Today marks the first day of the smoking ban in Greece, at least as long as public enclosed places are concerned.
I won’t go too much into that. I’m definitely pro-ban. I just want to say this:
It’s sad (not to mention pathetic) to see all grown-up people acting like my 9-month old niece when I take one of her toys from her. I’ve seen drug addicts with better attitudes than some of the smokers out there (and I mean it).
If you’re in a closed place and you smoke between non smokers, you suck. If you moan and whine about the smoking ban in everyone around, you suck and you don’t have anything exciting to do with your life. If you decide to follow the ban but light a cigarette in an enclosed place as soon as you see another one do this, you suck and you have absolutely no personality.
Will this ban have any kind of luck in Greece? Probably not, because we’re one of the most dont-fucking-care-about-others nations in the whole wide world.
But some people have got to learn to play by some rules, someday.
6 comments on this post
adamo #1
01.Jul.09
It is more likely to get a drug addict or an alcoholic recognize that they are addicted, than a smoker do the same. As they say, they all can quit anytime they want.
Alexandros #2
01.Jul.09
For sports in which we are the world champions by far, I demand respect.
http://www.economist.com/daily/chartgallery/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13766483
michalis #3
01.Jul.09
We have a smoking ban in Montreal, that has resulted in smokers being treated like outcasts. In winter we are forced to smoke outside, with temperatures at -35C. In regards to smoking we have no personal liberties at all. I hope the Greeks defy this law in anyway possible, in the name of personal freedoms.
Sugar #4
01.Jul.09
@michalis
You’re really kidding, aren’t you? Sure you do. Yup. That’s what I want to believe.
Konstantinos Koukopoulos #5
01.Jul.09
I don’t think he’s kidding, because I’ve seen the same thing happen in many countries (the U.S. and the Scandinavians for example). Yes, smoking is an addiction and it can be an annoyance to others. So is getting drunk on alcohol. Leaving aside the question whether we should protect the smokers or the drinkers from themselves it is plain silly to say that we should ban their behavior because it is annoying. Especially when the people who supposedly are annoyed do not go to the slightest of trouble to avoid their annoyance.
Yesterday I went out on a date. My date, also not a smoker, chose a cafe whose air-quality made my eyes literally water. It was packed with people, many not smoking themselves. I insisted we leave so we tried another cafe but it was even more packed and smoky. I suggested we go to a nearby cafe I knew, which had good ventilation (and music) but only a handful of customers! It seems most non-smokers prefer to hang out with the cool smokers even if they are subjected to their annoyance. In my mind that means you’re getting what you deserve.
Sugar #6
01.Jul.09
@Konstantinos
Allow me to disagree.
Smoking is not just annoying for non-smokers. It’s just plain unhealthy.
One cannot say the same thing about drinking.
And saying that “non-smokers get what they deserve” is kinda unfair, don’t you think?