Persecuted for being a smoker
@thedailyclick (3017)
February 4, 2010 12:49pm CST
Here in the UK they are getting extremely tight on people who drop litter on the streets with people employed to issue out fines for those who are caught littering, which I agree with as streets full of litter of any sort is unpleasant. But it seems that those who are given the job of catching litterers are targeting smokers, to the point that they turn a blind eye to some people who drop a sweet wrapper in favour of getting someone who drops a cigarette butt.
As a conscientious smoker, some may say that is a contradiction in itself, I make sure that I don’t drop my cigarettes butts, putting them in one of just a few of the special bins designed to take them or taking them home to dispose off. But it annoys me that when I do smoke in public I have someone watching my every move in case I dispose of my cigarette on the floor, rather than keeping an eye on everyone in a fair manner.
Do they have similar schemes where you live and if so do you feel that you are being overly watched just because you chose to smoke?
6 people like this
3 responses
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
4 Feb 10
Thank goodness no we do not have such things, but I bet it won't be far off in our future! The lawmakers are making smoking more and more impossible by the day, but I don't see how that's actually going to stop people from smoking. The most recent law in our state is that we may no longer smoke in a car if there are children in the car. Now, in a way I can understand this... but at the same time you have to stop and think. Many parents of small children smoke inside their home. Many pregnant moms smoke. If you've smoked around and in front of your child since it was concieved, is it really going to do any good to fine you for smoking in your car with kids?
3 people like this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
4 Feb 10
I don't think the Lawmakers can stop those who want to smoke from doing so,and that's fair enough.For Now,it's what's seen as the antisocial part of the habit that's being targeted..ie.smoke 'em if You got 'em,just don't inflict it on others.I don't know the statistics on those who'd smoke inside their homes or in their cars with their kids inside breathing it..All I can say is,The Smokers in My family don't.Fining Someone Smoking in their car with kids in it might not do the smoker any benefit,but it might make them reconsider their kid's Health.maybe.
@thedailyclick (3017)
•
5 Feb 10
Hi katsmeow1213. The frightening thing is that here they are considering legislation to stop you smoking in cars full stop. It really annoys me because although I accept that smoking is an anti-social habit what I do inside my own property should be my business.
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
5 Feb 10
we kind of do.you can get almost into the street to smoke on break,and there will still be someone with a wild hair around.
and yet while they're watching me,they'll litter like you said.or spit,which is even more delightful.
i always make sure to throw out butts myself,because even i think it's uncalled for to pitch them anywhere.i've even picked up other's people's butts because it makes it worse for people who do smoke.they're supposed to be fined,but you know how that goes.
