After I quit smoking, I developed something of a trauma response to smokers in public areas. I'd see a smoker puffing away on the sidewalk, and my only thought was to get away from them. While I've managed to reign in my reaction somewhat, I still hate going anywhere near cigarette smoke, vape clouds, or other toxic fumes. It also occurs to me I shouldn't have to breathe in the toxicity from others.

 

I don't want to go too deeply into my personal politics, but I believe in the greatest amount of freedom for the greatest number of people. You have the right to do what you please with and to your body, so long as your decisions don't bring harm to anyone else. You can choose to smoke, but you don't have the right to inflict that harm on others. In my city of Colorado Springs, I would like to create a campaign to raise awareness among smokers of how their choices currently affect those around them. If necessary, I intend to help develop legislation to propose to the city council to limit smoking away from public areas.

 

I've never done something like this before, and I am most definitely not a social person. I'd rather work in a back office without windows than upfront where the customers are. It's my intention to bring a group together who is willing to be sociable and present these ideas to the public, because that's not something I have a skillset for.

 

I know when I was a smoker, I didn't think about how people were affected. I didn't smoke around kids too often on principle, but that was about as far as my scruples went. As a smoker, I was selfish and I'd dismiss anyone who criticized me or my habit. Knowing how I was, I'm not sure how to reach smokers. All of us can probably remember someone telling us about the health hazards of smoking as if we weren't aware, and we know how it made us feel. In my case it made me want to smoke more, if only for spite, or because of the stress the confrontation caused. No matter how gently you try to be, telling smokers, "Your habit is harmful and you shouldn't be doing it around non-smokers" is not going to play very well.

 

I'm definitely open to ideas, because the social aspect really isn't my strong suit. Data, numbers, math--those I understand. People just frustrate and confuse me, more often than not.

Hi penguin, I'd start with your county Supervisor. You can probably get on your county website and find your county Supervisors contact information. Email your concerns and what you'd like to see happen. 

I'd also reach out to your community through maybe fb or nextdoor and ask them as well to email their county Supervisor.

As for reaching out to smokers goes, I wouldn't bother. Like you already know we were a selfish bunch who only cared about getting our fix....

Edited December 4, 20241 yr by jillar

Smokers only worry about there next fix 

I tried a long time to try and get my best friend to quit , once I quit

I even bought her the whole clinic session of Allen Carr …5 cd,s

Her response was to tell me to shove it up my arse 

My Best is no longer here died of pancreatic cancer 

They have to be willing to take what your saying on board 

I wish you every success  P 🐸