BethnalGreen Posted July 6, 2007 Report Share Posted July 6, 2007 And dying healthy means a longer life does it? Hmmm, I'll remember that next time I hear of some poor sod who's dropped dead jogging or the next time people who've reached 100 years swear by their couple of pints of bitter every day. I'm glad you brought that up. I still haven't gotten over my friend Roger (who I was secretly enamoured with) dying of cancer in February this year (the regular members who know me will probably remember my signature). He always used to go on at me about smoking and secretly I have always thought that was why we never got together. We were friends who did amateur dramatics together. He produced plays and I costumed them (Little Shop of Horrors, Bugsy Malone (with the kids) and loads more). I'm digressing now, but my point is that he was a VERY clean living guy. Nothing passed his lips that was processed etc, never drank really and he frowned on smoking BIG time. We both knew other people who were like him. However, I'm the one whp thinks she is pushing for an early grave and yet still here... Words cannot describe how I really feel about this. I was sent something by email once though, which probably describes my lifestyle more... I can't remember the exact words, but it goes something like this, I would rather go to my grave a little earlier, kicking and screaming, having had a fun-filled, excess-living, unhealthy but enjoyable life. That is to say, screeching to halt sideways in your coffin saying 'Wow what a ride'. Rather than having lived an extremely long but boring healthy life. I think that is the reason I am having problems giving up smoking. The alternative is so crap to me... (although I would enjoy certain health benefits right now). I'm taking 2 weeks off now and intend to give up on Monday once I have had a few days enjoyment post 'hectic going on holiday and have to get so much done kind of week'... I'll let you know if I succeed. Although I also have to add that I am going to miss the banter and cameraderie from the smoking shelters at work! Ah well, times change... We'll all turn into boring Politically correct and no fun kind of people soon, i.e. with no vices to talk about amongst the general public... (By the way, I m not that bothered about the smoking ban, just the irony of it all) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwebb Posted July 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2007 Over my dead body we will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethnalGreen Posted July 6, 2007 Report Share Posted July 6, 2007 Over my dead body we will. All hail to like minding people lik.e you arwebb. You know it amuses me that there are people like you (non-smoker) sticking up for people who are the opposite to yourself. Long may we all continue that tradition... Big Brother is coming and this is the start of it. My sister in law gave up smoking 10 years ago, but when the hunting ban came in (she lives near a hunt in the countryside) they also started mentioning the smoking ban. She suddenly started smoking again and said she was going to take up hunting. One out of two ain't bad (my sister in law is a big girl so I am quite glad she didn't take up hunting cos it would have ben painful). By the way, she is still smoking... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwebb Posted July 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2007 All I want with anything is to be given the facts about something but to be left the hell alone to make my own decisions about how I live MY life, because, when all's said and done, whose frigging business is it but mine what I do to my own body? One day you hear we're all living longer and the care systems etc won't be able to cope with us all living to 135, and the next day, we're all eating, drinking and smoking ourselves to a grave at 50-odd. One week, you read that chocolate is good for you. Next week it isn't. One week, you're five times more likely to get some killer disease from eating a well known food. Next week, you're 50 per cent less likely to get some other killer disease because you eat that same food. Every other day there seems to be some sort of health scare about something. When the BSE crisis broke in the late 80s, my late grandfather, God bless him, went out and bought enough beef to keep him stocked up for months. Why? Because the price had dropped. He didn't give a toss about BSE or anything else. Let's face it, we're all going to die sometime. You only get one shot at this life, so you might as well make the most of it. We should be trying to sort this world out and make it a better place for those who come after us instead of wasting time on something as utterly pointless and unnecessary as this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethnalGreen Posted July 6, 2007 Report Share Posted July 6, 2007 All I want with anything is to be given the facts about something but to be left the hell alone to make my own decisions about how I live MY life, because, when all's said and done, whose frigging business is it but mine what I do to my own body?One day you hear we're all living longer and the care systems etc won't be able to cope with us all living to 135, and the next day, we're all eating, drinking and smoking ourselves to a grave at 50-odd. One week, you read that chocolate is good for you. Next week it isn't. One week, you're five times more likely to get some killer disease from eating a well known food. Next week, you're 50 per cent less likely to get some other killer disease because you eat that same food. Every other day there seems to be some sort of health scare about something. When the BSE crisis broke in the late 80s, my late grandfather, God bless him, went out and bought enough beef to keep him stocked up for months. Why? Because the price had dropped. He didn't give a toss about BSE or anything else. Let's face it, we're all going to die sometime. You only get one shot at this life, so you might as well make the most of it. We should be trying to sort this world out and make it a better place for those who come after us instead of wasting time on something as utterly pointless and unnecessary as this. I hear you honey... I agree with you and it was funny actually, cos some of the things you mentioned I was going to talk about. Your way was better... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted July 8, 2007 Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 OMG get some perspective - anyone who wants to smoke can still smoke. I've spent the last week stepping outside when I wanted a cigarette - it's no great problem - in fact I smoke less. Pubs and restaurants can now be enjoyed by more people - non-smokers now have the liberty to go out without having to breath in other people's smoke - surely that's a good thing - protecting their right to air that won't make them ill. Well it's the law now anyway - so those who are either always grumpy about anything anyway or are self-centred smokers only thinking about their own enjoyment are just going to have to get used to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwebb Posted July 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 I'd say I've got this in its proper perspective pretty well, thank you very much. It is an unnecessary, unworkable, unenforcable piece of legislation which is yet another example of the nannying culture which has seeped into this country. And getting used to it does not make it right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejaycat Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 When there is nothing intrinsically wrong with something that has lasted a long time, then why change it? Totally different ball game from slavery and I would have