lifestyle

Vast majority of women in survey say no to guys who smoke

75 Comments
By Casey Baseel, RocketNews24

Compared to many other countries, Japan still has a very high percentage of smokers. The habit is so prevalent that even in cosmopolitan Tokyo many restaurants allow customers to smoke anywhere on the premises, and despite repeated pleas to refrain from smoking and walking to show consideration towards non-smoking pedestrians, many can’t be bothered to wait until arriving at their destination before puffing away.

But if health concerns and etiquette complaints aren’t motivation enough to quit, perhaps the results of a recent poll will help, as it showed many Japanese women will immediately remove a guy who smokes from their potential dating pool.

As in many nations, Japan’s proportion of smokers is higher among men than women. In the survey, 329 adult women, who are not smokers, were asked if they could see themselves dating a guy who smokes. The vast majority, 73.6 percent, said no, they could not.

While the negative health effects were definitely one reason for the blanket rejection, they weren’t the only one, as some women cited turn-offs that had nothing to do with the condition of a guy’s cardiovascular system.

“I hate the smell, so I hate being near a guy who smokes.” “It would make kissing him taste bad.” “It stinks, and it’s bad for your skin and health.” “It wouldn’t be good for my heatlh, either.”

Even respondents who could stomach having a boyfriend who smokes didn’t seem particularly happy about the prospect, with many referring to the habit as a negative and something they still wouldn’t want to be exposed to.

“If he had good manners and smoked in a designated area, it wouldn’t be a problem.” “As long as he wasn’t a heavy smoker and didn’t smoke in front of me, it would be OK.” “I’d want him to quit, but it wouldn’t be a reason not to date him.” “If I fell in love with a guy who smokes, there wouldn’t be anything I could do about it!”

Smokers have even more of an uphill battle should the relationship get serious. When asked if they could marry a guy who smokes, the same survey group turned in even more lopsided numbers. Only 21 percent said they could, with the other 79 saying they had no intention of playing any part in putting a ring on some dude’s tobacco-stained fingers.

“It’d be OK while we were dating, but since it’s not good for you, if we were going to get married I’d want him to quit.” “I wouldn’t want to live with someone who smokes in the home. It’d affect our kids’ health.” “It’s a waste of money.” “We’d be spending more time together, and I think it’d make the house smell like smoke.” “I couldn’t handle being with someone who reeks all the time.”

In other words, with these women, lighting up is the surest way to get shot down.

Source: Excite News

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Japanese fashion model proposes violent punishment for people who smoke while walking -- Shinjo City shares its love with anti-smoking poster -- Have Japan’s Anti-Smoking Laws Gone Too Far? Smokers Begin to Feel the Pressure

© Japan Today

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75 Comments
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The sample size seems small but i'm pretty sure these results aren't that accurate lol

-18 ( +2 / -21 )

Just for your information: There are also women who smoke. Some damn pretty ones. This is really cheap and somehow even sexist.

Now let the smoker bashing start once again, I'll have a cigarette in the meantime.

-22 ( +11 / -30 )

Kissing a smoker is like kissing an ashtray. Once and only once have I dated a woman who smoked. Never again.

17 ( +25 / -10 )

I'm flexible! I can smoke or not smoke depending on what she prefers.

-10 ( +6 / -15 )

Japan's made a lot of progress, though, when you consider that more than 80% of men used to smoke (83.7% at the statistical peak in 1965) and that's now down to 30% or so--still high, but it continues to drop. Women smokers are well below 10%.

15 ( +16 / -3 )

Smoking is actually the largest preventable disease and if you quit before age 40 your body can heal dramatically improving your health. No matter what your age quitting can be extremely beneficial. The secret to quitting smoking is to get healthy first because that will make quitting all that much easier. Exercising and engaging in regular strength training can double your success rate quitting smoking. Healthy eating is another crucial aspect that can't be ignored. In short if you want to quit, you need to develop a well-rounded exercise regimen, find a healthy emotional outlet such a using exercise, meditation or relaxation technique. Once you start doing these three things, then begin to think about quitting smoking. Cold turkey appears to be the best way because the risk of taking a drug can far outweigh the potential benefits of stopping smoking. In the end never, never, never give up.

