Smoking showdown

[bhskittykatt]

Both these stories were relayed to me by Other MOD.

Because of her hair (not her health)

Other MOD was sitting at her machine. She already had a lit cigarette when this EW sat down right beside her.

EW: "You know, I really wish you put that cigarette out. I just spent $35 on my hair, and you're going to make it smell like cigarette stink!"
Other MOD: "You do realize that there is a special non-smoking section over there?"
EW: "Yes, but I don't want to use those machines. They don't pay out as well as these ones do. You need to put your cigarette out! I just spent a bunch of money on my hair and you are ruining it!"

Now, it should be noted that Other MOD is a very courteous smoker, and if you ask her nicely, she will put out her cigarette or finish it elsewhere. But if you feed her attitude, you get attitude back.

Other MOD: "F*** you. I want to smoke so I'm gonna smoke. This is the only damn place in the state where smokers can smoke*, so if you don't like it you can take your ass and your damn haircut and leave, because I am NOT putting this out!"

(*We have a state-wide smoking ban in all public areas, but the casino is on the Res, and is thus one of the very few places exempt from the ban.)

EW punched the Cash-Out, ripped her ticket away, stood up and SLAMMED the seat into the machine as she stormed off. Security came to talk to Other MOD.

Security: "What was that about?"
Other MOD: *tells story*
Security: "Yeah, that's what I would have told her, too."

Other MOD said she saw EW several more times that night, and got a catbutt face from her every time.

Showdown at the Swinomish

Another story of a similar vein. Other MOD was at a machine, next to a lady who was smoking. Other MOD did not have a cigarette at this time. An EW sits on the other side of MOD.

EW: "How rude is that? She should put out her cigarette so the rest of us don't have to breath that!"
Other MOD:
Smoking Lady: "Excuse me? Do you see her smoking? Why are you complaining to her? If you're going to say something to her, why don't you have the balls to say it to my face, huh?"
Other MOD:

The two woman started arguing, then yelling, with Other MOD sitting in the middle not saying a word, too scared to move or draw attention to herself. Security came off and hauled the two women away, and asked Other MOD to watch their machines, to which Other MOD obliged.

Security returned and asked Other MOD what happened. Other MOD relayed the story.

The two women returned. The other EW cashed out and was escorted away. The smoker was allowed to resume her game. (Not sure if I completely agree with that...the EW was being passive aggressive but I also think the smoker was wrong to escalate it like she did.)

[chainedbarista]

EW: "Yes, but I don't want to use those machines. They don't pay out as well as these ones do. You need to put your cigarette out! I just spent a bunch of money on my hair and you are ruining it!"

then stay out of the casino, period. no matter where she goes, she'll end up smelling like it anyway.

was the smoker wrong? to escalate, certainly, but the passive aggressive bitch wouldn't have gotten the message any other way (if she did at all).

[MadMike]

Something like that happened at fast food place in one of the local malls, back in the early 90s when most restaurants still had smoking sections.

I was still with my ex back then. She smoked, as did most of her friends. I never smoked, never liked it, and if I had been by myself, I would have sat in non-smoking. But she and her friends wanted to smoke, so we sat in the smoking section.

Some bitchy woman who was sitting two tables over, also in the smoking section, who was doing some paperwork and not even eating anything, demanded that everyone put their cigarettes out. She didn't like it too much when I pointed out that she was sitting in the smoking section, and that there were plenty of seats in non-smoking.

Seriously, I don't like smoke either, but I wouldn't be stupid enough to sit in the smoking section. As my dad sometimes says, "That's like pissing in your soup and then complaining that it tastes funny!"

[Mytical]

In tight enclosed spaces, I can have serious problems with smoke. Unlike the SC's and EW's, however..I don't go into the smoking sections and then complain.

I will complain if I am in MY vehicle, or standing outside and somebody comes stands next to me and starts smoking. A place designated for smoking? Never.

