Posted on 05/30/2002 7:07:00 AM PDT by Just another Joe
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By Heidi Rauch-Webb /Oswego Daily News
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The Oswego County Energy Recovery Facility has gone the way of airlines, hospitals and most shopping malls in the country: no smoking in their facility. Deputy Superintendent Frank Visser said that though only about 10 out of 30 employees at the ERF are smokers, the issue was a serious one. "Our lunch room was also our smoking room and it's very small," he explained. "People who don't smoke couldn't get away from the smoke." Visser said that there had been some complaints to the health department and a few weeks ago Michael Rosen, Deputy Health Commissioner, and an assistant visited the facility and came to the conclusion that controlling the smokers was not feasible so they designated the building as non-smoking. "The new policy is that people who want to smoke must do so 20 feet from the building," Visser said. There were some disgruntled employees but Visser told the assembled County Department of Public Works committee last week that some of the smokers have no one to blame but themselves. "Some smokers were smoking in non-designated areas," he said. "I told them that it takes only one person to ruin it for the rest of the employees." Visser said the decision is final after the recommendation went to the county Legislature's Health committee. "It's a done deal," he told DPW committee members as they offered suggestions on how to correct the problem. "As a smoker, you have no rights. If I smoked, I guess I'd just quit." |
Who can argue with pure reason. I stand in awe of your debating skills. Your high school debate team missed a major opportunity.
If I didn't read that myself, I never would have believed that someone actually wrote that drivel! Smokers don't think other people can smell the smoke?! OMG -- that wins the prize for "most ridiculous statement on the thread" in my book!
Interestingly -- judgmental, holier-than-thou, and ignorant people think that others can't recognize one of them as what they are when they see them either! 
He's right, purereason. A truly skilled debater, such as VRWC_minion, expresses his desire to shoot people as part of a debate. See how it's done by the really good ones?
Read and learn from the master.
Who said this was a debate. Debate requires "reason". I see none in your writings.
If you don't like what I do, go your own way and stay away from me. If I don't want to smell your breath, that's what I would do. What's to debate.
Thank you. I try to be reasonable and considerate, even when being insulted.
I can take a lot but every once in a while I let out an ultimate flame burp. ;^)
You need to let go more often, being nice only encourages these wackos.
Then you must agree that it was right for the town to ban the smokers from smoking in the small lunch room.
Can't read either. I said if they don't like it, go their own way and stay away. I'm talking about the wackos.
Most smokers believe that only the smoke that can be seen smells. They don't realize that even after it disipates and is invisible that it still smells. Furhter, most have no idea how much of it clings to clothing, fabric etc.
I stayed in an Inn a few weeks ago that charged a $300 cleaning fee to anyone that smoked in a non-smoking room.
But back on point, the issue here was the town banning of the smokers from the lunch room as well as 20 feet from the building. If you agree that the smoke stinks and is offensive to non-smokers then you must agree with the towns actions.
So you think the non-smokers should quit their jobs because the smokers abused their priveledge by smoking in the non smoking section ? Those are the attitudes of smokers who have no consideration for others that drives some folks to use the power of majority rule to ban all smoking.
I bet the place had a smoker or two who thought like you and they are the reason the health director went ballistic.
I sat down to the computer after I got home from work to look at this thread, and I see someone debating his/her right to SHOOT someone who does something they don't like!!! What the hell kind of sentiment is that from a (supposedly) anti-nanny state conservative? Don't these people realize it isn't about smoking, drinking, f**king, or any other such thing-it is about CONTROL and loss of FREEDOM and LIBERTY. This person needs to read more carefully between the lines...
No, back on point, the issue here is that the "assistant county commissar" whoops, "commissioner" stated, "As a smoker, you have no rights. If I smoked, I guess I'd just quit."
And that is exactly what the antis want everyone to think.
Ummmm -- just in case you've been under a rock for several years, smoking is the single most difficult habit to break. Over time, smokers become "dependent" (not necessarily "addicted") upon the nicotine, and the little puny gum things don't cut it, nor do the little patches. (BTW -- we can thank the cigarette manufacturers for that, for their little additives that they have been allowed to use. Again, that's just in case your rock didn't get cable!) 
Not to mention that some people enjoy smoking, which is within our rights! All of the smokers that I know personally are considerate of others when they light up. I am bedridden, so I don't really have a problem about lighting up whenever I want to, except when a non-smoker comes to visit. Then I do not smoke, out of personal consideration. But that is my choice. However, you cannot legislate manners. The NicoNazis made sure that this thread is full of evidence of that!
P.S. When you "touch a nerve," you will know it. Without a doubt. I'm not even close to having my "nerves" touched! But you DO crack me up! Is that close enough?!
Bet the place had more than its share of wackos like you and that's why the health director went ballistic.
"So you think the non-smokers should quit their jobs because the smokers abused their priveledge by smoking in the non smoking section ?"
I was right, you can't read. The article clearly points out that their lunch room was also their smoking room.
If we allow this to go unanswered, we are just as guilty as the idiots who are doing this kind of thing!
Oh -- PLEASE tell me the definition of "this" as I used it in that sentence?!! I love it when people tell me what I meant!!
The anticipation is too great; I must have a cigarette! 
That wasn't what the article said. Read it again.
Our lunch room was also our smoking room and it's very small," he explained. "People who don't smoke couldn't get away from the smoke."
Visser said that there had been some complaints to the health department and a few weeks ago Michael Rosen, Deputy Health Commissioner, and an assistant visited the facility and came to the conclusion that controlling the smokers was not feasible so they designated the building as non-smoking.
I still have no problem with the county making the building nonsmoking.
Read the bold, it's about control.
And with Mr. Vissers attitude smokers are third, or fourth, class citizens to him.
So's wanting to shoot rude smokers.
Over time, smokers become "dependent" (not necessarily "addicted") upon the nicotine, and the little puny gum things don't cut it, nor do the little patches. (BTW -- we can thank the cigarette manufacturers for that, for their little additives that they have been allowed to use. Again, that's just in case your rock didn't get cable!)
So you're saying that the pathetic weaklings just can't control themselves?
My dad quit smoking after 60 years of it--in three days. He wasn't a superhuman individual, either.
Not to mention that some people enjoy smoking, which is within our rights!
As I am within my rights to enjoy air free of cigarette smoke in my workplace.
All of the smokers that I know personally are considerate of others when they light up.
Wow. You must know a very different set of smokers than I do.
I am bedridden, so I don't really have a problem about lighting up whenever I want to, except when a non-smoker comes to visit. Then I do not smoke, out of personal consideration. But that is my choice. However, you cannot legislate manners. The NicoNazis made sure that this thread is full of evidence of that!
Manners are frequently legislated when people don't voluntarily observe them.
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