13 ( +15 / -4 )

Yeah, but you know what they say about WOMEN that smoke....I don't mind it THAT much... :)

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

I often see some beautiful women here in Japan....until they light up. Yuck.

8 ( +19 / -11 )

A great thing to say in a survey, but I bet most of these women secretly want someone that is disruptive to society.

-12 ( +4 / -15 )

Good for them. Let's get some more genuine non-smoking places in Japan.

11 ( +13 / -3 )

Glad that some women like clean air. I work with quite a few women that smoke at my job, and many of them do smell like ash trays or the last ciggy they smoked (its even on their breath). What's even worse is they're also looking a lot older than they really are. Some of them are in their early 20s look like their pushing their late 30s fast. Everything they complained about is too absolutely true.

“I hate the smell, so I hate being near a guy who smokes.” “It would make kissing him taste bad.” “It stinks, and it’s bad for your skin and health.” “It wouldn’t be good for my heatlh, either.”

Check list is entirely accurate and fact. It's a deal breaker for me too.

11 ( +15 / -4 )

so I can see in the comments that smokers dislike this survey. So you think smoking is good, cool? Smoking is but one thing: DUMB. Japan needs to make it illegal for this disgusting thing to exist in restaurants

12 ( +18 / -7 )

Good for the ladies. How about mass walkouts from restaurants that allow smoking, women of Japan.

11 ( +14 / -3 )

Yeah I aint kissing no ash trays YUCK!!!!!

Smoking is a FILTHY habit, nasty smells everywhere & the toxic fumes smokers spew even when not smoking, god awful stuff! People ditch these mobile ash trays I say!

6 ( +10 / -4 )

I think the same thing goes for men dating women who smoke. The women smell and taste so gross. I suppose so long as you stick to canine postures it might be OK, but anything close to face-to-face gets you that blast of death breath - it's not worth it.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Sure smoking is gross, but I overlooked it a few times when the girl was hot enough.

0 ( +9 / -9 )

This would mean something if they hadn't only asked non-smokers. I bet non-smoking guys don't like smoking girls either. Smokers put up with each other, so this isn't really a big deal.

I'm a non-smoker and don't particularly like smokers. But I'm not one to discriminate if they're hot enough!

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

I have dated a couple of women who were smokers, I couldn't stand to kiss them. Nowadays, no matter how good women look, if they smoke, I won't have anything to do with them.

8 ( +12 / -4 )

Sure smoking is gross, but I overlooked it a few times when the girl was hot enough

Yeah but for more than one night????

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Yeah but for more than one night????

Some girls are pretty hot.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

The amazing thing is how unpleasant smoke is on one's clothes.

It isn't the experience of smoking, but having to strip every article of clothing that has touched smoke. One's choice is one's choice, but at such a cost and to never be free of the odor seems too much.

The more amazing thing is how gripping the nicotine addiction is. Many cannot simply slip off the habit and many long for the experience years after they have quit. A truly pointless exercise with no demonstrable benefits.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Smoking is vile. If a person chooses to smoke, that's their choice. The problem is that their smoking isn't limited to affecting only themselves(like ingesting arsenic) but reaches out to others with its stench.

The seemingly polite request "Mind if I smoke?" deserves the reply "Mindif I pass methane?"

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Way back in my younger, single days, I swore I'd never date a smoker. Then I went off to college and everyone I met smoked. Being kind of ugly with not much of a personality, I decided I need to broaden my potential dating pool and dropped the non-smoking requirement. In fact, facing the facts of my own situation, I pretty much changed my dating requirement simply to "anyone who will say 'yes' when I ask them out." Now I'm married to a wonderful person and neither of us smoke. What's the point of this story? I forgot. But don't smoke, kids!

9 ( +12 / -3 )

Sure smoking is gross, but I overlooked it a few times when the girl was hot enough.

Especially when they were smokin' hot!

2 ( +4 / -2 )

I've never smoked and never will. I remember my first job at 16 years old. Many of my peers would go around to the back of the restaurant and smoke during their breaks. One of my female coworkers tried to get me to try it. She stuck the cigarette in my mouth and nearly instantly, I spat it out and began coughing.

