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twitterLetter to the editor:
Message received: Smokers not welcome
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 | 2:03 a.m.
I was just reading that gambling revenue is down. Perhaps I can answer why.
I have been coming to Las Vegas since 1965 at least once a year, and two or three times in most years. I’m not a “whale,” but I bring $5,000 to gamble.
Last year was my last year to go. Since you saw fit to pass a no-smoking law, I no longer spend my money there. To me that means smokers are not wanted and I don’t go where I’m not wanted.
There was nothing wrong with the smoking and nonsmoking sections in restaurants. I enjoy relaxing with a cigarette and coffee after my meal. Because I can no longer do that, I can no longer go there.
I’ll miss Vegas but not as much as Vegas will miss my money. Instead of “Sin City“ you ought to start calling yourself “Politically Correct City.”
I’m sure I’m not the only smoker who has given up on Vegas.
Discussion: 34 comments so far…
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Good riddens, and thanks for keeping your cancer sticks to yourself. Now I can go in and gamble a bit without choking on your noxious fumes.
It has taken a long time for the law to get into operation, but, better late then never.
Smoking should be banned from ALL public places, so if those who smoke and want to gamble, do it on line
I am sorry that there are people who refuse to care that their addiction also harms the health of those around them. Smoking should be banned in ALL public places so the playing field is leveled, the public health improves, and our hospital system is less burdened by visits from the innocent bystanders to a tragically stupid 'habit'.
"There was nothing wrong with the smoking...in restaurants."
LOL
Life is choices.
Some choose to smoke. Some don't. Business can choose to allow it or not.
When government requires business to ban it something is wrong. The loss of income from smokers that go else where for entertainment is just part of the problem. Losing freedom is much larger.
Ohio (where Alex is from) banned smoking in public places long before Nevada did. And last I was in a casino, you could still smoke. The restaurants are right off the casino floor so Alex could easily eat and then get free coffee and smoke at the table/slots.
I am really glad he can't smoke in the restaurants. Even in the non smoking section, it used to reek from the smokers. Plus the smoke didn't seem to know about the two sections and travelled right across the invisible no smoking line.
Isn't making a smoking section in a restaurant like making a peeing section in a swimming pool...?
Neiman wrote:
"When government requires business to ban it something is wrong. The loss of income from smokers that go else where for entertainment is just part of the problem. Losing freedom is much larger."
When we citizens, armed with the truth about the carcinogenic nature of tobacco smoke, fought to have OUR rights reinstated, the government banned smoking in some puiblic places.
The incredible numbers of lost lives and wasted opportunities have begun to shrink as a result of the decision to allow our people fresh air to breathe. And you think the loss of income to casinos is a worthy subject compared to the health of our nation? What about the loss of freedom to breathe?
Well, here we go again, the anti smoking idiots, I wonder how many of these so call proponents of non smoking, eat fat, don't exercise, drink alcohol, etc.
The government has brain washed the idiots, we are all going to die and what do we normally die of, heart attacks, strokes, cancer, old age etc. I know many many people who are in their 80's and 90's that smoke, drink and are still kicking. The American public are so easily led to buy into most anything.
I see people in their electric wheel chairs that weigh 300 pounds or more, and I guess that is ok if they eat themselves to death nothing said about and by the way, we are paying for those eletric chairs.
I just don't think the government should tell me what I can or cannot do, if I am paying for it myself. I just can't wait for the Government to start telling all of you what you can and cannot do that is something you all choose to do.
What really bothers me more, is the attitude coming from the people on this blog, so nasty and rude.
