Surrounded by smokers, what to do to protect myself?
September 25, 2022 3:38 PM Subscribe
Lately, I've noticed a major uptick of smokers (cigarette, vaping, and weed), both at my apartment community (which happens to be right next to a Metro station) and everywhere in the city, including in forbidden areas (ie, the train). It's really getting to me, and I'm very concerned about all the secondhand exposure. My grandma, who I was very close with, passed away from lung cancer a few years ago (former smoker), so that might explain some of my bias.
I want to preface this Ask to clarify that I am not judging people who smoke (any kind of smoking). You do you, but when it becomes a problem enough that it's affecting me, that's when I become frustrated and angry. I am trying to understand this and hopefully have a good discussion.
So, I'd say, around a year, give or take, this has started. People regularly smoke on the (DC) Metro station platform, on the train (where it's presumably not allowed, but our Metro police doesn't enforce fare evasion, or other petty crimes), in bars (yes, even inside enclosed bars where I thought smoking wasn't allowed—although, to be fair, mostly vaping), at private parties (vaping mostly), and plenty of smokers on the sidewalks. In like 2017, I would see maybe 2-3 (at most?) smokers a day, now it's maybe every 5 or 10 minutes. It's so frustrating, because when I'm trying to do everyday tasks, such as grocery shopping, getting my eyeglasses fixed, enjoying a night out at a bar with friends, trying to enjoy my balcony, or even taking a walk outside, I can't really enjoy it anymore, because there seems to be smokers everywhere.
I know it's part of city life, but it just feels substantially worse. There's been similar complaints about smokers on the Metro, so that's at least a bit of a relief. However, I feel like I'm going crazy, because none of my friends seem to have noticed the uptick, and they keep saying smoke has reduced since the 90s and even the 2000s. I know for a fact this is not true, because I've lived here in the DC area since 2005, and even as recent as 2019, I never once experienced a smoker on the Metro train, for example. Now, it's to the point where I keep having to switch trains, maybe even 1-2 back, and some people lit up nonchalantly right in front of me, without even a care in the world. My Metro station constantly smells like a Las Vegas casino, which was definitely not the case in 2018.
My questions here are:
1) I'm very concerned about my health. Lately, it's been pretty bad, to the point where I continue to smell smoke in my nose after the encounters. This was never a problem even as recently as the spring. It's unpleasant, and it's like a persistent smoke smell has settled in my nose. Secondhand smoking exposure isn't a good thing.
2) Why, in 2022, are people still smoking? Again, no judgment or vitriol directed against smokers here, but I am trying to understand why. It's bad for your lungs, bad for your teeth, bad for your breath, bad for your clothes and living space, bad for others, and bad for the environment. Why do people partake in smoking? There are so many studies and numerous "examples" such as lung cancer, that prove that smoking is bad. (I understand this is a broad question, but it might help to see some perspectives.)
3) Why does it seem like generally, people are being inconsiderate when it comes to smoking, ie vaping at house parties in front of other people without even asking if it's okay; vaping/smoking in bars, smoking on the Metro train, smoking on sidewalks directly in the path of other people? I don't seem to remember this selfishness (again, not trying to judge) previously.
4) Has there been an uptick in smoking, as I feel, or is this truly me imagining stuff? I mean, yes, probably not an uptick since the 60s-80s or so, but in the last 10 years? And why is there an uptick, if true? Does this seem to be a DC-specific problem/"trend", or is this worldwide?
5) Most importantly, HOW do I cope with this "new world"? Like question #1, I am concerned about my health. It's very unpleasant. I love DC overall, and don't want to move. Is there some kind of smell tool I can bring with me to help, or some kind of blocker, or something? No car, so am stuck with the Metro and other public transportation methods.
It's disheartening. A family member, who helped raise me saying smoke is bad for me, encouraging me to never smoke cigarettes, and herself never having smoked or touched a cigarette despite her mom smoking, admitted that she recently smoked weed with her friends (smoking, not taking in an edible). I mean, what? She was always against smoking. Again, not trying to be judgmental, but it's just baffling. Doesn't she remember Grandma, who had lung cancer because of those very actions?
I don't get it. Am I going crazy here, or is something changing/shifting recently? Please help me understand this. I'm seeing smokers right and left, and feeling myself becoming upset and angry, even though I do try to remind myself that people have a right to smoke, but it does smell up my world, and not in a pleasant way at all. I'm hoping this platform will help me to understand perspectives, get helpful suggestions, and help my situation.
I want to preface this Ask to clarify that I am not judging people who smoke (any kind of smoking). You do you, but when it becomes a problem enough that it's affecting me, that's when I become frustrated and angry. I am trying to understand this and hopefully have a good discussion.
So, I'd say, around a year, give or take, this has started. People regularly smoke on the (DC) Metro station platform, on the train (where it's presumably not allowed, but our Metro police doesn't enforce fare evasion, or other petty crimes), in bars (yes, even inside enclosed bars where I thought smoking wasn't allowed—although, to be fair, mostly vaping), at private parties (vaping mostly), and plenty of smokers on the sidewalks. In like 2017, I would see maybe 2-3 (at most?) smokers a day, now it's maybe every 5 or 10 minutes. It's so frustrating, because when I'm trying to do everyday tasks, such as grocery shopping, getting my eyeglasses fixed, enjoying a night out at a bar with friends, trying to enjoy my balcony, or even taking a walk outside, I can't really enjoy it anymore, because there seems to be smokers everywhere.
I know it's part of city life, but it just feels substantially worse. There's been similar complaints about smokers on the Metro, so that's at least a bit of a relief. However, I feel like I'm going crazy, because none of my friends seem to have noticed the uptick, and they keep saying smoke has reduced since the 90s and even the 2000s. I know for a fact this is not true, because I've lived here in the DC area since 2005, and even as recent as 2019, I never once experienced a smoker on the Metro train, for example. Now, it's to the point where I keep having to switch trains, maybe even 1-2 back, and some people lit up nonchalantly right in front of me, without even a care in the world. My Metro station constantly smells like a Las Vegas casino, which was definitely not the case in 2018.
My questions here are:
1) I'm very concerned about my health. Lately, it's been pretty bad, to the point where I continue to smell smoke in my nose after the encounters. This was never a problem even as recently as the spring. It's unpleasant, and it's like a persistent smoke smell has settled in my nose. Secondhand smoking exposure isn't a good thing.
