Defending the Truth

I just HAVE to address the smoking issue, even if it IS a thread hijack.

Non-smokers have a right to go to a restaurant and not breathe smoke.

That does not equate to a right to ban smoking.


That DOES mean, that a restaurant has a right, as a privately owned business, to determine what, for them, constitutes acceptable behavior in their establishment, even if that includes smoking.

You, as a non-smoker, have a right to vote against this with your wallet, by not eating in a restaurant that allows smoking.

That's how capitalism works.

Not by governmental oversight.

You have a right to be smoke-free. That's great. But the thing about a "right" is, you don't get to use it to infringe upon the "rights" of others.

You see, there exist other solutions than all-or-nothing.

Banning smoking infringes on the rights of everyone who chooses to smoke. It also infringes upon the rights of businesses to regulate their own premises.

Choosing to eat in a restaurant without a smoking section infringes on the rights of... no-one.


Because restaurants, like any other business, like money, if you vote with your wallet, instead of trying to use your personal preference as a means of infringing upon the liberties of others, the end result will be a huge majority of non-smoking restaurants, and a tiny minority that cater to smokers.

Kinda like the way it works with airlines. Isn't there...

..ONE, that still allows in-flight smoking?

Because they see a niche - every other airline has chosen to cater to non-smokers, which means that the market slot for smokers who fly is open to capitalization.

See how that works?

There should be certain standards to have when you are in a public area. I don't think smoking indoors in a public place exemplifies good manners. I'm not saying that the government should restrict people from putting their elbows on the table but all they have to do is step outside. I wouldn't be aloud to set off fire crackers in a restraunt because it would be anoying and I would instantly get kicked out.

Smoking in public places is wrong. You are subjecting people to 2nd hand smoking, which studies show is worse than smoking itself. Banning smoking in public places is a good thing. Some cities are banning smoking completely, this is a good thing. The country will be healthier. Now if only we could get rid of chocolate and McDonalds...

NOT DA MCNUGGETS!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Anybody feel like the whole smoking non-smoking deal smells of white-black issues.
All this is doing is reverting us back to the times where their were waterfountains and bathrooms for different colored people. Soon we will have places where people can smoke and not smoke only. Dont take it the wrong way, im not saying that one could compare anyway near the other but it is on the same basis

I wasn't saying we should make every smoker carry id and wear a yellow cigarette patch I just want them to try to not smoke while I'm eating.

Me too, i would like to enjoy a meal without smelling smoke and getting cancer. If they want to smoke, go outside, give the birds cancer, not me.

If the restaurant you're at lets people smoke, someone does it, and you don't like it? Tough stuff. Go to a different restaurant.

It's not difficult, people.

But I agree about parks, I don't have any trouble with banning smoking in a public place like a park.

But banning them from private places (even if publicly accessible) like restaurants is retarded. I think California even tried to get a resolution passed that smoking in your car would be illegal...or something like that.

oh yeah i didnt mean that too but i feel that this is escalating so much now

I have to wonder what is worse, second-hand smoke or second-hand exhaust fumes?
I get especially sick from diesel, asthma.
DIESEL FUMES AND YOUR HEALTH
Breathing in diesel fumes can affect your health, and exposure to the fumes can cause irritation of your eyes or respiratory tract. These effects are generally short term and should disappear when you are away from the source of exposure.

However, prolonged exposure to diesel fumes, in particular to any blue or black smoke, could lead to coughing, chestiness and breathlessness.

In the long term, there is some evidence that repeated exposure to diesel fumes over a period of about 20 years may increase the risk of lung cancer. Exposure to petrol engine exhaust emissions does not have the same risk.

Skin contact with cold diesel fuel may cause dermatitis.
HSE - Publications - Diesel Engine Exhaust Emissions

It sounds to me like diesel fumes cause immediate problems with breathing, while secondhand smoke causes health problems later on (lung cancer). So you can't really say one is worse than the other - they are both bad.

I don't see smoking as being anything like the black-white issue, which is based on an attribute (skin color) that people cannot change. It's a health issue.