[blaZen]

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.

[Russ_Boston]

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

[jflynn1]

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

[The Great Fumar]

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

[BUC]

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!

[The Great Fumar]

Originally Posted by russ_boston

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

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

Ahoy fumar

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by BUC

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!

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.

[cmj]

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.

[billethkid]

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

[CJ]

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.

[SABRMnLgs]

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!

[chelsea24]

Originally Posted by billethkid

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

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.

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.

[captain1202]

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!

[Bryan]

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.

[jeffy]

Originally Posted by captain1202

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!

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