMOKERS who don't want to suffer because of your bad habits."
--someone who needs to read closer before stating an opinion
The point was, why spend so much time and energy into these laws when other laws could be passed that would drastically help everyone, not just one demographic. And if you think every person at the bar is taking a cab home, look outside. see those big metal things? those are cars. they go vroom vroom. when you drive after three or four beers, it's been PROVEN that it does affect other people. namely the car full of PETA activists mentioned in the post. and you're not suffering. you're not gonna get lung cancer. quit whining and take up smoking. it's refreshing and will definately chill you the fuck out.
shut your hole before i shove my man meat in it.
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I shouldn't even try to hold a civil debate with someone who's argument contains "take up smoking. it's refreshing and will definately chill you the fuck out" and "shut your hole before i shove my man meat in it."
Am I the one who needs to chill out? Do I look visibly upset? As Walter Sobchek once said "calmer than you are, dude." I'm not one to get all riled up when sharing a point of view with someone on the internet.
Okay, secondhand smoke DOES give other people lung cancer. I'm not a scientist or research analysit, but these people are:
http://www.cancer.ca/ccs/internet/standard/0,3182,3172_13127__langId-en,00.html
Also, did I say anything about drinking and driving??? No. People should not drink and drive. NYC and LI is a densely packed area, cabs are commonly taken. If not, we have a designated driver. Sure, there are still people who drink and drive, but guess what? That's illegal too! So your argument about banning drinking because it kills innocent people when the drinkers drink and drive is simply wrong - it's not the drinking that kills people, it's the act of driving while intoxicated. And you know what? The laws are in place. You go to jail and loose your license when you do it.
Maybe down in Texas, you guys still think smoking is a positive distiguishing characteristic. Maybe when you go out on a date with a girl, you are disappointed when you find out she doesn't smoke. It does usually take about 4 years for the latest trends set in NY and LA to get down south to you guys, so I'm sure it will only be a matter of time before it hits you. After all, last time I was in Texas, they played the Electric Slide out at a club. I felt like I was in some sort of cheesey time warp. Anyways, the point is, here in NY, people are quitting that shit because it's unattractive, unhealthy, and does nothing for you. If I find out a girl smokes, I tell her I'm not interested and I walk away. Many other men/women are doing that same thing. You want to relax a bit? Come puff a joint with me.
Submitted by Unabonger (user info) at 2005-02-22 11:04:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
compromise = the discretion of bar owners to decide and the discretion of consumers deciding where to go to have a drink.
law = forcing both parties to comply with what a handfull of people think is right.
i get +2 from me. good post. *nod* i'm hired.
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-02-22 11:00:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
at the same time is is rather nice to be in a bar and not have
my eyes hurting from all of the smoke.
I don't see why they can't come up with a compromise.
Submitted by 1Point21Gigawatts (user info) at 2005-02-22 10:49:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-02-21 19:23:29 (#)
Ranking: 2
Adam's making shit up again.
I read somewhere that in California, something like 350 bars/restaurants/diners have closed in two years since the smoking regualtions were enacted.
NYC probably has a similar problem/ratio.
Adam's full of shit. I'd like to blow a couple of wads of Marlboro smoke in his pansyass face. see hwat he'd do about it.
-------------------------------------
Shlong, bars and clubs open and close like a whore's legs - that's just the business. I guarantee that information, if correct, can easily be well correlated to standard amounts of bars and restaurants closing.
There's a bar right in my neighbor that has had four different owners in the last two years, so you could say 3 bars closed in my town since the smoking ban went into effect (plus another few openings and closings). That's just the nature of the game.
Seriously, no one in NY is complaining about these laws, and I doubt anyone is crossing the border to get to a place that does allow smoking, although CT has the ban and NJ might have it too, but who the hell wants to go there???
Submitted by Unabonger (user info) at 2005-02-22 10:47:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
"All you dumb smokers are clearly missing the point. Drinking alcohol at a bar does not affect another human being. You are not exuding any toxins, maybe just bad breath. The smoking ban is NOT about you, the smoker, you egotistical bastards, its about us, the NON-SMOKERS who don't want to suffer because of your bad habits."
--someone who needs to read closer before stating an opinion
The point was, why spend so much time and energy into these laws when other laws could be passed that would drastically help everyone, not just one demographic. And if you think every person at the bar is taking a cab home, look outside. see those big metal things? those are cars. they go vroom vroom. when you drive after three or four beers, it's been PROVEN that it does affect other people. namely the car full of PETA activists mentioned in the post. and you're not suffering. you're not gonna get lung cancer. quit whining and take up smoking. it's refreshing and will definately chill you the fuck out.
shut your hole before i shove my man meat in it.
Submitted by standardeviant (user info) at 2005-02-22 10:47:19 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I say if you have good circulation there should be no problem with the smoking thing. When I went to the states two years ago I did not smoke and it rarely bothers me. Just cigar smoke.