2) Why, in 2022, are people still smoking? Again, no judgment or vitriol directed against smokers here, but I am trying to understand why. It's bad for your lungs, bad for your teeth, bad for your breath, bad for your clothes and living space, bad for others, and bad for the environment. Why do people partake in smoking? There are so many studies and numerous "examples" such as lung cancer, that prove that smoking is bad. (I understand this is a broad question, but it might help to see some perspectives.)
3) Why does it seem like generally, people are being inconsiderate when it comes to smoking, ie vaping at house parties in front of other people without even asking if it's okay; vaping/smoking in bars, smoking on the Metro train, smoking on sidewalks directly in the path of other people? I don't seem to remember this selfishness (again, not trying to judge) previously.
4) Has there been an uptick in smoking, as I feel, or is this truly me imagining stuff? I mean, yes, probably not an uptick since the 60s-80s or so, but in the last 10 years? And why is there an uptick, if true? Does this seem to be a DC-specific problem/"trend", or is this worldwide?
5) Most importantly, HOW do I cope with this "new world"? Like question #1, I am concerned about my health. It's very unpleasant. I love DC overall, and don't want to move. Is there some kind of smell tool I can bring with me to help, or some kind of blocker, or something? No car, so am stuck with the Metro and other public transportation methods.
It's disheartening. A family member, who helped raise me saying smoke is bad for me, encouraging me to never smoke cigarettes, and herself never having smoked or touched a cigarette despite her mom smoking, admitted that she recently smoked weed with her friends (smoking, not taking in an edible). I mean, what? She was always against smoking. Again, not trying to be judgmental, but it's just baffling. Doesn't she remember Grandma, who had lung cancer because of those very actions?
I don't get it. Am I going crazy here, or is something changing/shifting recently? Please help me understand this. I'm seeing smokers right and left, and feeling myself becoming upset and angry, even though I do try to remind myself that people have a right to smoke, but it does smell up my world, and not in a pleasant way at all. I'm hoping this platform will help me to understand perspectives, get helpful suggestions, and help my situation.
An N95 mask will protect you from smoke as well as COVID. In this brave new world of ours, just keep masking will help your health on several fronts.
I have also noticed that smoking seems to be everywhere again and wondered if some of the smokers lost their taste/smell to COVID.
posted by hydropsyche at 3:59 PM on September 25, 2022 [20 favorites]
I have also noticed that smoking seems to be everywhere again and wondered if some of the smokers lost their taste/smell to COVID.
posted by hydropsyche at 3:59 PM on September 25, 2022 [20 favorites]
Mask outside, use an air purifier inside. You are getting a fraction of the exposure every single person got up until the early-mid 90s, and you are a person who suffers from health anxiety. Your risk is much much much lower than you perceive it to be. (Your annoyance, though, is accurate.)
Most of society is currently stressed to the point of near-collapse at this point. While cigarettes are far more expensive than generic antidepressants/anxiolytics, we have fostered such a paranoid society that people would rather self-medicate with something they can obtain without a doctor or other authority figure involved. I haven't had a cigarette in I guess 8 years now, and I'm currently suffering from intense enough cravings (and I'm ON life-saving antidepressants already) that the other day I caught myself reaching for where the pack used to sit - I haven't done that since I quit!
posted by Lyn Never at 4:12 PM on September 25, 2022 [46 favorites]
Most of society is currently stressed to the point of near-collapse at this point. While cigarettes are far more expensive than generic antidepressants/anxiolytics, we have fostered such a paranoid society that people would rather self-medicate with something they can obtain without a doctor or other authority figure involved. I haven't had a cigarette in I guess 8 years now, and I'm currently suffering from intense enough cravings (and I'm ON life-saving antidepressants already) that the other day I caught myself reaching for where the pack used to sit - I haven't done that since I quit!
posted by Lyn Never at 4:12 PM on September 25, 2022 [46 favorites]
A regular N95 mask will help a lot, but if you can swing it / find it for sale, this Moldex N95 also gives "Relief From Organic Vapors". They are expensive, and technically disposable, but I've found that their (regular, but in the same form factor) masks last a long time.
Small silver lining to the world today: you can wear a mask without seeming too weird.
posted by amtho at 4:16 PM on September 25, 2022 [5 favorites]
Small silver lining to the world today: you can wear a mask without seeming too weird.
posted by amtho at 4:16 PM on September 25, 2022 [5 favorites]
2) Why, in 2022, are people still smoking?
Robert Benchley's Friend: Your drink is slow poison.
Robert Benchley: So, who's in a hurry?
4) Has there been an uptick in smoking, as I feel, or is this truly me imagining stuff?
Our friends at the CDC say no for cigs, but there's probably been an increase in both nicotine vaping (which has only been legal in the US since 2006) and public weed-smoking.
posted by box at 4:18 PM on September 25, 2022 [5 favorites]
Robert Benchley's Friend: Your drink is slow poison.
Robert Benchley: So, who's in a hurry?
4) Has there been an uptick in smoking, as I feel, or is this truly me imagining stuff?
Our friends at the CDC say no for cigs, but there's probably been an increase in both nicotine vaping (which has only been legal in the US since 2006) and public weed-smoking.
posted by box at 4:18 PM on September 25, 2022 [5 favorites]
With respect, you ask a lot of questions about unpleasant smells - especially unpleasant smells that trigger health anxiety. Generally speaking, you seem to be highly sensitive and anxious. I wonder if addressing the root cause of the anxiety might be helpful - not just for helping you deal with encountering smokers, but with other, similar issues that might come up in your life.
she recently smoked weed with her friends (smoking, not taking in an edible). I mean, what? She was always against smoking
I think another issue is that your anxiety causes you to be quite judgmental, which causes you to fixate on how people are behaving "badly," in ways they "shouldn't." This is a really good example.
Occasionally smoking weed is nowhere near equivalent to a cigarette habit. Not only is the science behind a lung cancer link much less solid for heavy cannabis smokers, cannabis just isn't as addictive as nicotine; you're running less risk of even forming a habit in the first place. It's not hypocritical or inconsistent to be against cigarette smoking while also occasionally smoking weed. Your family member has not given themselves lung cancer by smoking weed with friends, nor have they forgotten your family member who died of lung cancer.
If I were you, I would try to let go of the judgment and anxiety, rather than fixating on it. No, it's not great to be exposed to secondhand smoke; it's unpleasant and gross. But are you being exposed to enough that there is a meaningful increase in your risk of lung cancer? I doubt it, although it's possible. There are things you can do to mitigate some of the smell and risk, like wearing a mask, but beyond that I don't think that fixating on it is helping you. The stress might be just as bad for you as the smoke.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 4:30 PM on September 25, 2022 [98 favorites]
she recently smoked weed with her friends (smoking, not taking in an edible). I mean, what? She was always against smoking
I think another issue is that your anxiety causes you to be quite judgmental, which causes you to fixate on how people are behaving "badly," in ways they "shouldn't." This is a really good example.
