Coexisting with smokers?

[kazu]

The title of your post "coexisting with smokers" implies that I and the majority of the rest of the people who hate the smell of cigarette smoke must figure out how to coexist with people who feel that they have a right to foul the air that we breath.

 

Rubbish!!

 

Regardless of whether smoking is legal or allowed, nobody has the right to force me to breath foul smelling air laden with carcinogens that makes me and my clothes stink and my lungs black.

 

Remember the days when airports had designated ventilated smoking enclosures so that the smokers contaminated only themselves. They should install these things on ships and require that smokers only smoke in these enclosed areas. Of course this would require that the ships give up some area that might make them money and would also impose on the supposed rights of smokers so it is hardly likely to happen. We can hope however.

 

I recognize that many smokers started when they were young and when smoking was cool and I also recognize that smoking is extremely addictive and very hard to give up. I also recognize that many smokers would love to give up the habit and have tried but were not capable of doing it. However, this is not my problem but it is theirs. I am slightly sympathetic with their problem but only very slightly. Regardless, I do not have to be forced to coexist with them.

 

DON

 

what a shame to see a post like this.

 

The OP posted a very nice idea and was seeking good suggestions.

 

This is of no help and if anything will breed hard feelings.

[jadona48]

The title of your post "coexisting with smokers" implies that I and the majority of the rest of the people who hate the smell of cigarette smoke must figure out how to coexist with people who feel that they have a right to foul the air that we breath.

 

Rubbish!!

 

Regardless of whether smoking is legal or allowed, nobody has the right to force me to breath foul smelling air laden with carcinogens that makes me and my clothes stink and my lungs black.

 

Remember the days when airports had designated ventilated smoking enclosures so that the smokers contaminated only themselves. They should install these things on ships and require that smokers only smoke in these enclosed areas. Of course this would require that the ships give up some area that might make them money and would also impose on the supposed rights of smokers so it is hardly likely to happen. We can hope however.

 

I recognize that many smokers started when they were young and when smoking was cool and I also recognize that smoking is extremely addictive and very hard to give up. I also recognize that many smokers would love to give up the habit and have tried but were not capable of doing it. However, this is not my problem but it is theirs. I am slightly sympathetic with their problem but only very slightly. Regardless, I do not have to be forced to coexist with them.

 

DON

 

I too am not a big fan of the smell of smoke, likewise I am as concerned about my health as you are but to refer to "supposed rights" is wrong. They have just as much right to enjoy a cruise as we do. I don't feel sorry for smokers nor do I think they want me to. They have made their choice. Operative word is their - not mine. I refuse to allow smokers nor anyone else to do anything to upset me on my cruise. They are not responsible for my happiness - I am. I avoid the areas where smoking is allowed (except the casino - I love losing money to HAL) and if my balcony neighbor(s) smoke, I adjust - again - I am not going to give my power for enjoyment away.

 

I do not mean to be disrespectful nor flippant when I suggest to you that for your enjoyment, you may want to consider another cruise line so long as HAL maintains its current smoking policy.

[Mytime2014]

I too am not a big fan of the smell of smoke, likewise I am as concerned about my health as you are but to refer to "supposed rights" is wrong. They have just as much right to enjoy a cruise as we do. I don't feel sorry for smokers nor do I think they want me to. They have made their choice. Operative word is their - not mine. I refuse to allow smokers nor anyone else to do anything to upset me on my cruise. They are not responsible for my happiness - I am. I avoid the areas where smoking is allowed (except the casino - I love losing money to HAL) and if my balcony neighbor(s) smoke, I adjust - again - I am not going to give my power for enjoyment away.

 

I do not mean to be disrespectful nor flippant when I suggest to you that for your enjoyment, you may want to consider another cruise line so long as HAL maintains its current smoking policy.

 

Nice response....they do have a right, just as we have a right not to and fortunately, I have the right and ability to move away or speak [in my nice voice first] to communicate. You can't be insular and expect anyone to read your mind and the ack-ack-ack [fake cough - we all know how it sounds, as a nurse anyway, I can tell a fake from 30 feet] is as rude as the snort sound some people make at a buffet when their oh so visible sense of 'my way is the only way' is offended by someone putting more on their plate than they "should." But that's a whole different popcorn worthy topic!!!:o

[JerseyJaguar]

Hello! CC anyone? I have met balcony neighbors several time on roll calls.

Since I don't book my room to be next to someone from CC, I do not know who is in the next cabin or on the next balcony.

 

My point was, why would I poke my nose around the divider to spy on strangers? And if you don't, how do people know so much about the folks next door? All these confrontations that have been suggested, as well as spraying and fan blowing, are these folks leaning around the front, peeking through the cracks to spray, blow or bitch to the neighbors?

