No Smoking Ban

I definitely agree with you. I smoke, too, and the attitude of most people toward smokers is getting so very hostile. The way some people act, we are criminals for exposing them to even the scent of our cigs. Last week I was shopping at the mall, and had gone outside for a much-needed smoke, standing nowhere near the doors, and some woman (who was not within 20 feet of me!) made a face and loudly said to her friend some snide comment like "I wish they'd all get cancer and die!" I couldn't believe she had the nerve to say that! The anti-smokers feel like they can be as rude as they want (so much for tolerance and civility!) I DO think the second-hand phobia is a little overblown, though I try to be considerate about not smoking near people who don't. I have no problem with restaurants not having smoking areas--heck, even I don't like to be surrounded by smoke while I'm eating. I think eliminating smoking in all bars is ridiculous--I think it should be up to the owner. I'm not ready to quit yet (but I have tried a few times in the past). I guess there is a bit of me that rebels against the pressure that society is putting on all of us to quit. And I admit that I still do enjoy it--most of the time. Anyhow, I know exactly what you are talking about!

I share the same sentiments. Sometimes I wonder what happened to equal rights. It's as if smokers are being discriminated. There are responsible smokers. Not all are rude and insensitive to the health and welfare of the nonsmokers. Banning isn't the best solution. Proper designation of smoking areas is.