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Cigarette smoke hurts everyone
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Do you enjoy the smell of cigarette smoke during a meal? I don’t. I have written this persuasive essay to try and get the laws in Anderson’s restaurants changed.
Is second-hand smoke worse than the smoke coming off the cigarette? Scientists have done studies on that question, and found that it is.
Then every time you go out to eat, you are killing yourself! Most people probably don’t even realize that when they sit down to eat.
Not only is it hurting the person sucking in all that smoke from the cigarette, but it’s hurting everyone around them. I think it’s rude and inconsiderate. Think of the little babies, and/or children. Also all the adults, teens and overall everyone!
It’s against the law to buy alcohol on Sundays, but you can buy cigarettes. If you go out to eat, and there just happens to be a bar at the restaurant (which almost all have) that alcohol isn’t hurting everyone like cigarettes.
Then it’s just hurting the person who is ingesting the alcohol. The only time it would hurt someone is if the person who was drinking drove somewhere.
In conclusion, I believe that if you can’t get up and go outside to smoke that’s sad, inconsiderate and lazy. Not to mention you should be able to make it through dinner without a cigarette. I realize it’s an addiction, but still at least go outside to respect the other people who don’t smoke. Also, no matter how far you sit from it you can always smell it.
Thank you for your time.
Ash Padgett, Anderson
Editor’s note: This letter, from a middle school student, is published with the permission of parents, as the writer is underage.
IndependentMail.com does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post or respond to every suggestion for a comment to be removed.
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Posted by JP on May 6, 2008 at 2:51 a.m.
Well, when Ash grows up or her parents want to have an intelligent discussion on the subject, I'd be happy to entertain them.
Posted by Scratch on May 6, 2008 at 5:19 a.m.
Cigarettes are cool.
Posted by theflash on May 6, 2008 at 7:28 a.m.
Cigarettes are not as bad as alcohol, drugs or bad parents but nobody seems to care very much about the other two.As for myself I don`t want to see any minor subjected to any of these killers, but if I had to choose the least harmful of the three I would pick cigarettes.
Posted by guy on May 6, 2008 at 8:53 a.m.
In its own form, nicotine is just as bad or worse than alcohol in its form.
Both will destroy the vital organs of the body
Marijuana, cocaine and derivatives are certainly mind blowing drugs.
Bit by Bit they will blow the hell out of your mind and destroy brain cells at the same time.
Posted by JP on May 6, 2008 at 8:57 a.m.
One thing always amazed me in Atlanta, maybe it happens here too. One cannot smoke in the OUTDOORS of the Braves stadium but yet, you can go INSIDE the Dome to suck in the exhaust from monster trucks and motorcycle races! Oh and lets not forget the soccer moms lining up and idling in front of the schools for an hour too.
Posted by altimachic6 on May 6, 2008 at 1:40 p.m.
Well, does Ms. Ash know how many "drunk" people are in car crashes everyday?
Of course you non-smokers will find what I am about to say somewhat stupid, I guess its a smokers thing........... If I am going to die, I would rather die doing what I wanted to do. One is having my cig after I eat a meal. Why die craving a cig and not getting one, then you will die just from old age. I am in health care and alot of people I am with still smoke. My Dr hasnt told me to quit. Maybe its because I dont smoke a whole pack a day, who knows.
About not being able to buy cigs on Sunday, so what. I normally by a carton on Friday anyway.
At least from smoking my husband doesnt have to take my drunkin butt to bed at night or clean up my vomit from the hang over. I know neither drinking or smoking is the healthiest of life styles, but death is death no matter how you look at it, no matter what age, its just death.
I could go die in a car wreck sooner than I die from smoking. I do believe people who smoke know what they are doing to their bodies.
To Ash,
If you must know I do respect the person that doesnt smoke. I do go outside to smoke, I do smoke in my bedroom with the door closed so that I am not in the direct area of my children, I do go out to the "smoking area" at work to smoke.
So you are welcome.
Posted by altimachic6 on May 6, 2008 at 1:49 p.m.
in response to JP
Please give Ash time to get off the bottle and out of diapers first.