Submitted by Fleadh (user info) at 2005-02-22 10:46:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Ireland has a smoking ban in place and its amazing the difference in the atmosphere in the pubs. There was a lot of uproar but it hasnt changed teh drinking experience at all, in some ways improved it. Its led to "smirting" that is flirting with people out haveing a smoke and has developed into a major means of scoring.
Submitted by TheSpook (user info) at 2005-02-22 10:42:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
IT'S A BAR!!! YOU SMOKE IN A FUCKING BAR!!!
I fucking hate these crybaby pussies and their bullshit. I'm blowing smoke in everyone's faces from now on. Might as well kill them too. I only smoke when I'm drinking (thank god), but 7 years of smoking has taught me plenty. Like when someone needs an ass-whooping.
Submitted by 1Point21Gigawatts (user info) at 2005-02-22 10:40:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Ed_0150 (user info) at 2005-02-21 18:41:01 (#)
Ranking: 2
They should NEVER outlaw smoking in Bars.. EVER. Drinking is just as bad for you and no one bans that.
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All you dumb smokers are clearly missing the point. Drinking alcohol at a bar does not affect another human being. You are not exuding any toxins, maybe just bad breath. The smoking ban is NOT about you, the smoker, you egotistical bastards, its about us, the NON-SMOKERS who don't want to suffer because of your bad habits. It is about keeping bartenders and bar employees in a healthier environment.
Oh yeah, and I'm sure AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALL the bars are going to go out of business now, because all of their clients would rather stay home alone and smoke while sipping beers at their kitchen table.
The only bars that might suffer are cigar bars, but usually the smoking law has provisions allowing cigar bars to continue letting their customers smoke. But at least you know what you're getting into there.
In NY and NYC, I am friends with a few bar and club owners. They all welcomed the smoking law, as it keeps their employees feeling better, it makes cleanup easier, it is safer against fire hazards, it makes passing inspections easier, the list goes on. Nothing makes me happier than seeing some stupid bitch in a backless shirt standing outside in the 15 degree weather puffing on a cigarette. Perhaps you should've thought about that 10 years ago when you were trying to "look cool" on the school playground, moron?
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-02-22 10:26:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
around here we had laws where restaurants had to completely seperate the smoking
and non smoking sections in a bar and put in a seperate ventilation system.
then two years laters, after hundreds of businesses spent all this money...
MA went smoke free.
and sorry Adam, where I am from bars are losing business. I have spoken
to many a bar owner.
-Do you know how many people have a tab then go out for a butt and
never come back? there are bars around here that can't have tabs anymore.
-how many cities that are near state lines are losing business
because people would rather go the extra 10 miles to a different state that allows
smoking.
-a few bars around here have started building outdoor patios with tables to
accomodate smokers. where are the smokers and their friends going to go now?
to a place where you cant sit, drink, and smoke? or where you can?
- i drink a lot less when i cant smoke at the same time. i cant bring my drink out
with me so my drinks last longer because i am always going outside.
well.. i quit today but being an ex smoker i can see both sides of the fence.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-02-21 19:23:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Adam's making shit up again.
I read somewhere that in California, something like 350 bars/restaurants/diners have closed in two years since the smoking regualtions were enacted.
NYC probably has a similar problem/ratio.
Adam's full of shit. I'd like to blow a couple of wads of Marlboro smoke in his pansyass face. see hwat he'd do about it.
Submitted by Unabonger (user info) at 2005-02-21 19:21:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
i'd be interested to see how much profits actually increased in smoking-banned bars. besides, it's one thing if an owner decides not to let people smoke in his/her establishment, it's a totally seperate issue when a law forces every bar to comply with that statute.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-02-21 19:20:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Do what I do.
Get a card printed up- you can probably find one on the internet - and become a card-carrying "anarchist", like Shlongy.
Then, you can smoke wherever you damn well please. Like Shlongy.
The only place I won't smoke is at the table in a restaurant.
Every fucking where else is fair game.
Submitted by StonedSilly (user info) at 2005-02-21 19:03:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Adamdidit2u (user info) at 2005-02-21 16:44:57 (#)
Ranking: 0
but what about the bar-owner who was forced to close his doors thanks to the smoking ban?
=========================
WILL NEVER HAPPEN
Do you go to a bar to smoke?
-----------------------------------
No, people don't go to a bar to smoke, but many people won't go to a bar unless they can smoke.
My girlfriends parents used to own a bar, and they lost so much business from the smoking ban (here in delaware) that they were forced to shut down.
Submitted by StonedSilly (user info) at 2005-02-21 18:59:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Ed_0150 (user info) at 2005-02-21 18:41:01 (#)
Ranking: 2
They should NEVER outlaw smoking in Bars.. EVER. Drinking is just as bad for you and no one bans that.
-------------------------------
Oh? And I suppose when you get arrested and charged with public intoxication, that doesn't classify was banning drinking in certain places?
Submitted by Ed_0150 (user info) at 2005-02-21 18:41:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
They should NEVER outlaw smoking in Bars.. EVER. Drinking is just as bad for you and no one bans that.
