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Writer's Block: Smoke screen
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From a personal standpoint, I think smoking is disgusting, and I'm not sure why anyone still does it. You can't really even use the "it looks cool" excuse anymore, because, well, I don't think that association is common these days. There was a time when cigarettes were considered glamorous, but now I think they're seen as lowbrow. That said, you can smoke if you so choose; it's not like I don't have plenty of bad habits of my own (although I'd argue that none of them are as self-destructive). As for the rights of smokers, well, they're not a persecuted minority, are they? They're doing something they CHOOSE to do, and that can harm those around them. Even if secondhand smoke doesn't lead to cancer, it still smells bad and can aggravate other health conditions. I know one argument against smoking bans is that businesses should be able to operate the way they want, and perhaps there's something in that, as there were some smoke-free restaurants and such even before the bans. I've heard the argument that you're going to EXPECT smoking if you go into a bar, and I generally don't go into bars anyway, unless I'm with someone else who wants to (and fortunately, they were all in places that didn't allow smoking). Nonetheless, sometimes people who don't normally go into bars will do so to see a concert or other such event. Sure, we don't HAVE to go, but wouldn't it suck to miss out on seeing your favorite band because the only nearby place they're playing allows smoking? I guess I would be okay with some businesses allowing smoking, as long as they're clearly designated and there isn't any real reason for non-smokers to patronize them.
From a personal standpoint, I think smoking is disgusting, and I'm not sure why anyone still does it. You can't really even use the "it looks cool" excuse anymore, because, well, I don't think that association is common these days. There was a time when cigarettes were considered glamorous, but now I think they're seen as lowbrow. That said, you can smoke if you so choose; it's not like I don't have plenty of bad habits of my own (although I'd argue that none of them are as self-destructive). As for the rights of smokers, well, they're not a persecuted minority, are they? They're doing something they CHOOSE to do, and that can harm those around them. Even if secondhand smoke doesn't lead to cancer, it still smells bad and can aggravate other health conditions. I know one argument against smoking bans is that businesses should be able to operate the way they want, and perhaps there's something in that, as there were some smoke-free restaurants and such even before the bans. I've heard the argument that you're going to EXPECT smoking if you go into a bar, and I generally don't go into bars anyway, unless I'm with someone else who wants to (and fortunately, they were all in places that didn't allow smoking). Nonetheless, sometimes people who don't normally go into bars will do so to see a concert or other such event. Sure, we don't HAVE to go, but wouldn't it suck to miss out on seeing your favorite band because the only nearby place they're playing allows smoking? I guess I would be okay with some businesses allowing smoking, as long as they're clearly designated and there isn't any real reason for non-smokers to patronize them.