Occasionally smoking weed is nowhere near equivalent to a cigarette habit. Not only is the science behind a lung cancer link much less solid for heavy cannabis smokers, cannabis just isn't as addictive as nicotine; you're running less risk of even forming a habit in the first place. It's not hypocritical or inconsistent to be against cigarette smoking while also occasionally smoking weed. Your family member has not given themselves lung cancer by smoking weed with friends, nor have they forgotten your family member who died of lung cancer.
If I were you, I would try to let go of the judgment and anxiety, rather than fixating on it. No, it's not great to be exposed to secondhand smoke; it's unpleasant and gross. But are you being exposed to enough that there is a meaningful increase in your risk of lung cancer? I doubt it, although it's possible. There are things you can do to mitigate some of the smell and risk, like wearing a mask, but beyond that I don't think that fixating on it is helping you. The stress might be just as bad for you as the smoke.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 4:30 PM on September 25, 2022 [98 favorites]
You will also find many many people in the world who abhor smoking, by which they mean nicotine cigarettes. They'll complain about it in between bong rips. Smoking drugs is cool, man*.
*It is not.
posted by Lyn Never at 4:50 PM on September 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
*It is not.
posted by Lyn Never at 4:50 PM on September 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Why, in 2022, are people still smoking?
A lot of them are smoking again because it's been such a hard, hard almost three years if you're strictly looking at pandemic USA and over seven years if you're looking at political USA. A good number of my real-life friends have started back with their nightly cigarette.
posted by kimberussell at 4:52 PM on September 25, 2022 [18 favorites]
A lot of them are smoking again because it's been such a hard, hard almost three years if you're strictly looking at pandemic USA and over seven years if you're looking at political USA. A good number of my real-life friends have started back with their nightly cigarette.
posted by kimberussell at 4:52 PM on September 25, 2022 [18 favorites]
Why, in 2022, are people still smoking?
Because nobody really believes that they’ll be so weak as to get addicted; because it turns out that cigarettes are unbelievably addictive and hard to give up; because they do in the short term have an anxiety-calming effect, especially on people who are addicted to nicotine and in withdrawal from their last cigarette.
That aside, generally speaking, I’d say that maybe if you’re aiming to cope with the world by trying to come to a rational understanding of it, you’re often going to end up disappointed or frustrated. Better sometimes to try and find ways to be able to shrug your shoulders and accept that the world contains multitudes, many of which you’ll never understand, and make peace with that.
And I’d agree that your risk from this is probably not as high as you’re thinking it is and your understandable grief about losing your grandmother is perhaps tilting your perception of the risk. (Doesn’t stop it being unpleasant, but maybe it can make you less anxious at least).
posted by penguin pie at 5:11 PM on September 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
Because nobody really believes that they’ll be so weak as to get addicted; because it turns out that cigarettes are unbelievably addictive and hard to give up; because they do in the short term have an anxiety-calming effect, especially on people who are addicted to nicotine and in withdrawal from their last cigarette.
That aside, generally speaking, I’d say that maybe if you’re aiming to cope with the world by trying to come to a rational understanding of it, you’re often going to end up disappointed or frustrated. Better sometimes to try and find ways to be able to shrug your shoulders and accept that the world contains multitudes, many of which you’ll never understand, and make peace with that.
And I’d agree that your risk from this is probably not as high as you’re thinking it is and your understandable grief about losing your grandmother is perhaps tilting your perception of the risk. (Doesn’t stop it being unpleasant, but maybe it can make you less anxious at least).
posted by penguin pie at 5:11 PM on September 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
A family member, who helped raise me saying smoke is bad for me [...] admitted that she recently smoked weed with her friends (smoking, not taking in an edible). I mean, what? She was always against smoking.
As Kutsuwamushi writes, smoking weed is far different than smoking cigarettes — both in typical patterns of use and in the effects it has on your health.
But beyond that, this kind of black-and-white thinking leaves little room for the nuances of real life — where plenty of people know smoking isn't healthy but are nonetheless addicted, or just enjoy a cigarette a few times a year, or know that the relative health risks of sharing a joint with friends every so often are exceedingly low and just don't even worry about it. This black-and-white thinking encourages you to be judgemental of others whose lives fall outside the boundaries of black-and-white, and it creates rigid strictures for your own life that don't allow for flexibility, nor for generosity toward others operating in the gray area, or for yourself.
When you frame your family member's smoking weed as "admitting" that she'd recently smoked, for instance, it makes me wonder how comfortable she felt recounting this ordinary, relatively low-risk activity to you. Yes, smoking on the metro is shitty. Smoking in non-smoking bars mostly is, too. But spending time unmasked in public outside of Deaf contexts is also kinda shitty — and masking will solve a large portion of your specific, actual problems regarding smoking. So will making clear distinctions between the actual (non-anxiety-driven) effects something has on you and your judgement more generally about that thing. You may find that it's easier to build relationships when you release that judgement-driven anxiety, if others feel less judged in your presence. They'll share more of their whole selves with you, and in turn you'll have a richer, more nuanced understanding of the people you care most about. Y'know?
posted by knucklebones at 6:25 PM on September 25, 2022 [12 favorites]
As Kutsuwamushi writes, smoking weed is far different than smoking cigarettes — both in typical patterns of use and in the effects it has on your health.
But beyond that, this kind of black-and-white thinking leaves little room for the nuances of real life — where plenty of people know smoking isn't healthy but are nonetheless addicted, or just enjoy a cigarette a few times a year, or know that the relative health risks of sharing a joint with friends every so often are exceedingly low and just don't even worry about it. This black-and-white thinking encourages you to be judgemental of others whose lives fall outside the boundaries of black-and-white, and it creates rigid strictures for your own life that don't allow for flexibility, nor for generosity toward others operating in the gray area, or for yourself.
When you frame your family member's smoking weed as "admitting" that she'd recently smoked, for instance, it makes me wonder how comfortable she felt recounting this ordinary, relatively low-risk activity to you. Yes, smoking on the metro is shitty. Smoking in non-smoking bars mostly is, too. But spending time unmasked in public outside of Deaf contexts is also kinda shitty — and masking will solve a large portion of your specific, actual problems regarding smoking. So will making clear distinctions between the actual (non-anxiety-driven) effects something has on you and your judgement more generally about that thing. You may find that it's easier to build relationships when you release that judgement-driven anxiety, if others feel less judged in your presence. They'll share more of their whole selves with you, and in turn you'll have a richer, more nuanced understanding of the people you care most about. Y'know?
posted by knucklebones at 6:25 PM on September 25, 2022 [12 favorites]
Response by poster: Good feedback so far, good points as well.
