by Cody Hodge

Created on: March 30, 2009

It makes me laugh when smokers claim that they have the right to smoke. Smokers do not have any rights as far as I am concerned. I mean sure, they can smoke if they want, and I have no problem with people lighting up, but do it on your own time OK? I don't care that you didn't get your break right away because you needed a smoke, or that you feel slighted because you have to pay more on your health insurance.

Smokers don't have the right to light up in public merely because the secondhand smoke is so dangerous. You can seriously hurt someone else around you by smoking, and smoking is a choice that you make. We all know that cigarettes are addicting, and that it is hard to stop once you start. Cigarettes also lead to increased health risk to yourself which has been proven, so why would you make that choice to smoke?

I know it probably sounds harsh to say that smokers have no rights, but if you insist on smoking, you can do so on your own time. Do we make allowances for people to drink on the job? Do we make allowances for people to smoke pot, which ironically enough has fewer health hazards than smoking cigarettes? Of course not, so if I can't have a beer every couple of hours, why should you be allowed to smoke?

Every time a co-worker whines about smokers paying extra for insurance, it makes me laugh. Either live with your choice, or just don't smoke. It is as simple as that, again you know what the risks are when you start smoking, so if you are going to smoke, you better be ready to live with the consequences. If I get drunk, and start a fight, I am responsible even if I am impaired. I know that though, and so before I drink, I make sure that I cannot get myself or anyone else hurt.

It is the same with smoking, if you can't deal with the consequences of smoking then don't smoke. I don't care if you smoke, but don't tell me that you have special rights because you are a smoker. I am not discriminating against you if I don't let you smoke, so don't even begin with that please.

I am pretty sure that I have made my point clear: If you smoke, do so at your own risk! Do not put me at risk because of a choice that you are going to make. I promise not to hurt you with my life choices, so please show me the same respect. I won't whine about paying more for health care if I don't exercise and I get to be 400 pounds as long as you don't whine about paying more because you smoke.

Don't smoke around me, don't whine about not being able to smoke, and don't cry to me if you end up with cancer, or some other health ailment because of smoking. It is your own choice, so either don't do it, or deal with the consequences, and this is one issue I will not compromise on.

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