Originally Posted by TomPhil

That comment is extremely offensive. Many unborn babies and children every year are damaged due to the irresponsible smoking of their parents and other people. Everyone has the right to their opinion, and should not be subject to such insensitive and offensive slurs for expressing it. I'm sure many people on this forum, including myself, know of people - relatives, friends, etc., who have died as a result of smoking, and of the profound impact that their smoking induced illness and death can have on many people beyond themselves.

People who support the smoking ban are not fascists, they are people who want the freedom to socialise with others without being subjected to breathing dangerous and toxic chemicals. Sometimes one has to balance two different and opposing freedoms. There is my freedom, as a non-smoker, to go out and socialise with my friends, colleagues, etc. in a smoke-free environment, and the "freedom" of the smoker to pollute the air with toxic chemicals.

If the smoking ban was repealed, then my freedom would be seriously restricted. I would be unable to attend many of the pubs in the country, and also would be unable to attend various social gatherings which were held at such pubs (if I chose to go my evening would be ruined and throughly unpleasant, and my health damaged). The impact that would have on my social life (and my prospects at work, which would be hindered by not being able to socialise with my colleagues who regularly socialise at a pub that previously was very smoky), would mean a great restriction on my freedom in this area. On the other hand, the smoking ban simply means that those of the population who are stupid enough to spend significant amounts of money on regularly inhaling extremely toxic chemical cocktails must go outside the pub to smoke. It's nothing like the imposition placed on me if there is no smoking ban. They are not prohibited in any way from going to a pub, as I would be if there was no smoking ban. If you choose to participate in the mindless activity of smoking, then is it only a small ask that you do not inflict it on other more sensible people.

Originally Posted by mkpdavies

Cry me a river. People who tell adults what they can and can't do on their own property ARE fascists. I am sick of fascists imposing their will on people. I want them purged. If you don't like that, then that is just tough.

Originally Posted by Millennium3

I don't think we need that kind of comment on this forum - thank you mkpd.

Originally Posted by mkpdavies

I do.

Purge the fascists.

Originally Posted by Millennium3

I don't think we need that kind of comment on this forum - thank you mkpd.

Originally Posted by TomPhil

Let's be realistic about this. Some things have to be banned. We may disagree on what should and should not be banned, but do we really get anywhere by name calling and affixing hyperbolical labels to things?

Originally Posted by John Connor

Yes we do. We need more of those kinds of comments on this forum.
Why? Because this isn't a needlework forum - it's a forum dealing in part with the creep of fascism into our daily lives.

Originally Posted by mkpdavies

I knew I would win you round.

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