I have been wanting to have a rant about this for ages.

Why is it that so many smokers, while at tram stops, will

1) stand smoking in the shelter so that everyone else avoiding the rain/snow has to suck in their fumes (especially infuriating first thing in the morning) and

2) when the tram finally comes why do these lazy gits think that it is OK to just throw their cigarettes on the ground, like somehow cigarette butts aren`t rubbish?

I will tell you why...because they are too damn lazy to walk to the garbage can and put their stinky butt in it. It is too beneath them to bend down after they have stubbed out their butt (THAT IS IF THEY ARE NOT TOO LAZY TO EVEN STAND ON IT AND PUT IT OUT) and pick it up and put it in the bin. Where do they think these butts will end up (ask the Dolphins who choke on them). Do they think the magic butt fairy (hmmm ) is going to come along and pick it up? Also, are these smokers the same people who say how sad it is that others would have to work for them on a Sunday if there was Sunday trading, and that would be unfair...what about those people who have to work to pick up the stinky butts (tenuous link I know, but it makes sense in my mind ) ?

Zürich is littered with millions of cigarette butts. It is absolutely hideous. "Oh what a lovely town, look how nice and clean it is...oh, look at all the filthy cigarettes littering every spare space on the pavement".

* lion roar * Thanks.

they do it just to p*ss you off.

Not all smokers throw their stubs on the floor, most actually use the ashtrays provided. As for the shelters, I always thought they were provided for all citizens and visitors not just the non-smoking population ( please correct me if I'm wrong). As for the litter problem may I suggest that tackling people dumping their rubbish in under-passes, chewing gum all over the pavements and beer cans is a far greater problem!

Don't worry, chances are you'll live longer than them and you'll get that tram shelter all to yourself. Smokers aren't lazy and non-caring about how their smoke affects others around them, they are just simply addicted and need to light up again.

1) why dont you buy an umbrella so you an have your very own smoke free shelter from the rain?

2) when they drop the butts, why dont you confront them and politely ask them not to drop it? they might think twice if you ask them....probably not but better to say something rather than watch it pass you by. You could be the catalyst for cleaning up the world! oh and if you see anyone dropping chewing gum you could mention that too.

Talking to a restaurant owner in Zug the other night about smokers, he summed them up pretty accurately saying “Smokers, are just spiteful…”

Wow! I enjoyed reading the rant, and enjoyed the replies even more!

Some consolation to the OP is the following news item I read recently .... about some little town here (cant remember which one) was passing an anti-litter law against cigarette FILTER tip butts - with a fine of chf80 per butt! Maybe it will come to pass in other areas one of these days?

I smoke self-made rolys with no filter ... they just dissolve/break down. So when I get visitors in summer and we sitting outside I ask them to use the ashtrays - not to copy me flipping mine into the garden!

The umbrella suggestion was good. Works both ways also, as was mentioned, and would save a lot of unnessary stress?

One strange phenomonon that was puzzling me has been solved by this OP .... those black spots I see everywhere on pavements and in subways.... its GUM!

Sounds a pretty idiotic sort of comment to make...? What is spiteful? .... We go and stand out in sub-freezing weather to have a smoke?.. And the non-smokers enjoy the indoor warmth? Think about it .... we (smokers) are even breathing in their re-cycled breath and silent farts!

Too bloody right mate, i've stopped walking my pet dolphin pass bus shelters for that very reason!!

Yeah - exactly - I gave up walking my dog too cause his feet got stuck to the gum and then the butts stuck to gum stuck on his feet!

I find the greater problem is the cat keeps coming home ****ed from drinking the dregs out of the beer cans and bottles!

Thats not true - not in Zurich, at the train and tram stops anyway.

You can, but thats not true either.

I guess he thinks its spiteful for a smoker to inflict their harmful fumes on everyone else. Its not really spite though is it? More that having basic consideration for others takes a back seat to their addiction.

So you don't agree with anything anyone says!

Erm. I guess I agree with the OP, it does seem really odd to me that smokers routinely throw their butts on the ground here, especially when they have so much civic pride, and in general keep the place really clean.

I guess I agree with the swathes of people who voted for the smoking ban too.

I'm sure I've agreed with someone once before too.....

Swathes: I think not!
Place really clean: Please open your eyes and see the rubbish all over the place.
It really amazes me that a person can spot a fag end rom 100 yards but miss a pilke of litter. But some of us choose to only see what the nasty smokers leave behind!

It seems really odd to me here that people who are focused on keeping fit and go to the gym 5x per week, cycle around lakes and up mountains and hike for fun are the same people who chain smoke.

Take a look at the train tracks. Zug station has more fag ends than stones :-) Gum is downright disgusting, especially in the summer when it sticks to your shoes.

Please note:
I do believe that I was the one who brought up the question of gum in this thread and therfore do not need to be told that gum is a problem here. On the fag ends, I again wish to repeat my earelier statement that not all smokers throw their buts on to the streets.
Do you really believe that all non smokers don't drop litter?

I don't think we can say with any certainty who is dropping the litter/ gum and so on. However, I doubt that it is the nonsmokers who grab the butts from out of the hands (or mouths) of the smokers and chuck them on the street or railway lines.

Rubbish all over the place? Where exactly? Are you really going to claim that Zurich isn't comparitively clean, just so you can excuse smokers from littering? Where do you think is cleaner than Zurich?

Here we go, the worlds cleanest cities - guess which is number six....

http://www.forbes.com/2007/04/16/wor...hisSpeed=15000