Smokers suck, etc.
I’ve recently discovered a popular saying here in DC.
“If you don’t like the weather, wait a minute.”
I’ve been here going on two winters and those words are definitely proving to be true. I just posted last week about it being too cold to walk and yet I’ve been able to walk to work everyday this week. The main subject for this post centers around my walking and thus encountering more people outside, which means - more smokers. I think smokers in close proximity to others shouldn’t light up. Period. You want to smoke, step aside and out of the way from people walking behind you that will inevitably inhale the poison you’re exhaling.
I know, I know. It’s an unrealistic desire, but still! Smokers themselves may be really nice people in any other instance, but it seems whenever they light up their cancer sticks, they completely disregard where they spew the 900+ toxins rolled with the tobacco. It’s rare, but I’ve seen a few smokers raise their heads to exhale upwards instead of letting the breeze carry the secondhand smoke wherever it decides to. All smokers should do this at the very very least.
There’s an incident that sticks with me to this day: years ago, when I first started smoking clove cigarettes, I was standing outside in a line to see a movie. It was a long line, so I decided to light up while standing there. I was tilting my head back to exhale upwards in an effort to be considerate of those around me, but not paying attention to where the string of smoke coming from the burning cigarette was going. A man came up to me and politely asked me to step aside because the smell was bothering he and his friends several throngs behind me. Chagrined was I. Even though he was very polite, I felt bad. I had friends with me, it wasn’t like I’d have lost my place in the line. I could have stepped the 25 or so feet to the curb and smoked more out of the way. I’m normally a very considerate person, but those few minutes I was oblivious to those around me. Hence my point.
I’m glad I’m not a smoker anymore. :yes:
I’ll end with a happy little segue: On the same walk to work, I saw two men holding hands…fingers interlaced as only couples do. Seeing them comfortably walking down the street this way made me smile. There are tons of gay people in this city, but I haven’t noticed a couple in a while, I guess.
By Cheryl, December 13, 2007 @ 3:29 pm
I have a really funny icon that’s aimed at smokers. This made me think of it. I go through this all the time at school and the rest of the day I smell just awful. Ugh.
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By Amber, December 13, 2007 @ 8:38 pm
You should send me the icon. :wink:
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By Kelly, December 14, 2007 @ 11:10 am
I hate smokers in general. I am allergic to the smoke and it very hard to get away from people who are outside smoking.
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By Amy, December 14, 2007 @ 5:55 pm
I’m glad you don’t smoke anymore too. :) I think it’s not that smokers don’t care, although I’m sure some of them don’t. I think it’s more that they just don’t realize. I guess it’s hard to empathize when all you know is smoking. But I agree, they should be more considerate. I hate cigarette smoke.
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By Daniela, December 15, 2007 @ 5:39 am
I think it is great you stopped smoking. I tried it when I was 14 and now I do not see why I should start again. I rather save that money and buy me something beautiful ;-)
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By Kendra, December 16, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
I think smoking is one of the worst habits to have. I really hate it when I have to walk down the side walk with someone smoking walking in front of me. Sometimes I actually run to get in front of them so I don’t have to smell their smoke..
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By Irene, December 17, 2007 @ 4:40 am
I’m glad you’re not a smoker anymore either. :) You may have been polite and smoked far enough away where you felt the smoke wasn’t bothering anyone, but soooo many smokers are not that polite, or aware of the people around them. I have a horrible second-hand smoke allergy, and just walking past someone who’s smoking gives me a terrible headache, and cough. I’ve gotten so irritated with the people who ignore the “do not smoke within so many feet of this building” law, that I tend to be a bit passive-aggressive when passing them. I’ll usually fake a really loud and obnoxious cough or say something like, “What is that smell - did someone die?” *lol*
x despair
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By Tina, December 17, 2007 @ 7:19 pm
agreed! smokers= UGHH.. stanky breathe gross!!
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By morgan, December 18, 2007 @ 6:14 am
Glad to hear that you are not a smoker anymore, and that you don’t discriminate gay people. :)
I guess there are considerate smokers, and inconsiderate smokers. Smoking in general isn’t the best habit to have, and I hate it when I’m at a train station or bus stop and someone next to me is smoking. Agh.
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