Smoking at the Squares
 

This did not happen to me...but a trusted friend and Villager of 4 years. I could not believe my ears so I thought I would bring it to TOTV and ask for comments. Again this is second hand as I am telling it and was not present.

Just this past Thursday or Friday night my friend was at the square with her hubby and 8 other friends. A few of these people are smokers. The group always sits back by the drink shack where the ashtrays are...making one assume you are allowed to smoke near the ashtrays. As I said before they have lived here perm. for 4 years and know the rules pretty well.

Towards the end of the evening (around 8:30pm) most of the group had gone home. There were 4 of them left (one smoking). A couple (wife and husband around 52-55 yrs) came over to the small group and stood right next to them. After about 4 minutes the woman stated loudly that they were "invading" her air space.

The man smoking(former NY state Trooper) explained they were in the smoking section. That most of the square area was non-smoking and they would more than likely be happier over there....

The man in the couple grunted and started defending his lady friend. That she too had the right to stand or sit where ever she wanted....and should not have her air invaded.

Bottom line is the couples all went back and forth....the invaded air couple finally made some comment about the others not being from around here...no villagers....must be outsiders etc....

There was almost a brawl (so I am told).....

Personally, IMHO, to each his/her own. If someone wants to smoke that is their business...however it does seem that they followed the rules and laws of courtesy.

Why would this couple get so weird about it....just walk away or further down the row if you don't like it.


Just wondering what TOTVers thoughts are....please share.

Being a smoker, this kind of behavior is not uncommon. Some smokers are rude and inconsiderate about their smoke. Many non-smokers are downright jerks when it comes to picking on smokers. Let's face it, smoking today is about as popular as being a leper in the 1700s. We're a "safe" target. Of course, some of us smokers can and do get rather belligerent if you invade our space and then bitch about our smoke. Sorry, hon, if I was there first and it is okay to smoke there, you can bitch all you want. Heck, you get nasty enough and I'm likely to light several cigarettes at once and make sure all smoke blows your way (yes, I really did that once -- the whiner left).

I thought both town squares were entirely non smoking. I believe I have seen signs to that effect.

If that's the case, It would be very difficult to enforce without some kind of law enforcement agency.

If I'm wrong, I am sure I'll hear about it.:laugh:

I agree - I thought the squares were non-smoking. In my opinion, if that is the case, the smokers were wrong and should have stubbed out their cigs or left the area, because smoking just isn't alllowed. If smoking was allowed, different story; obviously the nonsmokers should have moved. With all the open space in the square, it does seem like the non-smokers could have gone to a different part where they wouldn't have been bothered by the cancer sticks, but rules are rules. I guess we need to know exactly what the rules are there regarding smoking.

LEt me clarify exactly where they were and my understanding of the "smoking" area. My understanding is that at SS town square the majority of the gazebo area is indeed non-smoking.

However where these folks were sitting behind the hegdes, behind where the majority of the chairs are located. There are several benches back near the drink shack along with some ashtrays.

I guess my concern is that for 4 years these folks have been sitting in the same area smoking with out anyone commenting.

Then this one couple acts so rude, IMHO. They could have easily asked them about the smoking rules. They could have pointed to some sort of signage stating no smoking. But they were so disrespectful to these people. Smokers or not...they are human beings. Why do people act this way?

OK....off my soap box for now.

A note to Red....while I understand the point you were making with lighting several cigs at one time.....:yuck: didn't that make you sick?? Oh my....

You did make me laugh though!!!

They have to go out on the side walk,it does not matter who got there first.I have suggested that each band at the beginning and end of each brake say thank you for not smoking or smoking is permitted only out side the square,but no reply as of yet.I have had to leave twice because of some guy smoking a cigar up close to the dance floor(same guy so I know he knows better)the event staff are the ones who should be enforcing the rule,but they are usually sitting out on there carts Smoking.

If there is a written policy on smoking on the squares with boundaries cited, can someone post it rather than some of us just guessing. He said---she said is not the answer here!

We have been at the Town Squares and the entertainment that night has announced that smoking is NOT ALLOWED EXCEPT on the outer perimeters of the "square." I assumed that meant the sidewalk that wraps around the outside. I have heard it numerous times.

Well if this is the case then they were indeed sitting in the right area. Apparently it is a case of rude behavior.

Thanks for all the comments.

Both squares have no smoking signs.....
 

in the square. They are very small and in amongst the landscaping. ANYWHERE outside the the curbs of the gazebo/dance area is considered smoking if one so chooses.

When an "invadee" mouths off, I find the most effective measure is to just completely ignore them.

BTK

Cassie, I LIT them, I didn't smoke them and ths was only after being harassed for 30 minutes. Heck, I'd even finished my cig and was just sitting. This was in San Francisco during lunch hour in an area where smoking was perfectly acceptable.

both squares are posted as smoke free and ashtrays are positioned near the signs so smokers can properly dispose of their lit cigarette before entering the area..i don't know what florida law is re public or private designated non smoking areas. but in the case described it seems all involved were being rude. ther eis no law that says folks must respect each other's needs but i think it is common courtesy.

