A (hopefully) mature discussion: Is it really okay to hate smokers?

[lacktheknack]

I hate smokers. They force that crappy smoke down our throats and none of them have any consideration for others. Standing right outside a grocery store or where ever your shopping and going "At least I'm outside."

I hate the smell of smoke. I hate the taste of smoke. Cigarettes do absolutely nothing positive for anyone except curb the addiction you had to create in the first place.

I would illegalize cigarettes (along with alcohol) but no one agrees with me (users).

I think you need to realize that saying you 'HATE' a person is a strong statement.

A lot of people have already pointed out that feeling disgusted or uncomfortable with the personal habits of another person is a relatively reasonable and rational response, but I think it's a little asinine to march out the blanket statement "I HATE THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE!" It's more than a little silly for you to claim that you feel that strong an emotion towards me when you've never met me, let alone been impacted by my habit.

Also, flatly expressing hatred of a group is just begging for an invocation of Godwin's Law.

I HATE smokers. I HATE smoke. If I could, I'd go around punching smokers in their faces for smoking. Instead I just avoid people who are smoking.
I find it a common occurrence to find people who smoke also happen to have low income or no jobs and poor education or intelligence.

I HATE bigots.

I DISLIKE people who automatically call anyone who has a strong opinion a "bigot".

If the hat fits.

Shoving a hat onto someone's head does not necessarily make it fit.

 

[SeriousIssues]

I'm okay with casual smokers, but theres a very fine line where my tolerence ends.
I don't know where the conversation currently is (Excuse me, that's five pages) but I have to admit I hate a person for the sole reason that he smells of horrible cigarette smoke (and he's fat and gets pretty shovey on the bus) and doesn't try to disguise it.

I mean, the smell is just awful in such a high concentration.
...
...
That and it fucking kills ya.

 

[DefunctTheory]

I hate smokers. They force that crappy smoke down our throats and none of them have any consideration for others. Standing right outside a grocery store or where ever your shopping and going "At least I'm outside."

I hate the smell of smoke. I hate the taste of smoke. Cigarettes do absolutely nothing positive for anyone except curb the addiction you had to create in the first place.

I would illegalize cigarettes (along with alcohol) but no one agrees with me (users).

I think you need to realize that saying you 'HATE' a person is a strong statement.

A lot of people have already pointed out that feeling disgusted or uncomfortable with the personal habits of another person is a relatively reasonable and rational response, but I think it's a little asinine to march out the blanket statement "I HATE THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE!" It's more than a little silly for you to claim that you feel that strong an emotion towards me when you've never met me, let alone been impacted by my habit.

Also, flatly expressing hatred of a group is just begging for an invocation of Godwin's Law.

I HATE smokers. I HATE smoke. If I could, I'd go around punching smokers in their faces for smoking. Instead I just avoid people who are smoking.
I find it a common occurrence to find people who smoke also happen to have low income or no jobs and poor education or intelligence.

I HATE bigots.

I DISLIKE people who automatically call anyone who has a strong opinion a "bigot".

If the hat fits.

Shoving a hat onto someone's head does not necessarily make it fit.

When someone insinuates that an entire group of people are made up of poor people, idiots, and horrible educated persons, he is a bigot. Especially if he expresses a wish to do harm to said group of people.

Bigotry extends further than race, sex, religion, and nationality, you know.

 

[lacktheknack]

I hate smokers. They force that crappy smoke down our throats and none of them have any consideration for others. Standing right outside a grocery store or where ever your shopping and going "At least I'm outside."

I hate the smell of smoke. I hate the taste of smoke. Cigarettes do absolutely nothing positive for anyone except curb the addiction you had to create in the first place.

I would illegalize cigarettes (along with alcohol) but no one agrees with me (users).

I think you need to realize that saying you 'HATE' a person is a strong statement.

A lot of people have already pointed out that feeling disgusted or uncomfortable with the personal habits of another person is a relatively reasonable and rational response, but I think it's a little asinine to march out the blanket statement "I HATE THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE!" It's more than a little silly for you to claim that you feel that strong an emotion towards me when you've never met me, let alone been impacted by my habit.

Also, flatly expressing hatred of a group is just begging for an invocation of Godwin's Law.

I HATE smokers. I HATE smoke. If I could, I'd go around punching smokers in their faces for smoking. Instead I just avoid people who are smoking.
I find it a common occurrence to find people who smoke also happen to have low income or no jobs and poor education or intelligence.

