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I have a friend who can't go more than 2 hours with a cig. It's so irritating to see her getting one out, and her lighter, and sitting on the edge of her seat to make a dash when we are out together at a performance of some kind. I know she isn't enjoying whatever it is we are watching and her discomfort makes me uncomfortable!! The hold this stuff has on people is unbelievable and very sad.
Yet I can sit through an entire movie without popcorn and soda
Well, hoop de do and good for you. Aren't you SOOOO much superior to your "friend?"
May I make a bold suggestion? Either develop a little tolerance for the foibles of others, or quit going out with her.
Obviously, smoking is well known to cause quite a few health problems and this information is well disseminated. In essence, nobody can claim ignorance to the detrimental effect of tobacco on humans. There also seems to be rather convincing evidence that smoking (even second-hand smoke) can and will adversely affect a child's development.
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Any ideas?
Only counting particulate matter, not the other pollutants in diesel exhaust. Try that experiment with someone inside the garage with the car running and some people inside the garage with the three cigarettes burning.
Then let's see which one is MUCH more harmful.
Quote:
Originally Posted by A Common Anomaly
Actually, it is, unless you think that an adult has the right to blatantly conduct a harmful activity upon a child. There is no reason to subject a child to harmful second hand smoke, no reason at all.
Numerous studies have shown that second hand smoke can cause physical harm. There is no need to subject someone else to your harmful behaviors, especially an unappreciated child, when it could be easily preventable.
Absolutely no reason at all.
Funny, that you mention the studies because secondhand smoke's claimed effects on children is considered much weaker compared to the effects on people who work in smokey environments and the spouses of smokers.
Also, there have been a number of studies that show that effects of secondhand smoke is negligible. Plus, the most of those numerous studies that you mention fail to achieve statistically significant results.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stillkit
It may not be looking down on anyone, but it's certainly a case of sticking your nose it where it doesn't belong. To equate smoking with child abuse is a far stretch even for an ardent smoke-Nazi.
Actually equating exposure to secondhand smoke to child abuse is very common among anti-smoking activists. There are a number of anti-smoking activists who have said on the record that they advocate charging parents with child abuse and placing the children into foster homes.
Question: If second hand smoke in a car is so dangerous, why aren't I dead? My Mom and Dad did it for years and my brothers and I are in our 60's and still truckin' right along. And, this was back in the days before air conditioning so there was NO air circulation unless the windows were down.
Well, in all fairness, risk does not equate harm. So it is possible for it to have a risk of negative effects, but cause no actual harm.
But I would also like to point out that I think their argument is bulls--t for the very reason that they equate risk with harm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stillkit
May I ask a dumb question? If you're that sensitive and intolerant, why do you go into casinos knowing fully well there are people in there smoking?
That's actually a good point. It's not exactly it is a shock that people smoke at casinos. It's like going to a strip club and complaining about the drunk guys yelling, "YEAH! Work it, baby!" and Def Leppard's Pour Some Sugar on Me playing.
"I mean, can't a guy go to a nudie bar and quietly observe the nude women dancing to classical compositions? It's like this place is rowdy and somewhat sleazy."
I think what I find most intriguing about some of these answers are the rather belligerent "mind your own business" answers that were given. Obviously, I did - or I would have gotten out of the car and confronted the woman.
The question I posted was not about what I should have done. It was also not about condemning adults who make stupid decisions for themselves. Rather, my question asked whether people had any ideas what would lead a person to override common sense and empirical evidence regarding the negative effects of smoking and expose their minor children to the strong potential of life-long health issues.
I can only suspect that some of those of you who have nothing to offer than aggression are simply experiencing dissonance and try to cope with knowing that what you are doing is hurtful to your children by lashing out. Well, I have absolutely no interest in your coping mechanisms although I think that voicing your frustration and anger in this way certainly suggests that some people simply cannot be responsible in the face of their addiction (or unwillingness to accept that their habit is, indeed, detrimental to a person's health).
