Smokers' rights?

[david63]

What about the rights of business owners to run their business as they see fit?



If you're losing customers, its not a very good policy, is it?




Going to a restaurant is not a right, it is a privilege. I am tired of non-smokers thinking they're entitled to something. Why do you think your rights are greater than a smoker's rights?

Such a choice should be left to the business owner, and only the business owner. Telling him whether or not he can serve smoking customers is tantamount to telling him what to put on the menu.

The last time I checked, non-smokers easily outnumber the smokers. Majority rules...I have the right to dine without having to suck in the smoke of others. Add to that, study after study across the country shows that restaurants consistently GAIN business after a smoke-free ordinance is passed.

Besides, the same "rights" question could be asked of smokers. What rights do smokers have to inflict their smoke on others. The US Surgeon General has said there is conclusive evidence that secondhand smoke is dangerous to one's health and it kills 50,000 people annually. So I ask, whose rights should we follow??

[Night Fire]

The last time I checked, non-smokers easily outnumber the smokers. Majority rules...

Why is it only majority rules in this country when it is an issue that diverts peoples attention from the real problems?
Besides, studies show smokers go out to eat and go drinking twice as often as non-smokers.........let the free market (dollars) determine how it should be!

I have the right to dine without having to suck in the smoke of others. Add to that, study after study across the country shows that restaurants consistently GAIN business after a smoke-free ordinance is passed.

That is why all the Fort Wayne businesses are closing because of the ban? AND what about the business owners right to operate their business as they see fit?? If they put up a sign that says "Smoking Allowed Here", you have the choice of whether to enter or not- same as a smoker who enters a business that says no smoking!
It Is Called Free Choice!!

Besides, the same "rights" question could be asked of smokers. What rights do smokers have to inflict their smoke on others. The US Surgeon General has said there is conclusive evidence that secondhand smoke is dangerous to one's health and it kills 50,000 people annually. So I ask, whose rights should we follow??

Conclusive????? better reread that report!

How about the rights of the business owner, they are the one with the money invested!

[burgundystar77]

Geez, evilkumquat, you have caused quite a stir on here just as I'd heard....
I feel really sorry that you're getting the **** kicked out of you on here, but, to agree or disagree, I'd have to say, people are still going to do what they want to do, man--I'm sorry but it's true; it's so great that you seem so caring though By the way, who are you rooting for in this presidential election; may I ask? I was just curious if we're voting the same, but there's a catch--I'll tell you who I'm voting for, after you tell me who you're voting for

[evilkumquat]

Geez, evilkumquat, you have caused quite a stir on here just as I'd heard....
I feel really sorry that you're getting the **** kicked out of you on here, but, to agree or disagree, I'd have to say, people are still going to do what they want to do, man--I'm sorry but it's true; it's so great that you seem so caring though By the way, who are you rooting for in this presidential election; may I ask? I was just curious if we're voting the same, but there's a catch--I'll tell you who I'm voting for, after you tell me who you're voting for

I don't think we have a real stir going on here. Maybe more of a slight mixing, but most of the ingredients are still in their powder form, and no **** is being kicked as far as I can tell. Most of the debate has been very civil.

What's really kicking the **** out of me is this ****** strep-throat and the two nights in a row of 103-degree fevers that induce hallucinations keeping me from sleeping. If I wasn't already looking at $325-350 per month of current medical bills (and more on the way since my son needs his tonsils out, which should at least prevent any more strep attacks in this household) I might be inclined to see a doctor for a prescription and some medicine rather than sit here and suffer.

Sorry, where was I? The last two days have been difficult ones for me to keep my attention wandering.

I don't mind saying my vote is for Obama. Up to very recently, I could have gone for either candidate, but after Clinton started acting like Karl Rove was an adviser (which, who knows? Maybe he is?) and after she said McCain would be a better President than Obama, that pretty much cemented me for an Obama vote.

Regardless of who wins, I will be putting a checkmark next to whoever has the (D) next to their name in the next election, crossing my fingers as I drop it into the Diebold machine at the local voting center in hopes that my vote won't be one of those "magically" converted to an (R) through "computer error".

[burgundystar77]

Evil: there is one thing you got mixed around/topsy turvy in here and I quote, "There are those who believe that the time spent after a fabulous meal should be spent having fabulous sex with *his* date"-from personal experience, it is the male who expects sex from the female after such said meal, being as how it is most the time, the male, who pays for the meal and expects sex as payment, in return....ya I know, I've known alot of creeps, just wanted to correct you on that teeny error...

[evilkumquat]

Evil: there is one thing you got mixed around/topsy turvy in here and I quote, "There are those who believe that the time spent after a fabulous meal should be spent having fabulous sex with *his* date"-from personal experience, it is the male who expects sex from the female after such said meal, being as how it is most the time, the male, who pays for the meal and expects sex as payment, in return....ya I know, I've known alot of creeps, just wanted to correct you on that teeny error...

Actually, I was raised in a time when one was taught that "male" was the gender neutral preferred form.

Hence "One is off his rocker if he thinks that Bush has more brains than a crack-addled flea." rather than "One is off his or her rocker if he or she thinks that Bush has more brains than a crack-addled flea."

Additionally, many writers use their own sex when needing gender-neutral pronouns.

A male author would tend to write thus: "If one had two-cents to spend on a house in this economy, he would be better off than most homeowners" whereas our female author would write: "A firefighter tends to wear protective clothing to protect herself when putting out a fire outside Dick Cheney's office during his annual purging of embarrassing top-secret documents."