I HATE bigots.

I DISLIKE people who automatically call anyone who has a strong opinion a "bigot".

If the hat fits.

Shoving a hat onto someone's head does not necessarily make it fit.

When someone insinuates that an entire group of people are made up of poor people, idiots, and horrible educated persons, he is a bigot. Especially if he expresses a wish to do harm to said group of people.

Bigotry extends further than race, sex, religion, and nationality, you know.

Sure. One thing though: The guy at the crux of this said:

I find it a common occurrence

Tactless, yes. But he didn't insinuate that all smokers are poor scum. He said that most of the smokers he personally knew were jobless/unintelligent. Problem: what if he's telling the truth? That makes a rather uncomfortable situation where he was put on probation for recounting what he's seen with his own eyes. (Again, I don't support his lack of tact.)

For instance, about 90% of smokers I've met are very smug about it. Do I think that all smokers are smug? No, but statistically, I can't be blamed for thinking that, because it's my personal experience.

The underlying variable here is that I actively avoid smokers because I'm very allergic to the smoke, and it makes sense that smokers who look down on non-smokers would hunt me down if they catch me outright avoiding them.

 

[DefunctTheory]

I hate smokers. They force that crappy smoke down our throats and none of them have any consideration for others. Standing right outside a grocery store or where ever your shopping and going "At least I'm outside."

I hate the smell of smoke. I hate the taste of smoke. Cigarettes do absolutely nothing positive for anyone except curb the addiction you had to create in the first place.

I would illegalize cigarettes (along with alcohol) but no one agrees with me (users).

I think you need to realize that saying you 'HATE' a person is a strong statement.

A lot of people have already pointed out that feeling disgusted or uncomfortable with the personal habits of another person is a relatively reasonable and rational response, but I think it's a little asinine to march out the blanket statement "I HATE THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE!" It's more than a little silly for you to claim that you feel that strong an emotion towards me when you've never met me, let alone been impacted by my habit.

Also, flatly expressing hatred of a group is just begging for an invocation of Godwin's Law.

I HATE smokers. I HATE smoke. If I could, I'd go around punching smokers in their faces for smoking. Instead I just avoid people who are smoking.
I find it a common occurrence to find people who smoke also happen to have low income or no jobs and poor education or intelligence.

I HATE bigots.

I DISLIKE people who automatically call anyone who has a strong opinion a "bigot".

If the hat fits.

Shoving a hat onto someone's head does not necessarily make it fit.

When someone insinuates that an entire group of people are made up of poor people, idiots, and horrible educated persons, he is a bigot. Especially if he expresses a wish to do harm to said group of people.

Bigotry extends further than race, sex, religion, and nationality, you know.

Sure. One thing though: The guy at the crux of this said:

I find it a common occurrence

Tactless, yes. But he didn't insinuate that all smokers are poor scum. He said that most of the smokers he personally knew were jobless/unintelligent. Problem: what if he's telling the truth? That makes a rather uncomfortable situation where he was put on probation for recounting what he's seen with his own eyes. (Again, I don't support his lack of tact.)

For instance, about 90% of smokers I've met are very smug about it. Do I think that all smokers are smug? No, but statistically, I can't be blamed for thinking that, because it's my personal experience.

The underlying variable here is that I actively avoid smokers because I'm very allergic to the smoke, and it makes sense that smokers who look down on non-smokers would hunt me down if they catch me outright avoiding them.

While you may be more reasonable on such a matter, he was not. You do not threaten violence against a group unless you've made up your mind about the majority/whole of them.

His wording, in this case, is a thin veil to hide his bigotry.

Insinuate - to impart or suggest in an artful or indirect way.

 

[Colour Scientist]

Admitedly we make oursleves targets though, the smell, the cost to the taxpayer etc, cigarette buts all over the place... Hell if I didnt smoke I'd probably think people were insane to do it.

There is no cost to the taxpayer. About six euro of a regular 20 box of cigarettes in Ireland is Government tax. Considering the amount of smokers here that is a hell of alot of money.

To be honest, I've been a regular smoker for five years and people complaining about it is boring and irritating. Legally I have to smoke outside, which I am all for. If I didn't smoke I wouldn't want to be trapped in a room with a load of smokers. However, it's when people complain about it in SMOKING AREAS that gets me. Not some random outside area but in designated smoking areas. If you don't want to breathe it in then go away and stop rolling your eyes at me.

