I have asthma and I hate when people smoke around me or when their clothes smell like it and they sit next to me. It's literally like kryptonite to me >_>

DannyJ

United States5110 Posts

May 23 2011 21:16 GMT

#22

On May 24 2011 06:14 Baarn wrote:
I've smoked in parks here in California and I haven't been given a ticket a yet. NYC though might be more uptight about it.

I doubt it. It seems like one of those laws that just hope you follow it cause it's a law.

Edit: actually, does the NYPD even acknowledge this law, or is it just the park services?

Tweleve

United States644 Posts

May 23 2011 21:16 GMT

#23

On May 24 2011 06:04 Valestrum wrote:
I'm glad, smoking is a bad habit. It doesn't do anything good for us.

Neither does playing StarCraft but we like it anyway

Xivsa

United States1009 Posts

May 23 2011 21:16 GMT

#24

The less smoking the better. I'm fine with any ban anywhere really. Its detrimental health effects are well known, even to those who just stand around a person smoking. And as others have pointed out, the litter from cigarette buds is annoying and easily avoided. Go bans go

Dusty

United States3359 Posts

May 23 2011 21:18 GMT

#25

On May 24 2011 06:10 Blizzard_torments_me wrote:
Kinda ironic really. They let stuff like like gun rights for civilians run free but they ban smoking.

Except in New York firearms are banned unless you're an officer or something of that nature.

OT: I think it's great, I hate walking to school and there is someone in front of me smoking and all the smoke gets blown into my face. One step at a time.

Deleted User 183001

2939 Posts

May 23 2011 21:18 GMT

#26

Secondhand smoking is quite unhealthy. I don't think this will be well-enforced, but in any case it's a step in the right direction imo.

zasda

381 Posts

May 23 2011 21:19 GMT

#27

how can people say it doesnt annoy anyone in public places? of course it does.

On May 24 2011 06:16 SentinelSC2 wrote:

Show nested quote +

Neither does playing StarCraft but we like it anyway

but sc players dont blow sihtty smelling smoke on us and theyre not even in public that oftehn lol

AimlessAmoeba

Canada704 Posts

May 23 2011 21:19 GMT

#28

It's the way the world is going. Here in Ontario smoking is banned indoors everywhere, 9 meters from the entrance to anything and in most public places.

As a smoker, I understand it and it only sucks when it's the middle of the deep winter. Other than that though I don't really mind getting away from people to light up.

emythrel

United Kingdom2599 Posts

May 23 2011 21:19 GMT

#29

On May 24 2011 06:07 Terrakin wrote:
happens to many colleges and unis but they don't really spend the time to enforce it, but if they do enforce it go for a vapor cig, they'll even help you quit... supposedly...

Using a vapour cig to quit is like giving a heroine addict more heroine, anyone with a brain knows that smoking is an addiction and you don't give addicts more of the thing they are trying to quit. Instead of being hooked on cigarettes you just become hooked on the substitute. People who use nicotine gum more often than not either start smoking again or keep using the gum forever.... people who quit do it inspite of the substitute... not because of it.

I am a smoker btw, and a former coke addict..... if i had taken more coke to quit, i would still be a coke addict.

Mortal

2943 Posts

May 23 2011 21:20 GMT

#30

*puts out cigarette on neck*

Sonofabitch!

+ Show Spoiler +

I'm kidding obviously, I neither live in NY nor did I just jam a cigarette butt onto my neck.

Ricjames

Czech Republic1047 Posts

May 23 2011 21:20 GMT

#31

I don't agree with the second hand smoke crap. I never smoke right next to the non-smokers but i see the litter problem. I never throw my butts on the beach or parks i cary them to the trashcan with me. The problem is that people are too careless to do that. Dumbasses should be banned, not smoking.

StrangrDangr

United States291 Posts

May 23 2011 21:21 GMT

#32

Im glad ye olde' government is stepping into protect my poor defenseless lungs.

corpuscle

United States1967 Posts

May 23 2011 21:21 GMT

#33

As a smoker, I can understand the ban, smoke smells like shit and is not fun to be around unless you're used to it. There's lots of things you're not allowed to do in public places because it's inconsiderate or rude, I don't see how smoking should be treated differently.

