What do you do when someone is smoking beside you?
By Masmasika
@Masmasika (1921)
Philippines
April 7, 2010 7:21pm CST
i hate cigarette smoke because it is bad for the health and the environment. I often encounter rude people who do not care about the people around them and just smoke their cigarette if they feel like smoking. If it is in public places I don't want to annoy people so I just cover my nose and don't say a word or I just move away from the smoker and there is no problem. Some people are very considerate and stop smoking if they see someone covering her nose but some do not care or they even puff the smoke towards the person covering her nose. It is annoying but of course we cannot stop people from what they want to do in life. I often tell my friends or relatives to stop smoking but they argue that all people die even non-smokers and if they stop smoking, it is as good as dying. I'm sure this is an exaggeration but I cannot do anything if they don't want to stop smoking.
Well, many people still want to smoke and the non-smoker just have to find ways not to be affected by the cigarette smoke from smokers. So what do you do if a person sits beside you and puff those ring of smokes into your face? 
5 people like this
21 responses
@greenteab7 (94)
• China
8 Apr 10
Hi Masmasika
I don't smoke, but all my friends smoke, when someone is smoking bedide you, I always do not say anything, if I really can't endure the smoke, I will choose go away. Actually, I want to try it, smoke. But I can't do it right now, maybe after a few of years. But whatever, I think I probably don't care someone is smoking beside me.
1 person likes this
@Masmasika (1921)
• Philippines
9 Apr 10
Hi, smoking is really very bad to the health and you must be careful because you are surely affected by your friends who are smoking. Perhaps you should not try, it will only cause you problems in health if you get too much of it. Cheers.
@pabreen (237)
• Philippines
8 Apr 10
You know I'm a frank person, but I do say things politely. I encountered people who would just puff their smoke and I told them to be more considerate to others who are non-smokers and they would say sorry. But there are those who have those "I don't care attitude" What I do is I would stay away from them So that I won't be bothered.
@Masmasika (1921)
• Philippines
9 Apr 10
If all people are like you then perhaps smokers will learn their lessons. Some are not as frank and they keep their problems to themselves. Thanks.
@daliaj (5674)
• India
8 Apr 10
I hate smokers. I will leave the place if I see a smoker besides me. My dad used to smoke when I was a kid, but he stopped smoking around 15 years ago. Smoking affects the health badly and I don't understand why smokers are least bothered about that. The same problem with people who take alochol, but it is not as dangerous as smoking.
1 person likes this
@TheAdvocate (2392)
• Philippines
8 Apr 10
I sympathize with you Masmasika. I am not a smoker but I grew up with smokers in the house. I use to hate going near my grandfather because he would tease us by blowing smoke to us until my grandmother put her foot down and made him smoke only in specific areas of the house. I grew up not caring about second-hand smoke but when I started exercising regularly, I started feeling the effects of secondhand smoke. Nowadays, I usually just leave them alone when they smoke. If I think about why they do it, I'd probably drive myself crazy. I usually just refuse to hang-out with smokers. Plus, these days, thanks to some thoughtful legislators, its easier to avoid them as they are suppose to smoke only in certain areas. At least that's how it is in the Philippines.
1 person likes this
@Masmasika (1921)
• Philippines
8 Apr 10
Oh my god, our laws are too lax and many people do not care to follow them. I wonder how some people could smoke in places where there are "No Smoking" signs but that is how it is here and I am saddened by the way people look at laws in our country. Thanks The advocate. Happy mylotting.
1 person likes this
@Masmasika (1921)
• Philippines
8 Apr 10
Yes, that's the best way to protect ourselves from the bad effect of smoking.
1 person likes this
@Masmasika (1921)
• Philippines
9 Apr 10
Staying away is perhaps the best move to do when someone smokes besides you.
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
8 Apr 10
Hi Masmasika,
A smoker can not smell the smoke. They really can't. Most smokers don't mean to be rude at all. If you are near someone that is smoking and it is bothering you then you should politely ask them to put it out. Most will either put it out or move to another area. I don't think this happens as much anymore as it used to because now there are very few places that allow smoking to begin with.
@Masmasika (1921)
• Philippines
9 Apr 10
I wish all countries have laws that are always followed but in my country, smoking is not really a big deal to many people and smokers are undisciplined. Perhaps it's time someone will teach them a lesson. Thanks.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
8 Apr 10
Well, of course you move away if you're in a public place. I'm curious, do you also have a problem with people who smell like they bathed in perfume or cologne? I find some scents to be extremely revolting and believe that people who intentionally wear too much to be equally rude.
1 person likes this
@Masmasika (1921)
• Philippines
8 Apr 10
I think perhaps my nose is allergy to all strong smells or allergy as some people say. I hate strong perfume but I love the smell of cologne and light perfume. I also cover my nose when I smell perfume that is too much to the nose. I also hate car deodorants. Oh my God, I really don't like a lot of smells. lol. cheers.
