Texan culture

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by FarNorthDallas

When I was in high school the students had a smoking section.

Same at my school. The students could go out there before, after or between classes and smoke and teachers would be out there as well.

[Sanchez14]

One thing you might want to do is smoke a little farther away from entrances to stores, restaurants etc... than you are used to doing. When I lived in France, I noticed that even though smoking wasn't allowed inside a lot of places, most Europeans smoke immediately outside the door. To an American, this is considered rude since it forces everyone to pass through the smoke smell.

I don't know if this is what you were doing, but I would suspect if you just give yourself a bit more space between you and the entrance to any stores around you when you smoke, you wouldn't get the looks. This isn't just a Texas thing, but an American thing in general, especially in western U.S. cities.

[Jay Watson]

Originally Posted by VonHuffenHausen

Keep in mind that this is not "Texan Culture". This is what is considered polite in American culture. Everyone in Texas is not part of a different culture. There are some general differences, but people in Texas are from all over the United States and all over the World.

You would say, "how are you" anywhere in the US, bring a gift for a meal, anywhere in the U.S. and don't block store entrances when smoking anywhere in the U.S, it is considered rude.

As for the smoking at entrances, if you don't like it walk the other way! People should have (and still have!) a right to smoke whenever and wherever they please.

City/state laws ought to keep out of people's life.

[Dallas native]

Originally Posted by Jay Watson

As for the smoking at entrances, if you don't like it walk the other way! People should have (and still have!) a right to smoke whenever and wherever they please.

City/state laws ought to keep out of people's life.

Actually, NO they don't have a right to smoke whenever/wherever they please. I understand and embrace anti-authoritarianism, but sometimes the collective good should prevail. You can't smoke inside restaurants in Dallas. I realize that may seem rather "big brother is watching over" to some, but consider the effect that second hand smoke has on the other patrons and the people who work in those restaurants.

[stan4]

Op, I think you got weird looks because Whole Foods is this kind of froofy, expensive organic grocery store, so it looks kind of funny to be patronizing this place and smoking at the same time...meaning, 'if you're willing to shell out extra $$$ to supposedly be healthier, why are you smoking' kind of a thing.

That would be why I'd give you an odd look (or more likely an ironic grin).

I am going to respectfully disagree with my fellow Texans here and say that you can either respond to "How are you?" with some empty pleasantries (as acknowledgment and to be friendly) OR you can actually respond honestly...I have neither received nor given a negative reaction to either choice...

But mostly it's just a greeting. "Good, thanks for asking! And you?" is never a bad response.

My parents are from overseas, but they taught us from a very early age - never show up to someone's house empty-handed. Period.

[VonHuffenHausen]

Originally Posted by Jay Watson;

As for the smoking at entrances, if you don't like it walk the other way! People should have (and still have!) a right to smoke whenever and wherever they please.

City/state laws ought to keep out of people's life.

Oaky, but the law says u cannot smoke 15 feet from the entrance.

For the OP, some people act trashy and rude to others.
It is rude to force other people to breathe your smoke.
Some people can be rude or trashy and inconsiderate, but u seem like u want to learn good manners, so when u smoke just try to do it in an area where people don't have to walk through it and u won't get any comments.

As for looking like a gangster, I think u have seen too many movies which are not reality. No one cares how u dress and no one associates a person from Italy as being a gangster. Really.

[kenshi]

Originally Posted by Jay Watson

As for the smoking at entrances, if you don't like it walk the other way! People should have (and still have!) a right to smoke whenever and wherever they please.

Another alternative would be to punch the smoker in the face and put the cigarette out on their forehead. People should have (and still have) a right to defend themselves from others harming their well-being.

ETA: No hostilities to the OP though who simply didn't know better.

[ghaladh]

I've been busy with my shopping lately. Setting up home is really tiresome (and expensive!).
Thak you for all of your answers, now I think I get the problem about smoking and I'm sure that the woman asking to me for the permission to enter just tried to make me notice that I was too near the door.

Anyway, I'm proud to communicate that I'm done with smoking. It's not much, but I stopped few days ago and I feel great. Of course it's not easy, but I really want to quit and I'm really motivated. So... no more problem about smoking in public and less problems for my health.