Just a few quick points of clarification: the family member "admitted" (my terminology) that to me, but it was because she's typically a very private person. I wasn't trying to come across as judgmental of her here, just was surprised because her whole life, she always talked about not smoking and how bad it is for your lungs. I wasn't raised to know the difference between weed/cigarette smoke, so was under the assumption she meant both. It was just a surprise to me, is all.
Also, I'm more concerned about the long-term effects of my health, such as breathing difficulties, my lungs working harder to pump out air, etc. I did not expect that I would likely get lung cancer from secondhand smoke, but I did consider it as a small possibility, especially with prolonged exposure. I know having brief secondhand exposure isn't necessarily a bad spell, or the end of the world, but I figured there might be a cumulative effect down the road. I wish there were more studies specifically dedicated to secondhand exposure. As of right now, I don't have any health issues, other than the "stuck" smell mentioned upthread.
With that said, I'm buying an air purifier for my apartment (Honeywell, with a specific smoke filter, which of course I wouldn't expect to eliminate the smell fully, but at least hopefully would help. I've been blessed that, so far, there's been little to no smoke smell in my apartment, other than when I accidentally forget to close my window and my neighbor smokes.
Also, with full disclosure/transparency, I must admit to judging strangers a bit for smoking sometimes, specifically those who smoke in the direct presence of others nearby—only because, hey, there's plenty of studies that show how bad smoking is for you, for others, and for the environment, and you're being inconsiderate by polluting the air with people in near proximity. Respectful smokers who do it away from others, in a designated smoke area, or at a good time when nobody else are around—mad respect to them, it must not be easy. Props also to those who were able to quit, that must have been a Herculean act!
A good number of my real-life friends have started back with their nightly cigarette.
Did they specifically cite stress (pandemic/Trump) as the reason? Just curious.
With respect, you ask a lot of questions about unpleasant smells
Yes, I do. That's because I'm (extraordinarily, I guess?) hyper-sensitive to smells. My theory is because I'm fully Deaf and have bad eyesight (nearsighted/myopic), so my other senses work harder as a result to compensate for the non-existent and weaker senses.
posted by dubious_dude at 7:22 PM on September 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
Just a few quick points of clarification: the family member "admitted" (my terminology) that to me, but it was because she's typically a very private person. I wasn't trying to come across as judgmental of her here, just was surprised because her whole life, she always talked about not smoking and how bad it is for your lungs. I wasn't raised to know the difference between weed/cigarette smoke, so was under the assumption she meant both. It was just a surprise to me, is all.
Also, I'm more concerned about the long-term effects of my health, such as breathing difficulties, my lungs working harder to pump out air, etc. I did not expect that I would likely get lung cancer from secondhand smoke, but I did consider it as a small possibility, especially with prolonged exposure. I know having brief secondhand exposure isn't necessarily a bad spell, or the end of the world, but I figured there might be a cumulative effect down the road. I wish there were more studies specifically dedicated to secondhand exposure. As of right now, I don't have any health issues, other than the "stuck" smell mentioned upthread.
With that said, I'm buying an air purifier for my apartment (Honeywell, with a specific smoke filter, which of course I wouldn't expect to eliminate the smell fully, but at least hopefully would help. I've been blessed that, so far, there's been little to no smoke smell in my apartment, other than when I accidentally forget to close my window and my neighbor smokes.
Also, with full disclosure/transparency, I must admit to judging strangers a bit for smoking sometimes, specifically those who smoke in the direct presence of others nearby—only because, hey, there's plenty of studies that show how bad smoking is for you, for others, and for the environment, and you're being inconsiderate by polluting the air with people in near proximity. Respectful smokers who do it away from others, in a designated smoke area, or at a good time when nobody else are around—mad respect to them, it must not be easy. Props also to those who were able to quit, that must have been a Herculean act!
A good number of my real-life friends have started back with their nightly cigarette.
Did they specifically cite stress (pandemic/Trump) as the reason? Just curious.
With respect, you ask a lot of questions about unpleasant smells
Yes, I do. That's because I'm (extraordinarily, I guess?) hyper-sensitive to smells. My theory is because I'm fully Deaf and have bad eyesight (nearsighted/myopic), so my other senses work harder as a result to compensate for the non-existent and weaker senses.
posted by dubious_dude at 7:22 PM on September 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
I hate the smell of smoke, as you do; how unpleasant you find it is purely subjective. But how harmful it is to your health is a factual matter. It's been a decade or so since I seriously looked at it, but then my general understanding was that if you live with a smoker, or if you work in a smoky bar 8 hours a day, secondhand smoke could present a small but significant health risk. But incidental exposure is really nothing to worry about. See also this article.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 7:51 PM on September 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 7:51 PM on September 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
Just a tiny bit of anecdata for you but FWIW I was at an event recently with a bunch of twentysomethings and I was astonished by how many of them were smoking cigarettes — like maybe 4/5ths of them. I asked why and they told me it’s despair. Climate + the rise of the far right, is what they said.
posted by Susan PG at 8:00 PM on September 25, 2022 [11 favorites]
posted by Susan PG at 8:00 PM on September 25, 2022 [11 favorites]
Drugs 101
There are junkies and finding a vein and shooting up and everything goes into the bloodstream very quickly. Hits fast, instant gratification.
Then there is smoking (the reason for crack cocaine) which produces small and quick readily absorbed. Hits fast, instant gratification, some lossage.
Then there is vaping which is the drug suspended in a solvent and inhaled. Like asthma inhalers or nasal sprays. Hits slower, has to go through the mucous membrane slowly. Takes a while, some lossage.
Then there's ingestion. Eat it. Hits slow, full dose, no real lossage.
Smoking weed/nicotine is in that smoking category because it hits fast and doesn't take long and isn't a needle. The down side there is that for most organic drugs the smoking part produces nasty compounds because they're burning stuff. Weed gets a pass here because mostly it seems that that bowl or joint or something either makes you stoned enough to stop or too blitzed out to get off the couch and spark up another one. Cigarettes aren't like that, Nicotine itself basically has the same medical chart at Caffeine, addictive, too much is heart palpitations or such, tolerance builds, etc. It's the other things in the tobacco of the cigarette smoke that is burnt/smoking that are the major bad things.
