Scotland's Smoking Ban

[Chez Daja]

Hmm!

My mother smoked for year, and then she quit when my half sister was born... My dad used to smoke as well -- and actually took it up again about ten years ago. I think it's disgusting when he smokes around me because the smell gives me a headache and makes me cough up all this disgusting stuff... My other sister also has asthma, so it's not fair on her when random people come waltzing down some public place and smoke around her. Her asthma is severe and if she gets into a coughing fit, it can get pretty dangerous.

Private smoking is fine, but I really think doing it in a really openly public place is unfair on everybody else. Especially for those whom have asthma and other allergies that could cause a reaction due to the smoke or chemicals released.

[SwodeG]

I think it's dumb. If they ban smoking, they might as well ban drinking.
I don't understand what's the problem, besides the smell. However they fix that by giving them a section to smoke. So what's the problem?

[Chez Daja]

You point out that many places have a closed off area. Many people I spoke to seem to forget that smoking is addictive because of the high nicotine content, which give an immediate "kick", because it releases a chemical called epinephrine from the adreneline cortex...This basically stimulates the nervous system and other glands, which then causes a sudden release of glucose... Stimulation is then followed by depression, and fatigue.

That basically means the seeker looks for their next "kick", almost like a pot smoker. This is why I also think there will be the occasional risk-taker, who will "light one up" and then get fined for it. I think the ban is probably for the best, but meh... Time will tell.

The other problem is, how many people forget how lung cancer is actually caused. Chemicals inside the cigarette attach themself to glands and arteries. One would be the P53. The one which is most affected by the content in cigaettes, which later leads to lung cancer if continous usage is kept up.

[Pablo Honey]

Tiffany, Chez Daja and Hildegarde, I think you three put it best. (Surprise surprise, the females are rational...)

I agree with you that it is unfair to annoy (and, yes, to harm) people with unwanted smoke in public places. My view on it has actually shifted slightly thanks to the opinions i've seen here, and that doesn't happen often. I doubt the Executive will go any further than public places, and the ban is being dealt with anyway; last week, somebody downstairs on the bus reported an upstairs smoker to the driver. I was sitting upstairs; the driver hopped up, and said to the man, 'Sorry pal, you can't smoke up here. You'll get fined if you get caught.' The man apologised and put out his cigarette, and two people in front of me closed the windows they had opened, and we all stopped freezing. A good effect from the ban, if not in the expected way.

[ShinRa]

Rational? I haven't seen Chez make a single offensive statement, unless you're one of those people who think "crap" is a swear word... And to say only females are rational is complete and total bull.

Getting to the topic at hand:
Smoking does indeed kill, second hand smoke does indeed kill, and to have to stand a person blowing smoke in your face is annoying, headache inducing, lung poison clouding, and a lot more...

Now, if you still say this ban isn't right, then please explain to me how exposing children and members of certain religious groups to poison is rational.

[Pablo Honey]

Where did I say Chez had been offensive? I just said that I agreed with her and Hildegarde. Nowhere did I say that I thought the ban wasn't right; if anything, my opinion has shifted more to its favour.

[ShinRa]

Oh sorry, my bad. I misread "best" as "rest"... My apologies. Forgiveness, if possible?

[Chez Daja]

I'm pretty glad that some opinions here were able to change, or at least let peope see from different views -- I'm not saying I'd bash everybody who'd disagree with me, but I'm glad that instead of a full blown debate, we were all able to seemingly agree with each other.

I wish they'd ban smoking in more places though. I live in Surrey, near London in England, and people who smoke drive us all crazy. Especially since these silly Londoners have no respect and will just breathe right at you.

[Pablo Honey]

ShinRa, forgiveness is what makes us human...well, that and the oppposing thumbs thing, you know the drill, haha.

Right, so, I've been a smoker for like four years, and I'm all for the laws. People shouldn't have to be around smoke if they don't want to. What pisses me off is those jackasses that come stand next to you on the street corner when you're lighting up, then make a big deal of coughing and waving smoke away. That's when I just laugh. But seriously, smoking outside isn't that bad. I live in Michigan where the weather literally can go from being almost 70 one minute, then snowing 12 hours later. Just as long as you keep an umby in your car, it'll all be good lol.

[Chez Daja]

What you don't seem to understand, is it's more likely to find a smoker standing around breathing their disgusting fumes at non-smokers. Sure, non-smokers do annoy smokers just coughing, etc. But it "really pisses me off" when you and your disgusting and unwanted gases stand right there, breathing at everyone.

Public smoking = bad.

Private smoking = good.