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4/30-5/6: Are We Blowing Second-Hand Smoke?

Is second-hand smoke annoying, fatal or simply over-hyped? A recent study found that eighty percent of the participants had been exposed to second-hand smoke, while less than fifty percent of the same group thought they had been exposed. Does this mean we should be more or less concerned about second-hand smoke? Should the government focus more on controlling tobacco and tobacco companies and less on controlling smokers and their smoke?

dmcook - I believe that second-hand smoke IS a problem. Living with a heavy smoker when I'm at home (as opposed to being at school), I can definitely feel a difference personally when I have clean air instead of incredibly thick, smoky air to breathe constantly. I doubt if it has a major effect if not inhaled in large quantities (I would guess that bars and restaurants wouldn't make a lot of difference), but people who grew up in or are constantly exposed to second-hand smoke I would suppose to be at greater risk. I personally believe that tobacco should be treated as a drug, since nicotine technically IS a drug. I doubt it will ever happen, but it's a thought...

tilyou - All I know is that I've given up smoking, and taken to shooting up heroin in public. It's certainly more socially acceptable. No one complains about headaches or allergies to airplane and automobile emissions....I guess there's no such thing as passive travelling.

jaworski - Danger is everywhere. I do not think second-hand smoke is really something to be afraid of. I do however find it very annoying. Smokers create clouds of smoke wherever they go. They do not care that some people do not smoke because they don't want to breathe the smoke. How do you think smokers would like it if someone sneezed in the air continuely and it misted onto the smoker. I'm sure the smoker would not be happy. Isn't it fair though, I think so. If I wanted to breathe and smell smoke I would buy my own Marlboros.

Rubine - Second-hand smoke is more of a nuisance than anything...

mabourn - On the issue of government controle, I have always been of the opinion that less is better whether directed at individuals or industries. As for second-hand smoke, I feel that it is just annoying. The free market should determine where smoking is allowed and where it is not. I for one would not do business with a restraunt or store that allowed smoking or at least did not make arangments for smokers to be in a different area away from non-smokers. It's not that I mind if people smoke, I just dont like the smell it leaves on my clothes. It should be up to the individual business to decide which customers it wants.

Shazam420 - This has been one of the quickest wars ever. The battle over feminism is not over, the battle over racism is not over, the battle over child-labor and slavery is not over. All of these battles began LONG ago. The anti-smoking battle began a decade ago? and it has nearly been won! let's worry about something that will actually effect the quality of life for all of us... something like combustion vehicles, or the cold-war, or chemical pollution... There are MANY things more important than legislating against smoking in bars!

Rockle - Second hand smoke is some nasty stuff. I have a cousin who died of lung cancer because of second hand smoke. She never smoked a day in her life, but her parents and her husband did, and her constant exposure to the second hand smoke caused oat-cell carcinomas in her lungs. Eew. Personally, second hand smoke makes me itchy, make me sneeze, gives me a headache, and makes me smell terrible. The tobacco companies are never going to admit that their products are harmful to people and the environment, so I think the government ought to be concerned about those of us who would rather not get DEAD, thank you.

JeremyD - I can't stand smokers. I have tried it and found it to be totaly gross. When I walk around campus, I try to stay clear of people who smoke. I have enough medical problems as it is, I don't need to add lung cancer to my already long list. Not only is it bad for you, it is also unattractive If I see a good looking woman and she happens to smoke, that is a definite turn off!!!

mariat - Second-hand smoke is very annoying. I don't smoke and my dad's family does. So it never fails that after visiting I become really sick. My husband and I think I may have developed an allergy to smoke from all the second-hand I have bee around. I think people should be concerned about second-hand smoke. I don't think the government has any right to do any thing about the problem.

earthcrone - As a thoroughly addicted smoker, I am sensitive to the anti-smoking attitude and hyperbole currently rampant in the media. Of course I know that second-hand smoke is harmful; it is annoying to non-smokers, and I am sure that no matter how deeply we smokers inhale, some of the harmful chemicals are released into the air when we exhale. Because of this, I try to be considerate about my smoking. I have a good ionizing air-cleaner between my husband's and my chair, because we do not want to bother any guests and we do want to smoke in our own home. When there are babies around, like our darling granddaughter Mary Martha, we don't smoke in the house at all. My own three children were all subject to more respiratory infections when they were small, and now I realize that my husband and I contributed to that, which I deeply regret. If I could have one wish, it would be that smoking would die out as our generation passed on, that young people who know now how dangerous smoking is would never start smoking.