Vaping either THC or Nicotine doesn't really have that second hand smoke thing going on. You would have to mouth-to-mouth (fun at parties) suck all of the vaper's exhalation to get a tiny fraction of what they got. In a subway car, you'd have to suck in the whole volume of air in the car to even maybe catch a buzz. Better to try a phone booth or a closet for a contact drug high.
Vaporizers work based on the water content of the liquid and the airflow (sucking). They boil little bubbles of steam at 100C (212F) which causes little droplets to fly off and be sucked down into the mouth/lungs where they are absorbed slowly. No combustion. The same carrier liquids are used in inhalers and nasal sprays and are probably in food in your kitchen.
Vaping wise, what you notice is the smell. Tiny volatile aromatic compounds used for flavoring. Those are the same things that flavor all of your candies and food stuffs. Now weed has some of the organic weed stuff smell left in it. But the most of the flavor and smell is just the things that make mint candies taste/smell minty, or that orangy thing taste/smell orangy.
I have deep knowledge of mixing up Nicotine and THC extracts. It's mostly just all making a warm inhaler with a bit of commercial flavor and a bit of lab grade drug.
The smoking/combustion bit is a different matter. People do that because it's almost instant gratification and is quick and something they can fit into a break or a walk easily. Snorting can work that way. Vaping or Edibles have a slower sort of curve like making sure to take your daily pills or waithing for that coffee to kick in.
There's also probably some cost factored in. While it is cheaper to DIY your own nicotine by a large margin, it's not cheaper to buy it retail. Weed would be even worse, I wouldn't try it. But one can get one-hit-and-quit buds for a fraction of retail in a weed-is-legal state.
Unless you are living with a smoker of whatever, or have a medical condition, your biggest worry should be cars and other traffic and things that you can't smell.
People may be smoking more in general just because it's a quick fix. Smart ones have gone for the vape, smarter ones have gone for the edible/pills to manage. Be glad they haven't taken up the needle.
posted by zengargoyle at 9:10 PM on September 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
There are junkies and finding a vein and shooting up and everything goes into the bloodstream very quickly. Hits fast, instant gratification.
Then there is smoking (the reason for crack cocaine) which produces small and quick readily absorbed. Hits fast, instant gratification, some lossage.
Then there is vaping which is the drug suspended in a solvent and inhaled. Like asthma inhalers or nasal sprays. Hits slower, has to go through the mucous membrane slowly. Takes a while, some lossage.
Then there's ingestion. Eat it. Hits slow, full dose, no real lossage.
Smoking weed/nicotine is in that smoking category because it hits fast and doesn't take long and isn't a needle. The down side there is that for most organic drugs the smoking part produces nasty compounds because they're burning stuff. Weed gets a pass here because mostly it seems that that bowl or joint or something either makes you stoned enough to stop or too blitzed out to get off the couch and spark up another one. Cigarettes aren't like that, Nicotine itself basically has the same medical chart at Caffeine, addictive, too much is heart palpitations or such, tolerance builds, etc. It's the other things in the tobacco of the cigarette smoke that is burnt/smoking that are the major bad things.
Vaping either THC or Nicotine doesn't really have that second hand smoke thing going on. You would have to mouth-to-mouth (fun at parties) suck all of the vaper's exhalation to get a tiny fraction of what they got. In a subway car, you'd have to suck in the whole volume of air in the car to even maybe catch a buzz. Better to try a phone booth or a closet for a contact drug high.
Vaporizers work based on the water content of the liquid and the airflow (sucking). They boil little bubbles of steam at 100C (212F) which causes little droplets to fly off and be sucked down into the mouth/lungs where they are absorbed slowly. No combustion. The same carrier liquids are used in inhalers and nasal sprays and are probably in food in your kitchen.
Vaping wise, what you notice is the smell. Tiny volatile aromatic compounds used for flavoring. Those are the same things that flavor all of your candies and food stuffs. Now weed has some of the organic weed stuff smell left in it. But the most of the flavor and smell is just the things that make mint candies taste/smell minty, or that orangy thing taste/smell orangy.
I have deep knowledge of mixing up Nicotine and THC extracts. It's mostly just all making a warm inhaler with a bit of commercial flavor and a bit of lab grade drug.
The smoking/combustion bit is a different matter. People do that because it's almost instant gratification and is quick and something they can fit into a break or a walk easily. Snorting can work that way. Vaping or Edibles have a slower sort of curve like making sure to take your daily pills or waithing for that coffee to kick in.
There's also probably some cost factored in. While it is cheaper to DIY your own nicotine by a large margin, it's not cheaper to buy it retail. Weed would be even worse, I wouldn't try it. But one can get one-hit-and-quit buds for a fraction of retail in a weed-is-legal state.
Unless you are living with a smoker of whatever, or have a medical condition, your biggest worry should be cars and other traffic and things that you can't smell.
People may be smoking more in general just because it's a quick fix. Smart ones have gone for the vape, smarter ones have gone for the edible/pills to manage. Be glad they haven't taken up the needle.
posted by zengargoyle at 9:10 PM on September 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
I am also hyper sensitive to smells. I can not stress enough how much my life has improved with mask wearing. At home situations, I wear Cambridge masks which are amazing at blocking smells. They’ve also kept me safe through a couple of high risk exposures to covid, but are hard to get a good seal on so I don’t recommend them for that anymore. But for smells they’re superb. Out in public, I wear a p100 and just no longer smell smoke or most bothersome things. My quality of life has improved greatly when I took this power into my own hands. I used to feel at the mercy of what other people were doing and it caused me a lot of health anxiety (because smells often accompany migraines and other impacts for me). But now! I am not at the mercy of anyone! I just wear my mask and they do what they’re going to do and it can’t hurt me. I didn’t expect it to help my anxiety in other areas of my life; but it has! I think because smells are one of those things that is a constant stressor. So it makes you always be vigilant and the more you notice it the more you get worked up, so your nervous system never has a break. I also think it helped because I figured out how to have autonomy over something that’s not really in my control.
posted by Bottlecap at 9:16 PM on September 25, 2022 [12 favorites]
posted by Bottlecap at 9:16 PM on September 25, 2022 [12 favorites]
The headaches, nausea, coughing, and difficulty breathing nonsmokers experience when forced to be in close proximity to smoking have nothing to do with “judgment” or “anxiety.”
A lot of people are angry at the world right now (for obvious reasons) and forcing others around them to deal with the effects of their antisocial behavior is a way of asserting the control they feel like they’re losing in other areas of life. It’s a massive “Fuck you; I do what I want.”