Submitted by G-prime (user info) at 2005-02-21 17:06:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I don't smoke (tobacco), but I don't agree with completely banning it. Come on, it's a fucking bar! There should at least be a designed smoking area, a contained space with proper ventilation. I see no reason why they can't have those.
Submitted by G-prime (user info) at 2005-02-21 17:03:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Hear hear! They could be doing way more constructive things. Up here in Canada we have these commercials where a girl runs and jumps onto a pile of dog shit, smears it all over herself then says "It would seem pretty stupid to actually want to smell like crap, right? Well last year, 16 000 kids tried smoking. You tell me what's stupid."
Why don't you tell me how many of those kids liked it and continued, bitch...
Submitted by 1Point21Gigawatts (user info) at 2005-02-21 16:51:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
They have this law everywhere in NY (for a couple years now) and it's fucking awesome. I can wear a shirt out to a club or bar for a few hours, take it off when I get home, hang it back up, and wear it again. I can go to the gym the next morning without needing to wash the stench out of my hair beforehand. I can go out and enjoy myself and breathe.
I know that in Texas, people are dumb enough to be republican so they're obviously dumb enough to not quit smoking. I mean seriously, I can't believe people still do it after knowing the adverse affects it has on the body and the problems it causes with pregnancy, secondhand smoke, littering... Smoking is retarded, and it should be banned completely. Marijuana should be legal and Tobbaco should not. End of story.
Submitted by domenad (user info) at 2005-02-21 16:48:50 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I used to not really care about this. THen I discovered the joy of cigars.
Submitted by Adamdidit2u (user info) at 2005-02-21 16:44:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
but what about the bar-owner who was forced to close his doors thanks to the smoking ban?
=========================
WILL NEVER HAPPEN
Do you go to a bar to smoke?
Submitted by RiseAgainst (user info) at 2005-02-21 16:36:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
The law took hold of our city about a year or two ago. No smoking in public places, or within twenty feet of a doorway. Sure, some people now can go to the bar and enjoy it smoke-free, but what about the bar-owner who was forced to close his doors thanks to the smoking ban?
It seems like us smokers are the Native Americans. The non-smokers first pushed us into the smoking section, but they decided that wasn't enough. So they kick us outside of the establishment. What's next?
Submitted by Schwarzes_Glas (user info) at 2005-02-21 16:26:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I hear you man. and +1 for coming to our defense.
Fucked up though, I don't know if its the smack I've been freebasing, or if I'm just growing a more open mind, but in a way, I understand where they're coming from with their laws against us.
Submitted by Wiggles (user info) at 2005-02-21 16:21:45 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Nah
Submitted by FattyMaGee (user info) at 2005-02-21 16:16:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 only because thats as high as I can give you.
I would say '+100' if I could. Don't smoke, but I hate when others try and tel people what they can and can't do to their own bodies.
Submitted by Adamdidit2u (user info) at 2005-02-21 16:08:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Statistically bars and restaraunts do BETTER business when smoking is banned. Only a small portion of the poulation smokes (<10%), so by bars being smoky, it effectivley keeps people out of them.
Submitted by tech-junkie (user info) at 2005-02-21 15:55:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm still on the wagon with quitting, but I think that's a little excessive. If people want to smoke, then let em smoke!
Submitted by Stin (user info) at 2005-02-21 10:02:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
And now I'm going to stand outside and smoke a nice, calming cigarette.
Submitted by Unabonger (user info) at 2005-02-21 10:01:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
i fucked my rating avg? i can rate my own shit?
superghey with long-lasting flavor.
Submitted by Unabonger (user info) at 2005-02-21 09:56:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
cookie...my bad. want a cigarette?
Submitted by Durae (user info) at 2005-02-21 09:55:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
ahahaha you're next fuckers!
you know, it's one thing for them to do it in california, and it's a completely different thing in NY when you've got -30F wind chills and nowhere to fucking smoke without losing fingers. I think it's really cute the way these people are fighting for our health when really there are worse things in our water and food. I'm so sick of this bullshit. These people want everyone to live forever, but don't want to pay for it.
Submitted by QueenAshlee (user info) at 2005-02-21 09:55:41 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Yep.
Submitted by nrduncan (user info) at 2005-02-21 09:54:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by CookieLass (user info) at 2005-02-21 09:49:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
goddamned haters.
Well written. Have a +2 even though you were mean to me on my blatant cry for attention.
Submitted by BludKake (user info) at 2005-02-21 09:48:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Word. I am not a cigarette smoker (unless you're talking the left-handed variety) and it is definitely bullshit to ban smoking in public. This is another example of the majority using their power to unconstitutionally restrict the rights of the minority. Fucking hypocrites.
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2005-02-21 09:37:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
This has been going on all over the country for years. I can't believe that there are still public places that allow smoking.
If you really want to get riled up about something, worry about the trend of companies testing their employees and firing anyone who smokes.