Smoke free perimeter
I study at Concordia University. Today I went to school at the downtown campus and I noticed something new. Outside Hall building and the JMSB building there are yellow lines painted on the ground near the entrances. The lines form a big square, at least 10 meters x 5 meters. At first it puzzled me… Why the yellow lines… Then I noticed the sign that could read “Clean the air. This is a smoke free perimeter.” I looked inside the perimeter and I saw at least 5 people smoking. I guess they were not yet aware of the new rule. I just searched the Concordia website and found this news article about the new measure. It says that this is due to Bill 112 which makes it illegal to smoke outside on school property within 9 meters of an entrance! Concordia security guards are supposed to enforce the new rule. They will have a lot of work to do as smoking outside the buildings’ entrances is very popular! But I am really happy about this new measure. As a non-smoker I find it so annoying when I arrive at school and have to go through a cloud of smoke to enter the building to go to class!
Two thumbs way up on such a rule :D
as someone who is from PEI, i am used to having a designated non-smoking area. the smoking ban has been in effect on the island for three years now, and i think its the greatest thing ever. espesially at hospitals. i always figured hospitals were a place to get better, not to pollute other peoples lungs.
Counterpoint: I’m not a smoker and I’m not an advocate for smokers rights. But it seems the anti-smoking campaign may be getting a bit extreme. Banning smoking indoors make sense. Having non-smoking sections with smoking sections is like have peeing and non-peeing sections of a swimming pool. But banning smoking outdoors and the smokers that you pass on occasion is stretching things a bit. We probably breathe in more exhaust smoke on a daily basis. It seems to be getting to the point of prohibition.
I get what you mean Frank but I think this rule is awesome. Why? Ok.. Because this is not a “occasion” problem at Concordia. Smoking outside the entrance is/was very popular! If you went to Hall Building entrance on Mackay street between classes or at break you encountered sometimes like 20 people smoking outside… And it is in a kind of porch so the smoke just stayed there… I always held my breath when I passed there… Hopefully with this new rule smokers will just go a bit further away from the entrance and then I can freely come in and out without being polluted!
Yes, but by that logic Christelle-(ie. I don’t have to be polluted) then nobody would be able to smoke outside-because people might have to walk past a smoker and inhale second hand smoke. Actually there are laws like this in effect in California. In some towns, one is not allowed to smoke outside unless they are walking somewhere, and not pacing, but walking to a destination.
I think the problem with this debate is that the difference between what would constitute an actual health risk to the non smoker vs. what is just a nusiance is never taken into consideration. Walking through a crowd of smokers on your way into class is, admittedly a nuisance. Sure, it annoyed you so much that you held your breath, but would you have paused to loiter, say 8 meters from the building if the smokers were not otherwise present? Probably not.
Yes… But I think on the street it’s fine smoking.. I still have a choice… I can pass the smoking people, cross over to the other side, etc. If people smoke near the entrance that does NOT leave me the choice… I HAVE TO go through the smoke and that’s why I like this new rule.
Smoking is bad for you!! If you don’t believe me, just look to the right! Google searches for key words in your post, sees the word “smoking” and offers products to help you quit–not deals on cigarettes!!! I like your idea of crossing the street when you see a smoker, Christelle. Another good thing to do is to wave your hand in front of your nose and makes faces. Maybe this will make them feel so bad about being smoker’s that they’ll quit!!!!!! They might think that we’re prissy, uptight, intolerant and rude, but they’ll thank us when, instead of dying quickly at 65, their still alive at 92!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Everyday people do things that annnoy me. For instance, the guy in the next cubicle snaps his gum all day, the woman on the other side wears really heavy perfume, people cut me off in traffic-somewhere in the office someone has made microwave popcorn. This isn’t even mentioning the things that really annoy me, I could compile a much longer risk. But this is just what civil society is, people around you doing irritating things, that one must tolerate within the reasonable expectations that it isn’t damaging your wellbeing. My point still stands that while the people smoking outside the entrance irritate you, the less than five seconds that you spend walking through the door do not constitute a health risk for you. You say you don’t mind smoking outside, but what is a sidewalk but a space in front of a doorway?
As to your suggestions Linda, I was really searching for irony in them, and I am hoping that it is just so subtle that I missed it.
Dianna, it’s not that it irritates/annoys me! Chew all the gum you want, eat popcorn, I don’t care. Doesn’t affect my health. But this smoking outside the building door does touch on my health. 5 seconds x 365… So after a year it’s like if I had spent almost an hour with smokers! Anyways… This is turning into a huge thing… Smokers will argue for their rights, non-smokers will for theirs. There is no end…
Next topic: Sovereignty.
Yeah, and anyway, don’t worry, after all the smokers have gone away, fat people will be the next moral outrage.
We already are.
I like the idea of you all crossing the street–maybe you’ll get hit by a car.
I’ve enjoyed the discussion on this until now but I think that last comment Monica was just rude! Geez…
Hey free rights for all. But when someone compromises my health well then thats going over the line. I love that Concordia University drew lines and if people cross them while smoking then they should be fined.