However, it's interesting to note how many JTers dislike smoking. Is it just smoking in public spaces that JTers dislike, or is it the smoking itself?

The first scenario I can understand. Smokers should be respectful of others (particularly children) while in a public space.

But if it is simply because of adverse health effects, that would be odd. There are many things in this world that are unhealthy. Eating too many fatty foods is unhealthy. Bad back postures and sitting for extended periods of time are unhealthy.

What I'm trying to get at is, "who are we to judge?" We tell people that they shouldn't do this or that, and then like hypocrites, we do the same kind of things. If someone wants to smoke in the privacy of their homes or away from others, what's wrong with that? Yes, they'll turn their lungs to blackened meat sacks and their throats to rusty exhaust pipes, but that is their decision.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

My wife smokes under the kitchen fan. I tell her everyday she's killing me and the 4 cats but she just says 'shoganai'. What can ya do ? Guys at work who smoke stink esp. in the elevator. When I inform them of such, they grin sheepishly, and several of them just got married so there's no accounting for taste it would seem. Smoking in restaurants is so primitive, why can't they figure this out ?

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Similar to CapnSinbad, the Mrs. smokes under the kitchen fan. Every time I go into the kitchen and see her there, I tell her to put it out, how it's bad for her health and mine. She always says the same thing, "shouganai." But when I tell her she's killing herself, that I'll be a widow and have to find another wife in a few years, she tends to put it out a little sooner. We go through this each and every day. So frustrating.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Japan's made a lot of progress, though,

Then why do I have trouble finding a bar or restaurant where the minority - smokers (roughly 30 percent as you said) aren't permitted to share their smoke with me? I'd be ok if people smoked on the street (current legislation isn't being enforced anyway) as long as there was a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants

0 ( +4 / -4 )

FernGully: Yes, they'll turn their lungs to blackened meat sacks and their throats to rusty exhaust pipes, but that is their decision.

They'll be billing the rest of us for their increased medical costs, will we nil we. And yes, critically obese people should drop the pounds, too, for same reason.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

turbotsat: They'll be billing the rest of us for their increased medical costs, will we nil we. And yes, critically obese people should drop the pounds, too, for same reason.

Valid point, but that's not just the individual's problem, it's an insurance/government coverage problem. People who smoke shouldn't be covered by the policy. Similarly, critically obese people shouldn't be covered if they're showing no signs of self-improvement.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Vast majority of women in survey say no to guys who smoke

That's fine, I wouldn't want to be with a woman who uses something so trivial as grounds for making a decision about who to date. If you love someone, then you already accept them despite their flaws. Besides, this whole thing about smokers stinking is a myth. If they stink, it's because they don't exercise good hygiene and news flash: Non-smokers do that too. Every smoker I know carries breath mints and deodorant to counteract the smell of smoke. Hell, most people don't know I've had a cigarette even if I've just had one. Maybe these women should try meeting guys who actually know what soap is, and how a shower works.

-13 ( +1 / -14 )

If you love someone, then you already accept them despite their flaws.

If the first time you meet someone their flaws are so apparent (and despite your breath mints and deodorants, smokers do stink - you just don't notice it yourself because you're so used to it. BO and smoke smell very different) you feel you don't want to be in their company, you aren't going to date them and you aren't going to grow to love them. You have the order backwards.

What really hurts is when someone you do love - a parent, a sibling - insists on smoking despite knowing the risks, and smokes themselves into an early grave. It's the height of self-centred selfishness.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Fox,

You do not smell the horrid stench as you have killed off your sense of smell and taste for that matter by smoking. A breath mint does not hid the stench in your clothes. You are kidding yourself which of course all smokers do as they know they are taking at least ten years off their lives by smoking by still smoke. Lung cancer is no easy way to die Fox Sora Winters.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Smokers put up with each other, so this isn't really a big deal.

