General Chat

Speak for yourself Debs:))

Agreed David... And Debs, my point is we don't need em for every little journey to the local shops* If only folk would WALK more, the air would be a lot cleaner! Dee X * unless its an emergency, like running out of fags 5 mins before the shops close, of course!

lol Dee:)))

I've deliberately avoided this thread as I knew how angry I would get. I hate the 'holier than thou' attitude of non smokers. O.K. smoking can dangerously affect your health we all know that but I have yet to be convinced that passive smoking kills, or even causes ill health. For someone on this thread to say that they do not pollute the air around them is just plain silly. Do they never sit in a car, ride on a bus or train, fly in a plane... well if you do you help to pollute the air around every body. The increase of asthma and breathing problems in youngsters is due to the air being polluted by cars. The damage done to a non smoker by a smoker is miniscule compared with the damage done by car fumes. I live in London and believe me I can taste the pollution. I am all for a ban on smoking in public places but for goodness sake leave the poor smoker to enjoy themselves in the open air. Jean (waiting to be shot down in flames).

Round of applause for Jean:))))

The sooner they act to ban smoking in bus shelters and on railway station platforms the better. The smoke makes me feel sick and aggravates my hubby's asthma. There is nothing worse than being jammed on a crowded railway station in rush hour, not able to move much either way, and having someone light up next to you and blow their smoke in your face. Or waiting for the bus in the pouring rain and having one person pollute the whole shelter for everyone else. If you say anything - however politely - you get a mouthful of abuse. By the way we use public transport where necessary, and walk or cycle where not because we don't want to cause unecessary pollution. And for the same reason we insulate our house, have effective central heating, keep a compost heap and water butt, and recycle our rubbish. So no I don't think I'm adopting a holier than thou attitude - just a genuine and valid point of view. Angela

For Jean CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAP standing ovation in fact! Dee x

Jean a woman on my own soap box............... :-))))))))))))))))))))) ps. what you breathe in when the bus stops is far worse than what you breathe in while you are waiting for it (except from passing traffic of course). Public transport could be improved greatly to reduce the number of cars .................. but then the government could be up against the major power in the USA.

well,Im going to say it,the facts are that Smoking is bad for you,Yes,I know! I dont smoke,but this thats been put forward is Laughable!I Im going to say it again,its been said before but you breath in more rubbish walking down the street!! thats a fact, I think the government would be far better addressing the issue of car fumes, we drive more cars than ever these days,thats the biggest Health issue,not Tabacco! And I dont smoke,Never have,so bfore anyone says it Im not sticking up for my habbit!

Well I think they should ban it full stop! Only kidding! However, as an ex smoker of 6 months, I am pleased they are banning it in pubs etc as that really gave me the push I needed to stop smoking. Many smokers want to stop but unfortunately it is the fear of stopping that keeps them smoking! Debby

Somebody mentioned the rise of asthma in children - I would blame the 'sterile' food they are served these days. Give them a bit of dirt and let their immune system build up for goodness sake.

Trish,I agree with you, asthma is a huge problem with children these days,I think your point is very valid,that and the car fumes !

My husband's asthmatic and the son of a chain smoker brought up in a flat with bad ventilation. My sister's a severe asthmatic - the daughter of a heavy smoker brought up in a house filled with smoke. Luckily I escaped the same fate. My kids, despite inheriting the gene for asthma from both parents, are not asthmatic. They have been brought up in a non sterile (home cooked food, pets around) yet completely cigarette smoke free house. I know what I think. Angela

I stopped smoking last August and by Xmas my 16 (now 17) year old astmatic daughter pointed out that since I had stopped smoking she had hardly used her inhaler at all. Not only that but that winter (just gone) she didn't get her ritual bronchitus. I have seen such a dramitic improvement in her astma. Sue xx Ps to fund my way through uni I work as a care worker in the community on an evening. I have recently handed my notice in...I cannot stand feeling ill with passive smoking. Just about every house I visit is filled with smoke. Yeah people have a right to smoke in their own home...of course they do...but what about my rights to work in a smoke free place.

I was born at a time when every body smoked. My parents puffed away all day like chimneys. I have never had asthma, bronchitis or anything else chesty - maybe if I had, I would have given up smoking? I dont even have a smoker's cough and I am as healthy as a butcher's dog. I did not smoke for 17 years, bringing up my children - none of them are asthmatic, despite the fact they all took up smoking in their teens. My point is - there's more to it than smoking. My Doctor told me that one in three people will die from the results of smoking, but unfortunately you do not know which one of the three you will be till you get there! OC

You may be right...smoking may be only a small contributory part in her asthma...but that is enough reason for me, as her mother, not to want her to breath in smoke...anyones smoke...not matter how small a part the passive smoking plays. Sue xx

They will try banning smoking in your own garden next, all these ideas coming from some crusty non smoker who gave up smoking himself years ago and thinks now everyone should.. If only .....

I only smoked for a few years in my teens and early twenties but worked and played in bars and clubs where smoking was rife. I hated the way I would come home smelling like an ashtry even after I stopped smoking. I was brought up in a home where my dad smoked most of his life, rollups, cigs, pipe, cigars the lot (never saw his roll a joint tho!) I have developed asthma over the last few years but I think that is down to cleaning products etc. However, it is fine for people to say it is car fumes causing problems and we should walk more but I have fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, osteo arthritis in both knees and my neck and shoulders, and over the last few years, my walking distances have been shortened by miles. I used to walk everywhere, and didn't use a car for several years, but now I would give anything to be able to walk when I wanted to, especially if I have to carry heavy bags of shopping. Be grateful if you can walk and smoke, one day things might catch up with you and you will see the other side of the coin. By the way, altho my son used to tell his grandad to stop smoking as it wasn't a good thing to do, my dad would say it was ok and he knew what he was doing. I wonder how many times he thought of those comments when he was dying from lung cancer in 1989/90.

Hi Everyone, I am a smoker and live in Scotland where they have already baned smoking in all public places. This is fine by me, I can understand this, other people don't want to breath in my cigarette smoke!! But why does the goverement take all the tax from cigarettes and not use it to help people who want to give up smoking. At least half the price of a packet of 20 cigarettes is tax. Everyone in Scotland now stand outside pubs/clubs and smoke, seat are provided too. Betty