rra
King Koopa
Posts: 10,145
|
Post by rra on Jan 5, 2008 2:50:25 GMT -5
(NOTE: The subject heading is a joke. Don't get mad!) French smokers say c’est la vie to ban Will new law change image of country known long for its smoky cafes? PARIS - A ban on smoking in public spaces came into effect Thursday, a change that may alter the image of a country defined in part by its smoky cafes and cigarette-puffing intellectuals. France’s 15 million smokers will be banned from lighting up in workplaces, schools, airports, hospitals and other “closed and covered” public places. More than 175,000 agents are to enforce the ban, handing out fines of $88 for smokers and $174 for employers who look the other way. In a year, the ban will extend to cafes and restaurants — sure to be the moment of truth for a certain image of France, where writers like Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre are remembered with cigarettes dangling from their mouths. “A world is collapsing,” writer Philippe Delerm wrote in a front-page ode to the cigarette in Le Monde newspaper, referring to the alluring image of the chain-smoking intellectual. “Those were good times. But nobody thought about the collateral damage.” Statistics — like 66,000 smoker deaths per year in France — and changing norms are snuffing out the romance along with the cigarette. Italy, Spain, Belgium, Britain and Ireland are all ahead of France in enacting broad smoking bans. Despite staggered anti-smoking initiatives over more than a decade, French smokers have, so far, held sway as officials turned a blind eye to rule-bending. No sign of panic Nearly a quarter of French people are smokers. Yet a day before the “no smoking” signs go up, there was no sign of panic in the streets. A scattered check of pharmacies suggested that, so far, smokers are calm, with no pre-ban rush for smokers’ aids like nicotine patches. However, two companies that make ventilated smoking rooms for offices say they are gearing up for a rush in orders. Manuel Bussac, 25, who works in real estate and smokes 15 cigarettes a day, is angry because the ban leaves him with no choice. “It’s the obligation that bothers me,” he said, sitting at a sidewalk cafe with a pack of Marlboros planted squarely on the table. Behavior shift Bussac said he has done his workplace smoking on his office balcony, allowing him to carry on with business on the telephone. Starting Thursday, he will have to smoke in the street. At five minutes per cigarette, “I think I’ll lose an hour of work,” he said. But will the ban incite him to cut down or stop smoking? “On the contrary, I’ll smoke more now,” he said. Some people clearly need to have the choice made for them, and Bernard Geoffrey, a 29-year-old firefighter from the southwest city of Nimes, is among them. “If you have to go outside to smoke, you smoke less,” Geoffrey said. “I’m going to stop in February, using my willpower. That’s all.” For those lacking sufficient inner strength to break the habit, the government will help by reimbursing up to $65 per person per year for stop-smoking aids. It will also allow companies to invest in strictly regulated special smoking rooms inside the workplace. Gaelle Parlouer, a 28-year-old who describes herself as a heavy smoker, is happy about the ban because it will help her to cut down. But she refuses to quit. “I will never stop smoking,” she said. “We have just one life so we should profit from the little pleasures.” www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16921417/
|
|
|
Post by Captain Wonderful on Jan 5, 2008 3:04:01 GMT -5
The smoking ban here has absolutely crippled all of the old "hangouts" such as Denny's, Steak and Shake, and, to some extent, the bars, too. It's kind of a shame, too, but, meh. I guess it's easier to pass a law than to just...I don't know...leave the area if someone is smoking.
|
|
Ace Diamond
Patti Mayonnaise
Believes in Adrian Veidt, as Should We All.
mmm...flavor text
Posts: 36,043
|
Post by Ace Diamond on Jan 5, 2008 3:06:35 GMT -5
The smoking ban here has absolutely crippled all of the old "hangouts" such as Denny's, Steak and Shake, and, to some extent, the bars, too. It's kind of a shame, too, but, meh. I guess it's easier to pass a law than to just...I don't know...leave the area if someone is smoking. yeah cause it's the right of everyone to pollute the air with their smoke.
