Thormagni and Smoking Ban

[InzeladunMaster]

Thormagni,

I read your article on the Smoking Ban in Wednesday's paper. I agree 100% and I particularly liked your argument that compared smoking 'rights' to eating pleasures.

Vincent.

 

[thormagni]

Thormagni,

I read your article on the Smoking Ban in Wednesday's paper. I agree 100% and I particularly liked your argument that compared smoking 'rights' to eating pleasures.

Vincent.

Hey Vince,

Thanks! Generally, I don't completely agree 100 percent with the position I end up taking on these point/counterpoints. For the sake of the argument, I generally take a position that is more extreme than what my own, off-the-cuff position really is. Basically, I take one facet of my opinion and blow it up into a column. I'm afraid I came across like a militant anti-smoker which isn't exactly where my heart is. On our editorial board, I pretty much suggested a bar/private club compromise, which is what the city finally came up with (I was the only one on the board who thought that way, mind you.) But man, I do hate the argument that people have a RIGHT to pollute the air I am breathing.

Really, so far, I have had it better than my co-columnist. When we came up with this idea, she thought she was some kind of hard-core conservative (to offset my flaming liberalism) yet she has had to struggle to take the conservative stance on some of the issues we have written about.

Although on my Ten Commandments column, I really was pretty much shooting from the hip. One lady kindly pointed out that I was an idiot and doomed to hell, but other than that...

 

[InzeladunMaster]

Darn! I missed the ten commandments column! What was your basic stance on that issue?

 

[thormagni]

Darn! I missed the ten commandments column! What was your basic stance on that issue?

I'll e-mail it to you when I get back to work, but the gist was that the Ten Commandments don't belong on courthouse lawns, because they are an attempt to establish a state religion.

 

[InzeladunMaster]

Thank you! I just read what you sent - and I agree with you, once again.

 

[Odovacar's Ghost]

But man, I do hate the argument that people have a RIGHT to pollute the air I am breathing.

I've heard this argument before. Live in a big city lately? With all the car fumes? Is this from smoking cigarettes? NO. It is from the massive amount of cars that are on the road.

It should be a freedom of what you want to do. If you don't like someplace that has all that smoke, then leave. Don't bitch about it. Just leave.

We all will die sometime. Those who smoke will die earlier, but who the Frack cares?

If my smoking at Vince and John's house is offending, then I'll just step to the street and smoke there!

Also, what is worse? Smoking a cigarette or having very bad farting episodes?

 

[InzeladunMaster]

It should be a freedom of what you want to do. If you don't like someplace that has all that smoke, then leave. Don't bitch about it. Just leave.

That is like saying random shooting in public places should be a freedom of what you want to do... or releasing random poisons in public places (which is essentially what smoking does).

We all will die sometime. Those who smoke will die earlier, but who the Frack cares?

I don't like to smell it while I eat. It has nothing to do with dying. It destroys the taste of food. Having a smoking/non-smoking section at restaurants is a joke. I have seen smokers ask for non-smoking areas to get faster service, then just light up and no one does anything about it. Also, having smoking/non-smoking sections at restaurants is like having peeing/non-peeing sections of a public pool. It is no fun for the non-pee-ers. Should peeing in pools be a freedom we should all have, or should we expect people to restrain their urges and urinate in the appropriate areas? All I ask is for smokers not to infringe on my fresh air and to smoke in appropriate non-enclosed areas.

I cannot even go bowling in Columbus because of all the cigarette smoke in the alleys. I would hate to take my kids there - imagine what all that smoke does to little-bitty lungs.

The state of Utah is smoke-free in public access areas - smoking even in front of the doors is illegal. I would like to see that in Indiana - heck, anywhere.

If my smoking at Vince and John's house is offending, then I'll just step to the street and smoke there!

We are talking about smoking in public buildings, not smoking out of doors. If you smoke in my house, yes, I will get pissed. Smoke outside and all is well. Except, of course, on Wednesdays, when all smoking should be done while climbing trees. Anyway, none of this discourse was directed at you. Why are you taking it so personally?

Also, what is worse? Smoking a cigarette or having very bad {gas} episodes?

I don't want either inside of my house. Please step outside like you have been doing for both. Thanks.

Vincent N. Darlage

 

[InzeladunMaster]

We all will die sometime. Those who smoke will die earlier, but who the Frack cares?

Amanda says, "Look here, giant - anyone with kids cares! Don't kill the people around you with your smog."

 

[Odovacar's Ghost]

I wasn't taking anything personal, just throwing out random banter. I miss Mark with his excellent views on different topics.

 

[InzeladunMaster]

I wasn't taking anything personal, just throwing out random banter. I miss Mark with his excellent views on different topics.

You'll have to take that up with him then. I certainly am not stopping him. Anyway, aren't our views (yours included) also excellent?