[PepperElf]

I will complain if I am in MY vehicle, or standing outside and somebody comes stands next to me and starts smoking. A place designated for smoking? Never.

exactly.

the only time i've ever asked someone to not smoke next to me in a smoking area was on my first ship, on the fantail. and that was *only* because I wasn't allowed to leave (assigned duties as a line-handler, but we had a good half hour to kill before actually starting work).

i did however go to the port side, because all the smokers were puffing away on the starboard side. then someone lit up next to me. I asked him nicely however and he took his cigarette over to where the other smokers were.


Actually I've noticed that... most smokers I know are kind to me when the smell makes me sick. It doesn't happen too often, and I don't even ask them to extinguish. They would just make a point of not blowing it at me and thus all were happy.

[Sheldonrs]

... "That's like pissing in your soup and then complaining that it tastes funny!"

A lot of places serve "Pee" soup. lol!!!


My general response to people who tell me my cigarette smoke is bothering them when I'm in a public place is "Well it's killing me and you don't hear ME bitching about it!" :-)

[MoonCat]

Most places here are non-smoking. I wouldn't go into a place that allowed smoking, or if I had to for some reason, I wouldn't expect everyone to put their cigarettes out just because one non-smoker walked in. People smoking where they shouldn't be is one of my pet peeves, but I don't come across it that often.

[bainsidhe]

Actually I've noticed that... most smokers I know are kind to me when the smell makes me sick. It doesn't happen too often, and I don't even ask them to extinguish. They would just make a point of not blowing it at me and thus all were happy.

100% agree. For all the stupidity and rudeness I've seen on both sides of the smoking equation, most smokers that I interact with are generally considerate when I explain I'm sensitive to smoke. Of course, I don't sit in the smoking section making ridiculous demands either.

[Mytical]

But, but making unreasonable demands is your RIGHT! You have to tell others how to live, or else..how will they know? After all, WE are the only important people on the planet!

(In case it's missed, the above was sarcasm..yes, yes I am evil)

[b2addm]

My general response to people who tell me my cigarette smoke is bothering them when I'm in a public place is "Well it's killing me and you don't hear ME bitching about it!" :-)

Mine is "The second hand stupid that's rolling off of you is annoying me far worse than my cigarette smoke is bothering you. And my cigarette will come to an end eventually..."
They hate that. I love that.

[Peppergirl]

At the risk of sounding patronizing, here....


You all ROCK!!!

Whenever we have a smoking/non smoking thread on here, I always cringe a little inside regardless of how well written it is (like this one), because of the usually inevitable debate/rant it sometimes tends to start.

I am so pleased and proud that no one has even *remotely* touched on a pro or anti-smoking rant.

Thank you!!!

[AtDIelement]

I try to be as nice as I can when I smoke, I'll stand away from everyone or just not smoke at all. Though I've never had anyone ever yell at me for smoking.

*knock on wood*

[Chromatix]

There's a similar law in Finland: any enclosed space (that is not a private residence) is non-smoking. I think there's an exception for force-ventilated smoking booths.

This law specifically applies to railway station platforms, even if they are technically open-air. Even so, I regularly have to walk through clouds of smoke at least twice a day.

People smoke on the platform at my local station while waiting for their train - the only thing to do is to try to stand upwind. Then people light up as soon as they get out of the train, and most of them then walk in the same direction as me, towards the Metro (beyond which is most of the rest of the city centre). The only thing to do then is to try to walk behind people who are not smoking, which can be harder than it should be.

It's worse on the way back. Smokers congregate under the elevated hotel at the end of the commuter platforms, which is most definitely an enclosed space. They also seem to like standing at (or even inside! I yell at those.) the doors to the Metro tunnel, where their smoke easily drifts down the stairs. Finally, once again people light up as soon as they are off the train, and this time I have to walk through a covered bridge on my way home, which of course confines the smoke.

The laws are not enforced visibly, so it just continues.