Excuse me while I reach for the tissues.
Of course it's not tough for us evil smokers, merely amusing at your expense it seems.
Oh so it's the special cigarette smoke in particular? Vehicle pollution, wood/coal smoke and other damaging environmental issues such as radiation etc do not cause such issues. I see. Or is it because the smoker is a real, visible and easier targetted perpetrator?
Your right, i dont care, I pay for public transport too, and it's my right to smoke outside, isn't that incredible. We both have rights and they conflict with each other. AMAZING

Yes of course I live here, smoking is not an issue I have encountered much if any complaints about tho. Likewise, I am not a shrink either, couldn't deal with over dramatic people all day......, but some people can so don't feel ashamed to fix an appointment.

To control factory emissions, there are various government regulations to look after those - and I am yet to meet a factory belching out pollution on a train station or at a tram stop.
As for vehicle pollution, I have chosen to not own a car - instead I am a member of Mobility, and only book a vehicle when I absolutely need one. I also support the City of Zurich moves to limit car use within the city, by limiting available parking (even in new developments).

No proven links of mobile phones & laptops to cancer or other health issues and, in fact, a large (360 000 subject), long-term (18 year) study conducted in Denmark has shown no link between mobile phone use and cancer.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_1...-10391704.html

Oh, and section 4 of this Fact Sheet from the National Cancer Institute (of USA) is pretty clear as well:

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/f...isk/cellphones

In comparison, all studies into smoking show that it increases cancer in both those who do it themselves and those who are exposed to it.

I do my research, and choose options which are safe for myself & my children.

Speaking of which (research), you should really be sure of your facts before trying to throw up straw men to distract people from the fact that smoking is deadly, both to those who do it to themselves and to those unfortunate enough to be in their close vicinity.

Your right, all other pollution is non consequential, radiation has not been proven so can't damaging, I guess cancers if all forms significantly on the rise in this electronic age we live in is purely down to passive smoking. Fact is neither has passive smoking been proven, and smoking in general CAN increase your chances if cancer.

But you believe what you choose to and those men in white jackets won't be too far behind

Here, get some facts. You seem to be lacking many.

http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/hea...o/howdoweknow/

And how about this one? Warning: extremely politically INcorrect, and some language.

VEry funny. enjoyed that

I love all these disclaimers in posts:

And how about this one? Warning: extremely politically INcorrect, and some language.

There must be a lot of Americans in the forum :O). I am surpised there was not disclaimer to sign or agree to. In Europe this is not really needed

Keep posting funny vids I love them. enjoy the weekend aheaD!

Of course, we can all refer to pro anti smoking statistics and government bs. I mean, I am sure you have heard the saying, if a lie is said often enough it becomes truth.

What you have failed to acknowledge in your reading of hype, misrepresenation and false truths is the actual FACTS you like to trumpet. Sad really. But of course, its individuals like yourself that this spin is designed to suck in. I like to call it the sheep mentality. Designed for individuals unable to think for themselves and apply common sense and study the statistics for their true value. But then again, I dont blame you, its hard to not be manipulated by goverments in this modern day.

There is no doubt that smoking CAN cause CANcer. No doub at all. Thus, in the attempts to prevent 100,000 smoking related deaths a year, thats in the UK alone, what best then to scare monger the non-smoking community into believing these smokers are harming you too. By the efforts of alienating the smoking sect of the community, the powers that be can hope to successfully convert smokers to non smokers. Is this a bad thing, no, not really. However, one has to question the morals behind such tactics, whereby the truths have been manipulated. There are greater social issues at stake here.

I wont resort to posting links and articles, its all online for you to access providing you want to read the whole FACTS in their entirety and not the cherry picked ones for your argument or the anti-smoker argument. Even the World Health Organisation (WHO) own finidngs, which freely admit and contradict their attention grabbing headline of "Passive Smoking Kills".

I'll leave you with the simple FACT that those drinking whole milk, put themselves at increased risk of contracting lung caner by 140%, more than passive smoke, in fact more than 8 times the 17% increase from second hand smoke.

