Smoking

[Cambodian Breakfast]

I smoke. Don't worry never around my wife. This shit is really pissing me off.

Speedway Council Unanimously Enacts Smoking Ban

POSTED: 6:55 am EDT April 25, 2006
UPDATED: 7:10 am EDT April 25, 2006

SPEEDWAY, Ind. -- Speedway has enacted a controversial smoking ban that will impact what smokers can and can't do at restaurants and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The ordinance is almost identical to the one passed in Marion County. Speedway officials said that was done to minimize confusion.

The town's council unanimously passed the ban despite opposition from restaurants, 6News' Linda Allen reported.

Elizabeth Glover owns Charlie Brown's Pancake House -- a Speedway institution for 30 years. Glover said about half of her customers smoke.

"I don't think when someone spends 20 minutes in my restaurant they're going to get lung cancer," Glover said. "I think we should have a choice of what we do here in Speedway and I think people should have the choice of where they eat and don't eat."

Glover was among the vocal opponents of a smoking ban at a public forum. All said they opposed the ban based upon freedom and free choice.

Others said the ban should be in place to protect workers at restaurants and those who don't want to be contacted by second-hand smoke.

"There's a lot of places in Speedway that I won't go to now and I go somewhere in Marion County or Indianapolis where there is no smoking," said Fern Livingston.

Grindstone Charley's will consider cutting out families by serving customers 18 and over to avoid the ban.

"We have a race season. We can think about what we want to do. If we want to go 18-plus, it's an option," said Robynn Alexander, of Grindstone Charley's.

Smoking will be allowed in the grandstands at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but will not be allowed in enclosed areas at the track.

Here are the details about the ordinance itself:

The ban takes effect Sept. 1.
The ban covers all enclosed places of employment, public places of business and enclosed areas of the motor speedway, such as the pagoda and suites.
Private clubs, bars and taverns are exempt.

I know that it is a bad habbit. I just hate being told to put out my smoke. I don't smoke when there are kids around or babys. Poeple still are really rude about it. If you asked nice I would. Not to mention I smoke out side only. I would like to hear some opions on this.

[Wise Child]

I smoke.

That sucks.

Apparently something similar is going to be underway here soon. Like you say that bird said, I doubt twenty minutes here and there in a restaurant causes much cancer, especially as most places have separate sections for smokers and non-smokers. I plan to protest with every bit of my limited lung capacity.

[spookypurple]

I don't smoke. I'm asthmatic, and cigarette smoke is one of the things that sets me off. Mind you, I'm so feeble, even the smell virtually brings on a panic attack (but then I can smell things from a long way off!).

So, as far as my lungs/nose/paranoia is concerned, yay! But, at the same time, where do people go who do actually want to smoke? I do feel it's messing with your choices a bit.

[Nike]

I'm a smoker, too. It is a bad habit, I agree on that. I wish I'd be able to quit it again, but for the near future that doesn't seem very realistic. Besides that isn't good for one's health, it's such a waste of money.

I smoke outside only, and, well, in bars, when I go out. Happens rarely anyway.

I wouldn't care much not being allowed to smoke in a restaurant, I mean, ok, it's about food, and food might not taste so well when the air is ugly, so I understand that, even though I like to smoke a cigarrette when I'm having a coffee.

Funny enough, I know a lot of non-smokers here, you are against new laws like in Italy, for instance, where smoking in bars and restaurants is prohibited now. They say it makes the general atmosphere less relaxed. I don't know.

[Cambodian Breakfast]

I like to smoke after I eat. Now I can't do that. I don't think it makes food really taste different. It might bother someone, but if I am asked niced I will stop. I have never been asked nice though. Its rude. So I smoke more for spite.

[pitseleh]

In Norway, smoking in bars, restaurants, clubs, etc. have been banned for a couple of years now. On one hand, it's nice being able to go out without all your clothes reeking of cigarette smoke the day after. On the other hand, you can now enjoy the glorious smells of b.o. and farts without the acrid veil of smoke that would normally cover them up. Bleh.

Yes, I smoke myself. I roll my own, which, aside from being more economically sound, tastes better and doesn't stink up a room like Marlboros or whatevs. I don't smoke that much, usually never more than five or seven cigs in a day.