|
|
|
Post by eJm on Jan 5, 2008 3:21:02 GMT -5
The smoking ban here has absolutely crippled all of the old "hangouts" such as Denny's, Steak and Shake, and, to some extent, the bars, too. It's kind of a shame, too, but, meh. I guess it's easier to pass a law than to just...I don't know...leave the area if someone is smoking. yeah cause it's the right of everyone to pollute the air with their smoke. Oh....God... RUN AWAY EVERYONE! A WAR IS ABOUT TO RAGE! *runs into bomb shelter*
|
|
|
Post by MiLo Duck on Jan 5, 2008 3:21:42 GMT -5
The smoking ban here has absolutely crippled all of the old "hangouts" such as Denny's, Steak and Shake, and, to some extent, the bars, too. It's kind of a shame, too, but, meh. I guess it's easier to pass a law than to just...I don't know...leave the area if someone is smoking. yeah cause it's the right of everyone to pollute the air with their smoke. Moreover it should be the right of business owners to cater to whatever legal clientel they desire. I never understood why non smokers couldn't use all that money they save by not smoking and go and start a non smoking establishment. Come on, ya'all can get together and vote to impose your lifestyle on me. I say use that energy and lung capacity to create alternatives for yourselves. Think positive
|
|
|
Post by Leaving after 1,600 on Jan 5, 2008 3:27:22 GMT -5
The smoking ban here has absolutely crippled all of the old "hangouts" such as Denny's, Steak and Shake, and, to some extent, the bars, too. It's kind of a shame, too, but, meh. I guess it's easier to pass a law than to just...I don't know...leave the area if someone is smoking. yeah cause it's the right of everyone to pollute the air with their smoke. Hey if you don't like it leave the bar, are better yet here are some other things that need to be banned for my safety: Sick people: if you have any type of cold/flu/upset stomach/runny nose then stay out of public, i don't want you spreading your germs. Gotta go to the doctors? Wait 'till you're not sick. Crying babies: If you have a kid who only cries well it's annoying stay away from my nice quiet area. Stupid ringtones: I don't want to be subject to them. Non potty trained kids: I shouldnt have to smell that while i'm enjoying my meal. People with aids: They may get cut stay in the house. I'm sure i can think of more, but I'm too tired.
|
|
|
Post by Insomniac on Jan 5, 2008 3:30:23 GMT -5
yeah cause it's the right of everyone to pollute the air with their smoke. Hey if you don't like it leave the bar, are better yet here are some other things that need to be banned for my safety: Sick people: if you have any type of cold/flu/upset stomach/runny nose then stay out of public, i don't want you spreading your germs. Gotta go to the doctors? Wait 'till you're not sick. Crying babies: If you have a kid who only cries well it's annoying stay away from my nice quiet area. Stupid ringtones: I don't want to be subject to them. Non potty trained kids: I shouldnt have to smell that while i'm enjoying my meal. People with aids: They may get cut stay in the house. I'm sure i can think of more, but I'm too tired. But smoking in a public place is something that isn't necessary and isn't required. No one needs to smoke in a restaurant or a bar. It's harmful to other people, so why should they be subject to it?
|
|
|
Post by Jason Todd Grisham on Jan 5, 2008 3:32:17 GMT -5
Hey if you don't like it leave the bar, are better yet here are some other things that need to be banned for my safety: Sick people: if you have any type of cold/flu/upset stomach/runny nose then stay out of public, i don't want you spreading your germs. Gotta go to the doctors? Wait 'till you're not sick. Crying babies: If you have a kid who only cries well it's annoying stay away from my nice quiet area. Stupid ringtones: I don't want to be subject to them. Non potty trained kids: I shouldnt have to smell that while i'm enjoying my meal. People with aids: They may get cut stay in the house. I'm sure i can think of more, but I'm too tired. But smoking in a public place is something that isn't necessary and isn't required. No one needs to smoke in a restaurant or a bar. It's harmful to other people, so why should they be subject to it? You have a good point. The main issue I have is that I don't think it's the government's job to protect me from the dangers of second hand smoke. So far throughout my life I've done fine by myself. By walking away. And going to smoke free establishments that didn't need legal coercion.
|
|
|
Post by Leaving after 1,600 on Jan 5, 2008 3:32:27 GMT -5
Hey if you don't like it leave the bar, are better yet here are some other things that need to be banned for my safety: Sick people: if you have any type of cold/flu/upset stomach/runny nose then stay out of public, i don't want you spreading your germs. Gotta go to the doctors? Wait 'till you're not sick. Crying babies: If you have a kid who only cries well it's annoying stay away from my nice quiet area. Stupid ringtones: I don't want to be subject to them. Non potty trained kids: I shouldnt have to smell that while i'm enjoying my meal. People with aids: They may get cut stay in the house. I'm sure i can think of more, but I'm too tired. But smoking in a public place is something that isn't necessary and isn't required. No one needs to smoke in a restaurant or a bar. It's harmful to other people, so why should they be subject to it? Why should i be subject to a sick person coughing and blowing there nose. Why must people have the most annoying ringtones and never turn them off? Why most parents not put a air freshner in the kids diaper before leaving the house.