My thanks to the smokers that comply with the rules at the squares and don't subject the rest of us to the stench of their addiction.

I'm curious where there are signs that say it's okay to smoke outside of the hedges and bushes. That places the smokers closer to the food service booths. Smoking is prohibited in and around all food service areas in Florida, as I understand the law.

???? America's "Frendliest" Hometown???:shrug:

From a non smoker
 

Never smoked in my life; however, when wife and I go out to eat, always request seating in the smoking section. To us, people in that section seem to be more friendly and lively.

Maybe they are more outgoing becuase they know they have less time left on this earth? Just kidding!!!!!:bowdown:

I always thiught the square and the surrounding area was:coolsmiley: non smoking, as it should be.

An ash tray does not necessarily mean a smoking area ,,,it also means if you walk in from the sidewalk "put all cigarette butts in here " other wise you could have cigarette butts everywhere ............smoking in this day and age with what we now know is suicidal and never to late to quit........

Pure and driven fumar

I don't smoke, but if someone wants to smoke let them, to much gov't interfering in peoples lives, especially at an outside event. Get a life!

actually russ , i think you are more right than you know !!!! I seem to remember people being all smiles on the titanic ......

Ahoy fumar

The government is protecting my grandchildren, and yours. The rules are not infringing on the rights of smokers to kill themselves, the rules protect non smokers from the lethal effects of smoke.

It's interesting that when there is a hollow argument being made by somebody, their solution is to say, "get a life," like that solves something.

Signs
 

We were at SP town square the other night (market night) and there were two sets of people we noticed who were smoking. One group brought t.v. tray tables and appeared quite settled. They were outside of the non-smoking area. Yes, it smelled of cigarette smoke and yes, we chose to keep walking. The other woman was sitting on a bench. There was shrubbery behind the bench. There was a sign on ground level between the sidewalk and the shrubs that stated the smoke free zone policy. I noticed her because it was a windy evening and her smoke was blowing toward everyone walking up the sidewalk. (Near the hot dog vendor.) We talked about it and decided the signs are far too small and they're at curb level. How many people look down and see them? I know "don't" signs are not considered good for any business but I do think people who are addicted to smoking should have signs where they can see them and those who are kind will follow the rules. I used to smoke. I was always aware of where my smoke was blowing and took care to keep it out of other people's faces. I think some people just don't care. They make it bad for all smokers.

I think the general reference to "the squares"....
 

can be confusing. The non smoking area at both "squares" is the area where the gazebo/entertainment is located.....defined by sidewalk and curbing to the street. Anywhere beyond the curb....like any other outdoor area, is not a non smoking area.
It is an emotional, subjective issue....that of smoking outdoors.

Here again a lot of keystrokes being spent discussing the few who do not abide by the rules. The 99% (OK if that is too high make it 90%) seem to get along just fine!!!!

How about the rule of drinking and driving? If you want to discuss a real problem in TV squares!!!! Even with this much more prevalent problem, for the majority, there is no issue!!!

BTK

smoking in public
 

Loaded topic...esp. for smokers. I grew up with heavy smoking parents. I do not smoke (asthma issues) and try to understand people who cannot help themselves. Truth is, I cannot breath if someone is near puffing away. I feel sorry for the smokers as I see how difficult it was for parents to stop. Not sure what the rules are in square....but maybe the smokers can retreat away from general attendees so they both can enjoy the night.
Smokers...try to stop....a very dear friend smoked alot. She is waiting for a lung transplant and couldn't come to our girls reunion last week. I am told she is on Oxygen 24/7. She is only 62.

I never did understand it?
 

Since I was a kid, I didn't understand why people smoked. And to this day, I still don't.

Why would anyone in their right mind actually pay good money for a bunch of weeds wrapped in a piece of paper and ingest it into their body.

Even if they were free, it seems ridiculous. You begin life with a set of healthy pink lungs. You run, you play and enjoy life. Then someone suggests that you become like them, coughing, sneezuing and constantly smelling like and ash tray. Oh and yeah ..... you get to pay YOUR hard earned money to do it! What a great idea.

Now you've entirely messed up those healthy pink lungs and basically baked them into something that could pass for charcoal.

Since someone let you do it. Let's share the wealth and give it to others.
Ummmm, no thanks. BBQ youself but puleeeze, do it in your own place.

Someone onced asked me if I minded that they smoked! I replied "I didn't care if they burned as long as it was not around me". And only!! if they did not exhale!

Agreed!
 

I completely agree with you on this BTK! I cannot stand a drunk around me and the accidents caused by the "happy hour" in the squares are astounding! I still can't get over hearing of that head on collision of golf carts! One driver drunk of course. :ohdear:

However, I am a smoker and I smoke where it's allowed. I step out of the general square area to smoke. So, there's two sides to every story. Don't invade my space and I won't invade yours.

Rude and Offensive is a disease that seems to be more prevalent in TV than I experience anywhere else. I don't know what get's into people when they move here. (See earlier posts about golf cart and auto rudeness).
Maybe it's the Red Dye #2 in the Kool Aid.

Can't we all just get along? Life is too short to have to deal with this junk!

