Reasons for Businesses to Not Allow Smoking(Editorial Montana)

Montana Forum ^ | 12/16/02 | Gail Beckner and Laura Behenna

[Mark]

There might be some slight exaggerations in this article.

[JRandomFreeper]

There might be some slight exaggerations in this article.

And you might just be understating the level of exaggeration. ;>)

Dang, they trotted out EVERYTHING. Especially "fer the chillrun".

Once, when my doctor told me that cigarettes were going to kill me, I asked him that if I quit smoking, that I would then live forever? He hemmed and hawwed for a while, but finally told me the truth.

No matter what I do, I'm going to die. The only thing I have any control over is how quickly. And I don't have much control there.

/john

[Hunble]

For years now, I absolutely refuse to patronize any restaurant that discriminates against smokers.

Period.

They keep forgetting that smokers are 25% of the population. Remember, there are more smokers than Blacks in America, and we are getting sick and tired of this discrimination.

[xzins]

People can do business where they like. If they don't like smoke, then they'll shop elsewhere. If enough shop elsewhere, then the business will stop allowing smoke.

These are business, NOT GOVERNMENT, decisions.

[Mark]

Some Helena businesses have chosen to allow smoking on their premises again ...

Wow! Imagine that! "CHOSEN"- that's way too much freedom going on out there.

[Barnacle]

They keep forgetting that smokers are 25% of the population. Remember, there are more smokers than Blacks in America, and we are getting sick and tired of this discrimination.

Nothing personal, but I am part of the 75% who are sick and tired of the 25% stinking up public places to the point that we have to change cloths after returning home to get rid of the stench. I don't support laws to enforce non-smoking, but I will go out of my way to patronize non-smoking establishments.

[JRandomFreeper]

Some Helena businesses have chosen to allow smoking on their premises again

Don't they know? That which is not specifically allowed is verboten!

Wasn't Adolf Hitler a proponent of vegetarianism and very anti-smoking? And a socialist?

/john

[Hunble]

Actually, I have no argument with you. That is a personal choice and you have the option to patronize businesses that cater to your preference.

Where I have a problem is when people dictate their preference upon others.

[JRandomFreeper]

but I will go out of my way to patronize non-smoking establishments.

Thank you. I appreciate your dislike of the smell of cigarettes. You are willing to let the market do it's work. Support non-smoking establishments with your $$s.

Thank you for not passing a law that gives your local cops the excuse to point a gun at my head to enforce said law, should I choose not to comply.

Because that's the bottom line to laws. Are you willing to point a gun at someone's head who disagrees with you? Is it that important?

/john

[Cobra64]

Wasn't Adolf Hitler a proponent of vegetarianism and very anti-smoking? And a socialist?

It's because he was a liberal left-wing Berkeley democrat.

[Mark]

Wasn't Adolf Hitler a proponent of vegetarianism and very anti-smoking? And a socialist?

Oh yes-- here is one of his old ads:

[KS Flyover]

[Max McGarrity]

You're exercising your right to CHOOSE where you want to go. We want no more than the same choice.

[kmiller1k]

The smokers just don't get it. One cigarette smoked is enough to start a cough and runny nose in some of us. Needing to change clothes after being around someone who smokes and their hacking coughs.

Just once I would like to find some foul smelling incense and light it up in a restuarant and see the reaction from the smoking section as to the stench. Unfortunately, the smoker's olfactory senses and are imparied due to the cigarettes and they probably wouldn't smell it.

[supercat]

The smokers just don't get it. One cigarette smoked is enough to start a cough and runny nose in some of us. Needing to change clothes after being around someone who smokes and their hacking coughs.

If you can't stand to be around cigarette smoke, limit your travels to buildings with "NO SMOKING" logos on the doors. Some companies will decide they want your business enough to become non-smoking. Others will decide that smokers represent more of a potential market than people who can't abide the smell of smoke, and will allow smoking.

I frequent a number of karaoke places, and am somewhat bothered by the number of singers (and KJ's) who smoke. On the other hand, I recognize that if all these places went non-smoking they'd lose the business of all of the smoking singers and there wouldn't be any karaoke bars. Today, if I want to avoid the smoke I can simply not go to karaoke. If a no-smoking-in-bars law passed, I would no longer have that choice since there'd be no karaoke for me to go or not go to.

[JRandomFreeper]

The smokers just don't get it.

That's painting with a pretty wide brush, pardner. This smoker doesn't smoke around those that express a severe emotional reaction to smoking. I'll step outside and away for my smoke.

Just once I would like to find some foul smelling incense and light it up in a restuarant and see the reaction from the smoking section as to the stench.

When I was in S. Korea, a couple of months ago, the joss sticks were burning brightly. The kimchee was brewing up nicely. The dung fires' clouds of smoke made for a beautiful sunset. I couldn't tell if folks were smoking cigarettes or not.

You should be grateful that you live in such an enlightened land as the US of A.

/john

[kmiller1k]

You admit to frequenting Karaoke bars?

[supercat]

You admit to frequenting Karaoke bars?

Yeah, though there's only one I go to really regularly (karaoke one day a week, probably gone there 40 times in the last year). Actually started going there because I liked the food and the people there, then got into karaoke when I happened to be there when the KJ was setting up (normally I'd have been out of there before then, but I was running late). I've liked singing for many years, and karaoke seems as good an outlet as any.

[kmiller1k]

My dad was a pack+ a day smoker until Jan 10, 2002. when he was admitted for severe angina and was diagnosed with three 95% blockages and two 99% blockages of the coronary arteries. The addiction was so strong to the cigarettes he snuck them into the ICU and smoked them in his bathroom. As if none of us, the nurses or the docs could smell the tobacco smoke. He could have lit the entire place up with the damn cigarettes but he was hopelessly addicted to them. I asked him to give me the contraband but he stubbornly said no and I left for the evening.

The following day he was sent for by-pass surgery. His health had been declining for some months, as he had recurrent sinus infections, a terrible hacking cough, general lack of energy. He made it through, thankfully, but when he finally was coherent he told us to get Darrell out of his room and keep him out. Who was Darrell? Turns out Darrell was the respiratory therapist who was working with my dad to get his lung capacity back up to a somewhat normal level. The lung capacity was so low that it was affecting his blood oxygen level. It hurt to breathe deeply and Darrell was making him do it.

[kmiller1k]

oh