Have you hugged a smoker today?

Am I Smokophobic?

Many non-smokers are, but to different degrees. You may be smokophobic if you display any one of the following symptoms. The more symptoms you have, the more extreme your phobia is.
Warning signs of smokophobia:

• You are afraid to even try smoking a cigarette (or anything else) because you think you might get "addicted."
• You are uncomfortable sitting next to smokers, fearful that their smoke might "harm" you or make your lungs "unclean."
• You would be uncomfortable having a smoker baby-sit your children.
• You think that smoking causes cancer and kills people.
• You think that lung cancer is primarily a "smokers' disease."
• You think that states should be allowed to pass laws against smoking.
• You feel upset when you see a smokers' pride parade.

When you see a burning building or a hotel fire, you immediately wonder if a smoker is to blame.
After spending time with smokers, you feel a compulsive urge to wash your clothes lest others think you, too, are a smoker.
Please, if you are a smokophobe, seek help immediately. Don't let your ignorance and fear contribute to any more unnecessary deaths of smokers!

Where there's Smokophobia, there's Fire!


A Lexicon of Tolerance

Bigotry is often conveyed in the words we use. To fight smokophobia and prejudice, it is critical that we use words in a proper, enlightened way. Understand the true meaning of words related to smoking and using those words properly is a major step in moving away from smokophobia. Here are some basic words and their correct meanings:
Smoke: a natural, aromatic substance produced by the slow reaction of life-giving oxygen with all-natural matter such as tobacco, marijuana, or cow chips. Smoking-quality smoke is filled with rich flavors, aromas, and natural essences.
Smoker: a human being who has discovered that he or she can enjoy the beneficial aspects of smoke.
Non-smoker: a human being who has not yet discovered that he or she can enjoy the beneficial aspects of smoke, or who biologically is unable to enjoy smoke.

Cancer: a disease that can afflict anyone, smoker or not, but which smokophobes often attribute to smoking.
Inhalational preference: one's natural orientation that leads to a preference to inhale plain air or smoke-enhanced air.
Identity: our core, defining attributes that show who we are as people, best characterized by inhalational preference.

Civil Rights and Smoking

Smokophobia is an attempt by the fearful and bigoted to suppress the basic human rights of smokers. Our struggle is a classic battle for our rights. Interestingly, the persecution against smokers has many parallels to the homophobic campaign against gays. Like gays, smokers tend to be the butt of many cruel jokes. They're viewed as a threat, and many people refuse to have smokers in their homes or - heaven forbid - baby-sitting their children, afraid that their children might pick up the "habit."
To foster basic human rights in this country, we need to keep the issue of smokers rights in the forefront of the press and the public consciousness. Smokers pride parades, demonstrations, advertisements, rallies, "coming out" parties, smoke-ins, smoke-outs, etc., all need to happen. Write your Congressman. Act up and speak out! And help us draw attention to media celebrities who will soon come out and speak out on their identity as smokers, in spite of anti-smoking paranoia in Hollywood and all over the nation. Spread the word! Ignorance = death.

Narrow-minded bigots often advocate the policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." It sounds like a nice idea, but in reality it's hopelessly unfair to smokers. The stark reality is that people - especially smokophobes - often can tell who the smokers are. The signs are subtle, but trained smokophobes know what to watch for. Things like:

• smokers taking frequent breaks to huddle outside in the cold,
• a pleasant aroma on the clothing,
• attractive coloration on fingers and teeth,
• small burn marks in upholstery and clothing,
• decorative ash trays in one's home and office,
• rectangular bulges in shirt pockets,
• extra absences from work for respiratory ailments,
• a masculine and persistent cough, and
• a voice with a sensuous rasp.
• Thus, "don't ask, don't tell" policies are doomed to failure. What we need instead is education, and lots of it, to reshape the way smokophobes think. We need to educate and recruit during the earliest years, otherwise millions of children will be denied their right to discover their own identity. Catchy mottos are important in the raising awareness of others. Here are some you can use now:
• "Smokers or not, our kids are hot!"
• "Smoke by eight or it's too late!"
• "My lungs are mine - and smoking's fine!"

