You know exactly what I’m talking about with this one. You’re sitting in a room and chimney comes and sits next to you. You’re trying to rush into a public building but have to first navigate an illegal gauntlet of smokers lining the sidewalks and entryway.
It’s days like these that probably make it a good thing for my safety that I topped off at 5′ 4″ and have no intention of really exercising any of the razorback that wants to come out and play with those smokers’ ankles.
I seem to be completely incapable of separating someone’s infinite other qualities once I know they are a smoker, let alone a chain smoker who has a smoker’s cough as a result of years of abuse. Colleagues: get away and send me an e-mail, but your IQ has dropped 45 points in my book. Family: I know you not, for you are too stupid to have come from the same spawn as I.
Can there be anything more unfair in place?
Served with a dose of genetic freak-ness that doesn’t even give me a chance to have a normal pulmonary life, I mentally and emotionally retaliate against smokers. It even happened at a family function last year when I found out that my 19-yr old cousin had gone outside to take a smoke when I thought he was just going out to his camper to get his laptop. Coming into the kitchen smelling like an ashtray, my pupils narrowed and he was crossed off my list of “acceptable” people. I can at least understand why prostitutes sell their bodies to make enough money to keep a roof over their two kids’ heads after their deadbeat husbands leave them, but I can’t come to terms with smokers.
I don’t think smokers should be eligible for lung transplants, either. Period. They did it to themselves 100% in a way that a CFer couldn’t come close to by through non-compliance, as that can come about from any number of reasons and lack of means to take care of oneself.
Any other CFers in my boat paddling with me?
Yes. Completely. Even though I am *only* a CF mommy, I lost every shred of respect I had for my friend when I found out her mother, a smoker for many years, was recovering nicely from her lung transplant. And my friend wasn't even the smoker! Call me shallow – I don't care. At least I know well enough to take care of what I've been given.
Thanks! I sure won't be calling you shallow. ๐
I completely agree! What drives me nuts is the non-smoking/smoking sections in restaurants. Those are a joke.
Yeah, it's always a shock when we travel north and realize that Kentucky isn't as “advanced” in their anti-smoking policy as Florida and Georgia. As if that person's smoke on the other side of the latticework isn't hitting me square in the face….
Smoking is GROSS, period. The people who smoke completely reek, it's a God awful smell and it just makes me sick. What's crazy is they really are dillusional about it and truly don't think their clothes, house, car, their own body and anything else they smoked around utterly STINKS! When you say something to them they roll their eyes and get mad.
I hate when a family member, stranger, friend, etc. comes up to my son with cf smelling of smoke. They all probably think I'm a terrible, horrible person when I tell them they reek of smoke and he can't be around them but I don't care. I think my son is worth quitting, if they don't then they are the ones choosing to not be able to see him. Stay home smokers we don't wanna smell you or your cigarettes! ๐
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Three cheers from Fatboy!
When I saw this article, my body surged with anger because my thoughts are 100% on track with yours and just thinking about all the smokers frustrates me. I'm the person that coughs EXTRA loud around them, comment too loudly about how there are NO positive benefits to smoking and not only harm you but those around you SUCH AS ME WITH LUNG PROBLEMS ALREADY and how I would appreciate it if you would contaminate the oxygen in a room by yourself forever. I'm still recovering from my Florida trip where I have only seen that many smokers around me before in New York, which I refuse to return to. I *hate* smokers.
Florida actually has the Clean Air Act and they are pretty strict on where
you can't smoke. Unfortunately, the fronts of buildings are the problem
areas, but restaurants are clear as long as alcohol isn't something like 65%
of the sales. Come eat at the restaurants we eat at. ๐
Then you consider the cost of smoking, the taxes on smoking, and the “stupid
tax” people are willing to pay just because they are either entitled to
smoke no matter the financial cost or are hopelessly addicted. If you're
standing on the side of the road with a sign for help, I'd rather throw a
shoe at your head if you have a cig in your mouth.