thought most people would recognise that.Presumably this place did not have a designated smoking room. My own workplace had such a room until last week and there weren't any problems as far as I was aware with it. And we're not a large firm (larger than your example, but not by much). The vast majority of cleaning work, if not all cleaning work, in places like that does not take place while customers are present, so I would have thought the risk would be negligible. The only example you could draw on would be if a barperson went into the room to collect glasses, but I can see practical solutions to that. Come on. Somebody who's afraid of heights isn't going to go and work cleaning windows, even if it is "the only job available". Same principal applies. If you can't handle cigarettes and cigarette smoke, you don't work there. I have made my position on that issue perfectly clear. As far as I'm concerned, if my mother was not prepared to accept the risks to her, she wouldn't work there. The fact that she does so, and has done so for the past 15 years without problem, would tend to suggest that she is content to work there and accept any risks there may be. If that's good enough for her, that is good enough for me. May I remind you - it is the individual's choice, nobody's else's. Clear? Anyway, if you haven't already, maybe you should read this, for your amusement: Smokefree England FAQs At the rate you've been going, I'm going to assume you'll think it's propaganda, but at least you can read their explanation of why ventilated smoking rooms are not an alternative, among other things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave199 Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 Wow, this thread is still going at full force. The topic of "Smoking" is always a heated debate that never dies down. Let's make another thread devoted to "Smoking Pot" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwebb Posted July 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 Anyway, if you haven't already, maybe you should read this, for your amusement: Smokefree England FAQs At the rate you've been going, I'm going to assume you'll think it's propaganda, but at least you can read their explanation of why ventilated smoking rooms are not an alternative, among other things. So they have one report and that's conclusive proof is it? Sorry, but I'm nowhere near being convinced of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwebb Posted July 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 Meanwhile, one English city is enjoying a temporary exemption from the smoking ban, thanks largely to their council's cock-up. Council error stubs out smoke ban No matter what your views on the smoking ban, isn't it always amusing to read about council incompetence? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 Anyone anti smoking ban should just go and live in Stoke and leave he rest of us to it. Problem solved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 Anyone anti smoking ban should just go and live in Stoke and leave he rest of us to it. Problem solved. You're onto something there... Yes, I've got it!! Make everywhere south of the Watford Gap smoke free. I'll be happy with that. 'Tis grim ooop north! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwebb Posted July 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 North-south divides? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwebb Posted July 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 Couple of interesting stories from this neck of the woods. First, meet the pensioner who claims the smoking ban has made her ill. Pensioner: 'Smoking ban has made me ill' Not quite sure I see the logic to that one, but there you go. Meanwhile, just up the road in Scarborough, the protesting smoker has emerged. Smoke rebel It was always likely to happen now, wasn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainad Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 Popped into one of my locals for a swiftie on the way back from town one day last week.First time I had been in since the ban came into force.It did seem strange to see the place devoid of smokers and no ashtrays on the tables.I asked the barman (a student) if it had had any noticeable effect on trade and he replied "not as far as he could tell" or something to that effect.He approved of the ban in principle but he did say that it now meant he "could smell people more".Asked what he meant and he told me that usually when a crowd of people had been in,cigarette smoke masked all the other odours.But the previous Saturday night,when the usual crowd had been in,he said the place reeked to him of body odour,something he had never noticed before probably because of the presence of cigarette smoke! So I guess it's swings and roundabouts.But I reckon nobody will suffer any ill effects from inhaling other people's body odour,unpleasant as that may be!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwebb Posted July 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 How long are we giving it til a red-top comes up with Drinker Overcome by Pub BO Shocker, or something along those lines? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainad Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 Exhaustive research will have to be done first to establish whether inhaling stale body odour causes long term risk of cancer,asthma,heart disease or loss of the sense of smell! Then a ban will have to be issued to all those wishing to enter a public place who have not bathed or showered first.Bouncers on the doors will be issued with 'sweat detectors' which will be applied to each potential customer's armpit and other 'moist' areas.If it turns 'green' or sets off a high-pitched whistle,offending customer will have first to submit to being taken to one side and hosed down with a deodorant before being permitted entry.Similarly,if anybody already inside sets off a sweat detector at any point,he/she must be taken outside at once and hosed down! Personally,it wouldn't be a bad idea if the devices were also attuned to picking up cheap,atrocious perfumes and scents!! We simply must protect the health of our hard-working bar-staff!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwebb Posted July 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2007 I see you have been thinking of these eventualities. So what will you do about flatulence? I did hear of somebody who was asked to leave a pub because of the stench of their expulsions? I'd say this is probably as big a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainad Posted July 13, 2007 Report Share Posted July 13, 2007 I see you have been thinking of these eventualities. So what will you do about flatulence? I did hear of somebody who was asked to leave a pub because of the stench of their expulsions? I'd say this is probably as big a problem. Well,if other people complained about it,I guess it would constitute a form of 'anti-social behaviour' and the landlord would be within his right to warn the offending customer to exercise better control over his sphincter or vacate the premises forthwith! As for a law against flatulence? Doubtful...but I did hear about some scientists who were working on a pill to prevent cows from expelling their methane into the atmosphere which has apparently been contributing to global warming.If it will work for cows,I expect they could develop one for your flatulent friend too!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwebb Posted July 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2007 No friend of mine. It was a news story in Scotland somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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