True but this is obvious, the article is showing changing trends that Japan is finally "waking up" about smoking. I am actually not as strict as some people (I still say have some areas for smoking), but non-smokers have patiently endured smokers bad habits for decades at least.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

(I still say have some areas for smoking),

Yes, smokers do have a right to smoke - without inflicting it on other people. You can't have one and not the other. If restaurants in Japan did what Burger King is now doing - with isolated smoking rooms - I would have no problem

3 ( +8 / -5 )

If only this were true and applied to other countries as well.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

I can understand. Smoking would be a deal-breaker for me as well, because I hate the smell and I think it's very unhealthy. I can't imagine starting a relationship always thinking "I'd wish he'd quit..." Also what if we married and had children? Nope. A deal-breaker.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

@scipantheist So smokers are generally disruptive to society? Or do they just not fit into your sterile, orderly and boring world view?

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

Perhaps these women have heard that in addition being foul-smelling, weak-willed selfish morons, smoking men are also likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction due to the damage that smoking causes to blood vessels. Who would want to date an impotent half-wit?

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Who would want to date an impotent half-wit?

My wife did. Not that I'm a smoker....

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Be a definite no no. I live in a family of smokers, my mum, my dad, my brother and my sister all smoke. It's disgusting. I just can't see what benefits they get from sucking on these cancer sticks?

8 ( +10 / -2 )

If you love smoking, buy a large air filtering gas mask and smoke under that- get full value from your cigarettes. I'd have no problem you smoking anywhere. I bet a smoker would quit very quick under those conditions- the putrid smoke getting their eyes and nose. It would also discourage under-age smoking. Many Japanese smokers don't like other people smoke in smoking rooms.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

I know someone -- a near chain smoker -- who would frequently tell me "You have to die somehow!"

She died of emphysema at age 56.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Doesn't matter how hot they are for the moment, they keep smoking, those looks with drop with age much faster compounded by increasing health problems.

@scipantheist So smokers are generally disruptive to society? Or do they just not fit into your sterile, orderly and boring world view?

@CGB, typical smoker response. Smokers never acknowledge nor comprehend how much their smoking interferes with other people's lives and health around them. It's everyone's basic human right (and necessity to life) to inhale natural clean air. Every time you light up, do you ever consider someone around you might be suffering from asthma or some other pulmonary disease that your smoke can easily agitate their condition? What if they have some form of cancer? Are you close to any air-vents, fans or open windows that can carry the smoke into other peoples homes or places of work? Do you even know how far your 2nd hand smoke travels before it completely evaporates?

Its already apparent that smokers don't care about their own health. If they did they wouldn't be smoking in the first place. But to continually be inconsiderate of those around you who choose not to become an addict is just downright offensive.

If you're a smoker, be considerate of those around you. If you must get your nicotine fix, strongly consider using an e-cig or vapor-cig. It dissipates much faster and doesn't carry a noticeable smell or leave long lingering toxins in the air. One can poison themselves as much as they want without causing problems to those around them as with normal cigs.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Polls on women smokers are misleading. many more smoke than they admit too.

I hate it when guys light up before getting to th etrain station and I am behind them. Bad for my asthma.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

One of the reasons that I've been uninterested in dating Japanese women in the ten-plus years I've been here, is the large amount of them that smoke. Even though I'm no model myself, I've still turned away quite a few pretty Japanese ladies' attempts to approach me due to them smoking at the time. I simply told them that they stank, while pointing at their cigarettes and coughing.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

They'll be billing the rest of us for their increased medical costs, will we nil we. And yes, critically obese people should drop the pounds, too, for same reason.

It's been shown that smokers and the obese cost less in medical care than non-smokers and non-obese, due to the fact that the smokers and obese die sooner, and incur less end-of-life healthcare costs.

So the idea that smokers and the obese should be criticized for the costs to health care systems is flawed, as in fact if we are going to judge purely based on health care costs, it's the non-smokers and no-obese who will cost us more.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/health/05iht-obese.1.9748884.html

http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2012/03/22/alcohol-obesity-and-smoking-do-not-cost-health-care-systems-money/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/9359212/Obese-and-smokers-less-of-a-burden-on-the-NHS-than-the-healthy-who-live-longer-report.html

http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/save-the-healthcare-system-eat-up-and-smoke/

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

@captnsinbad and wavelength

Honest question: Did you know your wives were smokers before getting married? I know smoking is unhealthy and they should try to quit, but I also don't think it's going to be effective to try to guilt them if you were the one to accept their 'flaw' and get married.