1 person likes this
@thezone (9394)
• Ireland
9 Apr 10
Hi Masmasika. I am an ex smoker so it would not bother me in the slightest. A smoker would never blow rings of smoke into your face at least not intentionally. As for getting others to quit smoking, nothing you can do about it unless they themselves want to quit.
@Masmasika (1921)
• Philippines
9 Apr 10
Thanks for stopping. it is a great help to people and the environment. Cheers.
@anurag3786 (6267)
• India
8 Apr 10
I think smoking is dangerous for health.. and it is affected on lungs.. and have big reason for lung cancer.. so i don't like smoking.. but i saw mostly peoples smoking on public places and public buses.. i think when somebody smoking beside me.. then i kindly requested him/her to please stop smoking immediately..have a nice day and keep mylotting always..
@Masmasika (1921)
• Philippines
9 Apr 10
Smoking is one of the causes of many deaths so people have to be careful. Yes, it is always good to tell the person kindly to stop smoking.
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
8 Apr 10
I'd move, because I don't want my smoke and his/her smoke to get intermingled... Yes, I'm a smoker too. I think I'm a courteous smoker. If I think someone's bothered by my smoke, I move. I've found, though, non-smokers keep following me, even after I've moved away. I guess they don't want to miss out on the discussion...
1 person likes this
@Masmasika (1921)
• Philippines
8 Apr 10
At least you are considerate. Other smokers don't care at all. I once encountered a man who blew rings of smoke into my face because I was covering my nose. When I looked at him, he stared back and looked like he wanted to hit me. Very rude indeed.
1 person likes this
@inday_lorna1970 (1268)
• United States
8 Apr 10
just stay away from this person because second hand smoke is more dangerous to your lungs than the smoker one.
@Masmasika (1921)
• Philippines
9 Apr 10
That's right. Just stay away from the smoker and you will be safe from harm.
@yumanal (143)
• China
8 Apr 10
You are right,but forgive them.Since I'm a smoker,I always hate myself, but I'm never smoking in public place.
Everyone knows smoking is harmful to health but they can't give it up .
Maybe we lived a sad world.
Be happy everyday,don't let smoking influencing your living!
1 person likes this
@Masmasika (1921)
• Philippines
8 Apr 10
Hey, you are a very honest person and I admire you for that. It really is sad to think that smokers are hurting their health and they are killing themselves little by little. Perhaps you should try giving it up. Cheers.
1 person likes this
@mesmerizer (110)
• India
8 Apr 10
People should always ask the others around them before smoking.Even if they do no they should be going to the smoking zone to smoke.If someone lacks these basic manners what else can we do,other than telling them on their face to stop smoking there.If all of us non-smokers start protesting in this way these smokers will soon learn a lesson and i hope smoking in public places will reduce considerably.
@Masmasika (1921)
• Philippines
9 Apr 10
You are definitely right. There are kind smokers who ask the people beside them if they could smoke but there are also the opposites. What you said is right, perhaps if all non-smokers learn to protest then smokers will have better manners.
@sukumar794 (5040)
• Thiruvananthapuram, India
8 Apr 10
In order to avoid being caught in the tangle of passive smoking, I would better prefer to shirk away from the harmful smoking area in question.
@ebuscat (5935)
• Philippines
8 Apr 10
For me I said be a good neighbor and I cover my nose so that they know it is not good in me.
@binagupta (627)
• India
8 Apr 10
Hello dear, i feel very irritating when someone smokes in front of me i cannot bear the smell i just move away from that place.
@Masmasika (1921)
• Philippines
9 Apr 10
that's the best way to keep away from the toxic smoke and to avoid confrontations.
@besthope44 (12123)
• India
1 Jun 10
Well i would close my nose with an handkerchief as i feel like vomiting with the smell. I would ask them to move away.
@egonzales921 (172)
• Philippines
8 Apr 10
it depends. Well I smoke too but I believe there are certain rules of ethics that a smoker should know. Right now I'm pregnant and quit smoking right away, not only that I stay away from people who are smoking, and when I'm with my kids I also stay away from people who are smoking, that's why sometimes it drives me mad if there are insensitive smokers who don't care of the people around them even if there are kids or old people beside them. sometimes I even approach people like this.
@Masmasika (1921)
• Philippines
9 Apr 10
You said it right. Smokers should have ethics too and must be considerate to other people. I'm glad you are a thoughtful mother and considerate too of others. Smoking could affect your baby and I'm glad you stopped smoking. Cheers.
@MaRiwEn (2)
•
8 Apr 10
if someone smoke in my side i will find another chair that no one smoke beside me,, because if i tell him or her its not good because it can affect in non-smoker like me maybe he get mad.he or she knows already its not good in our health so to keep safe to our self we have to distance them.
