Society does not tolerate racial slurs because it is offensive. We also do not tolerate cursing again it's offensive. We only tolerate a certain amount of skin to be shown on television. So why does society tolerate smoking? I have asthma and I get attacks by being around smokers in public. When asked not to light up most smokers make an issue of it and say its their right. Why is it their right to invade my space with chemicals that are harmful to my health?
126504
Largely because the people who decide what should and should not be tolerated are smokers.  There is currently a bill in the NH Senate to ban smoking in all eating establishments.  It passed the House, and the Governor approves of it, but the Senate may kill it.  Why, because they all smoke!  I still hope the bill does pass.  NH is the only state in New England that does not have such a ban in place.  It has not hurt patronage to restaurants in the other states. In fact, patronage has increased.  I know there are restaurants I refuse to go into due to smoking.  I have the same problem you do compounded by anxiety reaction to a nicotine allergy.  I refuse to go into a Blakes, Friendly's or Applebees restaurant because of the smoking.  They would get my business if smoking were banned. \nI find that, generally speaking, most smokers are the most thoughtless, inconsiderate people on the planet.  They don't care if their smoking infringes on the rights of others.  They don't care if it is harmful to others.  They make a huge mess by dumping the butts all over the place because they are lazy slobs.  The worst thing is that they drop them into mulch in public landscaping thinking it is a safe spot, when it is the most dangerous spot to put it.  Mulch is highly flammable and you have no idea how many mulch fires and smolderings I have had to put out over the years!  It is their right to harm themselves, but they have no right to infringe on the rights of others who do not wish to be exposed.  Rights have to be earned, not given.  Furthermore, rights come with responsibility.  If your rights infringe upon the rights of others, then find some other way or place to assert your rights where no one else can be harmed or bothered.  That's my 2 cents!
560544
I'd LIKE for cigs to be illegal...  My husband and sister in law both have asthma, and sometimes have to walk RIGHT PAST smokers to get to the EMERGENCY ROOM.  Hello!?  And my father-in-law died of cancer caused by second-hand smoke in his childhood.  I'd LOVE tobbaco to be illegal.  Will it ever happen?  *hopeless laughter*
375207
"However, when did this country decide that hate crime language is O.K. to spew at a PAYING audience? Why shouldn't the group of people offended sue his *ss off?"\n\nUhh... when the First Amendment was ratified way back in 1776... It isn't "illegal", so the lawsuit would have no merit and be tossed on Constitutional grounds... By the way, I find your "hate crime language" comment highly offensive- expect to hear from my attorney!
200828
oh boo hoo...bc smoking is great....go to better ventalated restaurants or stay at home...a lot of people like to smoke after they eat....im a smoker and my teeth are white....my nails are healthy....oh yeah and my breath doesn't stink....actually a lot of people can't tell i smoke unless they see me....i chew gum i wear perfume...im good to go...its people like you that are ruining it for us...so shh
422103
People who believe this is freedom of speech have disregarded the families right to privacy, especially to cereminiously honor there loved ones that have died.  If racial remarks were said outside of a minority's funeral or hateful remarks to homosexuals funeral, it wouldn't be tolerated.  It shouldn't be tolerated for a soldier's funeral either.
399887
People being too politically correct is a major issue. It only dulls our senses to what is really going on and what is dangerous. We are becoming too...."tolerant" of immoral behavior, ruining innocence for our children too soon, allowing poison ideas to run wild in our country....giving too much leniancy to enemies of our ideals. ...etc. It's sick and sad. Probably a side effect from everyone being on LEGAL DRUGS pushed to us like candy from our doctors. It's turning everyone into zombies who think everything is fine and dandy.
233231
Smoke free patios are the next wave, although the smokers will claim their rights are being violated (what else is new?)  I would like to enjoy the outdoor patios during the summer, but with the smokers flocking to them and puffing away on their dirty, smelly habit, it makes them an unattractive location to enjoy a meal or some drinks.\n\nAmazes me how smokers don't get it.  Smell your closets on a nice rainy day.  Will you ever understand that blowing your smoke in public places is inconsiderate and subjects others to your unpleasant odor (and rudeness).\n\nSuccessful lawsuits against smokers and establishments are just a matter of time.
100072
I do not smoke, but I think that it is one's right to do so! I do agree with banning it from certain places(due to ppl. like me who are allergic!), but if you want to smoke outside...that's your deal!
382458
I don't think the occasional whack on the bum is tantamount to child abuse.\nFar to many, so called professionals who don't have kids of their own, are spouting off about what we should and shouldn't do with ours.\nADHD is just a modern euphemism for "little brat" And parents who buy into all that crap about letting your kids express themselves, are being walked all over by the" little darlings."\n\nSomeone made a comment about fear not being a good reason for kids to be not doing something that is harmful to them, but often kids have no sense when it comes to making the right decision, and so what, are you gonna just let them smoke until they realise the error of their ways, or are you gonna stop them by more forceful means in the meantime?