My husband is a horrible driver and works insane amounts of overtime (minimum work week 60 hours, but often up to 80-90 hours a week, no day off) both of which I am much more concerned about killing him than the one or two cigarettes he has each day.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@zurcronium: Believe it or not, I know what I'm talking about. The fact that it took two years for people to actually discover that I smoke (only by seeing me do so) kind of proves that mints and deodorant do work. But you're not going to listen to me. Obviously. You'd rather criticize and insult me instead. How mature. And somehow it is us smokers who are the scum of society.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Strangerland - classic number cruncher fallacy.

Please try and put a cost on the loss of a loved one. The pain, the sorrow, the heartache, the devastation. The wife/husband gone. The mother, father, brother, sister, grandmother, grandfather, uncle, aunt, best friend....!!!

My mother died in her 60s - smoking killed her.

Her younger brother - my uncle - died @ 56 - smoking killed him.

Her older brother died @ 63 - smoking killed him.

Please don't play that BS game of trying to quantify early death in monetary terms - especially when so needlessly so.

How much do you think a life is worth.? How much would you pay for another decade or so with a loved one?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

The fact that it took two years for people to actually discover that I smoke

People you dated via skype or that you bedded while they were completely drunk. I worked in hotels and cleaning smoker's rooms was the nightmare. After, complete cleaning (including changing curtains, carpet 'shampooing') that would still smell (for us non-smokers, that is) and we couldn't give the room to families with babies before several days.

mints and deodorant do work.

As "tue l'amour". That's natural pheromones that makes the chemistry of love. Cover them with smoke and toilet freshners if you want, but don't ask us to say it's the definition of being sexy.

smokers who are the scum of society.

No, for society, you're just one more source of pollution. For potential lovers, you appear as scruffy people or persons without the mental strength to keep themselves in good condition, but tastes and colors...

5 ( +7 / -2 )

its true, living with a smoker is headache and very boring.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Great news. Now all we have to do is make every Family restaurant no smoking. No, make that everywhere.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

You'd rather criticize and insult me instead. How mature. And somehow it is us smokers who are the scum of society.

Fox, I stated facts. If you were not aware of them that is simply because you have not studied your addiction. Fact is that people who smoke lose their sense of smell and taste. As far as the scum of society, no matter what I post here it will not cause others to get cancer. Your addition does. Smokers often smoke around kids. Is that a definition of being the scum of society? Everyone knows second hand smoke kills but yet smokers poison others all the time without any concern at all. It is all about getting their fix and the hell with everyone else around them. And show me a square meter around train station in Japan that does not have cigarette butts littered within it. Is that a sign of the scum of society?

Your trying to hide your smoking indicates that you know it is disgusting. You should be ashamed of smoking. Another fact Fox Sora Winters.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Strangerland - classic number cruncher fallacy.

Please don't play that BS game of trying to quantify early death in monetary terms - especially when so needlessly so.

You obviously missed the comment I was responding to. Here, I'll post it for you once again:

They'll be billing the rest of us for their increased medical costs, will we nil we. And yes, critically obese people should drop the pounds, too, for same reason.

The fact is, smokers do not cost more to the system, that's a common mistake people make. They cost less to the system. So the argument that we should punish smokers for increased costs is incorrect - if we are going to punish people based on their costs to the system, we should punish non-smokers, not smokers.

How much do you think a life is worth.? How much would you pay for another decade or so with a loved one?

I quit smoking when I got married, for family based reasons. So you're preaching to the choir. I'm not saying that smoking is a good thing, I'm just pointing out the logical fallacy of punishing smokers for additional costs to the legal system.

Your trying to hide your smoking indicates that you know it is disgusting. You should be ashamed of smoking. Another fact Fox Sora Winters.

Enough with the smoker shaming, it's ridiculous. If someone wants to smoke, that's their right. Almost everyone has habits that others find unappealing. You know what they say about glass houses and throwing rocks.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Enough with the smoker shaming, it's ridiculous. If someone wants to smoke, that's their right. Almost everyone has habits that others find unappealing. You know what they say about glass houses and throwing rocks.

Uh no, it's their right to smoke. But it is not their right to directly affect other people's health because they smoke. Old saying, "Your rights end at the end of your nose". As in as long as you're rights don't interfere with the rights of others you have the right to do what you will to yourself. Presumed rights and actual rights are two different things. As long as someone is interfering with my basic right to take care of my health because their habit to not take care of their own health.

