Tulsaboyw, tulsa (4/23/2009 7:24:05 AM)

Jim, I agree.

I get tired of the smokers saying that my rights to fight smoking ends at the end of my nose (as big as it is).

The fact is my right to breath clean air (or at least ventilated air) is more relevant than ones socalled right to smoke.

And since one can die in reality from just being around it, I long ago banned it in my moms home and in my home, and that all relatives must adhere to it or not come over.

Too many places do not have proper ventalation in order to handle smoking as it is.

If one has to smoke, at least be intelligent and have proper ventalation where you do it.

My brothernlaw will likely die in his mid 50's per this.
In my own case, when I started dating , I refused to date any smokers. Could not stand kissing a ashtray), with one sole exception, never did and never will.

But also cant stand the smell of clothes once the smoke has permutated the clothes/furniture,etc.

It can take weeks to get the smoke smell and etc out of fabric & etc..
MY biggest grip about smokers is those who either smoke at the door of a entrance (when its the only way in) or block it such with their smoking outside like they have at some places.

In those cases, its gets a bit testy.

grizz, tulsa (4/23/2009 7:38:24 AM)

Fine, outlaw tobacco. What's next then? fat, red meat, guns, idiot drivers, cell phones, stairs, high heels, where will it end? Don't smoke if you don't want to. Leave everyone else alone. Don't even think about making my decisions for me.

ok smoke free, tulsa (4/23/2009 8:38:02 AM)

I added a comment a while ago and it didn't get on the web for one reason or another. Anyways, I was writing that it seems like the state of Oklahoma refuses to look at these studies. I don't know if the tax money generated from tobacco sales has blinded them or what the reason is? Senator Meyers continues to be a champion of our health. At last session he was out there again asking for smoking bans in ALL workplaces. He was shot down and asked to do yet another study before bringing it back to the floor next session. Why are we allowing our legislators to drag their feet on this when it is common knowledge that second hand smoke is dangerous to all employees and patrons of businesses that allow smoking. Just because someone works, entertains, goes dancing, or plays a game of pool or darts in a place where alcohol is served doesn't mean they are second class citizens. I don't know what kind of cruelty would separate these particular workers out of being protected in the work place. If it is the Christian Right... What about " the least of my brothers." If it is the money from cigarette tax... forget the money, we want our health, IF it is some sort of skewed thinking about smokers rights or the rights of business owners... we make all kind of laws to protect ourselves that trump your desire to run the business the way you want. That is why you can't serve us rotten food, you have to clean your bathroom and kitchen even though you don't want to and you have to wear a seat belt on the drive home.
We want smoke free now before it kills our favorite musician or waitress
musicians and music lovers for smoke free listening. oksmokefree.blogspot

Bullhead, Nicut (4/23/2009 9:22:58 AM)

Sorry for the pun but Gary looks like Dilbert's boss, the pointy haired boss..

tulsa citizen, (4/23/2009 11:24:25 AM)

I know first hand that these statistics are true. I lost 2 grandparents and my father from tobacco. Too bad our legislators don't seem to get this! They are wanting to get their hands on tobacco settlement money and use if for other things than tobacco education and cessation. Our local bars aren't any better by taking money from Camel! Nobody around here really gets this do they?

Paula, Midtown (4/23/2009 11:28:36 AM)

You wacko liberals are amazing. You want to legalize meth and cocaine and heroine and dope, but you want to make cigarettes illegal. good lord.

Paula, Midtown (4/23/2009 11:29:37 AM)

grizz said it well.

Tulsaboyw, tulsa (4/23/2009 12:17:44 PM)

I dont care if its outlawed or not.
For me Im about, let me breath clean air or at least ventalated such that its not a issue.

However even now there are entrances that one cant thru without going thru smoking areas or at times smokers who wont accomodate the need of a elderly person who obviously might not want smoke around.