oonagh - Second hand smoke makes me sneeze and cough and makes my eyes water. I am allergic to it. Therefore, I really hate it. Yeah you can be a real idiotic and say, Well then why don't you get away from it. Yeah that's like trying to avoid traffic at 5:15 on a Friday afternoon.

baydolph: I think second hand smoke is just as bad if you smoke in the first place, and I know this true for me as I have lots of allergies. Plus, I know that it burns my eyes baddly and also I have problem's Breathing I just do not sit close to anyone that is smoking. I think the government should put more controll on the te Tobacco Companies and less on their smokers as its there ads that bring people into smoking as they think its cool, from the way ads are written it even gets teens into smoking.

Josekaz - A new study has just came out that says levels of nicotine has been found in the blood of non-smokers. It is no longer just a nuisance but a serious health hazard. In Canada second-hand smoke kills 500 Canadians a year. In the province of Ontario tobacco-induced disease caused 13,000 premature deaths a year and thats five times the number from traffic accidents, suicides and AIDS combined. And the nicotine junkies still puff away.

Nicole_S - I can't stand people who smoke indoors. It is law in this country not to smoke inside public buildings. Usually I will try and move away but last week I was caught in an elevator with a man smoking a cigar. After coughing a bit I asked the man to please put it out to which he replied, "F**k off kid" then I had an asthma attack. I was only in the hospital for 2 days but still the old man should respect my rights Not to Smoke.

andreamer - It's bad. It's releasing harmful stuff into the air. I personally try to stay away from it. But I don't think it is the government's place to legislate this sort of thing; our tax dollars are better spent elsewhere. This is a responsibility that belongs with you. Ask your friends not to smoke around you. Ask your boss to create an office policy regarding smoking. Leave the government out of it. Do you REALLY want more of Big Brother in your life?

DanM - The war against the tobacco industry is hardly over. The mis-information they disseminate about the ill effects of smoking and second-hand smoke are misleading the youth of this country as well as those in other countries. Unfortunately the government realizes enormous amounts of tax revenue from the sale of cigarettes. Until we can reduce or eliminate our dependency on the monetary profits of cigarette sales, regulation will be slow in coming.

jimca: I'm a smoker who tries. I personally don't like 2nd hand smoke either -and I avoid it where possible like I would avoid most exhaust emissions (I especially don't like the exhausts from cars and trucks). I don't think we should jump to conclusions about the real cause of someones respiratory (or other) illness -just living in the 20th century would be injurious to your health. It worries me that that people have become so excited about this one issue when there so many more-exciting issues to be found! (for those who are looking for them) For instance, cigarette advertising was banned from the Televisions of this country (Australia) at least 25 years ago; such advertising was banned from cinemas about 10 years ago -and yet today you can see advertisements in these media depicting a young good looking couple getting into a bottle of rum, generally letting their hair down (but not smoking), and then racing off into their (presumably short) future riding on a harley.

djthomas: I challenge anyone to explain to me how they are so certain that cancer is produced by second-hand smoke and not smog and other pollutants that are in the air that we all breathe. Controlling tobacco companies is useless. Controlling smokers is an infringement on their rights. Yes, second-hand smoke is over hyped and consists of meaningless and unfounded "evidence" that plays to the sentiments of the ignorant masses.

JKAP79 - Definitely not fatal, just annoying. Cough Cough

BAC96 - I think super-loud music from car audio systems poses a greater and more immediate threat of physical harm than second-hand smoke. Should we "go after" the amplifier and speaker manufacturers? Loot their deep pockets for producing the instruments of this "sin"? Impose a high output surtax to subsidize an agency to care for the inadvertently deafened? Ban advertisements that seduce impressionable kids into cranking up the radio to levels that impair hearing? Ludicrous you ask? Yep!.....If car-radio listeners (and smokers) were a bit more considerate, and the rest of us a bit more tolerant, perhaps we could spend our energy solving real problems.