Forgive my ignorance and lack of research, but I know at least in my part of Kentucky, the smoke rules have changed. There is a smoking ban now. I'm guessing it is for the entire state, but that's what I'm not clear on. Maybe it is just for Louisville. Pretty much any public building are now non-smoking or must have an entirely separate place for smokers. This even includes bars/nightclubs. John and I really enjoy live music. There is one bar/club that has bands playing on 3 stages that we really enjoy. They have an outdoor smoking area that is heated in the winter. I'm on the same boat as you Jesse. Smokers flat out tick me off. The majority really don't have any care or concern for non-smokers and think we are just being a pain. Anyone is entitled to enjoy the same experiences in life, breathing condition or not. Smoking is a choice. Being able to enjoy a great meal out or dancing with friends shouldn't be a choice. My favorite thing about restaurants is when the smoking section for what ever stupid reason is by the door and the non-smokers are stuffed in the back forced to walk through it. I find myself doing the same thing when I meet someone and then find out they smoke. I have a hard time finding the other qualities redeeming enough to make me forget how much I hate smoking. I pretty much lose respect for them. I'm glad to finally see that their insurance rates are increasing. When we have open enrollment for our health insurance, they have a question now in regards to smoking and if you answer yes, your premiums are more. They do offer cessatation programs to help so it is not a punishment. Just another way to help reduce health care cost in the long run. I could go on and on and have a full out discussion on the matter. It is definitely one of those topics that gets my fur up ๐
The last time we drove up I-75 through Tennessee and Kentucky to get to Ohio, we were in a Cracker Barrel that had a non-smoking section separated by latticework from the smoking section (that you had to walk through to get to the non-smoking section). It's been a couple of years, so maybe they have the ban now, but they were years behind FL's ban.
I used to be a smoker. Yes, I’m completely ashamed of it, and the second I found out I was pregnant, I did what I had been wanting to do for a long time and quit cold turkey. It was easier to quit for ‘the baby’ than it was to do it for me. My biggest fear was that I would buckle after the baby was born and smoke again. Jackson got his diagnosis through newborn screening at 19 days old, and I hated myself for every cigarette I had ever touched. I felt like I was being punished for being so careless with my body. I’m now outspokenly rude to people who inconsiderately smoke in conspicuous places. I certainly wish it wasn’t part of my past, and in spite of that, I definitely judge people who I see smoking.
Thank you, thank you for such an open and honest comment, Amy! Before I forget, do you have a site or desire for having a site to chronicle Jackson and your family? I’d be glad to link it or help you out.
One of the most common places that almost sets me off verbally (I’m a little too small to say what I really want to say) is the smoking anywhere around an entrance. I believe that the FL law is no smoking within 25 or 50 feet of an entrance or exit to a public building, but it also applies to anywhere that is covered by a roof. Covered walkways are thus supposed to be non-smoking, but I have to walk through that smoke all of the time.
I’m so glad you quit and “stayed quit.”
I used to be a smoker. Yes, I'm completely ashamed of it, and the second I found out I was pregnant, I did what I had been wanting to do for a long time and quit cold turkey. It was easier to quit for 'the baby' than it was to do it for me. My biggest fear was that I would buckle after the baby was born and smoke again. Jackson got his diagnosis through newborn screening at 19 days old, and I hated myself for every cigarette I had ever touched. I felt like I was being punished for being so careless with my body. I'm now outspokenly rude to people who inconsiderately smoke in conspicuous places. I certainly wish it wasn't part of my past, and in spite of that, I definitely judge people who I see smoking.
Thank you, thank you for such an open and honest comment, Amy! Before I forget, do you have a site or desire for having a site to chronicle Jackson and your family? I'd be glad to link it or help you out.
One of the most common places that almost sets me off verbally (I'm a little too small to say what I really want to say) is the smoking anywhere around an entrance. I believe that the FL law is no smoking within 25 or 50 feet of an entrance or exit to a public building, but it also applies to anywhere that is covered by a roof. Covered walkways are thus supposed to be non-smoking, but I have to walk through that smoke all of the time.
I'm so glad you quit and “stayed quit.”