Proper smoking etiquette at bus stop?

Question

I always smoke a cigarette while waiting for a bus. I take a bus at least 4 times a day and rarely have problems with non-smokers. I stand downwind and away from others.

This morning, I was smoking my cig at my stop and noone was around, I was at least 20 feet away from the sign. This women comes up and stands right beside me knowing full wll I was smoking. She asked me after a minute if I wouldnt mind moving because the smoke was bothering her. I stayed where I was and finished my cigarette and she stormed away and stood farther away while cursing me.

I felt she was in the wrong, how do you guys feel?

Answer 1

Personally, I say if you are making the point to stand away from the general "collection" area of the public, then I think the others can make the point to stand away from you.  I believe it's a two way road.  I don't think you were in the wrong at all.  

Answer 2

I am a non-smoker and I have no problem with moving away from smokers while outside.  It's different when you are inside an enclosed area but outside, I'm willing to move.

The only thing I wish is that smokers would be more respectful when children or pregnant women are around.

Answer 3

She was totally ridiculous! I believe that non-smokers can move to... You 20 ft in one direction and if it still bothers her she should go 20 ft in the other.  

Answer 4

100% with you.

Answer 5

She sounds like an idiot, to put it lightly.  First of all, she decided to stand next to you even though you were not standing by the sign.  Second of all you were clearly standing there first and smoking before she stood beside you.  Ignore people like that, if she really hates smoke that much she can stand inside where smokers are considered toxic in America...

Answer 6

Well, I can understand being annoyed at the smoke, but the fact is she went to stand right next to a cigarette! As an ex-smoker, I have a really hard time with smoke and it really bothers me when people smoke inside a bus shelter, but it sounds as though you do try to be a considerate smoker.

Some people who have never smoked in their life don't understand the habit and feel that you should quit because it's bothering them. My feeling is, you're being considerate, and you make an effort not to bother others at bus stops. Likewise, if someone doesn't want to be next to a smoker, they shouldn't stand right next to one on purpose!

Maybe she was just annoyed because you didn't reply and just continued smoking. I can understand this, because it's hard to know what to respond... maybe if it happens again you can just explain to the person that you try to be a considerate smoker, and that you stood that far from the sign in consideration to people waiting at the bus stop, but that you think it's unreasonable for someone to stand next to you as you're smoking and ask you to move.

I'll be honest with you, sometimes smokers are pretty careless (I saw someone light up right next to me on a bus once!) but I always really appreciate smokers like you who make an effort to enjoy their habit without bothering others.

You can't please everyone, but you're definitely trying, so pat yourself on the back and don't let morons ruin your day.

Answer 7

Good, let her storm.

Hope you ruined her day LOL

In reference to Yadda Yadda's answer-

My boyfriend once replied this way..

"I could get cancer from the second hand smoke!  "

He said " Well then, it looks like Ive made the right decision"

Answer 8

I don't smoke anymore but I understand your predicament. You were there first and clearly not standing directly in the bus stop. There was no reason for her to come stand right next to you, especially if she does not like smoking. Non-smokers do not own the streets and they need to respect people who choose to smoke, especially those that are considerate of everyone else around them. You were completely in the right.

Answer 9

Tell her she was invading your space and get the h**l away from you before you call a cop and report her as a pervert.

Anti-Smoking n***s are everywhere. Beware.

Answer 10

As much as I hate it when people smoke I must say she was being rude. If she had a problem with the smoke it was her responsiblity to move.

Answer 11

She was in the wrong.  Sounds like she's one of these extremists who do anything and everything to make the rest of the world stop smoking.   None of her business, but she probably feels deeply about it.

You were there first.  You were 20 feet from the sign. And, you were outside, not in any enclosed space.  There was room for her to move over a bit.

I remember once, when they still allowed smoking in the back of the bus, I sat there, right next to a smoking allowed sign and smoked.  A woman asked me to put it out.  She was just a row away from me.  I told her I was in the smoking area, and she could move if she didn't like it.  Not like there weren't  at least 20 other seats open.

Answer 12

I would of paid her no attention, the point is you were there first and she came up a stood right next to you knowing d**n good and well that you were enjoying your cigarette, and if the woman had a brain inside that thick empty skull of hers, she would of had enough common sense to stay clear of you. But apparently however she didn't have any

Answer 13

She was being a real Bitc......! You did the right thing by standing your ground.

Answer 14

You were in the right.  If she didn't want to be exposed to smoke then she should not have stood next to you.

Answer 15

That lady was an idiot. She was just trying to start a fight. Some people will do anything on purpose to ruin somebody else's day. She'll have bad karma!

Answer 16

Yeah she was in the wrong.  When I used to smoke, I would do it far away and down wind from non-smokers like you.  Still one lady saw me and walked about 20 yards over to me to let me know what I was doing could cause cancer and now she could get cancer from the second hand smoke!  I was in a designated smoking area far away from her path yet she still had to come over.