There was a time when even heavy smokers wouldn’t dream of lighting up in a captive audience without first asking the people around them if they minded. But Main Character Syndrome has been on the rise as more and more people experience the world through their small social bubbles instead of thinking of themselves as part of a larger group with all the social obligations that entails.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:27 PM on September 25, 2022 [20 favorites]
A lot of people are angry at the world right now (for obvious reasons) and forcing others around them to deal with the effects of their antisocial behavior is a way of asserting the control they feel like they’re losing in other areas of life. It’s a massive “Fuck you; I do what I want.”
There was a time when even heavy smokers wouldn’t dream of lighting up in a captive audience without first asking the people around them if they minded. But Main Character Syndrome has been on the rise as more and more people experience the world through their small social bubbles instead of thinking of themselves as part of a larger group with all the social obligations that entails.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:27 PM on September 25, 2022 [20 favorites]
I have a strong sense of smell and hate the smell of cigarettes. If someone starts smoking nearby, I'll move if I can so that I don't have to smell it. If I am exposed, I don't dwell on the potential health impacts because there's no point worrying about something which you have no control over.
Stress is also bad for your health. My suggestion would be to try therapy, mindfulness, meditation, or any other strategy which helps get you out of your head.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 10:35 PM on September 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
Stress is also bad for your health. My suggestion would be to try therapy, mindfulness, meditation, or any other strategy which helps get you out of your head.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 10:35 PM on September 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
Re Q 2 - Not most people, but: The Role of Nicotine in Schizophrenia. "The bulk of evidence suggests that nicotine has a beneficial effect on some aspects of schizophrenia symptomology. "
Re Q 3 - because they are. We all are, at one point or another. When you see selfishness, practice selflessness.
Re Qs 1 & 5, do you have a strong, healthy social group or grops that center around your identity or values? If not, work on that. It won't make the smoke go away, but it might help give you positive things to focus your energy instead.
There is meaning in grief. I hope you have or have had the opportunity to process some of your emotions about your grandma, with whom you were close.
Cigarette smoke is awful. It sounds awful to not only have to deal with the sensory experience of cigarette smoke, but to experience it more than the people around you. Also it means that you have to accept that people are doing something that can hurt or even kill themselves, and it feels optional and unnecessary, and it's heartbreaking to watch and to have frequent reminders of that.
posted by aniola at 11:40 PM on September 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
Re Q 3 - because they are. We all are, at one point or another. When you see selfishness, practice selflessness.
Re Qs 1 & 5, do you have a strong, healthy social group or grops that center around your identity or values? If not, work on that. It won't make the smoke go away, but it might help give you positive things to focus your energy instead.
There is meaning in grief. I hope you have or have had the opportunity to process some of your emotions about your grandma, with whom you were close.
Cigarette smoke is awful. It sounds awful to not only have to deal with the sensory experience of cigarette smoke, but to experience it more than the people around you. Also it means that you have to accept that people are doing something that can hurt or even kill themselves, and it feels optional and unnecessary, and it's heartbreaking to watch and to have frequent reminders of that.
posted by aniola at 11:40 PM on September 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
I am a smoker.
However, smoking in the Metro or Metro Stations is not okay at all ever. Even as a smoker myself i get very angry when people do that. Where i live (Vienna, Austria) it is forbidden and heavy fines are threatened by the municipality for smoking in public transport, there are inspectors but not many. Despite this, i do notice an increase of people smoking in public transport.
As there is also a legal obligation to wear an ffp2 mask (i think called n95 in US?) on public transport die to COVID-19 I noticed it helps to lessen the smell.
What i have done when i am particularly angry is inform the station manager (conveniently located in most larger Metro Stations in Vienna, don't know whether you have those in DC) that there is someone smoking in train number 1234, third car, or whatever. If this leads to any action i don't know but it is a release for me if nothing else.
Here i would never approach the smoker on the Underground myself, it is too dangerous. Probably the same where you live.
Smoking here is banned in bars, etc, and staff will enforce.
Re sidewalks, etc here i think that unless there is no option for you to move away (eg overtake the smoker, change sides), it is on you to remove yourself. I do smoke walking on a sidewalk, often to relieve Stress as i walk between stressful appointments. I am aware of people as i smoke and might change sides myself or drop behind (the smoke hits mostly the people walking behind me).
Why do people smoke in 2022? I smoke for stress relief mostly. Sometimes for pleasure. I know it is seriously unhealthy. I try as much as i can to not smoke around others. But my current life circumstances are so that a cigarette break helps my sanity and calms me in ways nothing else does.
posted by 15L06 at 12:41 AM on September 26, 2022 [5 favorites]
However, smoking in the Metro or Metro Stations is not okay at all ever. Even as a smoker myself i get very angry when people do that. Where i live (Vienna, Austria) it is forbidden and heavy fines are threatened by the municipality for smoking in public transport, there are inspectors but not many. Despite this, i do notice an increase of people smoking in public transport.
As there is also a legal obligation to wear an ffp2 mask (i think called n95 in US?) on public transport die to COVID-19 I noticed it helps to lessen the smell.
What i have done when i am particularly angry is inform the station manager (conveniently located in most larger Metro Stations in Vienna, don't know whether you have those in DC) that there is someone smoking in train number 1234, third car, or whatever. If this leads to any action i don't know but it is a release for me if nothing else.
Here i would never approach the smoker on the Underground myself, it is too dangerous. Probably the same where you live.
Smoking here is banned in bars, etc, and staff will enforce.
Re sidewalks, etc here i think that unless there is no option for you to move away (eg overtake the smoker, change sides), it is on you to remove yourself. I do smoke walking on a sidewalk, often to relieve Stress as i walk between stressful appointments. I am aware of people as i smoke and might change sides myself or drop behind (the smoke hits mostly the people walking behind me).
Why do people smoke in 2022? I smoke for stress relief mostly. Sometimes for pleasure. I know it is seriously unhealthy. I try as much as i can to not smoke around others. But my current life circumstances are so that a cigarette break helps my sanity and calms me in ways nothing else does.
posted by 15L06 at 12:41 AM on September 26, 2022 [5 favorites]
I’m also unusually affected in the short term by cigarette and other tobacco smoke. The part where some of your other senses are diminished sounds extra stressful; and although I, like other commenters, have found n95 masks helpful for reducing all sorts of smells in addition to COVID exposure, I can see where that could feel like a really frustrating option for you that even further diminishes your sensory inputs and ways to interact with the world around you.
I haven’t seen an increase in public use of cigarettes in my area. We also, until earlier this calendar year, had a much better and more supportive government response to the pandemic than even the better parts of the US. I expect there is some connection there.
