Why must people try to assume a position of moral authority based on the silliest things?

[RhombusHatesYou]

I don't like people that assume that everyone has to conform to their narrow-minded perception of how things SHOULD be.

The irony.
The pain of the irony.

And how is it ironic?

Because he doesn't want to get yelled at for his habit?

He's coming onto this forum and telling people that they shouldn't do something.
In less hyperbole, that's exactly what he's complaining about people doing.

Even assuming your interpretation of the situation is correct that would be hypocrisy not irony.

 

[The Procrastinated End]

Hell everyone can do whatever they want as long as its not directly affecting me.

 

[schroing]

Even assuming your interpretation of the situation is correct that would be hypocrisy not irony.

It would be hypocrisy from a personal standpoint, yes, but from a situational standpoint it's irony.

 

[schroing]

He's coming onto this forum and telling people that they shouldn't do something.
In less hyperbole, that's exactly what he's complaining about people doing.

I see what you're saying, but at least in his specific case it seems he just wants to be able to do his thing without being harrangued about it all the time. Now, if he were spouting off, "Fuck you all, I'll smoke right in your faces and you'll like it!" I'd agree with you. But he seems to be a reasonably considerate person who merely expects not to be abused. Just a different perspective I guess.

Explain to me how people posting their opinions on a forum, which he's clearly highlighted as a problem to him, is 'abuse.'

 

[schroing]

Explain to me how people posting their opinions on a forum, which he's clearly highlighted as a problem to him, is 'abuse.'

I'm guessing you haven't seen some of the more virulent anti-smoking threads here in the past, then.

You haven't explained how that's abuse.

 

[Ultrajoe]

But I am better than smokers because I don't smoke. It's not really a difficult concept.

It's your choice, but don't rant about how you don't like being treated poorly because you're dependent on inhaling poison for your chemical balance. If I told people I need to spray asbestos into the air so I could deal with, like, how freaking hot it is around here, man... yeah, I'm not going to be surprised when I get sneered at.

Smoking is a choice. With that choice comes some downsides. One of those is a sense of immense moral invulnerability, I have no doubt I am about to witness it.

How about people that require medical marijuana? Marijuana has been proven to cause many of the same respiratory conditions as tobacco use, but I'd like you to look at a terminal cancer patient entitled to medical use, and tell them that they can't have it. How about you suggest that their family members can't be with them while they fade away, because THAT second-hand smoke might contribute to cancerous lesions?

Thankfully I wasn't suggesting that, champ, because that's not a choice. He can't choose between the smoke and what amounts to living hell. Smokers aren't cancer patients, they can't use them as a shield for their addiction any more than stoners can.

Also, you should pick a little more plausible example, since even when asbestos WERE used, they weren't sprayed on. In fact, the cancers associated with asbestos are mostly linked to cutting it, which introduces the fibres in the air, and with sharp little ends that stick into the soft pink tissues in your lungs.

You're right there. I retract my statement and re-submit it as 'If I told people I needed to cut asbestos compulsively'.

And no, lack of a bad habit doesn't make you better than anyone else. Does you or I not having been a member of the Khmer Rouge, the Nazi Party, or Stalin's Communist Party make me better than you? No, but my ability to be adult and conscientious makes me morally superior to 90+% or North Americans, instantly.

Your political alignment is nice, but what does it have to do with your choice to smoke tobacco? You know, the one we're talking about? I hate to say this, but have you considered that your chemical dependence on the substance makes any half-baked rationale seem more weighty to you? I know you're inherently offended by the concept, It's perfeclty natural to want to punch me in the face for what I'm saying... but if your brain decided 'Because purple' was the excuse you needed to believe to get it more of what it needs, you would believe it.

The first step to overcoming addiction is admitting you have a problem. This entire thread seems to be a rather lengthy denial of the fact that what you have is a problem. I'm off, but think on what I've said. You might not be letting yourself see that what you're saying is sounding more and more like excuses and less like moral indignation.

 

[Plurralbles]

*puffs on pipe. Mmmm awesome. Never had anyone complain. I do feel superior to people who need a nicotine fix every few hours a day though. I shouldn't, but it seems stupid to me. I've never had a nicotine craving. I enjoy tasty tobacco smoke, but if any's getting into my lungs, it's through the second hand which smells great and isn't that much, as I have never smoked inside and refuse to. Hell, I inhale more on the course of a half hour near a campfire than I do puffing on briar.

I think this goes way past smoking though, and obviously should for discussion value. Really, I hate pretentious fucks. "I recycle, obviously i'm a god among men!" they say... FUCK THEM!

 

[Farseer Lolotea]

Just wanted to point out that none of the people you quoted said anything about believing they had the moral high ground over smokers or that their anti-smoking views make them the paragons of what society should aspire to. They have simply stated reasons they do not like smoking and feel that those who do are idiots for doing it. It has nothing to do with moral ambiguity. Many people have lost close family and loved ones to what is arguably a stupid thing to do, you can't blame them for being angry at smokers. Other people suffer at the hands of passive smoking forced upon them by selfish parents etc. These people have some seriously valid reasons for hating smoking and those who advocate it.

Everyone's entitled to an opinion man...

As an ex-smoker I can appreciate both sides but every point made about passive-smoking and the strain on hospitals for treating those with smoking related illnesses are fair game. Since there isn't a (sane) qualified medical practioner on the planet who would say anything good comes from smoking then your going to have to deal with the backlash and stigmata of being a smoker for the rest of your days (as a smoker). I respect your right of choice, just not your choice itself.

Hear, hear. I don't really give a rat-damn if people want to smoke on their own time, in their own space.

Just don't blow your exhaust in my face. As they say: your freedom ends where my nose begins.

 

[schroing]

You haven't explained how that's abuse.

Um...insulting people can be considered verbal abuse?

Obviously, that doesn't apply here. Do you think that 'textual abuse' is a thing?

 

[schroing]

Obviously, that doesn't apply here. Do you think that 'textual abuse' is a thing?

That's your arguement? That I used 'verbal' to describe the written word? Way to focus on the point. Are you saying text can't contain insulting and abusive words?

So you believe in, say, cyberbullying?

 

[_Cake_]

They aren't being going out of there way to hurt you or anything. So they don't drive or use gas mowers? Meh good it's more quiet for you. If they want to talk about that stuff with you just change the topic or if your good enough friends tell them flat out it's boring.

 

[zehydra]

OP here is a little mistaken: People don't talk about how smoking is terrible to feel morally superior (some will, but they are a minority), people do it to get people to STOP, since there is absolutely no benefit that could possibly outweigh the negative consequences. Smoking and not smoking has nothing to do with morality. I'm not more moral than you because I don't smoke. I have no moral authority over you, and there is no reason I should try to force you to see my moral point of view. The reason I might try to get you to stop smoking is because it is bad not only for yourself, but for the people around you. I don't care if you decide to harm yourself, unless doing so harms others. You are harming others by smoking!

 

[k3v1n]

I still don't like your habit,do I respect it? Yes, if you want to self-inflict damage to your body, it's your life, not mine. Do I like it? No, simply because it's really really disgusting, and really unhealth(yes, I know I'm not the healthiest guy alive, but smoking causes cancer, so we're even) and it's a money sucker

 

[herpaderphurr]

I don't care if you smoke, just please don't do it around me.