General Chat

Sorry Lisa - not having a pop at you - sorry if you thought I was, that was not the case. Wouldnt want to offend you, and I respect your point of view. Jacqui

jaqueline i haven't done that.must be mistaking me for someone else.i am polite when i put my point across.and yes i don't mind critisism xxxxx(:

Lisa darling - you have missed the point I think. If I wanted to give up the weed, then I would. I do consider myself to be a "considerate" smoker and am considerate to others in many other ways - for instance I do not attempt to push my point of view down others throats in an attempt to get them to agree with me, and I do not stoop to call other people smelly, dirty and unpleasant simply because they appear to me to fall into a certain category. There are those of us on these boards who appear to be narrow-minded individuals with no respect for other human beings and consider that their views are the "one and only" views to be considered. Heres hoping that we all live long and healthy lives (smokers and non-smokers alike) and that we learn at some stage in our lives not to be too judgemental of others (as I understand it come the day of reckoning that particular little unpleasant trait might well count against us)! Jacqui

jaqueline.as an ex smoker i can say i was selfish.i didn't care what other peoplethought when i used to smoke and the poor buggers had to breath it in.now as a non-smoker i have a very different view.it was a selfish act i did and i am ashamed to admit that i put those people through that.smokers have a choice to smoke.but non-smokers haven't.they passively smoke.due to no fault of their own.now i am asthmatic and i can say that was due to smoking and if that isn't bad enough my grandfather smoked for 60 years and died from the effects of smoking.like i said when he collapsed and died on new years day 1981 when they opened him up he had no lungs left and suffocated.if you can stop please do for your sake and othersxxxxxxxx(:

I don't usually join in the smoking non smoking debate because I've never smoked but... Well I tried it once and felt soo sick I couldn't understand why anyone did it. My husband smoked till he was 30 and it didn't bother me - guess you just get used to it. He gave up when he started coughing up blood. Simple really but he swapped one addiction for another - he took up running. Our house is smoke free - kids and son in law don't smoke. I've been enjoying going to a quiz night at a bar/cafe but find I just can't stand it any more. Come home throat sore - stinking of smoke. Have to hop into the shower, wash my hair and throw all my clothes in the washing machine. There's going to be a ban on smoking in bars in NZ starting Dec. Roll on December.

Jacqueline,,,i might be a 'cretin' as you put it but at least I'll live longer than you ,,look younger,,smell nicer and be nicer to be near,,,

Wish I could say the same for you Lynda !!!!!!!!!! Maz - running away really fast!!! XX

Will just re-state one of Nicola's original points - its not until you give up that you realise how much you STINK when you smoke!! I said to a non-smoking friend "I really notice how the smell clings to people" she said "I'm really sorry, but you used to smell like that too - its much nicer to be near you now!" I also have to bung my clothes in the wash and wash my hair now after being in a smoky pub/club - would never have even noticed before. As I said on another thread, my GP said to me "the single most important thing you can do for your health is to give up smoking". I feel years younger. Maz. XX

I have just been thinking and strangely enough, out of all our very wide circle of friend and relatives i cannot think of a single smoker these days. When we were in our 20s and 30s a lot of them smoked but all have given up. And if a smoker sits next to me on a bus I can smell that they smoke. Mind you there are some perfumes I don't like either and i can tell when someone has been cooking chips at home, it also gets in their clothes. But smoke actually irritates my eyes and gives me a sore throat if I am at, say, a function at the golf club where quite a few smoke. Regarding the post about the pub with loud music, I wouldn't stay there either and I would advise anyone to leave if the noise level is so painful that it deadens your hearing. Hearing loss can be caused by loud noise and I can tell you personally that hearing loss is no fun. Ann Glos

Elaine I would never blow anything on you if I could possibly help it. Smoking during pregnancy is a thread for another day I think, as is child abuse. Off now for the last ciggie of the day! Jacqui

by the way, little was know about the dangers of passive smoking when my parents smoked when I was young. But these days where the danger is known its sad when i see young mums with a small baby on one arm & a fag in another, or even worse pregnant women smoking. In my mind that is a form of child abuse.

as long as you dont blow it my way Jaqui.......

Elaine, I am sorry that your parents did not show you enough consideration during your childhood as you obviously show to your own children. I too have covered for colleagues who smoked whilst they skived off to have a fag, and I have also covered for those colleagues who did not smoke who just wanted to skive off to have a natter, leaving me to do their work. I do appreciate a cinema and theatre as being smoke-free actually, as I do buses, trains, aeroplanes etc. You see, the thing is, I do not spend every waking moment smoking - I have other things to do, places to go and people to see. I do not intentionally inflict my smoke on anyone, nor do I try to inflict my views on anyone either. I do resent being told by sanctimonious cretins that I smell, have bad breath, have yellow hair, yellow teeth and goodness knows what else because I smoke. As I have said on another thread, I have had the misfortune to know individuals of that description who have never smoked a cigarette in their lives. I think we will have to agree to disagree on this one - you in your small corner (non-smoking of course) and I in mine. Jacqui

jaqui Oh I have tolerance all right, I tolerated my parents smoking as I grew up, my eyes smarting as they played cards with my aunt & uncle,all smoking. I tolerated my workmates running to the loo for a fag break several times a day, why i covered their job. I reluctently tolerated sitting in resturants, cinemas, and other public places breathing in smoke before certain laws were changed to ban or limit smoking from these places, I dont ask people to stop smoking, as you say its their choice . But if non smokers have a choice, why are we expected to hold our breath or tolerate breathing in stale smoke. Smoking is a choice not a nesscesity like breathing in air.

Non-Smoker. The government should ban smoking in all public places. Smoke at home - not in my face!! I hope that's not ambiguous.

What about the economic reasons for not smoking? The econony would be better off because there would be fewer sick days, less production would be lost to cigarette breaks and money saved by not having to clean up behind smokers. Any reduction in the number of smokers would mean more money for the for the NHS to spend elsewhere. Health care may be free in the UK but it's paid for by taxes from smokers and non-smokers alike. That aside, what was it that made you first pick up a cigarette? What can be done to stop today's children from starting? Crista

I come from a smoking familY.I was the odd one out but I couldnt stand the smell.A smoker cant understand how it makes a non smoker feel and vise versa.My brother has tried several times to quit as hes married to a non smoker and has to endure watering eyes etc due to his smoking but its an addiction so he alwys goes back to it.One of the reasons being when he goes out for a drink its all around him so he gives in. Here in NZ there has been a non smoking policy in eating places for years.Those who like to smoke have an area set aside usually near the door or outside.There was many complaints at first but now everyone accepts it and it is more pleasant for non smokers who are eating.

Claire - smokers do smell of smoke - those with less fastidious habits smell of b.o. alchies smell of booze. embalmers smell of formaldahyde. cooks smell of food. and no doubt you have your own particular smell! Not all smokers have yellow hair, teeth, bad breath, stink etc. but I do know quite a few non-smokers who fit the bill exactly. Perhaps if you did not generalise about smokers so much, then no offence would be taken. Elaine - good for you for looking out for your childrens health and well being. I would not smoke around a child, nor inflict deliberately my smoke on anyone else. My point is that I can show tolerance towards those who do not agree with my point of view, when apparently it would seem that non-smokers have no tolerance levels at all. Jacqui

I'm not a smoker - never have been but I don't discriminate against smokers either.... never have done.

Jacquleine,,,why take it so personally,,,? I meant ALL smokers. not just you, I havent met one yet who doesnt have that''odour' about them,