It's great that people feel so superior and self-righteous about not smoking but I don't want to listen to someone talk about how awesome they are just because they don't smoke. They wouldn't breathe in any of my smoke if they weren't going to such an effort to make me feel bad about myself.

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

SNIP

Well written and worded, you are indeed a fine wordsmith.

My opinion on smokers is like my opinion on all people. As long as what you do or like to do does not affect me, or anyone else without their consent (serial killers, rapists are in this category) what you do in your own time is fine by me, even in public as long as it can have NO impact on me without me having to make effort of any considerable kind. These are all real examples that have happened to me where i formed some memorable opinions.

Example 1. A couple make out very loudly in public. I would say something or shoot them very dirty looks. This scene is forced on me, and it is forced on others that don't want it. This annoys me more than anything.

Example 2. A couple are making out behind a building where it deserted, I take my route home from school there. I am the only one present and stumble in on their session. I dont dislike these people now, they made an effort to not shove this in my face and I respect that, iIignore them or take a different route.

Example 3.
In a line at thorpe park. Person in front of me is a smoker, the wait is one hour. This is NOT ok. This is where I HATE this person. Not because they are a smoker. But because I have NO choice if it is forced on me or not. All the negative side effects of smoking I can usually avoid, and therefore do not hate smokers because of I am now forced to endure. It's awful. It stinks, its hot already and now I have to put up with this.

Example 4. Ourside, a park, a really large room, anywhere where moving about a metre away will completely remove all traces of smoking? Feel free, no hard feelings. It's not forced on me, I don't HAVE to put up with it without compromising my own actions. This is when it's fine.

 

[The Lunatic]

I don't hate the people who do it, but, I do not like the act.

Um... as a non-offending one(the majority), I kind of take offense to that OP. Especially since you lump us in with Serial Killers and Rapists. Can you please change that? You don't have to, but it would be nice. Preferably to Child Molesters.(Pedophile and Child Molester are not interchangeable) EDIT: Thank you, OP.

Still regarded as "Disgusting" FYI.

 

[DefunctTheory]

To be honest, I've been a regular smoker for five years and people complaining about it is boring and irritating. Legally I have to smoke outside, which I am all for. If I didn't smoke I wouldn't want to be trapped in a room with a load of smokers. However, it's when people complain about it in SMOKING AREAS that gets me. Not some random outside area but in designated smoking areas. If you don't want to breathe it in then go away and stop rolling your eyes at me.

This.

Where I work, we have smoking booths. They have smoking signs on them, they have ash trays, and they are enclosed, like a Bus Waiting Booth thingie.

But as soon as it rains or gets windy, you better stop smoking! The Smoking area, it seems, turns into a break area for people who want to look at the storm but not get wet. They complain and ***** about us smokers smoking in the smoke 'shack.' Its ridiculous.

And its not just that. We have smoking gazebos that the non-smokers are trying to take away (There are non-smoking gazebos already), smoking pits (Non-smokers park in these parking lots too), and a variety of other areas that there trying to kick us out of.

They jammed smokers into tiny, out of the way corners, and now they want their corners back.

 

[Rickyvantof]

Smoking is and always will be cool. I don't care what anyone says.
I am also not a smoker.

 

[Nouw]

TLDR: How should we treat people who smoke? For those who don't smoke, how do you treat people who smoke, and why? For those who do smoke, perhaps you would like to share stories about how people treat you because of your smoking?

I don't hate them, I despise and pity them. Why? Because it's unhealthy that's why! It can be bad for those around you as well!
[sub]I've been educated on this by the way >.>[/sub]

I wouldn't call it hate but I just want to help them quit you know? My Dad used to smoke (probably still does, I'd hate to say 'told you so' when he dies of a smoking related death.) and I absolutely couldn't stand that fact.

Hate the smoking, not the smoker I guess. Like disliking someone for being lazy, not fact. Although that is a pretty bad comparison >.>

 

[Leg End]

I don't hate the people who do it, but, I do not like the act.

Um... as a non-offending one(the majority), I kind of take offense to that OP. Especially since you lump us in with Serial Killers and Rapists. Can you please change that? You don't have to, but it would be nice. Preferably to Child Molesters.(Pedophile and Child Molester are not interchangeable) EDIT: Thank you, OP.

Still regarded as "Disgusting" FYI.

Well, IYO.

