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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Bus shelter = no smoking

Unfortunately the lady I was with this morning was illiterate.

I stood in the cold wind. She stood in the shelter. After about a minute, I asked her to step outside the bus shelter. She gave me this smirk and asked me if I was serious.

"We're outside," she said.

No shit, Einstein. You still can't hotbox the shelter (which has NO SMOKING stenciled onto the glass).

I counted to 10. The urge to boob punch was strong.

She finished her fag and tossed her butt onto the road.

"Stay classy," I said to her as I pointed to the garbage can.

And people wonder why I suffer from GO rage.

13 comments:

Squiggles said...

I find smokers a special kind of person. Most are self-entitled asses who think that their right to smoke anywhere they want to is superior to other's desire to breathe.

If you encounter her again, you can cite legislation of the Smoke Free Ontario Act, which states that in any outdoor space that has a roof/awning/etc. is considered to be "inside" and she is in violation of this part of the act. I find, if you cite that, most smokers butt out real quick. Or at least the brilliant individual on the platform at Union I had to tell because my mother was about 1 gasp away from an asthma attack that would have sent her to the ER.

C.J. Smith said...

I find most smokers to be incredibly defensive.

Along Bay Street, most of the office towers ask smokers to stand 7-9 metres from the entrances. Instead, they crowd around so you have no choice but to walk through a wall of smoke.

It *is* inconsiderate. It's also unfair to the smokers who do stand 7-9 metres from the building.

Those who smoke on station platforms are assholes and don't deserve any sympathy. I have train friends who refrain from smoking on the platforms so these entitled assholes should also play by the rules.

I have no patience for people who feel rules don't apply to them.

I realize smokers have been pushed out by all of the laws put in place but it's because of the studies and health cases that show second hand smoke is deadly.

I don't want the cancer!!!

Anonymous said...

Ugh. I hate smokers that think the world belongs to them. I would have been livid with that lady.

Furthermore, I really hate smokers that think the world is their ashtray....drives me up the friggen wall.

lswgirl13 said...

I got a smoker beside me last night. The woman just stunk. I pulled my scarf up around my nose.
I so agree with you on the 7 to 9 metres thing. But of course that only applies when it's nice and sunny out, not when it's cold or windy or raining or snowing!!! Or at least that's what the smokers think.

Harith said...

The worst are bus/train platforms. There are clearly marked with no smoking signs yet people still smoke, since it's "outside" but law states that it's prohibited in such areas.

Do you tell a person to stop smoking? What if a bus driver is smoking?

Hate it.

And don't get me started on the shelters that have doors on them.

D.F. said...

CJ you need to grow a pair and tell her not to smoke inside the f*****g shelter because it's illegal beyotch!! And tell her she stinks while you're at it :)

Anonymous said...

Why is there no enforcement by GO for the inappropriate smoking, dangerous blocking tops of escalators and stairs, foot riders etc.? They come round to check tickets now and then, when they could also make a fortune issuing tickets for these kind of behaviours on a regular basis. The police have thier blitz on this and blitz on that, why can't GO have a blitz on these anti-social behaviours now and then?

Jenn said...

Wow, CJ, I'm so impressed with how you kept your cool. Aren't you asthmatic and recovering from bronchitis?? You would've been completely justified in flipping out on this inconsiderate clod.

C.J. Smith said...

My penchant for violence is restrained/contained by how much I do not like sitting in a holding cell.

I could have thrown a boob punch and run.

I am recovering ... which is why it's more so irritating.

Anonymous said...

There is this guy I've seen a couple times at the Meadowvale Go station who thinks it's appropriate to smoke in the tunnel coming off the train. I guess the 1 min walk to the outside was too much of a wait.

Shirker said...

There was a full-on medical emergency (ambulance and everything) yesterday on the 15:43 LSW. We were stopped at Bronte for over 30 mins with the doors open. This woman decides it's a good time for a smoke break so she stands on the platform in front of the doors and lights up, causing all the smoke to waft right inside the train. I've got no balls so I just sat there and seethed (and thought about this thread).

Anonymous said...

As a former smoker, I totally get it. I wasn't a disrespectful schmuck to the non-smokers though.

I can happily say, though, I'm 73 days nictine free now!! :) Woo! I can't say it's been easy but I know I can't waste any more years smoking, I just can't do it anymore.

Lindsay

C.J. Smith said...

@Shirker

Are you kidding? Smoking on platforms?! No one on the train said a word?

Anytime I've been delayed long enough where we are allowed to stand on the platform "to stretch", the CSAs gave a stern warning to refrain from smoking.

Your CSA from last night should be reprimanded for allowing that to happen. I would complain.