ProgRockBoy - I think that secondhand smoke is way too high a priority for some people. I'm a smoker, and I have the decency to ask if my friends who don't smoke mind if I light up. I don't blow it in their direction or anything. I live in Southern California, and I can't even have the right to an after dinner cigarette at a restaraunt, even though the air conditioning in those places is cranked; more than sufficient in the capacity of the room to filter the air for everyone. Tobacco is legal, and smoking is legal (for now.) I think that the causehead morons out there who have nothing to do but poke in others' business should take a look at the fact that they are infringing on the rights of smokers all over. Smokers are becoming a minority not because it is dangerous or unhealthful to themselves and others, but because we're tired of being beholden unto others who are paranoid about secondhand smoke being a possibly airborne carcinogenic.

aceofspades - I think smokers are discriminated against. we can't smoke at work.they want to stop us smoking at home.. does this sound familiar?????????????? NO........ how about PROHIBITION.. it failed..but it's ok to get drunk and kill someone while your driving.. POINT drop the hype and leave us smokers alone. If you want to protest ,...protest against something worthwhile.. like the destruction of the rain forrest,.. or the governments handling(wastefully) of your tax dollars.

twaj - I don't believe that the government has the right to ban smoking anywhere, but that private corporations would realize that smoking is a major turn-off for many customers (myself included) and take it upon themselves to ban it in their own buildings. However, I also believe in the legalization of drugs and that having to walk through clouds of Marijuana smoke wouldn't be half as bad. (You take it that I'm a Libertarian)

Epelectra - Personally, second-hand smoke makes me want to ralph. I can't stand the smell and it makes me sick when I'm only around it a little while, so imagine how bad it be if someone I lived with smoked. It probably is fatal if it makes me feel so sick.

lirani - Smoke isn't good for you. Even smoke from a fire (which doesn't include all that nasty formaldehyde, acetone, and rat poison that cigarettes have) will kill you. (Heard of smoke inhalation guys?) Well, you know how cigarettes have filters? Everything that gets filtered out for the smokers gets sucked in by unfortunate us. Then, we get the smoke that other people are blowing around after the puff too. I don't want to smoke but second hand smoking makes it tough not to. I think that this is unfair and smoking should be strictly regulated on the corporate *and* consumer end.

ektomorf - Relying on the government to control EVERYTHING is surely idiotic. Second hand smoke is annoying, and people aren't tolerating it anymore. That's well and good, and what's being done about it (non-smoking sections just about everywhere) is enough for me. And, face it, we probably inhale far more dangerous fumes just driving down the freeway with our windows open. I think there's other smog we should spend our time thinking about. Eh?

Ellisande - Having spent a large part of my childhood wondering if _this_ smoke-induced asthma attack would be fatal I would definitely call it a problem. I believe that smoking around children is flat-out child abuse. Smoking should be res- tricted to environments where all present _choose_ to be exposed.By all means let people go to hell in their chosen fashion; just don't let them take kids along with them. Regarding the tobacco companies, I would like all advertising targeted at chil- dren and young adults banned.Since apparently very few people start smoking past the age of 21 that should evaporate their business very nicely :-).

wilmer - The whole problem with smoking in general is that it has become politicized. If nicotine is the cupprit behind the addiction, then just ban the use of the drug in cigarettes. Period. I realize there is no one more outspoken than an ex-smoker, but I quit because I cound not find a "need" to be smoking in the first place, and I quit cold turkey. Is second hand smoke annoying, fatal or over-hyped, Yes, Yes, and Yes.

ToniT - second hand smoke as it pertains to under devoloped lungs, such as small children, can be very damaging. Anyone with a new baby in the house should refrain from smoking, much the same applies to people with know health problems they seem to be affected negatively also. I've been a smoker for more than half my life and I just found something to quit.

brittmarie - Of course, any poisonous smoke is poison in to your lunges, filtered by yourself or not. A survey in Japan a few years back showed that a far too high amount of farmers' wives died of lung cancer typical for smokers - they did not smoke themselves, but their husbands did and they worked together as farmer families do. I smoked for 15 years, and quit 15 years ago. I feel extremely hostile to smoke of any kind, because I know it's poison to me and it makes me feel bad (I did already as a smoker) but also because I don't want to be tempted to start smoking again. It would be the worse thing that could happen to me. Especially since my father died in 1994 in agony from emfyzema of the lunges caused by 45 years of smoking (it is a soffocating death). DON'T EVER EXPOSE OTHERS TO YOUR SMOKE. If you want to die from smoking, it's your and your family's business. BUT DON'T INVOLVE ME. I want to live and live well. The tobacco companies have absolutely no moral or ethics, since they now focus on selling their products of death to young people in Eastern Europe and poor ignorant people in under developed countries in Africa and Asia. Djiezzzz. Tobacco is as adictive as narcotics. It's just that it kills slower, affect others and doesn't make you go wild. But it is adictive. It's a drug. Get on to the tobacco companies. Why not invent a stimulant that is not poisonous?

