Comments on: Wellington [anti] smoking petitions battling it out http://www.windy.gen.nz/index.php/archives/410 Crawling is more fun when it's windy Mon, 06 Sep 2010 09:29:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Mike McGavin http://www.windy.gen.nz/index.php/archives/410/comment-page-1#comment-8672 Mike McGavin Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:44:47 +0000 http://www.windy.gen.nz/?p=410#comment-8672 Thanks for the thoughts, Robb. For me it's mostly about having respect for other people in the vicinity than about trying to stop people smoking. I have smoking friends too, and as far as I'm concerned they can smoke all they like as long as they stay down-wind of me while they're doing it, or otherwise don't mind if I keep my distance for a little while. The litter thing is obvious to me -- there shouldn't be any excuses, and it shouldn't be acceptable. But yeah, it shouldn't require a smoking ban to be rid of this, though. It's already illegal, just not enforced very well. There are plenty of reasons why I dislike people smoking outside in popular public places. I'm not convinced that by-laws are the best way to go about fixing it, though. I still think there's a respect-for-people-around-you issue (ie. I don't blow toxic fumes into your face, so why blow them into mine?), but I don't know if this is because some people simply don't have that sort of respect, because people don't realise the effect it has, or because people have no other choice. Or maybe I'm just over-sensitive, like I said before. Right now I suspect the no-other-choice thing has lots to do with it. People smoke on streets because they're not allowed to smoke anywhere else (short of going a long way away, maybe into the exposed cold or wet areas). It doesn't seem like a big-brother thing to me, but I'm still uncomfortable about the idea of by-laws that alienate smokers without first trying to acknowledge that people <em>want</em> to smoke, and maybe at least trying to cater to those people so they can do so comfortably without annoying other people. But yeah, as I said I <em>did</em> put my name on the petition. I usually tend to steer away from petitions, but this time I'm just sick of the issue and I'm happy to contribute towards getting it discussed. Thanks for the thoughts, Robb. For me it’s mostly about having respect for other people in the vicinity than about trying to stop people smoking. I have smoking friends too, and as far as I’m concerned they can smoke all they like as long as they stay down-wind of me while they’re doing it, or otherwise don’t mind if I keep my distance for a little while. The litter thing is obvious to me — there shouldn’t be any excuses, and it shouldn’t be acceptable. But yeah, it shouldn’t require a smoking ban to be rid of this, though. It’s already illegal, just not enforced very well.

There are plenty of reasons why I dislike people smoking outside in popular public places. I’m not convinced that by-laws are the best way to go about fixing it, though. I still think there’s a respect-for-people-around-you issue (ie. I don’t blow toxic fumes into your face, so why blow them into mine?), but I don’t know if this is because some people simply don’t have that sort of respect, because people don’t realise the effect it has, or because people have no other choice. Or maybe I’m just over-sensitive, like I said before.

Right now I suspect the no-other-choice thing has lots to do with it. People smoke on streets because they’re not allowed to smoke anywhere else (short of going a long way away, maybe into the exposed cold or wet areas). It doesn’t seem like a big-brother thing to me, but I’m still uncomfortable about the idea of by-laws that alienate smokers without first trying to acknowledge that people want to smoke, and maybe at least trying to cater to those people so they can do so comfortably without annoying other people.

But yeah, as I said I did put my name on the petition. I usually tend to steer away from petitions, but this time I’m just sick of the issue and I’m happy to contribute towards getting it discussed.

]]> By: Robb http://www.windy.gen.nz/index.php/archives/410/comment-page-1#comment-8669 Robb Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:04:00 +0000 http://www.windy.gen.nz/?p=410#comment-8669 Kia ora Mike, After reading a few months ago on another blog how 1 cigarette butt can pollute 40 litres of water, how some sea animals can actually die of nictoine poisoning from ingesting the used butts, and what these used butts do drainage systems and the waterways I get very irate seeing people flicking their trash onto the ground without a second thought. I would happily sign a petition against that, or support an active campaign to educate both smokers and non smokers about how dirty these things are for the environment, and that awareness is raised in proper disposal of cigarette butts. No doubt a tough if not hopeless battle. I would have a tougher time signing a petition banning smoking outdoors in certain areas, and not others. As you write some cafe and restaurant owners would love it, others would be economically disadvantaged, and quite possibly other more insidious doors are opened as well. To non smokers it might not matter. However I am of an age where I have friends, even family, who smoke. While I do not nor ever will, I would hate to have their very right legislated against more than it is now. That type of big brotherness scares me too much. It is a good discussion though. Cheers, Robb Kia ora Mike,
After reading a few months ago on another blog how 1 cigarette butt can pollute 40 litres of water, how some sea animals can actually die of nictoine poisoning from ingesting the used butts, and what these used butts do drainage systems and the waterways I get very irate seeing people flicking their trash onto the ground without a second thought. I would happily sign a petition against that, or support an active campaign to educate both smokers and non smokers about how dirty these things are for the environment, and that awareness is raised in proper disposal of cigarette butts. No doubt a tough if not hopeless battle. I would have a tougher time signing a petition banning smoking outdoors in certain areas, and not others. As you write some cafe and restaurant owners would love it, others would be economically disadvantaged, and quite possibly other more insidious doors are opened as well. To non smokers it might not matter. However I am of an age where I have friends, even family, who smoke. While I do not nor ever will, I would hate to have their very right legislated against more than it is now. That type of big brotherness scares me too much. It is a good discussion though.
Cheers,
Robb

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