|
|
|
Post by Insomniac on Jan 5, 2008 3:39:14 GMT -5
Why should i be subject to a sick person coughing and blowing there nose. Why must people have the most annoying ringtones and never turn them off? Why most parents not put a air freshner in the kids diaper before leaving the house. Are you comparing ringtones and diaper smell to cigarette smoke? Last time I checked, ringtones aren't going to cause potential health problems or make you start coughing when you first come into contact with it. And once parents obtain the ability to control a child's bowel movements, I'm sure you won't have to worry about that one. As for people with colds, it's easier to not smoke in public than it is to spread germs. You can find germs in a number of places, and there's no avoiding them. You will come into contact with them every single day unless you live inside a bubble.
|
|
|
Post by Leaving after 1,600 on Jan 5, 2008 3:40:54 GMT -5
Why should i be subject to a sick person coughing and blowing there nose. Why must people have the most annoying ringtones and never turn them off? Why most parents not put a air freshner in the kids diaper before leaving the house. Are you comparing ringtones and diaper smell to cigarette smoke? Last time I checked, ringtones aren't going to cause potential health problems or make you start coughing when you first come into contact with it. And once parents obtain the ability to control a child's bowel movements, I'm sure you won't have to worry about that one. As for people with colds, it's easier to not smoke in public than it is to spread germs. You can find germs in a number of places, and there's no avoiding them. You will come into contact with them every single day unless you live inside a bubble. This is kinda delving into a political debate so I'll walk away, though we can discuss this over pm if you would like.
|
|
|
Post by Insomniac on Jan 5, 2008 3:42:23 GMT -5
Are you comparing ringtones and diaper smell to cigarette smoke? Last time I checked, ringtones aren't going to cause potential health problems or make you start coughing when you first come into contact with it. And once parents obtain the ability to control a child's bowel movements, I'm sure you won't have to worry about that one. As for people with colds, it's easier to not smoke in public than it is to spread germs. You can find germs in a number of places, and there's no avoiding them. You will come into contact with them every single day unless you live inside a bubble. This is kinda delving into a political debate so I'll walk away, though we can discuss this over pm if you would like. I see nothing political about this. And I don't really see the need to go into this any further, considering I've made my point.
|
|
|
Post by Leaving after 1,600 on Jan 5, 2008 3:42:42 GMT -5
This is kinda delving into a political debate so I'll walk away, though we can discuss this over pm if you would like. I see nothing political about this. And I don't really see the need to go into this any further, considering I've made my point. Right on, better safe then locked.
|
|
|
Post by Dick Foley on Jan 5, 2008 3:45:46 GMT -5
So what's she going to do after sex now?
|
|
|
Post by Leaving after 1,600 on Jan 5, 2008 3:46:57 GMT -5
So what's she going to do after sex now? What i do turn on tv and kick the prostitue out.
|
|
Cranjis McBasketball
Crow T. Robot
Knew what the hell that thing was supposed to be
Peace Love and Nothing But
Posts: 41,999
|
Post by Cranjis McBasketball on Jan 5, 2008 3:49:46 GMT -5
So what's she going to do after sex now? What i do turn on tv and kick the prostitue out. You have a TV in your car?
|
|
Cranjis McBasketball
Crow T. Robot
Knew what the hell that thing was supposed to be
Peace Love and Nothing But
Posts: 41,999
|
Post by Cranjis McBasketball on Jan 5, 2008 3:53:16 GMT -5
I think Bill Hicks said it best when he said, "I now realize I smoke for simply one reason and that is spite"
|
|
|
Post by Leaving after 1,600 on Jan 5, 2008 3:54:56 GMT -5
I think Bill Hicks said it best when he said, "I now realize I smoke for simply one reason and that is spite" Wait theres other reasons?
|
|
|
Post by Leaving after 1,600 on Jan 5, 2008 4:02:20 GMT -5
I don't get how because i choose to smoke which ain't illegali should have to go outside in the freezing cold to smoke in a bar. Much worse goes on inside.
|
|
Cranjis McBasketball
Crow T. Robot
Knew what the hell that thing was supposed to be
Peace Love and Nothing But
Posts: 41,999
|
Post by Cranjis McBasketball on Jan 5, 2008 4:05:03 GMT -5
I don't get how because i choose to smoke which ain't illegali should have to go outside in the freezing cold to smoke in a bar. Much worse goes on inside. Being forced to smoke outside comes with the added bonus of being easily being able to skip out on the bill. Seriously, you practically gotta be 3 miles away to smoke, so by the time they figure out you ain't coming back, you're long since gone.
|
|