I do want to point out that the health effects of being around a smoker while outside are basically nonexistent, and even less so if it's not consistent exposure. The effects of secondhand smoke are from prolonged exposure to it, i.e. living/working with someone who smokes indoors. Just like how smoking a couple packs of cigarettes will never give you emphysema or cancer, being exposed to smoke on an infrequent basis will not hurt you at all.

Also, OP, could you elaborate on the UMass ban? I don't go there, but I spend a lot of time on/around the campus.

ghrur

United States3786 Posts

May 23 2011 21:21 GMT

#34

I think it's a great policy. In Minneapolis, there's a ban on smoking in public places. While it's not always enforced (damn people who smoke in public despite the ban), most generally follow the law.

I personally hate smoking in public because it's MY lungs that're getting destroyed by your shitty habits. I couldn't care less if you smoked in your house, but when it's near me, it's damaging my health. Idk, you don't get to punch me in the streets without punishment. Why should you get to give me cancer?

KangaRuthless

United States304 Posts

May 23 2011 21:22 GMT

#35

As a smoker, I actually support this. This is the city's decision and will help with the litter and sidewalk pollution problem. I hate second hand smoke, especially when around children or infants.

As far as indoor smoking bans for private establishments (bars, restaurants,etc): that angers me. The pollution stays inside, and it should be the right of the establishment to decide whether or not they will allow smoking, not the government.

Mortal

2943 Posts

May 23 2011 21:22 GMT

#36

Smoking is unhealthy.
Over-eating is unhealthy.

Ban smokers.
Ban fat people?

+ Show Spoiler +

Again I'm being 100% serious.

Drteeth

Great Britain415 Posts

May 23 2011 21:23 GMT

#37

On May 24 2011 06:10 VIB wrote:
I think marijuana should be legal because tabacco is worse and you don't see anyone trying to make it illegal or anything like that.

Wait, what?

Seriously tho, smoking is forbidden indoors for any public place in my state (bars, night clubs included). And it only had positive consequences. So I approve anything in the similar direction ^^ Banning outdoor smoking sounds like just a logical step further. I'm all for it.

They won't totally ban smoking as it brings in too much revenue.

Baarn

United States2702 Posts

May 23 2011 21:23 GMT

#38

On May 24 2011 06:16 DannyJ wrote:

Show nested quote +

I doubt it. It seems like one of those laws that just hope you follow it cause it's a law.

Edit: actually, does the NYPD even acknowledge this law, or is it just the park services?

It's just a law on the books that give police discretion to write a ticket if they don't have real crimes to solve. Oh and NYC is broke from what I hear so it is another potential source of revenue.

AutomatonOmega

United States706 Posts

May 23 2011 21:26 GMT

#39

It makes a lot of sense to me. Pollution is already a problem in NY, and when you have four hundred people smoking cigarettes in a five block radius, it's terrible for the non-smokers. Nothing wrong with being expected to take a leisurely stroll over to a bench on the sidewalk to take care of your problem.

Many smokers think of such laws as infringing on their personal rights, but smoking a cigarette next to me is infringing on mine.

Mahs

Netherlands171 Posts

May 23 2011 21:26 GMT

#40

We've had a similar law in Holland for a few years now, a smoking ban for restaurants, bars, workplaces and general crowded public places like railway stations. At first a lot of people were very upset about it, feeling like they were being treat as outcasts.

I have to say though it turned out to be great (I'm a non-smoker but a lot of my friends are smokers). The main thing that changed is that people who need a smoke will simply go outside and have it there. Restaurants and bars anticipated by installing heating outdoors to make sure people could have a comfortable smoke outside. The first few times I went to a bar after the smoking ban I simply couldn't believe the smell on my clothes the next morning. Normally you could pick up the stench of smoke from a few feet away, but now you just smell a vague hint of that day's deodorant. You won't really be able to understand the difference until the smoking is gone, but it is really huge, everything feels so much cleaner. None of my friends are bothered by it either, as long as they have a place to light a smoke a few times a night they don't mind.

That's why I believe a key part of making it a success is to stay realistic towards smokers. You can't just put an all-out block on smoking. When a place prohibits smoking it should also supply a place where smokers can go and do their thing. In railway stations for example we have certain zones where smoking is allowed. People who are bothered by the smoke can simply stay away from those zones. I think doing it like that is probably the best way to keep a healthy environment for people while respecting the needs of smokers.