JackM - Over-hyped. Yet, second hand smoke can be annoying. Smoke filled rooms with poor air circulation leave ones eyes burning, clothes smelling, and often create a stifling inviroment. Nonetheless, the hype about secondhand smoke is an effort to distract people from focusing on industrial, auto, and other air pollution poisoning our lives. It is real conveniate to blame our lung and immune problems on cigarettte smoke and feel like we are doing something to fight pollution, while maintaining our industrial waste production lifestyles and excessive automobile use. I am reminded of a picture of a billboard in Bejing, taken by a friend, which said; "The W.H.O. (World Health Organization) says their will be no smoking by the year 2000". Perhaps we should adopt China's approach on this one. Afterall, once "they" classify tobacco as a drug, the rich will have access to use at their private smoking salons, they remain happy; we feel better as we are led along the path of political correctness ("pc" is its own topic). Nonetheless; the making criminals out of, and/or depicting smokers as problematic, by the same goverment and media that created them, is cruel. I do believe the goverment should focus on the tobacco companies more than the smokers, but, they'd do even better to focus on real pollution.

SnarkyBoy - Second hand smoke KILLS! Anyone who smokes is an idiot to begin with, and deserves what they get. However, to inflict their murderous ways on innocent victims is sick, sadistic, selfish and downright disgusting. The government should do everything in their power to curb smoking, tobacco growers and merchants, and do whatever it takes to ban those death-sellers from killing our young. The tobacco lobby in this country is unbelievably powerful and short of having them all drop dead of smoking-related diseases, our leaders will just have to accept the fact that they have to do the right thing, not the political thing. Personally, I will not dine in restaurants where smoking is permitted, nor will I shop in stores/malls that are not smoke-free. As for putting my money where my cig-free mouth is...I used to work for an ad agency that handled the RJReynolds account; I was offered a promotion to work on a tobacco account, refused, let them know why, and eventually was fired for refusing the promotion! If I can lose a job over what's right and wrong...so can the government prevent half a million deaths annually and who knows how much sickness, pain and suffering?

Chris_ace - I can't stand smoke... My dad smoke but he are trying to stop (but that won't work I think)... Tobac is a big problem in the world, like drugs! There got to be a stop of this!!!!

Rose222 - Speaking as an asthmatic I think no I know second hand smoke is dangerous. Every time I am arround some one who is smoking my chest becomes tight and I have problems breathing. It is bad enough that a smoker wants to kill them selves with out them hurting the rest of us.

Bain - Personally, I think it's disgusting. You walk into a public building and there are people blowing smoke in your face everywhere. It makes your clothes and hair stink, not to mention how much it messes up your precious lungs. If someone wants to smoke and kill themself, thats fine with me, but they don't have to drag everyone else around them into the grave with them.

drbink - Being a non smoker, I find second hand smoke not only offensive but hazardous to my health, and to be blunt, most smokers don't care. What most smokers inhale is filtered where as the by product that is burnt isnt, it's amazing how much my sinuses hurt after being around a smoker. If they want to kill them selves fine!! but leave me out!!

Weezer1 - I work in a resturant/bar. Everyone smoke in there and no one care where they blow the smoke, most of the time in my face, and i'm only 15 so i probaly have enough second-hand smoke, it seems as if i'v smoked over 30 packs. I've never smoked in my life, the second-hand smoke makes me a expert smoker when it comes to my lungs!

DA_HOOKA - OK... Im a smoker... so shoot me. Would you rather me smoke a cigarette and get in a car or get my fix off of alcohol and then get in a car and kill your daughter . I dont see that second hand smoke is that bad of course it annoys some people but so does farting. Lets outlaw that next. Makes a whole lot of sense to ostricize smokers and glorify drunks ..... just look at TV... " i love you man!" you get the drift..... If so get a grip and lighten up there are a lot more important things to be concerned about than a little smoke.

andyperks - Second hand smoke is revolting, catches in the back of the throat, smells revolting, and kills. Walter Raleigh should have been drowned at birth! Oh well OK he didn't know any better, but people today DO, so why don't they all quit? It's difficult, I know - I did it. But please, let them try.