[SteveH2508]

Someone pokes their nose round the divider into my balcony space they would probably get a faceful of smoke. More fool them.

 

Seriously though, you can usually see if your neighbours are out on their balcony by looking in the reflection in the balcony glass.

[mame42]

Since I don't book my room to be next to someone from CC, I do not know who is in the next cabin or on the next balcony.

 

My point was, why would I poke my nose around the divider to spy on strangers? And if you don't, how do people know so much about the folks next door? All these confrontations that have been suggested, as well as spraying and fan blowing, are these folks leaning around the front, peeking through the cracks to spray, blow or bitch to the neighbors?

 

Sorry if I misspoke. I simply meant that we had noted on a roll call that we would be neighbors and introduced ourselves online. It has happened several times.

[Okie1946]

Reading some of the above posts it is interesting to see how non-smokers like to complain about other things too.:cool: Hence my reason for printing the following paragraph.

 

One of the British MPs wrote the following when there was a debate a month or so ago:

 

"Authoritarians, the busybodies and do-gooders of modern society, love smoking. Not because they are addicted to tobacco - their pure unsullied souls would recoil at such a suggestion - but because it allows them to tell people what to do."

 

This was his opening paragraph, I won't quote the rest of his article because it is rather long, largely irrelevant and too political.

 

Interesting point - never really thought about it like that and this comes from a non-smoker married to a smoker. :D

 

 

Originally Posted by donaldsc

 

The title of your post "coexisting with smokers" implies that I and the majority of the rest of the people who hate the smell of cigarette smoke must figure out how to coexist with people who feel that they have a right to foul the air that we breath.

 

Rubbish!!

 

Regardless of whether smoking is legal or allowed, nobody has the right to force me to breath foul smelling air laden with carcinogens that makes me and my clothes stink and my lungs black.

 

Remember the days when airports had designated ventilated smoking enclosures so that the smokers contaminated only themselves. They should install these things on ships and require that smokers only smoke in these enclosed areas. Of course this would require that the ships give up some area that might make them money and would also impose on the supposed rights of smokers so it is hardly likely to happen. We can hope however.

 

I recognize that many smokers started when they were young and when smoking was cool and I also recognize that smoking is extremely addictive and very hard to give up. I also recognize that many smokers would love to give up the habit and have tried but were not capable of doing it. However, this is not my problem but it is theirs. I am slightly sympathetic with their problem but only very slightly. Regardless, I do not have to be forced to coexist with them.

 

DON

 

I am really saddened by these remarks. This means that this poster is missing out on knowing some really amazing people in the world. It must be terribly lonely sitting up above all of the poor people you deem unworthy of your notice. So really, really sad:(

 

 

 

 

And That Folks, is the rest of the story (or my own opinion). ;)

 

Barbara

Edited May 27, 2014 by Okie1946

[Beefjerky]

Funny thing about smoke. I bet if I set up a little smoker on the balcony and proceeded to smoke a savory batch of beef jerky for hours and hours, there would be no complaints. Just people asking, "Can I have some of that?"

[RuthC]

Regardless of whether smoking is legal or allowed, nobody has the right to force me to breath foul smelling air laden with carcinogens that makes me and my clothes stink and my lungs black.

You are not "forced" to do any of those things, though.

No one is forcing you to take a cruise, sail HAL, book a veranda cabin, or stay out on your HAL veranda next to someone smoking when you do make those choices.

 

If you choose to place yourself in the middle of a designated smoking area, you have no right to feel put upon when you breathe "foul smelling air laden with carcinogens that makes me and my clothes stink and my lungs black".

[jimmy2x]

You are not "forced" to do any of those things, though.

No one is forcing you to take a cruise, sail HAL, book a veranda cabin, or stay out on your HAL veranda next to someone smoking when you do make those choices.

 

If you choose to place yourself in the middle of a designated smoking area, you have no right to feel put upon when you breathe "foul smelling air laden with carcinogens that makes me and my clothes stink and my lungs black".

 

And this of course is why we all love Ruth!

[sail7seas]

Since I don't book my room to be next to someone from CC, I do not know who is in the next cabin or on the next balcony.

 

My point was, why would I poke my nose around the divider to spy on strangers? And if you don't, how do people know so much about the folks next door? All these confrontations that have been suggested, as well as spraying and fan blowing, are these folks leaning around the front, peeking through the cracks to spray, blow or bitch to the neighbors?

 

 

I cannot think of a single cruise when we did not see our neighbors on the verandah and we assuredly were not 'peeking'. If you stand at the rail of your verandah on an HAL ship and your neighbors also stand at their rail, as is so often the case particularly at sail aways, you cannot miss seeing your neighbors. You choose whether to speak with each other or not. If they are puffing smoke at the rail, I'd usually opt for the 'or not' choice. :) It isn't likely we'd become friends but a friendly nod can suffice.

