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All smoking should be banned in all public spaces
(lemmy.world)
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this post was submitted on 06 Jan 2026
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As an ex-smoker who hates the smell of cigarettes probably more than non-smokers ever will, I don't disagree in theory. But we shouldn't stop with just assaults to one sensory perception. In for a penny in for a pound as they say.
Loud-ass exhausts, booming subwoofers, and other assaults on the ears should also be banned in public. Strong colognes and perfumes...also banned in public.
Ugly sweaters, poor fashion choices, and shitty cars with anime girls painted on the side? You guessed it: They're assaults on the eyes and should be banned in public
Or we could just deal with the fact that other people like things we don't like.
Those things are not no the same level as smoking.
They're the same in that they bring some people joy while being offensive to others.
The effects of second hand smoke is not just offensive.
And a blanket ban of smoking outdoors, like OP suggests, would still not be a reasonable response.
Although I don't smoke cigarettes, I do vape weed in public when walking my dog in the forest. That hurts absolutely no one other than me. Just ban smoking near others ( which is exactly how it works for weed in my country, and should be how it works for cigarettes as well )
I don't see how me being forced to vape in my apartment and make my entire apartment and all my clothes smell like weed would help anyone
I agree. An all out public ban is not practical
As long as you don’t litter your empty vapes. One of the many problems with cigarettes is the litter. Filters by the millions that never biodegrade
Thats not how vaping weed works. In a dry herb vape you use grinded weed that then gets heated up inside a small oven so the THC evaporates, but most of the other plant matter remains. In the end you are left with some roasted weed which no longer contains THC, and that you can throw in the trash, or simply on the ground since it's plant matter that biodegrades.
The vape itself is expensive af (350€ in my case) and reusable infinitely, especially since mine has a replaceable 21700 battery, so you wouldn't just throw it away.
Disposable vapes containing liquid THC concentrate do exist, but to the best of my knowledge only in Canada and the US. In my country they are illegal to produce, import or sell. (but not illegal to own or use 🤷)
Edit: it's also a lot less smelly than smoking weed. If I'm using it in public you wouldn't be able to even notice it from 10 meters away
Nice. Wish the disposables were illegal here as well.
You don't want to know what comes after anime cars. You'll be begging for some black lung if you find out.
Anime Cars?
They're mostly trying to satirize the situation. Pretty sure their real opinion is, "don't get too eager to police others unless you also want to open the door to other really stupidly judgemental rules, like these."
Just ignore the smooth brains that dont think before speaking
I dunno, I think I'd rather smell cigarette smoke than look at those hornt up anime cars.
Second hand smoke risks have been heavily overstated.
I was shocked (as a very strong anti-smoker myself).
Even smoking itself only increases cancer risk a small amount, despite all the warnings. Though other lung issues are greater - those should be the focus to get people to quit, since they're an honest high risk.
Alcohol is the same. Something like 6% of cancer deaths are attributed to alcohol. Its easy to make it look bad (and don't get me wrong it is bad). Worldwide something like 80% of liver cancers come from Hepatitis.
Recent surveys in the U.S. have showed that 5% of parents have skipped hep b vaccines and another 4% have delayed the vaccination for hepatitis B.
Those aren't directly comparable, but a person could drink every day of their life, and be 13 times less likely to die from liver cancer because a choice their guardian made.
These can indeed have negative health effects and are banned in many places, the latter at least after certain hours (noise complaints!). MOT inspection fails vehicles with excessively loud exhausts and in many places you can get a "rolling inspection" from a traffic officer on the road resulting in a fine or "fix-it" ticket.
Don't have negative health effects on most people, though you can be asked to leave from many health care institutions if using too strong scents. Not really comparable to smoking but the argument could certainly be made.
Only causes death by second-hand embarrassment. Maybe not excessively scantily clad anime girls at a... kindergarten? but apart from that only emotions will be hurt.
0 evidence for your bullshit. Perfume makes me feel sick. Call centerd ban perfumes for tbis reason. It is VERY comparable smoking. When I can smell peoples perfume as they drive past me, that is FAR worse than smoke.
I had a coworker once that I swear to god used to bathe in perfume. You could smell her 2 minutes before she crossed your path and 5 minutes afterwards.
Had someone similar at my office, I had to ask her to stop at least spraying herself on the row because it was giving me and another headaches.
She did oblige to her credit
Smoking causes negative health effects for everyone - this is not the case for perfumes. As I said, the argument could certainly be made to ban strong perfumes, but it isn't the one I'm making. I definitely reject the case that Adm. Patrick made that public smoking should be allowed because strong perfumes are allowed.
No no no, you misunderstood þem... þey meant you don't matter, because you're not "most people."
Don't put words in my mouth or claim that I mean things that I don't. It is a very simple observation that the demographic group everyone matters more than a smaller group of people. It's not that that smaller group "doesn't matter".
And smoking is already banned in buildings, within 15 feet of an entrance of buildings, on buses, in parks, etc.
Nobody hates the smell of cigarettes like true ex smokers. It simultaniously turns our stomachs and reminds us we will never ever feel truly relaxed or happy ever again.
Oh, so THATS why...
Smells like rancid cat piss to me now, but man did I love my American Spirits.
You're right, we should disband all laws. Wouldn't want to step on the toes of people who like to rape and murder for their hobby.