Or, you know, maybe it’s good enough that people like smoking. Hell, the main reason I don’t smoke is that I like it and, while I may wish cancer upon a lot of people, I certainly don’t want it myself.

Anyway, OXR, big ups mate, you nailed it.

Non-smoker: “A good analogy: imagine being in a bar and someone standing next to you with a boombox playing obnoxiously loud music. Wherever you walk, he follows you. THAT’S what it’s like being a non-smoker in a bar.”

No, it really isn’t.

Non-smoker: “Sure, you say, “just don’t go there.” But that’s punishing the victim.”

Get over yourself, for Christ’s sake. (Newsflash: bars are privately-run establishments that are not obliged to cater to you, victim though you may consider yourself. In fact, several such establishments in Eugene were smoke-free long before this ridiculous ban ever made it to city council.)

Smoker: “We don’t want to be around you either… Last time I checked this is America, go to North Korea if you want to live by state directed rules.”

Get over yourself, for Christ’s sake. (Newsflash: you live by state-directed rules.)

I do not “support smoking”. But I also do not take it upon myself to declare anything I do not personally like or view as valuable as being something which is bad and should therefore not be enjoyed by others. That is their own decision, provided they’re aware of the consequences.

I am a non-smoker, and smoking bothers me, that’s why I don’t go to certain bars that allow smoking inside. That’s my choice.

Don’t force your fascism on the rest of us, or we may end up revolting on your ass.

like I said before, show me anything at all, and I will not say another word.

seriously? having smokers apologize or pay for non-smokers bills?

you guys show me why you smoke or support smoking.

laughable at least. thanks.

How would you propose holding individual smokers accountable for individual non-smokers’ medical bills? How do you prove conclusively than one smoker has caused x% of damage to a non-smoker and is therefore liable for $x of their medical bills?

I don’t smoke, and in fact I rather dislike the smell of cigarettes. But there is not a “right to smoke” that forces private homes or businesses to allow people to smoke. Consequently, I have the ability to avoid establishments that cater to smokers and would supposedly jeopardize my health.

I do agree, however, that government/publicly-owned establishments (such as the DMV or public schools) should not allow smoking indoors. But if I go to a privately-owned bar that allows smoking then, well, that’s my problem. If non-smoking establishments are conclusively better then there will be a healthy market for them (no pun intended).

When was the last time somebody put a gun to your head and made you go to a smoking establishment?

Why should you get to foist your anti-smoking opinion onto business owners whose establishments you’re compelled neither to work for nor enter?

When was the last time somebody got cancer from minimal exposure to environmental cigarette smoke such as that taken in from walking down the street?

When was the last time an anti-smoking zealot apologized for being an indignant, self-righteous prig?

Why am I talking in these ridiculous questions?

Are you my mother?

“When was the last time you had a smoker following you around for blocks desperetly trying to blow smoke in your face?”

I say: When was the last time a smoker apologized for making a non-smoker sick? When was the last time a smoker paid for a non-smokers medical bills related to smoking?

Smoking cigarettes doesn’t just affect people in bars, it affects them everywhere.
When did a total lack of empathy for others health and well being come into play?
What you want to do to yourself is your own decision, but don’t make me suffer because you feel someone is stepping on your rights. Smoking harms and kills people, that’s a fact.

No one s saying you can’t do it at all, but if you are crying about smoking in the rain or outside or being chastized in general, cry me a river… smokers do only harm and not one thing of good. If you can give me one, just one thing that smoking does that’s good for a human being, I will shut my mouth…. oh you can’t? My point exactly.

Take it outside.

So, “Non-Smoker” and “Bunch of Idiots”, allow this non-smoker to tell you to go FOAD.

If you don’t want to see naked people then leave. Last time I looked strip clubs were legal and adult only. And many men, and women, pay a lot of money for this service. If you walk in and see a naked woman, not at all offensive to me, dancing to loud music, men smoking and god forbid someone drinking and this offends you leave. This ain’t church, and I don’t go asking for a lap dance during service. Do I go to your church and tell you what I think of religion? NO. I turn around and walk out. I let you live your life with others who share your beliefs and interests.

Lets also put this into perspective. You had to go to this establishement, a businessperson started, and you physically opened the door and walked in. Almost every bar and nightclub is 21 and over. If the music is too loud or the smoke is to thick leave there is a non-smoking bar around the corner. Over 80% of the bars in Portland are currently non smoking, turn around and let your wallet do the talking. By my count there are well over 800 bars in Portland & surrounding areas that are non-smoking and 160 that are smoking. Walk a block, I am sure you will find another one. Also, some bars cater to smokers and all be darned non-smokers just don’t fit in. We go were we want to be with others who enoy smoking like us.

You have the “victim” mixed up. Isn’t the vicitm usally the one getting picked on? Isn’t the victim usally the minority having their rights taken away? Smokers currently make up about 22% of the Oregon. I don’t recall going into a non-smoking bar and telling everyone to light’em up! This is a feelgood policy for those in office to get notice from the majority to further thier political careers.

How healthy are the toxins from those giant SUV’s? Welll maby down the line when we have books or words that arn’t in the majorities current best interest they should just be banned. What about art? We should ban certain art becauss it may offend the current majority. This used to be America.

P.S. When was the last time you had a smoker following you around for blocks desperetly trying to blow smoke in your face?

A good analogy: imagine being in a bar and someone standing next to you with a boombox playing obnoxiously loud music. Wherever you walk, he follows you. THAT’S what it’s like being a non-smoker in a bar. Sure, you say, “just don’t go there.” But that’s punishing the victim. If I slap your face every time you walk into a bar, would you just go home and say “Geez, maybe I’ll not go there again” or would you get teed off and want it to stop?

We don’t want to be around you either. However, we do want to have a place where we can do what we enjoy in public. It is a bar stupid if you don’t like it there are 8 more on average around the corner that do not allow smoking. We only get one go around on this rock and we are going to do whatever we want. Last time I checked this is America, go to North Korea if you want to live by state directed rules. You have your rights to live your life and I have my rights to live mine. Also, smokers more than pay their way on health care they also carry the state on numerous other items in the state budget. In fact if you don’t like the smoke either get a job at another business or let your pocket book do the talking. So what are some words would you like to ban?

Idiot.

How can anyone in 2007 deny that smoking in public affects the health of other individuals? If you want to kill yourself, go ahead. But don’t kill anyone else while you’re at it. Smoking, like driving, is a privilege, not a right. Get over yourself.

P.S. If you really belive it’s o.k. to smoke in public, please don’t breed. We don’t need any more idiots.