Posted by clemson_girl on May 6, 2008 at 4:05 p.m.
altimachic6:
your comment to Ash was just rude. I think it is great that a young person has the nerve to stand up for what she believes in.
Posted by altimachic6 on May 6, 2008 at 5:24 p.m.
in response to clemson_girl
So what are you saying that I am rude for standing up for what I believe in and she's not? But of course I am just old and rude, thats all.
Posted by sophievoter on May 6, 2008 at 8:12 p.m.
I hate to eat in a restaurant near someone wearing certain colognes. If I were alergic and broke into a rash, or vomited and had to be hospitalized.....would you, Ash, try to ban cologne, or would you tell me to keep my fanny at home. Shouldn't I have the right to breathe without becomming ill, whether it is cologne or cigs?? It is a dilemma, but I don't believe I need the cigarette patrol to protect me. If enough people felt the same as you, then they could just stop going to certain restaurants and the restaurant could make the determination of loss of business or no smoking to encourage the non smokers into the restaurant. If the business suffers no loss, then you should find somewhere else to eat, as it proves everyone is not thinking your way.
Posted by momagain45 on May 7, 2008 at 10:05 a.m.
in response to sophievoter
I agree with you 100%. I also hate to eat in a restaurant near someone with a ringing cell phone.
Posted by Niblits on May 7, 2008 at 1:56 p.m.
momagain45, next time your meal is interrupted by an inconsiderate cell phone user leave your bill at their table as you walk out the door.
I was in the grocery store checkout today and had to wait behind a loud mouthed cell phone user holding up the entire line. I felt compelled to vent.
Posted by clemson_girl on May 7, 2008 at 2:48 p.m.
momagain and niblits:
I heard a comedian talking about cell phones once. He said when you see/hear someone talking loudly on a cell phone, walk up and stand close like you are listening, or if you are near them at a table, lean over like you are listening. When they make a comment about their conversation being private, or ask what you are doing just respond, "Well if you don't want me to hear what you are saying TALK SOFTER!
Posted by tdr1945 on May 7, 2008 at 2:49 p.m.
I am a former smoker and have yet to notice smoke bothering me in a resturant when I am at one table and a smoker is at another.
Posted by momagain45 on May 7, 2008 at 3:05 p.m.
in response to clemson_girl
Good one. I think I'll try that sometimes!
Posted by rbbugg24 on May 7, 2008 at 4:58 p.m.
Remember, this is a child. She doesn't understand your smart ass remarks about what she stands for. And she's under the influence of her parents who probably complain about smokers. Give her a break and hope she don't know how to get onto these blogs and see just how hateful some of you people are. She'll learn in her own time. Keep your stupid diaper and bottle comments to yourself. If you want to smoke, that is your right. If you don't want to smoke, get as far away from the smoke as you can but keep your mouth shut. You can't take people's rights to smoke away no more than you can take away their right to down a few. I will agree, if the smoke is too much, find somewhere else to eat and let the establishment see how their business holds up. This is a lose lose situation anyway and you are not going to make everybody happy. But don't chop up a child over her very honest, very innocent opinion. She'll probably be the doctor removing the cancer ridden lung out of one of your lungs, maybe even mine. Lighten up yall
Posted by rbbugg24 on May 7, 2008 at 4:59 p.m.
Remember, this is a child. She doesn't understand your smart ass remarks about what she stands for. And she's under the influence of her parents who probably complain about smokers. Give her a break and hope she don't know how to get onto these blogs and see just how hateful some of you people are. She'll learn in her own time. Keep your stupid diaper and bottle comments to yourself. If you want to smoke, that is your right. If you don't want to smoke, get as far away from the smoke as you can but keep your mouth shut. You can't take people's rights to smoke away no more than you can take away their right to down a few. I will agree, if the smoke is too much, find somewhere else to eat and let the establishment see how their business holds up. This is a lose lose situation anyway and you are not going to make everybody happy. But don't chop up a child over her very honest, very innocent opinion. She'll probably be the doctor removing the cancer ridden lung out of one of your chests, maybe even mine. Lighten up yall
Posted by JP on May 7, 2008 at 5:11 p.m.