Finally - something Neimann and I agree on. Private business should be just that - left to private owners to decide what LEGAL substances they will allow inside THEIR place of business. These same people who support this government interference would sing another tune if they owned a business and the government told THEM that since tobacco IS legal they MUST provide an ashtray to anyone who wishes to 'light up'. I'd bet big bucks that these same people who scream to high heaven about 'government interference in THEIR PRIVATE business then. Sorry but ya can't have yer cake and eat it too........and government is still wrong to try to dictate policies to private business owners. If government thinks tobacco is really so bad ask yourself this - why haven't they simply BANNED IT? We all know the answer to that one don't we - government is too beholdin' to the tobacco industry to even consider banning the substance - what a bunch of hypocrites they all are. And this is coming from a non-smoker who simply hates government sticking their nose in where it doesn't belong on ANY matter.
Good, less red state knuckle draggin trash with cigarettes comin' to town. Stay home in lovely Ohio- LOL.
The rich don't smoke. Face it, no one wants to around the disgusting people who still snoke.
Sunsmoker - if you don't like smoky restaurants put your money where your mouth is - open up your own business
joseph1922 writes: "What really bothers me more, is the attitude coming from the people on this blog, so nasty and rude."
This coming from someone whose first sentence on his post is "Well, here we go again, the anti smoking idiots..." and uses the word "idiots" again in his second sentence.
Beautiful!
Yes it's too bad that the government has to step in to protect its citizens from second hand smoke.
Maybe they should stop protecting us from other things as well....like drunk drivers and drug-crazed criminals to name a few??
When there are people doing dangerous things that harm others, I, personally want to be protected from them, because they are too addicted and arrogant to care about others.
I hope all smokers stay away and wish they would be banned from the casinos too, where the smokers are the rudest bunch of arrogant people you ever want to meet. If I am on a hot slot machine that is paying off, there have been several times when smokers have tried to smoke me out, just to get me off of the machine!
Stay home, and thanks for writing, Alex! We don't miss you and now that you are gone some of us local nonsmokers will play longer.
Alex doesn't realize, I guess, he can still kill people with his second-hand smoke on the casino floor. We actually need all smokers to stay at home. Kill only yourself, please. Oh, and if you have children at home, they should be taken away from you because of child endangerment.
alex,
my lungs and i thank you for not coming.
can you show me where in the constitution it says you have a "right" to smoke?
you want to smoke at home? in your car? on the street?
fine.
you want to smoke in the same public place i am at and the only way for me to avoid your smoke is by me having to leave?
wrong.
stay in ohio.
people...
don't respond to niemans1's posts.
that just makes him post even MORE of his stupid posts.
Dear lord, how hard is it to understand. GO OUTSIDE! Nobody is taking away your rights.
I don't think anyone has a problem with your smoking habit. However we do have a problem with it when YOUR habit becomes OUR problem. And again, I have still yet to hear one logical argument as to why going outside to smoke is a) an inconvenience and b) a violation of your rights. Please, I'd love to hear it.
At the end of the day, this is all about selfishness - the smokers feel perfectly fine violation other's comfort and health. No respect. No courtesy. Just selfish, obnoxious behavior. Take it outside buttheads.
transplanted, there are plenty of casino's with non-smoking sections so my first question would be why were you playing on a machine in the smoking area? (Or did those who tried to 'smoke you out' light up in the non-smoking section?) People who are concerned about their health have the free will to make a choice - that being to either patronize or not patronize a business that they feel is 'harmful to their health'. We don't need the government telling private enterprise what they can or can't allow as long as the substance in question is legal. Like I mentioned earlier - to all those who feel it's ok for government interferrence, just remember if there ever comes a time when you own a business and the government decides to tell you what you MUST allow - be prepared to follow thru whether you personally agree with the government mandate or not. Government can be, at times, very wishy-washy and things can change from one election to the next - so there may come a time when government decides that as long as tobacco is legal you MUST provide your patrons with an ash-tray - will you all then still feel it's within their right to tell you how you MUST run your private establishment - I didn't think so. Bottom line is simple - if you (or anyone else)feel your health is jeopardized then simply don't patronize the business - and if you can find a business to YOUR liking - open up your own and run it as you see it - which is what you SHOULD be allowed to do in a free society (as long as you're not dealing in any illegal substance). I personally hate the smell of beer but if I go to a ballgame I already know I have to put up with it - and the sad part is a lot of these drinkers do NOT have designated drivers when the leave the ballpark - a much more dangerous situation in the making during the game than someone smoking a cigarette. This is utter nonsense.
