Now I'm an ex-smoker myself so I can't judge smokers without being a complete hypocrite - I know how relaxing it can be to sit out on your balcony and smoke a ciggie. In fact, it can be wonderful. But, after this summer, I swear that if I ever smoke a random cigarette myself, I will never ever do so on my balcony. It's one of those things that totally turn your home into a place that doesn't feel comfortable anymore....and I'd hate myself for doing that to someone else just to get my nicotine fix....after all, why not just take the elevator down and smoke outside away from the building, huh ?
At some point there was a public discussion in Finland about possibly banning smoking on balconies and I thought that was ABSURD - I mean c'mon, what next ? Now though I would clap my hands in delight should such law be applied. Or, in the least I think building societies should be able to make that decision for themselves - maybe that way there could be smoke free buildings or we could somehow divide buildings to smoking and non-smoking sections. I don't know, really. All I know is that I am sick of the smoke after this summer. Yuck.
Yeah, as a former smoker myself, I'm not fond of the smell of cig smoke now. It drives me crazy when I'm sitting in traffic with the car windows down and somebody in a car ahead of me is smoking ... I can smell it, and it's, like, blech. I shudder to think what I did to my poor lungs all those years. That said, unless and until smoking is illegal, I think people have the "right" to smoke .. as long as it's not bugging someone else. I think the idea of "smoking" and "non-smoking" apartment buildings is a good one, unless the buildings are close together, and then the smoke's just gonna waft over anyway. I mean, if I WAS still a smoker, I'd sure as sh*t wanna be able to go out in my backyard and smoke, regardless of whether the neighbors like it or not ... thorny issue.
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime, could you ask your landlord to install an air conditioner? :)
I hear ya. I am hesitant to even bring this up really, because I have friends who smoke and I might even smoke on occasion myself, like once a year for a few days or something.....so I agree that people should have the "right" to smoke --- but I also kinda feel like people who don't smoke should have the "right" to fresh air. I'm sure this is one of the subject matters that will remain an issue forever, there's really no solution to it.
DeleteOh, I wish we had air condition in houses & buildings in Finland, but it's really rare still....and I doubt my landlord would do that for me. I'll be wiser next year if I'm still in this apartment, I'll make sure to buy some big ass fans for the summer.
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ReplyDeleteYeap, sounds familiar! I used to have the same problem in Greece all the time. Smoke annoys me very much as I have never smoked myself. And also the non-existent air-conditioning is another thing I got used to in Greece. Anyway... Be patient, only a month left till September!
ReplyDeleteYes...I think this is the first time in my life that I am actually looking forward to the summer being over - September cannot come soon enough :)
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