I smoke in my apartment, by the window, or outside when I'm at school or someplace else. I rarely go out, but when I do, I don't really mind having to go outside for a smoke. They have these heaters set up most everywhere, or blankets for when it's extra cold. It's good to get out of the hot and crowded club, too, 'cause I get pretty claustrophobic in places packed with people. My misanthropy starts rising too, so a little air just does me good. Only thing I really hate about the smoking ban, is not being able to fire up a joint at concerts anymore, like at that great Violent Femmes gig, and countless others. Sometimes I do it anyway, when the guards are out of sight, but it's not like the "good ol' days" when you could pass around a fattie relatively unnoticed, and just fire up some mean-smelling cigarettes to cover it up.

[CptSternn]

Second-hand smoke kills those around you. It should be banned in all public places. San Fran has the right idea.

It's illegal throughotu Ireland as well. Plus, to REALLY combat the issue, a pack of smokes is €6.80 here (about $10.00 USD). That helps keep people from smoking.

[Morrigan_Dubh]

"I don't think when someone spends 20 minutes in my restaurant they're going to get lung cancer," Glover said. "I think we should have a choice of what we do here in Speedway and I think people should have the choice of where they eat and don't eat."

Yes, but people don't always have the luxury of choice about where they work or don't work.
I am all in favour of smoking bans in workplaces. The customers have a choice to be in a smokey restaurant, but the staff don't. Banning smoking in workplaces protects people who have to spend more than "20 minutes" - at least 8 hours - in a smokey environment. I don't know how anyone can argue against this.

[Sobeh]

Smoking in enclosed public spaces affects others, and should be avoided. Smoking outside, with reasonable regulations such as not smoking within 20 feet of doorways, doesn't. Banning things in public spaces that harms people is great. But smoking?

Listen, no city ever had a red burn day because of second-hand smoke. Fix the fucking pollution problem and then maybe I won't claim that banning outdoor smoking is hypcritical bullshit.

It's like a really fat guy taking up swimming, but rather than getting fit and focusing on the basics he shaves his legs, because "I'm a swimmer now." Start where you are, and where we are is that cigarette smoke is far less of a danger than auto pollution. I'm so sick of that.

As an aside - what do these bastards think when they ban smoking at a raceway and then breathe car exhaust?

Gah!

[Wise Child]

Y'know those big fuck-off warning signs that are all over cigarette packets now? A friend of mine has stickers that slide over your pack, so you don't have to look at "smoking kills" and "smoking lowers your sperm count" every time you light one up. Instead, you can enjoy your cigarette with cheery thoughts like "smoking makes you look cool" and "quitting smoking will make you fat". They're cute.

[Cambodian Breakfast]

I want those so bad. I hate those damn sings on my smokes. It can ruin your night out.

[An Eccentric Cellist]

I do not smoke, my parents do, and my brother is a pain in the ass that badgers them about it. He often gets "Shut the hell up!" from me, you would too if your little brother was saying "Good Mom!" as if she were a bitch(proper use of the term). The reason I stopped saying things years ago is they KNOW what they're doing to themselves.

But on the topic if you don't like it light a candle, or sit in the non-smokers section. In a public workplace you shouldn't smoke because yes it bothers people, but in your own car, or in the smoking section, smoking should be allowed. Freedom of Choice. And you can take a horse to the watering hole but you can't make it drink. If you force a person to be healthy it'll piss 'em off, but if you give a better reason than "oh, it's bad for you" than they'll listen. My mum quit while pregnant, and my grandma quit when her husband had cancer. I'm pretty sure a human can do just about anything if they try hard enough or have something they're passionate about.

[CreepyTendencies]

I don't smoke, and I'm asthmatic as well. Where I live, smoking has been prohibited in restaurants for quite some time. Not too far from here, in Calabasas, the city council recently approved a ban on smoking in all public places, inside or outside. If you're caught smoking on the street there, you get fined. I think it's an awesome idea, and I wish it were implemented more places.

