In my life I have known many testy, cantankerous testy know-it-alls. Recently I overheard one of them complaining about today’s no smoking laws. The man claimed someone’s using an electronic cigarette would not be any violation. Ergo he decided he was going to procure one and test it out on his next airplane trip. He said it was the principle of the thing. I just can’t figure out what principle.
While I am not a smoker, I do resent the big brother approach government has taken with our lives. Years ago it put in an amendment to our constitution on alcohol that only brought more problems. Eventually Prohibition was repealed. It’s time for a common sense approach; don’t legislate what is unenforceable. Psychologically, forbidden fruit is always more appealing and sweeter.
on Mar 11th, 2010 at 3:39 am
Applause…applause! I totally agree. I have smokers in my immediate family who try SO hard to quit. They were suckered in really young of course being naive and trying to fit in with the crowd. NOW they are (literally) paying for it. My daughter and son in law are only 29…and are totally addictive to nicotine, no different that alcohol or other drug. When they come to my house they know it is a no smoking zone…we have allergies and asthma here. AND although I know it is hazardous to others second hand, I also think the government needs to rethink their intrusion on a private issue. If they are going to go there on this…are they going to penalize people for eating hazardous donuts that are not healthy either? yeah, I know there might not be a SECOND hand effect there…but it is the principle we are talking about.
boy am I out of touch…have not heard of the electric cigs
on Mar 11th, 2010 at 7:15 am
Dear Eileen,
I hate smoking. I tried it as a teen and decided it tasted awful, I looked silly, and even back then it was expensive and I could do better things with my money. My mother never smoked; my father always did. I never had strong feelings either way until my mother, Bunny’s grandma who took cafre of her while I worked, told me a story of how my favorite aunt, a big Camels smoker, was outside with them sunbathing. Bunny mimiced the position and took something and mimiced my aunt’s position and attempted to smoke. Bunny was not yet 3. All my kids smoke now except Bunny who quit a few years back. They never smoked in front of me until they became adults. I wish I could have done more. I can still remember my aunt and her death–lung cancer–right before Bunny’s third birthday. You can lead them to water but you can’t make them drink.
on Jun 9th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
I hate smoking too! It stinks and is very unhealthy. My son smokes and he always smells like cigarette smoke. It is a nasty habit. I quit for about a year and started again, while he was under a lot of stress. He wishes that he didn’t start again and he wants to quit again. Hopefully for good.
As far as the law goes, if someone is smoking it’s not good for my health. So, it protects my right to good health. I love the no smoking law!