 

[Mytime2014]

You are not "forced" to do any of those things, though.

No one is forcing you to take a cruise, sail HAL, book a veranda cabin, or stay out on your HAL veranda next to someone smoking when you do make those choices.

 

If you choose to place yourself in the middle of a designated smoking area, you have no right to feel put upon when you breathe "foul smelling air laden with carcinogens that makes me and my clothes stink and my lungs black".

 

love

[DesertPesce7751]

Oh dear. I want to appologize to everyone on "both" sides of what this has turned into. I was only asking about whether the air would be uncomfortable in the aft cabin my mother reserved and, if we couldn't move to a different room, how to maybe break bread with any smokers above/below us to see if we could work around it--ie: by finding out their dining (or bridge game or gym) schedule and knowing we could use the veranda then.

 

My thought is this: 95% of people, smokers and nonsmokers alike, are mindful of the preferences of those around them and would be amenable to friendly dialgue, even if they don't ultimately find a solution that meets everyone's needs. The problem is the 5% of people (the passive aggressive non-smokers who would actually think that misting lysol through the verandah divider is okay AND the smokers who see their morning/evening cigarette and coffee/wine as Custer's Last (proverbial) Stand) make everyone else afraid to remain rational and see each other's humanity.

 

Perhaps we should wrap this up. I'm going to look at the deck plans and call tomorrow to try and get us moved to a low and forward verandah as the only other cabins left are insides and I'd really love not to miss the beautiful scenery or fauna that we all love so much. Also, we're going to bring a fan, not to "blow the smoke back" at anyone, but to blow it out to the sea just in case we can't work it out. I was also inspired by a family on a recent flight who gave candies and ear plugs to everyone seated near them to placate in case their todler got loud. Perhaps some goodie bags will help bridge the gap if any smokers seem friendly/amenable enough to hear our concerns.

 

What do you guys think?

[Okie1946]

Oh dear. I want to appologize to everyone on "both" sides of what this has turned into. I was only asking about whether the air would be uncomfortable in the aft cabin my mother reserved and, if we couldn't move to a different room, how to maybe break bread with any smokers above/below us to see if we could work around it--ie: by finding out their dining (or bridge game or gym) schedule and knowing we could use the veranda then.

 

My thought is this: 95% of people, smokers and nonsmokers alike, are mindful of the preferences of those around them and would be amenable to friendly dialgue, even if they don't ultimately find a solution that meets everyone's needs. The problem is the 5% of people (the passive aggressive non-smokers who would actually think that misting lysol through the verandah divider is okay AND the smokers who see their morning/evening cigarette and coffee/wine as Custer's Last (proverbial) Stand) make everyone else afraid to remain rational and see each other's humanity.

 

Perhaps we should wrap this up. I'm going to look at the deck plans and call tomorrow to try and get us moved to a low and forward verandah as the only other cabins left are insides and I'd really love not to miss the beautiful scenery or fauna that we all love so much. Also, we're going to bring a fan, not to "blow the smoke back" at anyone, but to blow it out to the sea just in case we can't work it out. I was also inspired by a family on a recent flight who gave candies and ear plugs to everyone seated near them to placate in case their todler got loud. Perhaps some goodie bags will help bridge the gap if any smokers seem friendly/amenable enough to hear our concerns.

 

What do you guys think?

 

Smokers are of the major majority, a very amicable group. What will offend them the most is when a person (usually) a non-smoker who takes them upon themselves to lecture them about the evils of smoking and how that makes the smoker an evil person also. Another point - being "friendly/amenable" towards one another is a two way street.

 

My point - we are human beings and not one of us is perfect. If we were perfect (or all alike) this world wound be very, very boring. At the same time, the non-smoker would have to look for something (or someone) else to complain about.

 

It is my wish through out all of this is that everyone have a wonderful cruise and find many many things to enjoy about it.

 

Barbara

[stormystar]

Oh dear. I want to appologize to everyone on "both" sides of what this has turned into. I was only asking about whether the air would be uncomfortable in the aft cabin my mother reserved and, if we couldn't move to a different room, how to maybe break bread with any smokers above/below us to see if we could work around it--ie: by finding out their dining (or bridge game or gym) schedule and knowing we could use the veranda then.

 

My thought is this: 95% of people, smokers and nonsmokers alike, are mindful of the preferences of those around them and would be amenable to friendly dialgue, even if they don't ultimately find a solution that meets everyone's needs. The problem is the 5% of people (the passive aggressive non-smokers who would actually think that misting lysol through the verandah divider is okay AND the smokers who see their morning/evening cigarette and coffee/wine as Custer's Last (proverbial) Stand) make everyone else afraid to remain rational and see each other's humanity.

