So writes Noel Merino in a Times op-ed.
I agree.
And I'll continue to enjoy my occasional cigar from the comfort of a park bench until the nannies take my Maduros "from my cold, dead hands".
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at February 02, 2010 11:39 PM | Email ThisIt is bad at SPSCC too, smokers puff along leaving a good 50ft stench in their wake. Most are too lazy to even leave the walkways, they just stand at the edge and puff away. About the only place on campus that was free of smokers were the parking lots. Evergreen is okay, it is a no smoking campus with designated smoking areas, so one only has to run a short gauntlet of smoke around the perimeter then you are in the clear.
Shootings would be good, but I'm not an extremist. I'll recognize a smoker's privilege to smoke as long as my privilege to sock them in the face and sodomize them with their smokes is recognized. Ahhh, Equality.
Posted by: Tyler on February 3, 2010 12:23 AMUnfortunately the latter type tends to leave the remnants behind and has no appreciation of what they do. Cigarette butts seem to last forever. Cigar butts break down quickly and do no harm.
If the government REALLY wanted to something good they would ban the sale of anything not 100% tobacco.
Posted by: Vince on February 3, 2010 04:51 AM"I'll recognize a smoker's privilege to smoke as long as my privilege to sock them in the face and sodomize them with their smokes is recognized. Ahhh, Equality."
No wonder you attend Evergreen Tyler, I hope you are prepared to do a lot "Punching and Sodomizing"
because most of the student body and faculty there is smoking something, perhaps not tobacco, but something.
GAASP!!! Just think of all that nicotine flowing into the water table. My GOD! We're all being poisoned! Something must be done. We need more laws. Sheesh! Maybe the government can just give each smoker a binky, we would all be better off. : )
Posted by: Jack on February 3, 2010 07:46 AMAnd as far as nicotine in the water tables and rivers, we need MORE! It makes the steelhead more active...:)
Posted by: Shanghai Dan on February 3, 2010 08:43 AMNo, of course not. You're just nuttier than squirrel droppings.
The nannystaters/liberal fascists will never stop until they are able to control every aspect of an individuals behavior. It is at the very core of liberalism in general.
Posted by: Rick D. on February 3, 2010 09:23 AMMrs. Shark has obviously banished you to the City Park to puff on your cigar. And thereby into my park. Cowen perhaps?
I once had a cigar smoker on my block. I could smell that foul thing in the winter with my doors closed.
But I agree, the Nanny State is out of control.
SOOO out of control that they seek massive income via their sin taxes on the very sins they pretend to want to abolish.
Wouldn't it be nice, FOR ME, if I could enjoy a craft beer on a city park bench?
Maybe one across the park from you.
Posted by: Bart Cannon on February 3, 2010 10:19 AMDo you guys have a problem with laws prohibiting me from draining a fifth of Jack in the park?
Posted by: Joe Szilagyi on February 3, 2010 01:23 PMhttp://www.seattle.gov/Parks/FAQ.htm#Q9
"Q. Can I bring alcohol into a park?
A. City law prohibits alcohol in city parks. The only exceptions are for special events approved by the Superintendent."
Why is a smoking ban such a big deal if an alcohol one isn't?
Posted by: Joe Szilagyi on February 3, 2010 02:50 PMJust as an aside, does our new Mayor really look like he bicycles everywhere? He's packing about 30 extra pounds. There's something strange there.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on February 3, 2010 03:29 PMActually I wouldn't really have a problem with either activity posed if done responsibily, but there are some distinct differences in behavior between someone downing a pack of cancer sticks and someone downing a fifth of Whiskey. For one, people go to parks to enjoy themselves should be family friendly atmosphere, and two, if you want the latter behavior, you can find that at any corner of most of downtown seattle (to include the Victor steinbrueck "park") where you can enjoy this fine view of fellow whiskey imbibers post binge (note 2 sots in foreground left-center of picture).
I'm still ticked about Carkeek park having vehicle restrictions to get to the park in the spring and through summer on Wednesdays between 10am and 3pm. I will not be abiding by that signage this year as I did not abide by it last year.
Posted by: Rick D on February 3, 2010 03:38 PMOur Mayor's bicycle is electric powered.
Look closely at the bicycle's gear train in his next green-up photo-op.
His team may soon recommend a motor-less bicycle and a downhill route with an alley destination so that he can be shuttled for the up-hill segments home or to the office.
If you're my age you can remember when people smoked everywhere. They smoked in grocery stores and snuffed their cigarettes out under their feet right in the aisles. The only place you couldn't smoke was at a gas station. I'm not advocating smoking, but when I first started working you could smoke in the office and have a beer at lunch. Life was a lot more relaxed, if you are younger than 50 you can't imagine what I am talking about. Then the political left took over and now we can't even have a smoke in a public park, and don't dare have a drink at lunchtime.
I've said it so many times. Seattle has to be one of the most uptight places on earth.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on February 3, 2010 04:20 PMSo SPD is utterly unable to get a handle on the problem of car smash/pry/grab thefts, but now we want to send them after smokers? Does not make sense.
Posted by: travis t on February 3, 2010 04:33 PMYou also present no evidence that this has anything to do with the "political left" (though the left could be proud if it were respobsible). And lots of people still have drinks over lunch.
Posted by: Bruce on February 4, 2010 04:47 PM