I have in the past had to be extra careful about choosing where I live. Occasional short-term exposure I can deal with, but I can’t live above cigarette smokers - the smoke rises and gets into everything, coming in windows, under doors from shared hallways, up through walls via incompletely finished kitchen cabinets or closets, etc., and just makes me miserable. If your apartment building isn’t non-smoking to begin with, you may need to move, unfortunately. If it is, I’ve found that about 3/4 of the time approaching folks with a friendly, apologetic tone and asking that they pay attention to wind direction and smoke somewhere that is not below my window/balcony nor upwind gets results. That other 1/4 of the time can be pretty stressful though.
I find pot smoke more immediately noticeable than cigarette smoke, and I don’t find it a pleasant smell usually. But fortunately it doesn’t give me the same immediate ill health effects nearly as much as cigarette smoke, and it doesn’t linger and get onto every surface (hard or fabric) unless there’s an exceptionally heavy smoker. My success rate at working out mutually agreeable airflow dynamics with pot smokers has also been much higher.
Anyway, if you are inclined to try to talk to neighbours about airflow dynamics around your balcony, my recommendation would be to approach the conversation with compassion. Acknowledge that stuff has been extra stressful for everyone lately, then explain your particular sensitivity to smells. (Strategy notes: include the part where you’re Deaf and don’t have the greatest vision, but not the part about your grandmother - it’s not a fully accurate picture of why the smoke bothers you, and kind of leans into some stereotypes about people gaining extra ability in another sense when they lose one sense, but it’ll give a brief and relatable hook and avoid the most likely pitfalls that could make folks defensive and unwilling to listen or work with you on solutions. The goal is to reduce smoke in your home environment, so focus on what will most effectively accomplish that.) Scope out potential alternative smoking locations that would be comfortable for your neighbours if at all possible, so that you can have specific alternatives to suggest that don’t result in smoke on your balcony and coming in your windows. (I have a close friend who is great at determining wind direction and standing downwind of me, but I’ve found that a lot of people can be rather clueless about this.) Definitely don’t ask your neighbors to stop smoking or make suggestions about their behavior in general - really focus on the immediate issue affecting you, which is that the smoke is ending up at your balcony and windows. The easiest solutions to effect will be ones that simply change the location of the smoke so that it doesn’t impact you.
posted by eviemath at 4:46 AM on September 26, 2022 [4 favorites]
I haven’t seen an increase in public use of cigarettes in my area. We also, until earlier this calendar year, had a much better and more supportive government response to the pandemic than even the better parts of the US. I expect there is some connection there.
I have in the past had to be extra careful about choosing where I live. Occasional short-term exposure I can deal with, but I can’t live above cigarette smokers - the smoke rises and gets into everything, coming in windows, under doors from shared hallways, up through walls via incompletely finished kitchen cabinets or closets, etc., and just makes me miserable. If your apartment building isn’t non-smoking to begin with, you may need to move, unfortunately. If it is, I’ve found that about 3/4 of the time approaching folks with a friendly, apologetic tone and asking that they pay attention to wind direction and smoke somewhere that is not below my window/balcony nor upwind gets results. That other 1/4 of the time can be pretty stressful though.
I find pot smoke more immediately noticeable than cigarette smoke, and I don’t find it a pleasant smell usually. But fortunately it doesn’t give me the same immediate ill health effects nearly as much as cigarette smoke, and it doesn’t linger and get onto every surface (hard or fabric) unless there’s an exceptionally heavy smoker. My success rate at working out mutually agreeable airflow dynamics with pot smokers has also been much higher.
Anyway, if you are inclined to try to talk to neighbours about airflow dynamics around your balcony, my recommendation would be to approach the conversation with compassion. Acknowledge that stuff has been extra stressful for everyone lately, then explain your particular sensitivity to smells. (Strategy notes: include the part where you’re Deaf and don’t have the greatest vision, but not the part about your grandmother - it’s not a fully accurate picture of why the smoke bothers you, and kind of leans into some stereotypes about people gaining extra ability in another sense when they lose one sense, but it’ll give a brief and relatable hook and avoid the most likely pitfalls that could make folks defensive and unwilling to listen or work with you on solutions. The goal is to reduce smoke in your home environment, so focus on what will most effectively accomplish that.) Scope out potential alternative smoking locations that would be comfortable for your neighbours if at all possible, so that you can have specific alternatives to suggest that don’t result in smoke on your balcony and coming in your windows. (I have a close friend who is great at determining wind direction and standing downwind of me, but I’ve found that a lot of people can be rather clueless about this.) Definitely don’t ask your neighbors to stop smoking or make suggestions about their behavior in general - really focus on the immediate issue affecting you, which is that the smoke is ending up at your balcony and windows. The easiest solutions to effect will be ones that simply change the location of the smoke so that it doesn’t impact you.
posted by eviemath at 4:46 AM on September 26, 2022 [4 favorites]
A few points:
1. The federal government botched the regulatory response to electronic smoking devices. The relevant time period was Obama’s first term. The Obama administration took the issue seriously and Congress gave them the statutory authority they needed, but they made a few key tactical and procedural blunders that doomed the effort. I’ve never heard any suggestion of sabotage, just human error. Source: I worked for an anti-smoking organization at the tail end of the time in question.
2. Everyone botched the partial decriminalization of weed. We needed visionary leadership to balance the medical, recreational, justice, health, and quality of life elements of weed legalization and we didn’t get it. The lack of visionary leadership in this country continues to be a problem.
3. Uncontrolled combustion is fun. The byproducts of uncontrolled combustion are hazardous to health. People engage in extensive magical thinking to avoid confronting these two facts.
I don’t have any domain knowledge regarding the breakdown of public rule following during the pandemic. My suspicion is that the tight labor market encourages rule breaking through at least two channels (lower risk aversion and less vigorous policing) but that’s just a guess.
posted by Ptrin at 9:21 AM on September 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
1. The federal government botched the regulatory response to electronic smoking devices. The relevant time period was Obama’s first term. The Obama administration took the issue seriously and Congress gave them the statutory authority they needed, but they made a few key tactical and procedural blunders that doomed the effort. I’ve never heard any suggestion of sabotage, just human error. Source: I worked for an anti-smoking organization at the tail end of the time in question.
2. Everyone botched the partial decriminalization of weed. We needed visionary leadership to balance the medical, recreational, justice, health, and quality of life elements of weed legalization and we didn’t get it. The lack of visionary leadership in this country continues to be a problem.
3. Uncontrolled combustion is fun. The byproducts of uncontrolled combustion are hazardous to health. People engage in extensive magical thinking to avoid confronting these two facts.