I can sit next to an alcoholic and not get drunk, but I can't sit next to a smoker or toker without being affected by their habit.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

There's an easy solution to that - don't sit next to a smoker. No need to shame them.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

There's an easy solution to that - don't sit next to a smoker. No need to shame them.

You don't need to sit next to a smoker, just being in the same room that they're polluting with their emissions is enough to bring on an asthma attack and days of wheezing.

Anyone who deliberately and wilfully harms themselves and others, ought to be ashamed. Anyone with an unbreakable addiction they inflicted on themselves, full knowing the dangers, deserves to be shamed. They never are shamed, though - as we see on this thread, they get all offensive-defensive and start spouting about their rights. If it weren't so tragic, if so many other people who have done nothing wrong weren't directly affected by it (both their own health being affected, and the early, unnecessary death of loved ones) it would be funny.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

If they are smoking in an area where they aren't allowed, then a comment should be made, and I agree they should be shamed. But if they are smoking somewhere where they are allowed, then shaming them for doing something they have permission to do is unreasonable. If you have a problem, you should either bring it up with the establishment, or vote with your a$$ and go somewhere else (that's what I do). They have every right to get defensive and even offensive when someone is criticizing them for something they have permission to do.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

There's an easy solution to that - don't sit next to a smoker. No need to shame them.

Real world physics don't work like that. I'd have to practically walk at least a block away to not be affected by a smoker's second hand smoke. I'm never going to be considerate of those who are completely inconsiderate of me.

And you'd be surprised at how many smokers completely and totally ignore many of the non-smoking signs in public areas. State laws here say that smokers have to smoke in designated area, and can't smoke within 30feet of the entrance to any place of business, and all public transit areas... HAHAHAHA! They completely don't care nor want to care, because everywhere I've gone, they're sitting there puffing away on their addict sticks some with their kids in tow. Only solution for their pollution is for them to switch over to vapor cigs. Out of the 30+(that number is not an exaggeration sad to say) smokers I see every, single, day. I go to work only I've only seen 2 over the course of 8 MONTHS using an e-cig.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Real world physics don't work like that. I'd have to practically walk at least a block away to not be affected by a smoker's second hand smoke.

No, you wouldn't. Outdoors it's something like 3-4 meters.

And you'd be surprised at how many smokers completely and totally ignore many of the non-smoking signs in public areas.

And in such a case, go ahead and say something to them. They are clearly in the wrong.

That doesn't change the fact that if someone wants to smoke, and they are doing so where they are allowed, they are doing nothing wrong, and anyone shaming them is being obnoxious.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

@HonestDictator

Wondering if you wear cologne or perfume? Because if you do, you are not considerate of others. And that goes for the rest of the anti-smoking crowd here. Second hand smoke has never bothered me, but someone wearing that crap will give me a headache in 30 seconds. Sure hope you all check yourselves about this. If you ban smoking, cologne and perfume are next, I hope.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Now let the smoker bashing start once again, I'll have a cigarette in the meantime. why is it that smokers use the recalcitrant phrase, I smoke because i like it and i dont like being told what to do. when really in the long term your just damaging yourself and set for an early death. another stat done a while back asked smokers if theyd die of a smoking related illness, less than 10% thought they would (kidding themselves) the actually stats is more like half of all lifetime smokers will die from smoking.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

You're right, but that's their right.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Wondering if you wear cologne or perfume? Because if you do, you are not considerate of others.

I agree with you on this, some people like to practically pour a whole bottle on themselves and one wants to get as far away as possible. Sorry to put a damper on your day, but I don't wear that stuff. Just take a shower/bath x2 a day and I'm good.

But equating 2nd hand smoke (which is proven to be detrimental to everyone's health around them) and someone that wears too much perfume/cologne (which only causes irritation) is ridiculous.

@Strangerland, as I keep saying the simple solution where everyone can have their cake and eat it too between smokers and non-smokers is e-cigs. The vast majority of smokers are inconsiderate. And I've confronted quite a few and bet you can't guess how many fights this leads up to. Excuses I've heard from them, "You must be a former smoker, you have no right to tell me what to do..." , "So the sign says no smoking, what are you gonna do about it?", and "Well, just move out of the way of my smoke...".

