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Today's Poll: Should the city crack down on smoking at outdoor events?

By Howard B. Owens
Richard Gahagan

If someone asks me to put my cigarette out when I'm outside I do so politely.........then i ripppp a big fart wait for their nose to wrinkle up and watch them slowly walk away. Then I lite up another smoke. So if I'm outside and my smoking bothers you just stay the hell away from me like you would a bad fart.

Aug 14, 2009, 12:45pm Permalink
Herbert Neal

"Stay away from me while I'm smoking", this is the type of ignorance our society has come to...that is just crazy! Are you allowed to urinate anywhere you want in public you want, I don't think so! People whom do NOT smoke like myself do not want to smell that vile garbage that comes from you when you are smoking (also known as second hand smoke). I don't think smokers, or anyone for that has any moral value for that fact would want to step in my urine that I deposited "anywhere" in public I wanted to as smokers do w/ thier "garbage". I know, you..the smoker are thinking thats "different", how is it different? There is at least one person (myself), and I am sure many more that find both of these equally vile to do in public! Perhaps I need to run circles in order to "stay away" when "your smoke" blows my way when I have my kids in a park...I think NOT. I 100% support the City of Batavia's crack down on public smoking!

Aug 14, 2009, 1:50pm Permalink
Peter O'Brien

There is no proof anywhere that second hand smoke in an outdoor environment is harmful.

This is more government control, that is all. One day they will come after something you like to do Herbert and you will know what it is like to be prosecuted for persuing happiness.

Aug 14, 2009, 1:57pm Permalink
C D

Personally, I don't smoke. Maybe a cigar once in a blue moon, but that's it. Regardless, it's really not hard to avoid people smoke outside or, if there's some kind of designated smoking area, ask them to move.

If you walk right up in front of someone while there smoking, yeah, you might get hit with a little second-hand smoke. Since, like Peter said, there are no studies that prove second-hand smoke in a wide open outside setting is harmful, the anti-smoking whining is pretty much moot.

Aug 14, 2009, 2:39pm Permalink
Chelsea O'Brien

Why not start "cracking down" on other laws, before creating new ones? Speeding on 63, would be nice to stop. Or how about how someone near my house burns stuff in a fire pit (next to their house) and makes the air smell horrible? Or what about noise ordinances that are broken by motorcycles and neighbors at night?

All of those things effect more people than smoking at outdoor events.

Aug 14, 2009, 2:48pm Permalink
Herbert Neal

Peter...I had to read your opening line 3X. No proof second hand smoke in an "outdoor environment" is harmful. How is the second hand smoke different from, A: a smoker in a resturant smoking, or B: a smoker smoking in a park. If ANYONE, just not myself can smell the smoke...it is second hand smoke! And, for someone whom that does not smoke, that is a problem! Second hand smoke is second hand smoke, yes perhaps you may say is "less potent"..but it is still second hand smoke!

Government control Peter, I have encountered this of sorts when they put an "obesity tax" on soda. I love drinking soda, and to be told I have to pay extra because its going to make me fat I find criminal. However, I look at objectively and think of it as a deterrent for better health rather than whats been referred to as a "Nazi State".

Aug 14, 2009, 3:03pm Permalink
Herbert Neal

I think Chris O is on to something. Perhaps there should be an area that smokers are free to smoke, and non smokers know that area is a smoking area, and if BY CHOICE they want to smell second hand smoke they may choose to go near that area! Darien Lake, and a few resturants in Genesee County have such an "area", and it seems to work out fine.

Aug 14, 2009, 3:08pm Permalink
Peter O'Brien

The harmful ingredients are more concentrated indoors. Outdoors they are dispersed faster. You don't smell most of the cancer causing agents.

Show me a study that proves it affects people in an outdoor environment.

Do you go to fireworks shows? Have you smelled smoke there? Why aren't you worried about that? How about camp fires where they burn chemically treated wood?

The government has no right to choose how you or I should live.

Aug 14, 2009, 3:11pm Permalink
Peter O'Brien

You mean a corralled off area like restaurants used to have before you and other people stopped normal citizens from enjoying themselves and forced them out into the snow?

Like the separate bathrooms the blacks used to have?

Like the special holding camps the Japanese American's had?

Are you a segregationist?