Plus, the word itself is only an attraction. The point OP was getting across were groups that were "societally ok" to call disgusting, comparing those that commit horrible crimes. Putting Pedophiles in there is incorrect usage of the word and lumps the non-molesters(majority) in with those who give the rest a bad name(minority).

Society should take a good look at itself if one's thoughts are regarded as a reason to hate them even though they didn't choose to have them but are born with the attraction.

[sub][sub][sub]If you want to continue this, we should do it by PM.[/sub][/sub][/sub]

 

[OtherSideofSky]

I, personally, hate smokers and have what I consider a perfectly valid reason for doing so. I'm sure that a lot of them are nice people, but whenever they come near me (even if they're not actually smoking at the time because the fumes cling to them) I start to sneeze and develop a splitting headache because cigarettes are crammed full of shit that sets off my allergies and I have to go lie down in a dark room for the rest of the day. In this way, smokers are roughly equivalent to people who walk up on the street and brain me over the head for no reason. It is worth noting that people who use just tobacco don't cause this problem, even if they're burning it right in front of me, so I'm totally okay with them. Quite frankly, half the shit that goes into those things ought to be illegal in a product intended for any form of human consumption, anyway.

 

[bushwhacker2k]

It's actually a more complicated question than it originally presents itself as. I HATE the act of smoking, there seems to be very little reason to do it. But I have friends who I like who smoke, so I can't blatantly say that I hate all smokers. But I really do think it is a silly and illogical thing to do overall.

---

Here's a question:

Why DO so many people smoke? Everyone says it's bad for you and addictive, so why start? I feel like half the people I know smoke sometimes.

 

[KiKiweaky]

Admitedly we make oursleves targets though, the smell, the cost to the taxpayer etc, cigarette buts all over the place... Hell if I didnt smoke I'd probably think people were insane to do it.

There is no cost to the taxpayer. About six euro of a regular 20 box of cigarettes in Ireland is Government tax. Considering the amount of smokers here that is a hell of alot of money.

To be honest, I've been a regular smoker for five years and people complaining about it is boring and irritating. Legally I have to smoke outside, which I am all for. If I didn't smoke I wouldn't want to be trapped in a room with a load of smokers. However, it's when people complain about it in SMOKING AREAS that gets me. Not some random outside area but in designated smoking areas. If you don't want to breathe it in then go away and stop rolling your eyes at me.

It's great that people feel so superior and self-righteous about not smoking but I don't want to listen to someone talk about how awesome they are just because they don't smoke. They wouldn't breathe in any of my smoke if they weren't going to such an effort to make me feel bad about myself.

Ye fair point most of the cost is goverment tax grrrr.

Watched Supersize me a few days ago and in it a scientist or doctor that he was talking to raised a very interesting point. The person in question was in a resteraunt and somebody was being given out to for smoking for blah blah blah ya we've heard it all before. But the guy who was giving the interview said that nobody was giving out to the 'fat' person that was sitting next to the smoker. The two of them are basicly doing the same thing. The fat person is eating themselves to death which could give arise to all number of problems while the smoker is well smoking and we all know how bad that is.

Not exactly comparable eating vs smoking but the end result, hospital and potential death are the same. I guess it just wouldnt exactly be polite to say that to someone now would it? Smokers? We are basicly Satan as far as some people are concerned, I have yet to be asked to put out a cigarette. I doubt I would respond positively even if I was asked politely haha.

 

[Lionsfan]

Here's a question:

Why DO so many people smoke? Everyone says it's bad for you and addictive, so why start? I feel like half the people I know smoke sometimes.

Cause we're all morons and just decided to try one to see how it was. Then addiction

 

[Cheesus333]

My views on smoking can be summed up quite concisely:

I don't smoke, and I don't intend to at any time in my life. It's not a 'high ground thing', I'm not trying to say I'm better than anyone, and it's no health reason. It just doesn't appeal to me on any level, that's as simple as it gets.
I have friends who smoke, and I have ex-friends who smoke. The friends are friends because they're good - or, to be quite honest, just fun - people, and the ex-friends are ex because they're not. The stuff in their lungs and the stick in their hands isn't a factor.
When I see a stranger smoking, my instant thought is (and I will be brutally honest here in the interest of personal therapy) disgust. Then it's acceptance. Then I see them exactly the same as the non-smokers, the alcoholics and non-drinkers, the violent and peaceful: they're strangers, and until that changes they don't mean a thing to me.

There we go. That felt nice to say.