I stepped into the jerk ring (a therapy term) concerning this subject last night (stupidly and childishly) and by doing so spoke angrily and misrepresented myself and my views.
Phil, thank you for putting up with us and for starting a new thread. I apologize for getting pulled into a swiping contest.
Sheesh.
I was a considerate smoker like 2twins describes.....very aware of the people around me. I never dropped butts on the ground. I didn't think it was unfair to go outside. I thought it was the right thing to make sport facilities smokefree and so on.
I was frankly ashamed of my addiction and never questioned non smokers 'rights' not to have to put up with 'MY ADDICTION'.
That said, even after I became an ex smoker, I was not necessarily in favor of the smoking ban that came to my town two years ago. Athens is a funky town with a naughty atmosphere. I don't want that to change. I don't want to hand it over to the very well heeled and verbal cosmopolitans that lust after it. Downtown is getting too regulated.
That said again, the ban has not stopped the party. The yuppies never showed up in hordes as I feared and I like not coming home smelly.
I don't know. It's a mixed bag.
I guess basically I agree with Greger.
The heyday of tobacco is over, the spitoons are gone and the ashtrays are on the way out.
I agree with Mellow. Basic regulations are needed in public places, what I call shared places.