Class dismissed.

[matt_s]

Actually, I was raised in a time when one was taught that "male" was the gender neutral preferred form.

Hence "One is off his rocker if he thinks that Bush has more brains than a crack-addled flea." rather than "One is off his or her rocker if he or she thinks that Bush has more brains than a crack-addled flea."

Additionally, many writers use their own sex when needing gender-neutral pronouns.

A male author would tend to write thus: "If one had two-cents to spend on a house in this economy, he would be better off than most homeowners" whereas our female author would write: "A firefighter tends to wear protective clothing to protect herself when putting out a fire outside Dick Cheney's office during his annual purging of embarrassing top-secret documents."

Class dismissed.

And many people tend to write incorrectly. I also know that there are many different styles that define how things are written. Journalism has its own style and most educational (read collegiate) texts have a specific style that they follow. I'm betting we can find competing rules somewhere in the bunch.

I've always thought that the gender neutral issue was always more of a political correctness issue. By definition a pronous that reference people must have a gender just as the individual or each individual that it references has one. Personally I try to reference the plural as often as possible to simply put the burden of assumption on the reader as often as possible. I guess I'm just lazy.

[burgundystar77]

ebbieday: I don't think blue adept meant their comment as a contest; truth is though, that there are more smokers than are nonsmokers and that right there should tell you that the smoking places would infact be more popular--no I don't smoke now but have on occassion....
evilkumquat: I'm sorry you haven't been feeling well. I have a son also-he's 6.
I have also been rooting for Obama-Hillary is merely "echoing" off the ads he's already done. However I'm neither (D) nor (R).
Sorry about the gender thing, but when speaking of who pays for the fab meal, I have always known men to expect that certain something in return, I meant nothing sexist by it. Ya; class dismissed--thanks tutor!-lol

[james_t]

ebbieday: I don't think blue adept meant their comment as a contest; truth is though, that there are more smokers than are nonsmokers and that right there should tell you that the smoking places would infact be more popular--no I don't smoke now but have on occassion....

Actually, nonsmokers outnumber smokers about 4 to 1. The stats show about 21 percent of the population smokes.

[ebbieday]

Actually, nonsmokers outnumber smokers about 4 to 1. The stats show about 21 percent of the population smokes.

Yeah I was gonna take issue with that also, but wasn't sure of the numbers and really didn't care to look it up. Of all the people I work with, know, family members...most are non-smokers...and those that do, are well aware it isn't taking place in MY home.

[matt_s]

Actually, nonsmokers outnumber smokers about 4 to 1. The stats show about 21 percent of the population smokes.

This time James got to the post before I did, but I'll provide a link.
http://www.unitedhealthfoundation.co...s/smoking.html

[ebbieday]

ebbieday: ...the smoking places would infact be more popular--no I don't smoke now but have on occassion...

I highly doubt that, Burg. And I WAS a regular smoker at one time. The constant sinus and sore throat issues made it very clear to me that quitting would be in my best interest. Even when I did smoke, it was NEVER around my children...they have never even seen me with a cig in my mouth.

[ebbieday]

If your statement was true all the restaurants and clubs wouldn't be crying the blues about the ban. Hey you dogooders stay out of my establishment. I think I will put up sign stating just that

What's the name of it...I'll be sure to do that.

[tallrob]

If your against going into a bar or restaurant where there is smoking, never ever go to europe! Most europeans
smoke like chimneys in cafes. There are no smoking bans over there. You can bring your dog, if you like into the cafes also.

[jennyk]

If your against going into a bar or restaurant where there is smoking, never ever go to europe! Most europeans
smoke like chimneys in cafes. There are no smoking bans over there. You can bring your dog, if you like into the cafes also.

Not so true anymore - France banned smoking this year, and many other countries are following suit. Some info here.

[tallrob]

Not so true anymore - France banned smoking this year, and many other countries are following suit. Some info here.

I was in France and Italy this past november, and a year ago september. I know Italy was not smoke free. In fact i remember driving by middle schools and seeing children smoking on the play ground during recess!

I can't recall if i saw people smoking in the cafes in France or not. I knew it was not smoke free last year though.

[Night Owl]

SO....in his case, he is now doing a much stronger business than he ever did in FW (actually he has opened a 2nd bar in the same strip shopping center that features country music. I don't recall it's name right now.

The Rusty Spur. Those two places are always packed.

- I've never been in Shorty's Steakhouse in Garrett when it's not busy, and they don't allow smoking, and the Italian Grille in Auburn also does pretty good business.

And the owners were allowed to decide whether to allow smoking or not...

A bar or restaraunt that wants to allow smoking can become a private club. I don't know of any that are thinking about it yet.

This was true under the 1999 smoking ordinance, but not under the 2007 "work place smoking ban."

[HoosierHelen]

The Rusty Spur. Those two places are always packed.


And the owners were allowed to decide whether to allow smoking or not...


This was true under the 1999 smoking ordinance, but not under the 2007 \\"work place smoking ban.\\"

Night Owl, I'm glad to know you are familiar with the examples I have been trying to point to here. You are absolutely correct....both locations are always packed. Smoking is allowed and bad economics has not slowed their business at all. Thanks for your reminder...the second bar is called the Rusty Spur. No shortage of customers at either location.