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

[binvjoh]

As long as they don't blow that stuff right in my face, then sure, carry on. I have a hard time respecting them though.

 

[Tipsy Giant]

It is a human freedom and those who choose to smoke are no better or worse than those that don't

/thread

 

[mireko]

I don't hate smokers, but they can get really irritating in L4D.

[small]Because they leave the game to go smoke.[/small]

 

[Jamboxdotcom]

i only hate smokers who are inconsiderate about their smoking. i actually have quite a few friends who smoke, but they are very considerate. in fact, with several of them i had no idea they smoked until quite some time after i met them, because of how they handle their addiction. if someone wants to do something i don't like, but they're not forcing me to join them (which would include smoking in my breathing space), they are free to do so and i will not judge them for it.

now, that said, i will admit that i will occasionally encourage my tobacco-using friends to try to kick their habit, but never in a confrontational or condescending way. quite frankly, i don't want to see them die of lung cancer.

 

[awmperry]

I hate smoking.

I don't hate the smokers, but I hate the smoking; if friends of mine light up near me I'll ask them to put it out, and if they refuse and they're in my house I'll put *them* out. But while I pity their weakness, I don't hate the smokers themselves.

Personally, I can't see a single valid reason to smoke. OK, a cigar if you're a gangster or a military officer, or a pipe if you're James May - but even then you don't need to actually smoke the bloody thing.

All it is is an addiction to a narcotic, just like when people drink alcohol. It's a socially unpleasant habit that affects people around the smokers, and in doing so shows their lack of consideration.

People need to breathe. Smokers don't need to smoke, and they have no right to inflict their fumes on me.

But I don't hate the smokers. Just the smoke.

 

[Arsen]

It's not okay to hate smokers.

Disagreeing with their inability to move to the other side of the room, exit the place in question, and in general treat someone's right to not be around smoke (which should always have the higher consideration, given the coughing, feeling, etc) should always be put ahead of any other consideration on the smoker's side.

 

[Aerodyamic]

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.

 

[Chrinik]

I never felt "hated at" by nonsmokers, but if someone would come up to me and say "would you put that out, please" in a kind manner, I would probably comply. I can go for hours without a cigarette, so I do not "NEED" to have that one.
But if someone would rant at me for smoking while OUTSIDE, IN THE AIR, or make "fake coughs" or whatever, I would blow in their face and say "Die of cancer, you ignorant prick.", and that´s no joke, I´ve done that a couple of times already. See, if you treat me with disrespect, I treat you with disrespect, end of the story.

 

[mudE13]

Ok I have to chime in on this. First off all these people that are saying they hate the smoke at a public event, where is this happening? To the best of my knowledge almost every public place in America (at least) is non smoking. Hell I even went to an amusement park and smoking wasn't aloud anywhere (yeah no smoking in an outdoor area). To all those people who hate smoking and smokers let me ask you this. How many times has a smoker deliberately blown smoke in your direction? How many people you know that are smokers that ask on a regular basis "do you mind if I smoke a cigarette?" and won't light up unless you say it's ok? Ok now count how many times you have made a rude (and yes it is rude) remark to smokers? I'm pretty sure the last one will have a pretty high count on it. My point is all smokers are well aware how their habit is unhealthy. Because of this almost all of them go out of their way to make sure your not bothered by it. A good example is I have to go outside my own house so I don't bother my wife and son. All I'm asking is please just be polite...that's all we ask.

 

[Chrinik]

It's not okay to hate smokers.

Disagreeing with their inability to move to the other side of the room, exit the place in question, and in general treat someone's right to not be around smoke (which should always have the higher consideration, given the coughing, feeling, etc) should always be put ahead of any other consideration on the smoker's side.

You have the right to move out of the room also...putting yourself in an environment which you KNOW is harmful for your health is stupid and doesn´t hold a case in court. But majority makes the case here...if there are more smokers in a room then nonsmokers, they are in the right if smoking is not prohibitted (and you are probably in the smoker-room to begin with XD)

 

[snowman6251]

I just don't like smokers because it smells bad. When they're actually smoking and I have to walk by them, it smells bad. When they're not smoking, their clothes smell bad. They just smell bad. Also it's a HUGE turnoff for me if a woman smokes, primarily due to the aforementioned smelliness.