In my own case, I went to a store were the only way in was thru a group of smokers and it was obvious they were ignoring the smokehole area and refused to move away, and blew smoke in my face and nearly did same in my moms.

For reasons I would rather not specify, it wasnt a good idea.

Fortunatley most smokers are good people.

As long as the above or smoking in a elevator (which is illegal everywhere I beileve), and also in vraious places known to be unsafe or known insufficent ventaltion.

That and in my own home & car, friends & family cannot smoke and cant even smoke on my property.
But if I am over at a smokers home, I do what i can to accomodate my own needs for clean air, even if I must carry a portable fan.

Fortunatley only one friend in my 51 yrs have i needed a fan like that when I went over to his place. In inlaws case, they get enough elderly visitors that they tend to stop smoking for the day or two that they get visits.

Tulsaboyw, tulsa (4/23/2009 12:21:53 PM)

I do know that for me that just being around smokers can be harmful to a non-smoker.

It is fact that a nonsmoker can die from a loved ones smoking.

At the same time, a smoker could live to be 100+.

My wifes grandpa lived to 101 and had been a heavy smoker (cigs & cigars) and a heavy drinker and major meat eater his whole life.

Though his wife died in her 50's and was far enough back that we cant confirm if it was per his smoking or otherwise.

The above is 15yrs ago.

billw001, Tulsa (4/24/2009 9:34:51 AM)

I would rather be around a smoker than a drinker any day.

Smoking will kill you..... Drinking can kill whole families... Why don't we hear about that?? HMM???

I will tell you why, people don't like the smell of smoke, but drinking does not bother them. That's why.

Lets see the stats on drinking, being drunk, drunk driving, fighting due to being drunk, mowing people down because they are drunk and pissed off....

MReed918, (4/24/2009 6:33:18 PM)

I believe in being a polite smoker. I smoke, my husband doesn't and never has. I don't smoke in our home and I don't smoke in our car. I don't throw my cigarette butts on the ground and I try to be respectful of others.

Conversely, I, as a smoker am always at the mercy of the unknown drivers I share the road with who may be driving drunk and just may veer into my lane and wipe me and my family out by virtue of a head-on collision.

Some people are allergic and react badly to "fragrances." I now hear that the obese are contributing to global warming.

This country was founded upon freedom AND Judeo-Christian ethics. We seem to have lost sight of the fact that responsible people need to behave decently towards one another.

Now who do we blame for that loss of sight??

I don't throw my cigarette butts on the ground

MReed918, (4/24/2009 6:34:44 PM)

And I have no idea why "I don't throw my cigarett butts on the ground" was repeated at the end of my post.

OkeyDokey, Anytown USA (4/25/2009 9:27:56 AM)

I have a little personal testimonial to make here regarding this issue.I watched my father die with COPD/Enphysema at the age of 63, from smoking all his life.I watched one of my best friends take his last breath, dying because of cigarettes..I smoked for 45 years and like most smokers, I hated for anyone to tell me I should not smoke
for health reasons, if for no other. Did not fully realize what I was doing to my health..until it become too late to do anything
about it...I did quit smoking cold turkey 6 years ago..when the doctors ran test's and told me "I only had thirty percent" of my lungs left
and that "the damage has been done"..no way to cure this disease...but.."if I quit smoking,and took my medication's my condition would not get
any worse...it won't get any better either". I have now been on oxygen for six-year's, 24 hours a day...unable to participate in anything physically demanding..like I used to, like I watch other's do...makes me very mad..."at myself" for "not listening and destroying my health like that. It was very stupid of me to ignore the warnings and keep right on pumping those life threatening chemicals into my body, not facing the reality of what I was doing to myself ! Never really knew what life was all about until I started down the path towards the end of mine. A little too late my dear smoking friend !
I am dying now with COPD/Enphysema...the same thing I watched my daddy die with...Lord how I miss him ! Please, don't ignore the warnings, don't be dumb like I was for those 45 years, quit NOW..before it is too late for you too ! I'm 68 years old...five years older than my dad was when he died with these lung diseases..and I thank God for every single day, every single breath now, and for giving me a little time to do my best to try...and help others realize just what they are doing to themselves how they may be robbing themselves and their loved ones of precious time together..all because of the joy of smoking..I regret now, that I am not going to see my grandkids go through school and graduate...one of them, "Little Nate", the youngest is only 18-months old..my baby girl's baby ! I won't miss him ! I'll be stone cold dead ! But, can't help but wonder what effects it will have on him with his "Poppy" not being around...Smoking was fun folks...I guess if I had a cigarette two-feet long now, I COULD smoke it..but I wouldn't..when I first quit six-years ago, I joked about it and told people that "I was so nervous that I could thread a Singer sewing machine while it was running". Not funny now...life is not a "joking matter". Life is precious and fragile, and, the quality of life can be good or bad, it is our choice, depending on the "choices we make"...if you smoke..you will make yours much longer and the quality of it will be much better...if you will quit now,before it is too late for you !
With love and concern for my fellow man, I am,
Yours truly, "DJB", Poteau, Oklahoma
A former smoker and
Vietnam veteran