I've lost my patience for this quite a long time ago, and I really really don't feel like putting myself in a position where I go to prison for beating the cr@p out of these people and getting slapped with assault charges. I've taken MA training for years, and I love my health, so I know I need to control my temper in these situations.

My most memorable experience was I was riding the public transit system and a woman literally was on the tram puffing away! There are multiple signs before boarding that says, No smoking, no loud music (use headphones), no drinking, and no gambling. I plucked the cig from her mouth (burning myself in the process, which helped me not to go berserk), and pointed at the sign. She got off at the next stop in an attitude, but all the other passengers where happy for someone doing something about it.

The end result, is to ban all burning tobacco cigs, only allow e-cigs. I don't get bothered, they don't get bothered. Simple solution.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@Strangerland, as I keep saying the simple solution where everyone can have their cake and eat it too between smokers and non-smokers is e-cigs. The vast majority of smokers are inconsiderate. And I've confronted quite a few and bet you can't guess how many fights this leads up to. Excuses I've heard from them, "You must be a former smoker, you have no right to tell me what to do..." , "So the sign says no smoking, what are you gonna do about it?", and "Well, just move out of the way of my smoke...".

Sure, it would be better if everyone switched to e-cigs. But the fact is, if someone wants to ruin their health by smoking, they should have the right to. Nanny states suck. Now regarding the problems you've had with some smokers, they sound like real jerks. But that doesn't mean all smokers are jerks (when I used to smoke, I was very considerate about who I smoked around and where), and nor does it mean we should become a nanny state. So either say something to them, or just ignore it.

My most memorable experience was I was riding the public transit system and a woman literally was on the tram puffing away! There are multiple signs before boarding that says, No smoking, no loud music (use headphones), no drinking, and no gambling. I plucked the cig from her mouth (burning myself in the process, which helped me not to go berserk), and pointed at the sign.

I actually had an almost identical incident on the Yokohama subway line. The train was almost empty, and some young guy was smoking. I walked over, took the cigarette from him and stepped on it, and sat back down, all without saying a word.

But I still don't think that justifies becoming a nanny state.

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Good. Smoking is a terrible addiction. Hard to break, and deadly.

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I wouldn't call it a nanny state if the law specifically making sure that one person's perceived rights are not stepping all over another person's rights. As I said before, just because a person has the right to smoke, does not allow them the right to harm the health of those around them which they are doing by not obeying the public smoking laws in the first place. As I also said before, some people have some severe respiratory problems that smokers easily agitate due to their inconsideration.

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As I said before, just because a person has the right to smoke, does not allow them the right to harm the health of those around them which they are doing by not obeying the public smoking laws in the first place.

I agree. But in this case, the problem isn't with smoking, it's with irresponsible smokers.

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The problem is most (not all but most) smokers are irresponsible and inconsiderate. I am tired of all the thrown about cigarette butts also.

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The problem is most (not all but most) smokers are irresponsible and inconsiderate.

I disagree. I have found most smokers are responsible and considerate, it's just that the inconsiderate ones provoke an emotional reaction, which leads one to place more weight on their actions than those of the considerate ones.

Just like how people read about bad stuff happening in the news, and not good stuff, and therefore come to think that things are worse than they are.

You don't notice the actions of considerate smokers, because in being considerate, they are working to not be noticed. That makes it easy to weight the actions of the inconsiderate smokers more heavily than the considerate smokers.

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I would rather smell a freshly lit cigarette than the over-powering chemical stench of perfume, aftershave, laundry detergents and fabric conditioners.

I cannot sit in my garden in the summertime without being choked by the stench of my neighbours chemical-soaked laundry on the line. I cannot walk down a city street without being choked by chemical perfumes and aftershaves.

My husband's natural tobacco self-rolled cigarette smells sweeter than all of the above.

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I know I rubbed some people the wrong way but that is my experience having encountered hundreds of smokers (for what it is worth). Nearly all of my friends who did smoke have quit (but they would still be my friends even if they didn't). Just calling a spade a spade...

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