[who8myoreos]

How do you deal with smokers?

My lungs hurt. I just came back from a get together where I had to sit in cigarette smoke for like 2 hours, and I am pretty pi$$ed. I'll admit, these days it's a lot easier (at least in the US) to avoid smoke. I sit in non-smoking sections, people can't smoke on buses, planes and most public buildings. When someone smokes while sitting next to me at the park, I just move.

But what do you do when a friend of a friend, who you've just met, whips out a cigarette and starts smoking? Do you ask her to smoke somewhere else, or to put it out, or what? A lot of smokers get VERY angry when people ask them to stop smoking. And honestly, I have yet to hear a REASONABLE argument for why I have to breathe that disgusting smoke.

[wisawisa]

I would just walk away from the area. If I'm in the middle of something, then I would ask the smoker to excuse himself.

[HtyPotter]

Stop caring that your "friends" or acquaintances get pissed when you want them to stop smoking. YOU should be the one pissed off at THEM.

[D_K]

And honestly, I have yet to hear a REASONABLE argument for why I have to breathe that disgusting smoke.

You haven't heard one because there isn't one. At the same time, people are free to do whatever they wish (as long as they dont' infringe on the freedom of others). You don't wont to breathe it? Then simply move away from her. Her right to smoke is just as valid as your right to not breath her smoke.

[`faded]

I walk away..o_o or just simply tell them to stop smoking..o_O

[Tamago86]

Don't really care..a little secondhand smoke isn't going to be the end of me..now if I had asthma or whatever that'd be a different story. And honestly Americans have it a lot better than people in Europe or especially Asia if they're trying to escape cigarette smoke.

[itrayya]

i just sit there and try to avoid the breeze.
i really do.

my brothers smoke, my cousins do it.
my guy friends do it.

i respect their freedom to do it,
and they respect me enough to do it away.

but in public, i tend to end up holding my breath.
or walking away, of course. walk away.
but if they are in their 'smoking area' then i respect them.
but if they are in my zone.... eeessshhh!!!

[knockblock]

I'll let it slide if it's somewhere I can be further away from them smoking near me.

[HERMIT]

Fortunately, of the friends that I have that smoke, they are pretty considerate about it. They'll smoke or blow their smoke in such a way that it is away from my direction. But in general, living in California and its smoking laws have made the point almost moot to really worry about smokers in terms of public areas. Other than that, I just avoid them.

[little mixed girl]

i've had the worst problems with smokers in japan.
in the US, a person might smoke one cig with their meal, but a bunch of japan smoke WHILE eating.
and non-smoking sections are almost non-existant.
only starbucks and cocoichi curry are totally smoke-free.

anyways, here i always choose the non-smoking section and when the smoke starts coming into my section (which it almost always does), i leave.

i think that if that person really cared about you as a friend, they would ask before lighting up.

here, most people don't care, and just do it.
so, what i do is move away from the person until they've stopped.
if we're walking outside, i walk in front/behind/where ever the smoke isn't.

[Island]

i just sit there and try to avoid the breeze.
i really do.

my brothers smoke, my cousins do it.
my guy friends do it.

i respect their freedom to do it,
and they respect me enough to do it away.

but in public, i tend to end up holding my breath.
or walking away, of course. walk away.
but if they are in their 'smoking area' then i respect them.
but if they are in my zone.... eeessshhh!!!

You know what? I do that too...sadly -___-

[FRUITYCHEESECAKE]

I would tell my friend quietly that I cannot take the smoke anymore and excuse myself (and walk away). All my friends know that I hate cigarettes and other smoking materials.

[PaperCloud]

I don't think I have a right to tell someone to put out their cigarettes, so I do my best to avoid smoke / smokers. If I'm at a party or something, I just keep away from the smoke clouds, or if I'm sitting in a car with a smoker, I just roll down the windows.

[krnjap6906]

If your friend or your friend's friend smoke and you dislike it. Just move away. Just kindly say, "I just don't like to breathe that stuff in." and Just move away to the side, because you don't have to get too far to stop having the smoke around you. For us smokers, of course some might get angry due to the fact that smokers just do what they do. For you to tell other smokers to stop would seem mean, although honestly in my opinion, I don't think it's rude or mean. More bad on my part because some don't like cigarettes.

I would like to say sorry on behalf of all smokers. ^^

[suki_*]

Usually if you tell them to stand another direction where the wind doesn't blow towards you they would respectfully do so.

I don't think alot of smokers are looking to annoy non-smokers intentionally they just want to enjoy their cig and get on with life. If the smoker doesn't comply then just keep your distance. Second hand is worst.

[ilikebeingtough]

You haven't heard one because there isn't one. At the same time, people are free to do whatever they wish (as long as they dont' infringe on the freedom of others). You don't wont to breathe it? Then simply move away from her. Her right to smoke is just as valid as your right to not breath her smoke.

True!
I hate it when I'm sitting on a bench at a bus stop and then somebody comes along, sits or stand next to me, and lights one up. Sure, it's not illegal but it still shows that you have no manners! By the way, I'm a social smoker but I never smoke around a non smoker...I always walk away to have the cig and almost never smoke indoors of any place, even if it's allowed.

[My Sweet September]

I'm glad to see the non-smokers in here seem pretty respectful towards those that do smoke, because I do believe it's a two way street. I'm a smoker, but I always do my best to be respectful to those around me, though I still hate the dirty looks I get from people who pass by me...I tried to get out of the way, and if I am there first, I don't think there is much of an excuse for someone to get mad at me for it, when they clearly could have avoided me if they hated getting a whiff of smoke that much.

Now car rides....if it's a long car ride, I do my best not to smoke in front of someone, but car rides kill me. If I can't sleep, I gotta smoke. So I let the non-smokers know that before we get in, and if they can't find alternative rides, I'll pull over and smoke outside if I have too.

=) I think both the non-smoker and the smoker should be tolerant of each other and learn to work together instead of getting angry at one another. I really think it would make things easier for everyone.

[HydeistKeri]

I would never take it as my right to tell someone not to do something just because it bothered me. What if I was drinking coffee and someone said "pour that out, the smell makes me nauseous." You know what I would tell them? A hand gesture would be sufficient...

[Angelina]

i just sit there and try to avoid the breeze.
i really do.

my brothers smoke, my cousins do it.
my guy friends do it.

i respect their freedom to do it,
and they respect me enough to do it away.

but in public, i tend to end up holding my breath.
or walking away, of course. walk away.
but if they are in their 'smoking area' then i respect them.
but if they are in my zone.... eeessshhh!!!

I'm the same way .. but my friends know better to smoke away from me. I usually walk away but where I live they passed a law that you're not allowed to smoke in restaurants and in clubs that are 18 and up. Only if the club is 21 and up you can smoke.. but I tolerate it.. I just try to avoid the smokers..

[Shinobu]

Avoid smoking just like your life depends on it because it does. People should treasure their health more. There are those who don't have that to gamble. Unfortunately, people only fears death when it's nearing their eyeballs.