I only have 2 lungs and there is no lung inside either one. I only have 1 chest too.
Posted by altimachic6 on May 7, 2008 at 6:17 p.m.
in response to rbbugg24
I agree with the fact that she is most likely listening to what her parents are saying, but maybe they need to talk about all the other hazards in life as well. I talk to my kids about smoking (even though I do smoke), drinking, drugs, and how you can even get killed at 14 yr old on a golf cart. Everything is dangerous.
I dont like people raising heck at me for smoking b/c I am not picking apart everything they do that is not a wise choice in life and YES I am sure there is or was something in everyones life that was life threating. When people bash smokers, I feel like they just think their life is perfect and we are scum of the earth and thats not so true.
Posted by Capt_Leo on May 7, 2008 at 8:13 p.m.
*Bathes himself in 'Eau de Pew' designer cologne, drinks a case of beer in 30 seconds, lights up an entire pack of cigarettes... in the pack and smokes them all, pack, cellophane and all... Connects the hearing aid... errr, I mean Blue Tooth to his ear... and gets ready for a night of fine dining...*
ROFL
All jokes aside... I knew a female who used to smoke like a chimney... she'd light a new cigarette before she'd even put the old one out. She used to tell me that her Dr was constantly bugging her about quitting smoking and would tell her that cigarettes would eventually kill her. She had started smoking back when she was about 19 yrs old. And, yes, cigarettes could have very well been the culprit in killing her. She died from a stroke at the age of 92.
Plain.
Simple.
Common Sense.
Capt. Leonardo Ortiz (USMM)
Posted by rbbugg24 on May 8, 2008 at 10:47 a.m.
in response to altimachic6
I coompletely understand. I don't smoke myself but I'm not trying to take the right to smoke from others. I have a choice like everyone else. Sometimes I choose to eat at smoking restaurants, sometimes I don't. But I'm not going to raise hell b/c the cig smoke has wafted to my side of the buiilding, ya know? And no, you're not scum just b/c you smoke. My brothers smoke and their not scum. It's just a habit they picked up and don't want to lay down. One smokes a pack a day, the other a pipe...but here again, it's their choice. I respect it even if I don't like it.
Posted by rbbugg24 on May 8, 2008 at 10:59 a.m.
in response to JP
jp you know what I mean...and you know it's the truth. My corrected post was directly under it...jeez.
Posted by pink_rfc on May 8, 2008 at 10:14 p.m.
Rbbugg is right...this girl is in middle school; give her a break! I'm sure you all are adults, so keep your rude comments about a middle schooler's essay to yourself. Even if you don't agree with what she is saying, at least give her some credit for having her essay published. How many of you had a persuasive essay published in the newspaper when you were in middle school?
Posted by guy on May 9, 2008 at 9:20 a.m.
All the complainers should go to your favorite fast food drive through.....
Order your favorite meal....
Park in a secluded area....
Close all windows....
Tune in your favorite radio station....
Eat your meal.....
Then go home....
I really dislike the idea of eating a meal at any restaurant and have to observe negative individuals sitting with a scowl on their face, being totally miserable, mumbling under their breath about the conversations surrounding them.
These are the same individuals you may observe
in the middle of thier meal, yank a used hankerchief from their pocket, blow thier nose three or four times, wad the hankerchief and place into their pocket and proceed to finish their meal.
MANNERS ?????????? What does that mean ????
Pleeeeeeese....stay home or order carry out.
Posted by truck10 on May 12, 2008 at 2:44 a.m.
Who is this Capt. Leo? He talks about trying cases and he is not even a lawyer, where does he practice law? I looked into his newsletters which he says he writes for and i think there are 4 members. Law Practice? Is it in his homeland? Cuba? the American Bar Assoc. has no record of him nor does the SC Lawyers. Plus what is he a Captain of? certainly not the military. I think he has a Captain license for his boat on Lake Hartwell. Talk about a wanna be
Posted by consitor_veritas on May 12, 2008 at 5:20 a.m.
in response to truck10
Wow! It really is evident why you were TERMINATED from the fire department. Oh well, maybe those worker's comp benefits will kick in soon and you won't be so bitter. Happy Thanksgiving.
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