I have always had strong feelings about smoking, as I’ve never even smoked a single cigarette in my life and never understood the compassion, with which so many people destroy their health. Still, I have a lot of friends who smoke and I used to be a douche about it. Yet there comes the time, where you start to realize that you can’t and shouldn’t change somebody just because there is something about him/her that you don’t like. So this is what I want to do: a list of a few guidelines for smokers to get along with non-smokers.
6. Don’t recruit
Smoking is a choice. It should stay that way. You wouldn’t believe how many people react to the fact that I have never smoked with the following statement: “You don’t know what you’re missing, try one!” If I wanted to smoke, I would. So respect the choices of others if you want us to respect your choice of smoking.
5. Propose to smoke outside
If you enter somebody’s home and you want to have a smoke, propose to your host that you want to go outside to do this. If your friends don’t mind you smoking inside the house, they will probably tell you. Asking to smoke inside is in my opinion always a bit rude and direct (your host is after all left with a room filled with smoke and a smell that won’t disappear so quickly).
4. Don’t assume
Even though we live in a society with a large percentage of smokers, you should never assume that everybody is ok with it. If you go out with somebody and you want to have a smoke, just ask them if they would mind when you smoke in their presence. From my own experience, I must say that most of the time you won’t face any objections.
3. Clean up after yourself
If you smoke in somebody’s house, or in their car, then try to be clean and don’t leave your ashes and stumps lying around. They were friendly enough to let you smoke, so don’t mess up their stuff.
2. Don’t blow smoke into a non-smoker’s face
Going to a pub is usually smoke intensive enough for my taste (yes, there is still no smoking ban in Luxembourg concerning pubs). The smoky smell tends to stick to your clothes, so the last thing you need is some jerk-off blowing fumes into your face.
1. Control your habit
The thing that bothers me most is when you are hanging out with somebody who smokes and they constantly have to take small breaks to have a cigarette. Be it while watching a movie, playing a game, or simply having a meal, there is nothing as disturbing as somebody leaving every 30 minutes because they can’t control their addiction. If you can’t sit through a movie, a meal or a 2 hour car ride, without getting the shivers, you’re doing it WRONG!
This list is not supposed to point out general negative points about smokers. Most of the people I know would never do these things anyway. Of course it should also be said that non-smokers can be a pain too. If you don’t smoke and if you maybe even hate it, try to be tolerant. Don’t bitch and moan about your friends smoking. If you can’t stand it, stay at home. A much better way to go about this is to make a compromise. For example you could go to a non-smoking bar one night, and then to a smoker’s club the other.
Say What???? 