Smoking

[wellinghall]

[Poll #1334926]

Comments

[beckyc.livejournal.com]

It's selfish on both sides, because they both expect others to go out of their way to please them.

Smokers, though, harm other people with their smoke, so it's *more* selfish for them to expect other people to fit in with them. However, I think it is similarly selfish to wear strongly smelling perfume (or anything else strongly smelling) when you'll be in close confinement with other people, but other people (who do not have asthma) disagree with me.

[miss-t-ide.livejournal.com]

I don't have asthma, and I agree with you.

[sigisgrim.livejournal.com]

I know what you're saying, but is it selfish of me to expect others not to harm me?

Regarding asthma, are you saying that strongly smelling perfume can trigger an asthma attack for you? Strong smelling perfume is an asthma trigger for me too.

[beckyc.livejournal.com]

Perhaps we use the words differently - I would say that, by definition, when you put yourself first against other people's preferences, then you're being to some extent selfish. But when you've got a good reason to do so, it's sensible and not unreasonable.

[sigisgrim.livejournal.com]

Perhaps we use the words differently

Yes, I think we do. :-)

[didiusjulianus.livejournal.com]

I don't think selfish is quite the right word, and of course every time we want someone to do something for us no matter how reasonable it seems to our society, that is "selfish" in one sense of the word. But people need to be more considerate of others' physical needs I think, full stop and as a matter of course. There's a lot of emphasis at the moment on pussyfooting around people's spiritual wants, so why not even moreso their actual basic needs?

The thing is, would we say that a non-driver asking that drivers "don't drive on the pavement/don't speed" was being "selfish"?I doubt it. Well that's what smokers are doing to everyone around them, endangering their health recklessly. I can see the argument for smokers' pubs/rooms in a way but the problem is protecting the workers. What's wrong with smoking in your own home and if you want to smoke more socially have people round, form the smoking equivalent of a coffee morning or whatnot?!

On the topic of strong perfumes and the like, I don't have asthma and I still agree, especially if they have been informed of the problem and work in close confines with you - no-one NEEDS to wear strong perfume; people DO need to be able to BREATHE.

[gayalondiel.livejournal.com]

I agree with you about the perfume, but it's harder to enact - I like perfule, especially of the BPAL variety, and the only person who has ever asked me not to wear it when I come over is my dad, who is growing very sensitive to scent these days. If someone else asked me not to then I wouldn't wear it if I was going to their function, however it's less likely to have a broad proximity effect than smoking (I think, do correct me if I'm wrong) and unless people have actually had this conversation they are probably not selfish, just ignorant of the consequences.