 

Perhaps we should wrap this up. I'm going to look at the deck plans and call tomorrow to try and get us moved to a low and forward verandah as the only other cabins left are insides and I'd really love not to miss the beautiful scenery or fauna that we all love so much. Also, we're going to bring a fan, not to "blow the smoke back" at anyone, but to blow it out to the sea just in case we can't work it out. I was also inspired by a family on a recent flight who gave candies and ear plugs to everyone seated near them to placate in case their todler got loud. Perhaps some goodie bags will help bridge the gap if any smokers seem friendly/amenable enough to hear our concerns.

 

What do you guys think?

 

I think you should check with HAL to see if your fan is allowed. I think I heard that they take it away when you board and return it to you when you disembark. Something about "electrical plug-ins"? Better to be safe than sorry. Good luck with the smoking issue.

[LindaM]

I think you should check with HAL to see if your fan is allowed. I think I heard that they take it away when you board and return it to you when you disembark. Something about "electrical plug-ins"? Better to be safe than sorry. Good luck with the smoking issue.

 

There are fans that work on batteries. I seriously doubt anything but a standard fan would work.

 

What would be more annoying, smelling smoke or listening to fans on all the verandahs? I think I would prefer the quiet.

[serendipity1499]

what a shame to see a post like this.

 

The OP posted a very nice idea and was seeking good suggestions.

 

This is of no help and if anything will breed hard feelings.

 

You are not "forced" to do any of those things, though.

No one is forcing you to take a cruise, sail HAL, book a veranda cabin, or stay out on your HAL veranda next to someone smoking when you do make those choices.

 

If you choose to place yourself in the middle of a designated smoking area, you have no right to feel put upon when you breathe "foul smelling air laden with carcinogens that makes me and my clothes stink and my lungs black".

 

Touche' Ladies, from a non-smoker who once did smoke!

 

' Nuf said..

[tip]

NO ONE has the "right" to pollute the air that I breathe!

[LoveDMB]

NO ONE has the "right" to pollute the air that I breathe!

 

I'm from the Bay Area where smoking is banned all over the place. I find it funny that out here, traffic is crazy, oil refineries are all around, and yet people think that a wafting bit of smoke, as they pass someone on the sidewalk, is going to kill them. I think the smoke free "air" we breathe out here is way worse then smelling occasional cigarette smoke. And exactly how much polluted air does a cruise ship spew?? I think it's sad that smokers are judged so harshly. I'm surprised, as a new CC member to see that that same hatred spews forth here too.

[cruisin'girl]

NO ONE has the "right" to pollute the air that I breathe!

Which is why HAL has just a few designated smoking areas. You have advanced warning where there might be cigarette smoke so you can totally avoid it.

[CRUZBUDS]

I'm from the Bay Area where smoking is banned all over the place. I find it funny that out here, traffic is crazy, oil refineries are all around, and yet people think that a wafting bit of smoke, as they pass someone on the sidewalk, is going to kill them. I think the smoke free "air" we breathe out here is way worse then smelling occasional cigarette smoke. And exactly how much polluted air does a cruise ship spew?? I think it's sad that smokers are judged so harshly. I'm surprised, as a new CC member to see that that same hatred spews forth here too.

 

See post 118 above -- except until HAL joins this century, they absolutely do have the right to pollute the balconies around them.

 

The complaint isn't with the smokers, it's with HAL

[YubaSutter]

NO ONE has the "right" to pollute the air that I breathe!

 

Ever been to a casino? Do you tell everyone to stop smoking because you have arrived? Balcony smokers have the right to smoke on their balcony because it is allowed. You have the right to not book a balcony if balcony smoke bothers you.

[CRUZBUDS]

Ever been to a casino? Do you tell everyone to stop smoking because you have arrived?.

 

Not an issue on Celebrity at all ;)

[LoveDMB]

There are quite a few posts that are directed at smokers

Edited May 28, 2014 by LoveDMB

[mamaofami]

I just returned from a surprise birthday party for one of our friends who we have celebrated New year's Eve with for the past 46 years. We are three couples, one of whom is a very heavy smoker. She has been coughing for years and never went to a doctor to see what was wrong. She didn't want to know. When my DH was in the hospital this New Year's Eve they came to the hospital to be with us. Two weeks later, the smoker was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. She is presently undergoing treatment, for noe she is improving, but it's unlikely she will beat this.

 

But the point of my story is that she finally stopped smoking. It was a pleasure to sit next to her tonight and not smell the smoke on her breath, in her hair and on her clothing.