Billethkid is correct - both squares have signs, the signs are rather inconspicious but they are there, and the boundry for smoking/non-smoking is pretty much the curbing. The only really "gray" area is at the entrances to the square - how far into each entrance does the "Smoking Allowed" area go? That is not clearly defined but common sense would put it on about a par with the curbing that does not cross the entrance area. The Event Staff personnel at SS will, on the few nights they work (vendor nights only, I think plus special events such as parades) say something to anyone violating the non-smoking rules if you ask them to. The Entertainment Staff are a different story.

As a former smoker, I try to be tolerant of those who still haven't kicked the habit. Unfortunately, some former smokers have now deputized themselves as the "Smoke Police" and can become quite rude. IMHO, there are few enough places now where smoking is allowed so if a Smoker is in one of those few places, leave them alone.

WOW, As far as the first part of your post goes, I could not disagree more. I have found just the opposite. We have never lived in a place with more friendly people. Yes , there will be jerks everywhere, but in our experience it is night and day between here in TV and up north.

Totally agree with the last part of your post.

jeffy

Well I finally did it, Last evening while strolling the town square at SS I noticed there were three empty seats in an otherwise packed house ....While walking over to the chairs it became readily apparent why they were emty....A jolly fat man with the biggest blackest cigar you can imagine was sitting oblivious to the rest of the world (to those of you in chatham, it means he doesn't care}
It didn't seem to bother him that people were giving him dirty looks so after about five minutes I couldn't stand it any longer and approached him in my most pleasant voice and said " excuse me sir but not only are you breaking the law by smoking here but your bothering everyone else so please put it out or leave , and he did both....
I was so proud of myself I started looking around for dogs but didn't see any as I'm sure people were hiding them under their chairs . When I left I could hear sighs of relieve ..(only kidding)

Everyone have a smoke free Happy New Year....

Fumar.....:beer3:

I I didn't know that Santa smoked cigars! Anyway, he probably went home to get his two St. Bernard dogs to bring back to give you big wet kisses! :1rotfl:

:bigbow:Thank You Fumar. Good Laugh:1rotfl:

How can someone named Fumar be intolerant of smokers?:laugh:

When I was in TV for a month in 2011 I was bothered by the evironmental tobacco smoke (ETS or second hand smoke) lingering in the squares. I also found ETS a quite irksome nuisance on country club patios where my companioins and I were forced to change tables at times in order to continue enjoying our conversation, food and liquid refreshment. The impression remaining with me is that I all too frequently unpleasantly encountered ETS in otherwise wonderful outdoor facilities within The Villages. Frankly, those experiences left a bad taste in my mouth about some of the outdoor venues within The Villages - pun intended.

If smoking is allowed in outdoor areas where people congregate it seems to me whoever is in charge of designating smoking and nonsmoking areas would be wise to consider prevailing winds/breezes so the designated smoking areas are not positioned upwind of nonsmoking areas. Too, in still air tobacco smoke disperses and moves out and away from smokers and inflicts itself on those nearby. To have any significance designated smoking areas should be sufficiently removed from nonsmoking areas so that nonsmokers need not suffer having to smell much less breath ETS. This would certainly be a substantial factor in making The Villages Florida's healthiest home town!

let's apply reason. If there are ashtrays and smoking is permitted only on the periphery, then they mark the boundary and smoking is allowed at the boundary. The ppm (parts per million) of carcinogens dispersing in open air is well below the threshold of worrisome effects. they were just posterior apertures looking to 'sound off' now if it is cigars, well that's a bit different in terms of volume and odor.....I am not a smoker but I do believe in a certain degree of personal freedom
chilout

Both my husband and i quit in 1989. Prior to that we both worked in the OR and our lounge was in the open hall so as you passed us to go to your room for surgery we were sitting there smoking. My my how things have changed what was once a norm to smoke anywhere in a hospital is now not possible anywhere on the grounds. We are changing the rules for the better and our children and grandchildren hopefully will thank us. I still do respect your rights to smoke if you so choose, just as i had those rights in the 70s and 80s.

The visual of people stuffing their dogs under chairs to avoid Fumar's wrathful gaze ... Priceless!

Stinking Cigar
 

I used to smoke. Sometimes still miss it. I can tolerate some cigarette smoke. And still like the smell of custom Pipe tobacco.

But Cigars are just plain NASTY ROTTEN Things.

Only time I appreciated them is when Grandpa took me fishing up North in Canada and the flys and mosquitoes would decend in droves.

Uncle Frank lit up one of them Cigars and that was that! Bugs Gone!

Fumar!

You Da Man!:bigbow:

As a former smoker I think most of us try to be courteous as possible because we do understand its a nasty habit and it stinks. There have been times I was smoking and put my cigarettes out or moved to a different area being considerate of others when asked. It all depends upon how we are approached, if you come to us with a friendly nice attitude most of us will put the stinky stick out. However, if you come to us with a nasty sarcastic attitude most likely you will get cussed out and smoke blown in your face.

I'm happy to finally be smoke free so I don't have to deal with those issues anymore. I smell good too.