Don't get me wrong, I think that if a person wants to smoke, it's their own bodies and they should be allowed to do with them what they want. However, I should also have the right to protect my own body and health, and avoid being around something potentially hazardous. Those who want to smoke should do so in the privacy and comfort of their own homes.

[pitseleh]

Fining people from smoking in public?! That's gotta rank up there as one of the stupidest laws in any of the states, and that's saying something. Like Sobeh pointed out earlier, with the hypocrisy of banning smoking on a race-track, what about POLLUTION? You might as well flag down the driver of an SUV and fine them for giving asthmatics a hard time.

That being said, here in my town, you can (theoretically, at least) be fined for spitting on the pavement. Oh, the glorious abuse of legislative powers... Where would this world be without it?!

[CptSternn]

It all comes down to money. When Ireland banned smoking in pubs two year ago, they laid it out in money for the people to see.

It costs hundreds of millions here for smoking. Related problems and diseases which our socialist government pays for goes hand in hand with smoking and secondhand smoke. By lowering smoking levels, they can lower treatment for certain ailments and therefore save hundreds of millions.

I don't have exact figures as I don't have the link right here, but it makes sense when you lay it out in what it's costing you in yer taxes to pay for everyone else who does smoke. It's listed as in the top 3 preventable deaths in most all countries these days as well.

When you look at what it costs the average tax payer, even if they don't smoke, well, many people change their mind.

[Cambodian Breakfast]

I was told the other day, at the drive through that I had to put out my smoke in my car. The window for the store was closed.

[Wise Child]

I worked in an office a couple of years back where you had to leave the building to smoke. Fair enough. Then you had to leave the PREMISES. I get stepping outside, but chucking you off company premises to have a cigarette seems a little drastic.

[NachtSorcier]

I smoke approximately a pack a day. Yes, it's bad for me, we've established that. But it is my body and if it makes me a moron, so be it. I'm sick and tired of organizations like Stand who think that they can tell other people what they can and cannot do.

Just prior to the re-election of that asshole Bush, I was in Young Democrats at school. John Edwards, who as you probably know was the Democratic vice presidential candidate, was in our town giving a speech. We had to be in front of the Armoury (sp?) at 6 am on a Sunday to pass out free tickets, ask people to sign for volunteering, and hold signs in front of protestors if need be. Now, this Armoury is on Putnam St. which is just a half a block from the Putnam St. bridge. By 9 am, the line to get through the Armoury gates ended about halfway across this bridge, so we all, dressed in our sexy white "Ask me how you can elect John Kerry" t-shirts, had to go up and down this line passing out tickets and asking people to sign up. I had gone three hours without a cigarette, so I went all the way from the gates up the bridge and about three yards behind the last person in line to have a smoke. One of the girls volunteering comes all the way up to me from in front of the Armoury to tell me that it's bothering her. I basically told her to go fuck herself and if she doesn't like it she can go back to where she was.

For more details on my feelings about these anti-smoking twits, see Azhram's rant about it on www.blood-dance.org

[NachtSorcier]

Originally Posted by CreepyTendencies

Those who want to smoke should do so in the privacy and comfort of their own homes.

Do you know how badly you need a smoke when you're at work? I mean in almost all cases of public workplaces you can go to some area of the parking lot where it won't bother anyone.

[edible_eye]

... waaah, someone's smoking, waaah ...

... waaah, that offends me, waaah ...

... waaah, make him stop, waaah ...

all the anti-cigarette bitching makes my asshole pucker and i don't even smoke. how 'bout that?

those doing the complaining, like that busy-body twat in your example, are usually the first to demand that their rights be honored when they're told to shut up by the very people they're verbally blasting with their mainstream media-type, brainwashed arguments concerning cigarette smoke, both first- and second-hand.

... waaah ...

[NachtSorcier]

edible, I love you.

[edible_eye]

yeah, i get that sometimes. it's the angry, white man in me, i guess.

[NachtSorcier]

It's very sexy. ;-)

[edible_eye]

name's mark, nacht. or edible. or e_e. whatever. nice to meet you.

and if i haven't welcomed you before, which i doubt i have because i'm not really here much anymore - welcome.

[NachtSorcier]

I'm Chris, or Christophe. Glad to know you.