124565
Who says that the first is ok? You have to be pretty disconnected these days to NOT already know that smoking is bad for you. Smokers know better than anybody what the disadvantages of smoking are. The preachiness they get handed on a near daily basis seems pretty damn ridiculous to me. \n\nI am not a smoker. I've never smoked a cigarrette and never plan to. Every smoker I know tells me to never pick one up - and you know what? Their arguements against smoking are far more convincing than non-smokers. \n\nFor those people who choose to smoke, as long as they smoke outside to prevent secondhand smoke problems, I've got no problem with their habit. They're adults and they've made an informed choice. It's not the choice many of us (including me) would have made, but they have the right to make it. \n\nSo far, society has not made it acceptable to directly harrass obese people in this way. Overweight and obese people ARE discriminated against and put under considerable emotional strain because of their weight - our society puts too much credence on how people look for it to be otherwise. As the epidemic of obesity continues, it may become more common to verbally harrass people who are overweight and obese.
474572
ever notice that hardcore non-smokers never complain about industrial smokestacks, car exhaust fumes, diesel fumes, or cow farts!  not the smoke from a stove or fireplace.  not the local chicken processing plant or the paper mill??  just about the rights of a smoker.  we're in training by our government & a few "i think i'm perfect" people.  kinda' like Pavlov's dog.
81518
Well they say we have free speech but i think its really limited speech you can say what you want as long as it dont offend somebody which is hard to do cuz you can say something and not mean nothing by it but someone could get offended
212317
Free speech is a right. It has limits. You cannot threaten people. But if you believe they are wrong or sinning, they do not have a right to not be offended, as you are neither threatening them or harming them in any way.\n\nYou cannot punish peoples' thoughts and still be a free nation. \n\nYou have no right to deny others' speech merely because you don't like it. It is not harassment. You are equally free to ignore them or refute them. But if you curtail their rights by bringing government force against them, we've all lost.\n\nThat is a path that leads to oppression of all people.
306570
Censorship doesn't make much sense. The word "Jew" for a long time was not allowed in an online Scrabble game. Now they allow it. Does that make sense?\nSince four letter words are not allowed on some sites, some people type f-u-c-k, and the words go through. Does that make sense?\nPeople that use a 4-letter word in every sentence are boring, but how can words hurt us, as the old saying suggests?\nP.S. When I reread what I have just said, I must admit that some words do hurt, especially if they are true, but I don't think that justifies censorship which is subjecting us to another's sensitivities.
646892
There are two ways "society" trys to control its own behaviour in order to prevent utter chaos; The first is by imposing a legal code, or a set of laws that "everyone" has agreed are things you should be punished for doing, like killing other people or stealing stuff.  The other set of rules is the more arbitrary one of a "moral code".  It is within this second set of unenforced (and generally unenforceable) rules that definitions of what is and isn't cursing develop.  Regardless of what anyone tries to tell you, morality is entirely a cultural construct.  There is nothing but opinion that makes one word bad and another acceptable.  You can say "fudge you!" or "f*ck you!" will equal vehemence and mean exactly the same thing, but one will get you kicked out of WalMart.\n\nIt does not really make any sense, but if you want to get ahead in this world, the easiest way to do it is to go along with the morality of whatever society you happen by birth to be a part of.  These "rules" and acceptable behaviours serve as a model of behaviour that is supposed to make everyone less "uncomfortable", so you are right, "curse" words is a completely made-up notion.\n\nOn the subject of what is acceptable to some societies but not to others, you might enjoy this one VERY strange example:\n\nhttp://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art38424.asp\n\nTry putting THAT in a nativity scene in the US!
303935
Once again political correctness steps on the rights of the majority so as not to offend the minority. We have so many so called " Do-Gooders " who think everything should be fair and equal, that they don't stop to realize that instead of fair and equal they're biased in another direction. I'm not EVEN a smoker and it baffles me as to why someones "right " to not see someone smoking or possibly smell smoke in an open air facility, overides the smokers " right ' to smoke. Who determined this ? I'm not a Christian, Catholic or Jew...but why is it that these religions can openly be taken pot shots at...while we have apologists for fanatical Muslims ? Why does a homosexual couples " right " to expression of public affection override my " right " to NOT want to see expressions of homosexual public affection ?As far as I'm concerned when it comes to these Liberal " Let's make everything fair by taking away tradition " Jerks ...F*ck Em !!! They'll have to pry my Santa, Nativity scene, Easter Bunny, Kwaanzaa Candles, Star of David, American flag and .44 Magnum out of my cold,dead hands!!!!
163994
You make some excellent points about this.  On the surface, you are correct that people who have addictions to sex, food, alcohol and so many other vices aren’t kept away the way smokers are.  But the difference is, when you smoke, you affect other people who may be around you. \n \nSecond hand smoke is a serious health concern.  The US Environmental Protection Agency has classified secondhand smoke as a Group A carcinogen, which means that it is a significant causal factor to cancer in humans. \nSmoking is being restricted because everyone is vulnerable to secondhand smoke exposure in public places, such as restaurants, shopping centers, public transportation, schools and daycare centers. Although some businesses are reluctant to ban smoking, there is no credible evidence that going smoke-free is bad for business. Public places where children go are a special area of concern.  \n\nIf a restaurant existed that was for smokers ONLY, then that would be great.  They all the smokers could dine and socialize and snort each other’s smoke.  But when there are non smokers present, it’s unfair to subject them to the health hazard of breathing in the smoke. \n\nThanks for this discussion.  You articulated your points very well and I appreciate the opportunity to share.