I’ve wanted to write something about this for quite some time…

As many of you might know, Ball State is enforcing a Smoking Ban this coming December. I personally think that this ban thing is stupid. There shouldn’t even be a discussion about whether or not we should have one.:

First of all, how does BSU think they can enforce a CAMPUS-WIDE BAN when they can’t even enforce an ENTRANCE INTO THE BUILDING BAN? I don’t know if they can’t do it, or just won’t do it, but either way, BSU isn’t enforcing the rules on such a small playing field… why make the field as big as possible?

Second, this whole talk about second-hand smoke killing people and stuff is a little blown out of proportion. Now, before you hit the comment link and flame me, hear me out. I realize people have died due to second-hand smoke and all, but I can guarantee that none of those deaths were because you casually walked by a smoker and got a whiff of cigarette smoke! Every article I’ve read that mentions the dangers of second-hand smoke and how much “cleaner” our campus would be if we didn’t have any, tries to paint this horrible picture of a perpetual death-cloud of cigarette-smoking hatred looming over the campus.

You have asthma? If you see a smoker, don’t walk right into them. Yes, I realize some smokers walk around through groups of people and you can’t help it… I’ll get to that later.

I’m not sure how people get off thinking they have better right over others. Smokers have made the choice to smoke. That is their choice and their right as an American citizen. Who are we to say that they can’t express their own freedom?

BUT!!!!!!

There is another side.

Those who don’t smoke have chosen not to smoke. So why should non-smokers be forced to smell and be around people that DO smoke? Some non-smokers downright detest smoking, and the slightest whiff of cigarette smoke sets them off worse than a smoker who hasn’t had a cigarette for a day.

Yes, our campus would be cleaner. We wouldn’t have the cigarette butts laying all over campus, we wouldn’t have ashtrays laying around, falling over, whatever…

SMOKER-ETIQUETTE

Dear smokers,

There are ways to prevent non-smokers from hating you. First of all, when you light up, don’t do it in a group of people. Don’t light up walking to your next class. Find a fairly secluded yet comfortable place to smoke. If you don’t have time to stop and smoke before your next class, then, maybe you shouldn’t light up, or just risk being late to your next class everyday… or smoke shorts, not 100’s.

When you’re done smoking, THROW YOUR BUTT (haha) INTO AN ASHTRAY, OR OTHER DISPOSAL AREA. I think it’s so stupid to find cigarette butts all over the ground TEN FEET AWAY FROM THE ASHTRAY. Actually, it’s stupid to find ANY trash ten feet away from the trash can, but crap happens. Do your part in protecting your right.

When talking to non-smoker friends, don’t light up! That’s just plain rude! I think it’s rude to light up when talking to anyone, regardless of whether they smoke or not (unless you’re both smoking at the same time, then no one cares), but whatever.

There is something you have to realize. You have made a choice in your life, and you have to live with the good and bad of this choice. YOU made a decision that YOU have to live with. It is unfair and RUDE to force others to live with the choice that YOU made.

Dear non-smokers,

Sometimes you just need to grow up. If you’re complaining about the people that are smoking while walking around, or smoking right next to an entrance, TELL THEM! It’s so junior-high to gossip and hate on another group of people without ever letting them know that what they do bothers you.
 

TRUE STORY: I was walking though the State Fair with one of my good friends, and got a sudden overwhelming whiff of cigarette smoke. I kinda stopped a bit, and my friend asked me what was wrong. I told him, “I just got a big whiff of cigarette smoke!” The woman in front of me turned around, holding a cigarette.
“Does cigarette smoke bother you?”
“A little,” I replied. She smiled.
“Alright. I’ll wait.”
She put out her cigarette on the ground and threw it away in a nearby ashtray.
“Uhh… thanks.”
“No problem. I understand, completely.”
And she walked away. 

Most smokers know that people can’t stand the smell of cigarette smoke, but they just don’t realize it when they light up. If you KINDLY ask a smoker to move to another area so non-smokers can pass without problem, most of them will apologize and move.

Now, I realize this is all one man’s point of view, and one man’s account, but so is everyone else’s. That is what forms our decisions and opinions. I’m not trying to sound opinionated or forcing of my ideas, but there aren’t enough people out there that are trying to view things from two different angles. We’ve got too many people saying, “ENFORCE A BAN I HATE SMOKING!” or “DON’T ENFORCE A BAN I *NEED* TO SMOKE WHEREVER I STAND (which is a different topic for a different day).” 

Just trying to find a place for middle ground.