I don’t have any domain knowledge regarding the breakdown of public rule following during the pandemic. My suspicion is that the tight labor market encourages rule breaking through at least two channels (lower risk aversion and less vigorous policing) but that’s just a guess.
posted by Ptrin at 9:21 AM on September 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
I think dubious_dude has gotten a lot of good information above, in terms of health effects and coping strategies. I do think an air purifier for your apartment at least is a good idea.
This definitely: A lot of people are angry at the world right now (for obvious reasons) and forcing others around them to deal with the effects of their antisocial behavior is a way of asserting the control they feel like they’re losing in other areas of life. It’s a massive “Fuck you; I do what I want.” I also like the terminology of "Main Character Syndrome."
But also, I had a friend who was a long time smoker but finally quit (to late to save him from cancer sadly). He was good about not inflicting his smoking on others. But, about a year after he quit, he sheepishly came to me and admitted he had not understood just how nasty an effect cigarette smoke had on non smokers till he had been one for a while. To him, when addicted, it always smelled good, even second hand, and he genuinely did not realize how it felt to us non smokers till he quit.
As someone in the DC metropolitan area, I did want to validate dubious_dude's impression that there is more public smoking around, including in the Metro - both stations and trains.
I'm pretty sensitive to tobacco in particular too (on allergy testing it shows up as a very mild allergy), so I do take notice. There has also been an uptick in visible crime and misdemeanors in the Metro - more casual jumping of fare gates and some violence. Our Metro system has some issues now and there is a lack of will for enforcement by the Metro authorities of things like no smoking, in favor of keeping people from (literally) being hurt. So, I personally cope by trying to casually switch train cars at the next station if someone starts smoking near me. I don't expect anyone is going to do anything about it.
I also do a lot more dodging and weaving when taking walks. I like to walk for exercise and have been working hard on finding less traveled routes or specific park paths, in order to get away from rude people in general ... the casual smokers, and all the alternate vehicle riders (lots of scooters etc.) barrelling down the sidewalks.
posted by gudrun at 9:28 AM on September 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
This definitely: A lot of people are angry at the world right now (for obvious reasons) and forcing others around them to deal with the effects of their antisocial behavior is a way of asserting the control they feel like they’re losing in other areas of life. It’s a massive “Fuck you; I do what I want.” I also like the terminology of "Main Character Syndrome."
But also, I had a friend who was a long time smoker but finally quit (to late to save him from cancer sadly). He was good about not inflicting his smoking on others. But, about a year after he quit, he sheepishly came to me and admitted he had not understood just how nasty an effect cigarette smoke had on non smokers till he had been one for a while. To him, when addicted, it always smelled good, even second hand, and he genuinely did not realize how it felt to us non smokers till he quit.
As someone in the DC metropolitan area, I did want to validate dubious_dude's impression that there is more public smoking around, including in the Metro - both stations and trains.
I'm pretty sensitive to tobacco in particular too (on allergy testing it shows up as a very mild allergy), so I do take notice. There has also been an uptick in visible crime and misdemeanors in the Metro - more casual jumping of fare gates and some violence. Our Metro system has some issues now and there is a lack of will for enforcement by the Metro authorities of things like no smoking, in favor of keeping people from (literally) being hurt. So, I personally cope by trying to casually switch train cars at the next station if someone starts smoking near me. I don't expect anyone is going to do anything about it.
I also do a lot more dodging and weaving when taking walks. I like to walk for exercise and have been working hard on finding less traveled routes or specific park paths, in order to get away from rude people in general ... the casual smokers, and all the alternate vehicle riders (lots of scooters etc.) barrelling down the sidewalks.
posted by gudrun at 9:28 AM on September 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
I ride the Metro quite a bit and I've never seen someone smoking—actually smoking, not vaping—inside a train on the Metro. You're talking about real, no-shit, combustible cigarettes, on the train itself? That's a bit bonkers. Maybe civilization hasn't fully collapsed yet on my end of the Orange Line, or I'm just lucky.
Not sure there's really much you can do if someone does that. I mean, you could ask them politely not to, but it seems unlikely they'll do anything except tell you to fuck off—anyone who's smoking an actual cigarette in an indoor space with other people in 2022 is pretty much advertising the fact that they don't give a fuck—it's sort of like hawking a loogie right in the middle of the floor—and might be doing it to start a fight, so I'm not sure I'd try unless I was willing to take that risk.
And the Metro Police seem to have basically decided they're not interested in enforcing any rules or generally giving a shit about anything that's not a felony, so while you could report it, that's probably not going to do anything, either.
The N95 mask is probably the best solution.
posted by Kadin2048 at 7:13 PM on September 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
Not sure there's really much you can do if someone does that. I mean, you could ask them politely not to, but it seems unlikely they'll do anything except tell you to fuck off—anyone who's smoking an actual cigarette in an indoor space with other people in 2022 is pretty much advertising the fact that they don't give a fuck—it's sort of like hawking a loogie right in the middle of the floor—and might be doing it to start a fight, so I'm not sure I'd try unless I was willing to take that risk.
And the Metro Police seem to have basically decided they're not interested in enforcing any rules or generally giving a shit about anything that's not a felony, so while you could report it, that's probably not going to do anything, either.
The N95 mask is probably the best solution.
posted by Kadin2048 at 7:13 PM on September 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
(Kadin2048, smoking actual cigarettes in Metro cars definitely happens. I experience it on the Green Line. I switch cars when I can.)
posted by gudrun at 12:13 PM on September 27, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by gudrun at 12:13 PM on September 27, 2022 [1 favorite]
I live in Virginia, but in the southwest part. I can't believe how weak the laws are about smoking here. That people can still smoke in the outdoor areas of bars, on benches outside stores, etc. I'm also very sensitive smoke owning to a chronic cough, and I regularly get disgusted at having to go out of my way to avoid smokers.
I would hazard a guess that part of the problem is the weakness of VA laws. I've lived in places that had smoke-free workplace laws, and it was a totally different experience.
Wearing a mask and avoiding the best you can is, sadly, the best advice I can give. I am with you in hoping the laws change soon and are actually enforced.
posted by mermaidcafe at 9:42 PM on September 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
I would hazard a guess that part of the problem is the weakness of VA laws. I've lived in places that had smoke-free workplace laws, and it was a totally different experience.
Wearing a mask and avoiding the best you can is, sadly, the best advice I can give. I am with you in hoping the laws change soon and are actually enforced.
posted by mermaidcafe at 9:42 PM on September 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by The Last Sockpuppet at 3:53 PM on September 25, 2022 [20 favorites]