pne: A picture of a plush toy, halfway between a duck and a platypus, with a green body and a yellow bill and feet. (Default)
Philip Newton ([personal profile] pne) wrote2002-12-20 12:30 pm

Smokers, part II

Today I ate in the first meal "shift" because all the regulars in shift two were on holiday, at school, or had left the company (well, there weren't all that many to begin with).

The first shift has a larger proportion of smokers; today we were six people of whom four smoke. One had left early, which left five people, three smokers.

One of the others was getting agitated and wanted to start smoking, whereupon another colleague said "Philip's still eating" (I was the last one to finish). The first one said "Oh, he won't mind", at which the other two smokers shook their heads and the second said "If anyone in the company minds, it'll be Philip". Interesting to hear that my reputation precedes me :)

At any rate, they all politely refrained from smoking until I had finished my meal and left the table. Thank you very much!

[identity profile] timwi.livejournal.com 2002-12-20 04:17 pm (UTC)(link)
I was at the hair stylist's today and while waiting I had to take place next to a woman who had only just started a cigarette. I had to wait for I-don't-know-how-long inside of that stinking smoke.

Smoking should be completely forbidden inside of closed rooms.
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[identity profile] pne.livejournal.com 2002-12-20 09:27 pm (UTC)(link)
I assume you mean "inside public indoor spaces".

It would also be a step in the right direction if people wouldn't just toss their cigarette butts onto the ground when they're done (especially at bus stops and train stations) but dispose of them properly.

Oh, and forbidding things isn't enough; smoking is forbidden inside underground train stations in Hamburg but nobody enforces it, so smokers don't care that much (though it's less than before).

I generally don't mind other people's smoking unless I have to "partake" of it involuntarily and can't escape, such as if I have to wait for a train, or am in the cafeteria at work, or in a restaurant, or similar.
ext_78: A picture of a plush animal. It looks a bit like a cross between a duck and a platypus. (Default)

[identity profile] pne.livejournal.com 2002-12-20 09:32 pm (UTC)(link)
I should probably also say that some smokers are more polite than others, so it's difficult to tar everyone with the same brush.

And that often, smokers and non-smokers have different opinions about what "smokers' rights" are or aren't, but in my experience this seems a pretty volatile topic.

</weasel>