A Smoking Rant

[Sableonblonde]

I'm a non-smoker who doesn't like the smell of smoke, but if I'm around it then I put up with it, no big deal. What can be annoying is if I'm sitting in a bar and someone lights up beside me and the smoke goes right in my face. But I'm in a bar, so eh, I accept it. I am heartened by the number of people who do ask me first if I mind if they smoke. But I'd never try to stop someone from doing what they want to do.

The only thing that really bothers me in relation to smoking, is how it's perfectly acceptable for co-workers to take many cigarette breaks throughout the day, but if I wanted to whip out a book and read for 5 or 10 minutes once or twice an hour, that wouldn't fly. If someone walks by my desk and sees me reading a book then it looks like I'm slacking off...but it's perfectly okay for others to go and hang outside a couple times an hour. And I'm not saying it's the smokers' fault...surely they'd rather be smoking inside at their own desks rather than be out in the bitter cold. Still....

[Lace Neil Singer]

Just say you're taking a smoking break, too; then go outside and chill for a bit. Back when I used to work elsewhere, and there was just one nonsmoker; she used to do that. XD Cept she'd take a choc break.

[DrFaroohk]

I used to get this shitty attitude from co-workers when I'd go for a smoke.

"I wish _I_ could take a break and do nothing for 20 minutes!"

"Actually, I smoke in less than 2 minutes, and you're welcome to take a break. Go on, take one."

"I don't want a break."

No longer my problem. Break was offered and declined. No one's stopping them from taking breaks. They just feel like being rude and bitchy. Love it when that happens.

[blas87]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, where I work, the non smokers are worse than the smokers with break times, especially in winter when smokers will cut it short because it's too cold or windy. But of course, the smokers are always the ones accused of taking too long of breaks.

[AdminAssistant]

I had to have a plumber out to look at my shower - there's calcium buildup in the lines and the faucet needs to be replaced. He was obviously a heavy smoker, and now my whole freakin' house stinks. Blech. Have to deal with it again next week when he comes back out to fix it.

[telecom_goddess]

about smoke breaks vs non smoke breaks...I take no more breaks than what is alloted to me ....1 break in the morning, lunch, then 1 in the afternoon. I don't go out every hour or a couple times an hour...I have too much work to do and while I may be addicted I'm not THAT addicted.

One thing that annoys me is the movement toward eliminating smoking in all movies......I mean really? That's just ridiculous.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I have to admit that in my last job, I used to take smoke breaks; but with the full approval of the boss, who'd often sit down with the workers and smoke too. XD We could take them as long as we didn't leave the shop unmanned, or leave one person there when it was jammed.

In my current job, it's a petrol station so I tend to have a cigarette before work and one after. I'm not addicted; I can easily go eight hours without a smoke. Hell, I've been on holiday for two weeks with my nonsmoking parents and not lit up. XD

[guywithashovel]

10) Hey remember last night at the restaurant you saw your waiter go outside to have a smoke and you were totally disgusted? Well guess what - if not for that cigarette he would have beaten the shit out of you. Which would you prefer?

In this case, the smoker is just using his habit as an excuse to be a jerk. They're a lot like those co-workers I used to have who would passive-aggressively warn everyone before a meeting that "we didn't want to deal with them before they had a chance to smoke a cigarette."