Tulsaboyw, tulsa (4/25/2009 8:12:00 PM)

As I said, many smokers are good people who actually are very good about 'how' they smoke..

Ie they do in fact 'not smoke' around areas that are obviously not 'safe' for smoking, or around groups of seniro citizens, or similar.

Unfortuantley for me, I too often have seen some of the worst of smokers who were in all likleyhood bad people even without the smoking issue involved.. so I accept that its not likely per smoking.

For me alone it sall about, that i considfer my right to breath air that is not heavy in smoking to be more relevant than a smokers 'right' to smoke.

It is a fact, that those who smoke will die sooner (though thats not universally true) in general than those who dont.

Also, that those who are near them may die earlier too.

It is per the above that I err on the side of the obvious and disallow any and all somoking in my cars,homes,etc.. and when my elderly releatives or other elderly attend the same event I am at, that I disallow smoking for their sake unless they are themselves smoking.

I dont otherwise care, and will tend to not visit relatives who smoke unless we meet elsehwere.
Otherwise, go for it.

tobacco, Oklahoma City (4/29/2009 1:27:46 PM)

ATTENTION!! "Prohibition did not work! it was repealed due to the numbers of Americans that decided that they wanted to drink and more importantly due to the number of Americans that wanted to make loads of cash. Tobacco (also noted for being a MAJOR Cash Cow) is still around for the smae reason!. WE KNOW IT KILLS! Does ir really matter how many? Not really unless of course it's you or your loved ones. The problem: It's leagl for people over 18 to use it which leads to addiction. (The thing we don't talk about). Worst problem: We let people (youth) under 18 use it, which leads to even more addicted adults!! Solution? KEEP IT AWAY FROM OUR KIDS AND WE WILL HAVWE LESS ADULT USERS. Until WE decide to change laws to restrict smokers, they have evry right to use tobacco. Of course we know (think) they'll never push for this considering it's dumb to ask to die. So let's get smart. Help them quit!. They want to. they just need help. Kill the real culprit. The industry. You'd be surprised how much money you'd be saving.

OkeyDokey, Anytown USA (4/29/2009 3:38:02 PM)

I am not qualified to be a preacher, and this is just my opinion..which is up to the reader to either accept or ignore..Tobacco..is Evil...and just as with Murder, drugs, theft. and any kind of destructive elements in the woorld today, I have never read the Bible a lot, but, must agree with a few baisc things I have learned from the Holy Book..whether one is religious or not..."seek the truth and it will set your free"
and one of those truths is that "the LOVE of money...IS...the root of ALL Evil"...We see evidence of this everywhere we look in the world today...and especially in government and on Wall Street..it's on the nightly news every day all day long. end of speech..Peace, Love and Happiness to one and all...Okey Dokey ?