Aug 14, 2009, 3:15pm Permalink
Herbert Neal

Oh my Peter, I agree there is most likely that there has not been studies that prove the effects of second hand smoke in an outdoor environment. However, then how can you prove your hypothesis "The harmful ingredients are more concentrated indoors. Outdoors they are dispersed faster. You don't smell most of the cancer causing agents."?

To be honest w/ you I have never thought about the smoke from firworks shows. Agian, probably no study on the possible dangers from the smoke produced by fireworks...BUT Peter, I go to those shows by choice, where as a smoker in a park whom lites up, my choice is taken away from me when I smell thier "second hand" smoke. I have never been to a campfire in a "public setting" where chemically treated wood has been burned. And, the campfires that I have choosen to go to in a "private setting" I know that "garbage" is NOT being burned.

Government not telling you how to live...so should be lawless? Anyone can do what they want, when and wherever! What about the car break-in that have going in the city as of late. What if our "Nazi" government didn't say it was illegal to do such a thing? BUT, it is illegal...and I know the people that complain about government are usally the first to call and ask for there aid IE: Batavia City Police to "come get" that person from breaking into your car.

Aug 14, 2009, 3:36pm Permalink
Gary Diegelman

When I sit in Jackson Square to enjoy the music or the stands at the Attica Rodeo and have to smell Cigarette smoke that is affecting my quality of life,going into my lungs, and making my allergies kick up. Take your smokes elsewhere and kill yourself with them don't shorten my life. Rick as for you farting that just goes to show how crude some people are. Did you do that as a Genesee County Health Department employee in the presence of the public?

Aug 14, 2009, 3:56pm Permalink
Herbert Neal

Peter, come on...give me a break. A perfect debate and you start to name call! Trying to make an implication that I am a segregationist is being ignorant.

Webster's def. of Segregationist: One who favors, encourages, or practices segregation, by RACIAL segregation.

NOW Websters def. of Racial: of, pertaining to, or characteristic of one race or the races of humankind.

Smoking is not just a white problem, or a black problem..or any other single race problem. Our ENTIRE society faces the smoking problem.

I do not agree w/ separate bathrooms the blacks used to have, nor do I agree w/ the special holding camps the Japanese American's had? They were singled out by the color of thier skin, and/or where they came from. NOT by something they did with thier FREE CHOICE such as smoking.

Peter, smokers whom choose to smoke by FREE CHOICE of any race should be controlled!

Aug 14, 2009, 3:57pm Permalink
Richard Gahagan

Our entire society faces a socialist communist problem with people like you attempting to control everything I do and limit my freedom and liberty.

Aug 14, 2009, 4:08pm Permalink
Bob Price

I grew up around second hand smoke from my parents.It's my choice now not to smoke.You are infringing on MY right to a smoke free place.What I really hate are these smoke free places,then all the smokers congregate at the entrance,so you have to walk through a cloud of smoke anyway.Oh well,it's something we have to live with-there's always going to be smokers,so everyone should try to just get along.

Aug 14, 2009, 4:22pm Permalink
Bea McManis

Isn't it ironic that there is a post claiming that people who 'chose' to smoke should be 'controlled'.
Yet, at sporting events (even at Dwyer) people can and are encouraged to drink.
I'm not against anyone taking a drink, but let's talk offensive.
It is offensive, to me, to have someone sitting near me drink their way through a game. They become obnoxious; incoherent; and careless. Having beer spilled on me isn't my idea of fun because a drunk, who can't walk a straight line, attempts to climb over seats carrying four or five beers. It is offensive to me to have a drunk yelling obscenities (actually slurring them)in front of children.
But, because sporting events make money on the sale of alcohol, it is okay. You don't see them trying to keep the drunks in a 'controlled' area.

Aug 14, 2009, 5:05pm Permalink
C D

I pulled my idea from both Darien Lake and GCC, for anyone interested.

When I worked at Darien Lake, it's much easier to ask a guest to walk over to the nearest designated smoking area, or put out their cigarette. It isn't enforced as much as I would like, but it is enforced.

GCC is all about not smoking within 50 feet of entrances/exits to the building, especially outside the front of the building and outside the Student Union.

Aug 14, 2009, 5:36pm Permalink
C D

@Bea, I'm with you there. I used to go to the dirt track in Canandaigua until one night some drunk bum started taking swings at me and my friends up in the stands.

Aug 14, 2009, 5:40pm Permalink

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