To me, it is fascinating that our society is so super concerned with the welfare of our children and yet, remains rather paralyzed when it comes to indirect harm inflicted upon minors. Beat your child and you have social services at your door. Potentially ruin their health through smoking (or a bad diet, etc.) and you are fine. See a parent beat their child, call the cops; see a parent blow smoke in their kid's face, myob.
How do we, as a society, reconcile our one-sided response to such issues with the obvious concern we have for the welfare of our children?
Obviously, smoking is well known to cause quite a few health problems and this information is well disseminated. In essence, nobody can claim ignorance to the detrimental effect of tobacco on humans. There also seems to be rather convincing evidence that smoking (even second-hand smoke) can and will adversely affect a child's development.
As I waited at a red light today, I noticed that the car behind me had an girl (roughly eight years of age) on the passenger seat and a toddler in a child seat on the rear bench. The mother was vigorously smoking a cigarette while the windows were closed.
To me, people who smoke either have a really hard time breaking their addiction or they are stupidly choosing to ignore the problems associated with smoking. Still, since they are adult and since smoking is legal, I think that they have every right to be idiots and smoke. I do not appreciate that their habits cause higher health insurance rates, but so does eating an unhealthy diet or not exercising. Thus, for the sake of this argument, I am willing to ignore this.
What I don't get is why people would do this to their children (or to any child, really).
Some smokers on CD seem to argue that second-hand smoke has no adverse effects - but healthcare professionals seem to strongly contradict such assertions (as does common sense).
Any ideas?
I was raised on second hand smoke and no worse for wear. I rode a bike without a helmet and the term "baby-proofing" was yet to be invented. Please stop peering into other car windows and work on keeping your own life in order.
I think what I find most intriguing about some of these answers are the rather belligerent "mind your own business" answers that were given. Obviously, I did - or I would have gotten out of the car and confronted the woman.
The question I posted was not about what I should have done. It was also not about condemning adults who make stupid decisions for themselves. Rather, my question asked whether people had any ideas what would lead a person to override common sense and empirical evidence regarding the negative effects of smoking and expose their minor children to the strong potential of life-long health issues.
I can only suspect that some of those of you who have nothing to offer than aggression are simply experiencing dissonance and try to cope with knowing that what you are doing is hurtful to your children by lashing out. Well, I have absolutely no interest in your coping mechanisms although I think that voicing your frustration and anger in this way certainly suggests that some people simply cannot be responsible in the face of their addiction (or unwillingness to accept that their habit is, indeed, detrimental to a person's health).
To me, it is fascinating that our society is so super concerned with the welfare of our children and yet, remains rather paralyzed when it comes to indirect harm inflicted upon minors. Beat your child and you have social services at your door. Potentially ruin their health through smoking (or a bad diet, etc.) and you are fine. See a parent beat their child, call the cops; see a parent blow smoke in their kid's face, myob.
How do we, as a society, reconcile our one-sided response to such issues with the obvious concern we have for the welfare of our children?
Maybe the belligerence is a result of too much self-righteous posturing by smoke-Nazi's. Maybe, just maybe, we've had enough of it and are beginning to fight back. Maybe it's because the hypocrites have pushed us outside, away from the door, out of the park, off the beach, down the sidewalk and right into our front doors. Maybe it's because the health freaks now have their noses in our houses and cars and we don't like it. Maybe it's the dawn of new day when free-will smoker bashing is over for good.
Maybe you ought to learn to deal with us as equals, with tolerance and forbearance, because we're here, we're in your face and we intend to stay. This far and no more!
nicotine addiction like any addiction robs you of rational thought about the "need" to smoke. the need for a fix in this case is stronger then the mother's concern for the health of her children. smoking is more important to her and her addiction just doesn't care. go ahead and smoke but be aware enough to know smoking in a small car with children is just not a good and should not be done
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Smoking in the car - with children