 

[Master Taffer]

I don't smoke, but I've never held ill will towards smokers. They are adults who are doing something they find some enjoyment in. I've never joined in with the people who have essentially started a damn crusade against smokers, attempting to ostracize them from society. I find it stupid that people go so far as to push through legislation to essentially shove these people in the corner, not to mention it's repugnant and arrogant for someone to go to a business owner and order them how to run their business.

 

[Arsen]

It's not okay to hate smokers.

Disagreeing with their inability to move to the other side of the room, exit the place in question, and in general treat someone's right to not be around smoke (which should always have the higher consideration, given the coughing, feeling, etc) should always be put ahead of any other consideration on the smoker's side.

You have the right to move out of the room also...putting yourself in an environment which you KNOW is harmful for your health is stupid and doesn´t hold a case in court. But majority makes the case here...if there are more smokers in a room then nonsmokers, they are in the right if smoking is not prohibitted (and you are probably in the smoker-room to begin with XD)

This may hold a case in terms of bars and other such places, but otherwise in every other setting it becomes a false argument.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

Hating someone who smokes is like hating someone because they're fat (for me, that's how I see it). You can hate the person, you can hate being fat, but you shouldn't hate a person for being fat. That's the same view I have of smokers. You shouldn't hate a person just cause they smoke.

That said, if a smoker tried to force you to smoke too, or force his/her opinions about smoking onto you, especially if you're a non smoker, then you have a reason to hate that person for smoking. I personally don't share any different views to people I know that smoke to people I know that don't. That said, I also knew some people that would act differently because they smoked (from a young age). That they were better more "cool" and stuff. Those guys acted like tossers and everyone hated them but each other. That wasn't because they smoked, just the way they acted because they smoked.

basically this, couldn't have summed it up better myself

one time in 6th grade this older douchebag (he tried to bully us around after school since he got out before us) and he weekly tried to get us to smoke with him and stuff, but he was the only one who did it and we didn't want anything to do with him. and that kind of mental image of smokers semi stuck with me until senior year in high school.

from what i've heard, that same kid is serving 15 years in prison right now now a days, which good riddance, but i would never say all smokers are remotely like him.

so to each his own i suppose, but please, STOP throwing your buds all over the place, its making the fucking grass outside my dorm all nasty and smelly.

 

[Ickorus]

I don't hate smokers, it's up to them if they want to die younger.

I do hate inconsiderate smokers though, the ones who sit in front of doorways smoking, smoke in front of open windows, blow smoke in your face when they're talking to you, or expect special treatment from the NHS because they got lung cancer.

There is a rule now at my college that students are only allowed to smoke in smoking shelters. My college forked out like 10k to have several shelters put up around the college solely for sokers to smoke in and how do they respond? Smoking in front of the doorways still or opening the fire exits and smoking out behind a building. Not all of them do this, I admit, and I commend those that use the shelthers but it's the ones that do that get on my nerves.

Another time me, my dad, and my little sister were coming home from visiting my elder sister. My dad and little sister are both smokers* and it was during winter, as we were coming home they both decided they needed to smoke so they both unrolled the windows and started smoking. It was really really cold and it really really pissed me off that they would force me to freeze my ass off for their addiction.

[small]* My dad has since quit, he hasn't smoked in about 4 months now.[/small]

 

[Emissary Laito]

Well, its certainly ok to hate smoking its-self, but the smokers? I just don't get that, and have never understood any of the apparent justifications for it.

I don't smoke. It's too expensive for me, and I'm asthmatic, so it would probably damage me faster if I did. I don't feel any particular desire to do so.
Besides, my mum doesn't like the idea, and my girlfriend cant stand it.

My dad smokes though. Maybe that's the reason I never had a problem with the smell.
Hell, I love the smell.

Even if I didn't though, what kind of justification is that to hate someone?
I hate you because your aftershave smells bad to me.
Yeah, sure.

 

[joshthor]

I dont HATE smokers. they can be great people. most are. however, if your gonna smoke, you need to watch your intake, and most of all SMELL NOT LIKE ASS! so many smokers dont pay attention at all what they smell like and they smell friggin terrible. i cant stand taking the bus home from college and having to sit by 3 guys who smell terrible.

 

[dlsevern]

I don't know about anywhere else, but here in Indiana, we aren't allowed to smoke indoors(except private residences). It's the law. Sucks when it's freezing outside but it has seemed to make everyone happy and it's really not so bad.