A variety of progressive children's books can also be helpful in reshaping attitudes about smoking. We especially recommend Heather Has Two Cigarettes, which helps children learn to respect the smoking orientation of Heather and her family.

The Citizen's Union for Safe Smoking is also proud to present an exciting collectable card game, Smokemon, based on the popular and highly addictive Pokemon products. Smokemon products are so fun that they are able to promote tolerance in a lasting way, because once kids get started, they just can't quit!


Some of the most famous, interesting, and delightful people in the world are smokers. Many of the great names of history were smokers, though some remained in the closet due to public repression. This Anti-Smokophobia page will soon be featuring a gallery of famous smokers to help increase our awareness and admiration for the contributions of smokers to the world. As a hint, a minute sampling of famous smokers includes:

• Albert Einstein - the theory of relativity started off as just a pipe dream.
• Darwin - for him, Cuban cigars were the only natural selection.
• Bill Clinton - has inhaled a lot more than most people realize.
• Moses - what was that burning bush, anyway?
• Michelangelo - guess where those black spots on the ceiling came from?
• Winston Churchill - his smoke tasted good like Winston's should.
• Freud - helped us understand why smokophobes are so retentive.
• And many, many more!

btw I do not smoke except the odd cigar

Ah, dear ...

I believe you're referring to this article, which was then publicly shot down after the release of the full study as mentioned in this WHO press release, as well as this ASH press release.

Perhaps next you're going to let us in on the facts on chemtrails?

Oh you are funny, try looking at statements some 6 years later than your 1998 article, little clue for you

Next you'll be trying to convince us the world is flat and providing Columbus as your FACTS

Well, the current WHO Fact Sheet on tobacco, updated July 2011, still says that passive smoking kills over 600 000 people a year ...

Facts are all good and right but there's no denying that passive smoking IS harmful to a greater or lesser degree. Like I said earlier, I'm not going to get in a tuck about someone smoking near me on a draughty railway platform but, given that almost twice the amount of newborn cot deaths occur in a house where there are smokers, that's enough evidence for me to keep smoking out of my house.

For me, before the smoking ban, if I went out for the night to a bar or restaurant, as a non smoker I would come home with a dry, blocked nose and stinging eyes. The dry cough I would have through the night would be gone the next morning but I can imagine living in the same house as someone smoking would eventually mean you would be absorbing more than a whiff of smoke over the course of time.

Oddly enough, now the smoking ban is in place, these symptoms have vanished.

It's all about commonsense and not whether you are some militant anti smoker or someone who seems to be brown-nosing Phillip Morris.

Moaning and complaining kills a lot more :O)

Yes it is pretty disgusting - especially those that hang over the escalators in the Basel Banhof, it feels like descending into the blue mist!

Christ - people like you almost make me want to take up smoking again.

"Anti-social scum"

I'd guess that the original poster who thinks smoking in the open air being anti-social drives a car... which expels umpteen more dangerous chemicals and gases into the air we breath than some smokers.

Get over yourself mate and find something worthwhile to moan aout, or just move to New York, I hear you'd like it there.

why have you quoted me? It sounds like we're on the same team

My humblest of humble apologies my old fruit, I am new to this board and am still finding my way round.

We're not allowed to smoke indoors, we're not allowed to smoke in most bars, restaurants or work. I am a smoker and agree with all of these measures....

People who then whinge about me smoking in the street or anywhere in the open honestly need to find something else to moan about.... actually, they probably already do have a multitude of things they already do shimf and whinge about about.

Passive smoking in open spaces is nye on IMPOSSIBLE.

Where does this come from ?? There is a huge percentage of people who smoke here, and i'm referring to Swiss here, not ex-pats. I've lived here for 11 years now, almost equally in towns/cities filled with ex-pats like Zurich, and more rural places with a predominantely Swiss population (Canton Solothurn)