A Pack of Lies - The surgeon general hypes the hazards of secondhand smoke.

Reason ^ | July 5, 2006 | Jacob Sullum

[Gabz]

"It stinks" is the biggest single complaint from non-smokers who aren't yet on the warpath but I would think that the stench that accompanies a fireworks display might mask the smell just a bit.

At least the smell (stink, or stench if you so desire) of tobacco smoke washes off - unlike that of the nanny state control freaks - that stench is bone deep.

[Skooz]

Well, too bad you had to move to accommodate someone else's rude behavior.

You can't legislate manners, I suppose.

[JLGALT]

In many ways tobacco helped to finance America's beginnings. It was one of the first exports. (Why aren't the Indian's blamed for this product?) So it's damaging to ones health. I had a doctor tell me that just living in southern California does as much damage as smoking one pack a day. When will they have warning signs on city signs here exclaiming the danger?

The UN study proved that second hand smoke was just BS! In fact it also proved that children raised in a smoking environment rarely had asthma! Maybe this is why the incidence of asyhma is rapidly increasing among our children?

[Madame Dufarge]

but it's the logical conclusion to the path on which we've embarked.....

There have been cases of AIDS-infected people being charged with attempted murder for knowingly infecting others.

AIDS and attempted murder charges

I see it as no great stretch for the hysterics to view second-hand smoke the same way, mentally unhinged as they are to begin with.

[Madame Dufarge]

Outdoors, from 20 feet away you could smell the smoke?

What, are you all part bloodhound?

[Texas Federalist]

It stinks and is disgusting. Whose got the rights in this case? Public-park and I'd rather not inhale 2nd hand smoke, versus public-park and I'm a smoker?

I hate it when people wear cheap perfume or after shave. It stinks and is disgusting. We should ban the wearing of any perfume under $50 a bottle in public (or just perfume I just plain don't like). Who has the rights in this case? Public park and I'd rather not inhale cheap perfume vs. public park and I wear Aqua Velva?

How about people who go out in public with colds and the flu? Should they be ordered to stay in the home? I guarantee there are more deaths from the flu each year than second hand smoke and catching a cold is much more irritating than inhaling second hand smoke. Where are my rights not to be subject to sneezing people on the subway or an elevator?

[Texas Federalist]

At least the smell (stink, or stench if you so desire) of tobacco smoke washes off - unlike that of the nanny state control freaks - that stench is bone deep.

I don't even like smoking. I smoke just to spite those people.

[billhilly]

An addict and a mind reader. That's a combination not often found. Maybe someone can get it written up in a medical Journal.

[mad puppy]

Poor baby. The smokers are taxpayers, just like you.

But I wonder your problem, watching fireworks, with the likelihood of smelling them, yet complaining about folks smoking cigarettes.........you've got issues.

Smokers pay taxes? Really? Brilliant insight.

In Colorado, where I live, a law recently went into action that makes smoking illegal in "public places" like bars and restaurants. I truly have mixed feelings about it because while the smell of smoke makes me gag, the idea that the Gov't would tell a business owner they can't allow smoking makes me gag as well. If pushed I'd not have the law and let the business continue to decide.

We sat far enough away from the launch area that we didn't smell the fire works, thanks for your concern. I believe your name calling etc. on such a trivial thread speaks volumes about you. Smoker or not, you have my sympathy.

[mad puppy]

Smoking is a very difficult addiction to break. Good for you. My mother started smoking while still in her teens and after major harassment from her kids (lead by me) we got her to quit several times before finally giving it up for good. I'd like to think her quitting bought her a couple extra years, but the stomach cancer got her about 10 months ago. She frequently said she enjoy being able to smell things again once she quit.

[mad puppy]

Outdoors, from 20 feet away you could smell the smoke?

What, are you all part bloodhound?

No. Just a non-smoker. But I apparently have "issues" according to another poster, so who knows?

[bfree]

Don't need to be a mind reader, just a reader, to tell YOU are a whiner.

[bfree]

I agree with the other poster, you do have some issues.
You don't want the government to dictate what businesses do, but you want to dictate what others do.

[Madame Dufarge]

But I apparently have "issues" according to another poster, so who knows?

Well, I think that would be obvious to even the casual observer.

[steve-b]

He is right about this much: The issue of what the government should do about secondhand smoke is independent from the issue of exactly how risky it is.

That's ridiculous. If secondhand smoke were highly likely to kill or seriously injure anyone exposed to it, the government would have a legitimate reason to regulate or prohibit it (just as it legitimately regulates or prohibits drunk driving, toxic-waste dumping, etc).

The issue rests entirely on whether or not there is, in fact, any real likelihood of direct harm to nonconsenting bystanders.

[mad puppy]

I hate it when people wear cheap perfume or after shave. It stinks and is disgusting. We should ban the wearing of any perfume under $50 a bottle in public (or just perfume I just plain don't like). Who has the rights in this case? Public park and I'd rather not inhale cheap perfume vs. public park and I wear Aqua Velva?

How about people who go out in public with colds and the flu? Should they be ordered to stay in the home? I guarantee there are more deaths from the flu each year than second hand smoke and catching a cold is much more irritating than inhaling second hand smoke. Where are my rights not to be subject to sneezing people on the subway or an elevator?

perfume: funny thing... when we were walking back to the car about 4 college aged males were in front of us and they smelled like they had bathed in after-shave. I don't take that seriously at all though.

Now, the coming to work when you have a cold or the flu, or sending your kids to school when they are OBVIOULY sick, that pisses me off. I didn't say anything to the (imo) inconsiderate park-smokers, but I have and will continue to speak up when obviously sick people show up to work. If some people weren't so (@#$@#@) self absorbed the other people would have a much tougher time getting the gov't to pass stupid laws to protect them.

When someone farts in an elevator, most have the decency to be embarrassed.

[billhilly]

Sorry about your mother. Actually, I loved smoking and if I were to get a prognosis of imminent death, I would start smoking again.

I just love to rub salt into the thin skin of people like bfree. What he/she does not know about life is writ large in the juvenile postings here.

[mad puppy]

My Mom said the same thing, but something about the cemo treatments apparently made that less appetizing.

As for bfree and the others, I really didn't start off trying to be antagonistic, but once I realize their charged nature, well, I guess I reached for the salt as well. Kind of fun in a jr. high sort of way. I've never had such a response to a posting before. Guess I finally found an issue where those on the other side don't recognize there even is another side. My x-wife was like that too. Miserable way to be.

[BigSkyFreeper]

In an act of desperation, the issue has now sunk to fearmongering and scare tactics.

[BigSkyFreeper]

If anyone is blowing smoke, it's the Surgeon General.