illegal drivers, people driving under the influence, your valley air from all the traffic is much more at risk to you than being next to someone smoking. heck , just being in a casino and donating money to these greedy execs is more harmful to you. i totally agree 8fan. my wife and i were with a non-smoking couple having dinner awhile ago, we were in non-smoking, everything fine till we got up to leave and other lady noticed we were sitting next to smoking section. well she almost fainted and showed how stupid some people can be about this situation.
I totally agree formervegas76. Americans have their priorities completely out of touch these days. I have always been a non-smoker but agree that government has no place regulating what a private business can do regarding the use of legal substances on their premises. Besides, we have the technology to adequetely clean the indoor air with modern Air Conditioning Systems.
formervegas76...
If people do things that harm others and they won't stop, then laws are made to stop them. Period.
Whenever the non-smoking section of a casino includes all of the gaming available in the other areas, then I will consistently sit in that area; most of the non-smoking areas are very small without much variety and less payout.
And, who are you to judge how I spend my money???
"Can't we all just get along?" Many of you here have got to get a life. Second hand smoke is the least of the hazards you face in America today.
9ball, your right, that's what i'm saying, alot more things to worry about. just saying some non smokers have a vendetta against smokers, sick of getting those nasty looks from some. sure haven't heard same people bitch about air quailty in vegas, probably like inhaling a cigar when your outside. your lives are more at risk from irresponsible drinking and driving
About 45 years ago our surgeon general answered the question "Is tobacco smoke dangerous?". The conclusion of that particular piece of research happens to agree with THOUSANDS of other studies; the answer is a resounding yes.
Attempting to diminish the impact of the study by comparing it to drinking or salt, fatty diet or anything else does absolutely nothing to ameliorate the findings; smoke is bad stuff. Breathing it in causes cancer.
What is the matter with you people who still think it's ok to blow your garbage into my lungs? I happen to love my life; if you don't love yours, then take your filthy habit out on the playa and do yourself in.
Idiotic smokers....concrete heads....so hard to get through! It's your life, but don't infringe on mine. Please
let us smokers know your vices and i'll make up my mind if i want to be around you. if it's legal in certain places, go elsewhere if you don't like it. you have a better chance of getting lung cancer from your valley air than 2nd hand smoke. look outside today before you post. we don't tell you to do with yourself, leave others alone. what's next from you zealouts?
9ball:
There is no "modern" system (AC or filtration) that cleans the air well enough to reuse it. The air does not come clean.
For fifty years I have worked in the field of indoor air quality. Please tell me, if you actually know of a process for removing the contaminants. If not, then I'd recommend not broadcasting lies, fantasies and bad advice. Some of us take our lives a little more seriously than others who would make shlt up.
Wow airweave..... I concede to your superiority and arrogant attitude. Pardon my ignorance. You had better start taking your life even more seriously with all of the sh-- going on in this country (and I only use that word because apparently you relate best to it) that is gravely and seriously going to affect your future more than second hand smoke. Have a nice day. :)
Yo 9ball:
What's with the obsequious post?
What "superiority and arrogant attitude"?
I merely asked you to tell me some detail about an issue you brought up, the ability to render air less toxic at a reasonable price. You said it was a given. I suggested it's not and asked for your info.
Apparently, logical discourse and dialogue are beyond your abilities. I have no doubt that in your world, the future does present an overwhelming obstacle, fraught with "sh-- going on in this country."
My point was that your decision to discuss something about which you are lacking knowledge indicates that you are lying, making stuff up and giving out bad advice. Why anyone with a brain would do this is beyond me.
When my wife died of cancer after a lifetime of devotion to our kids, grandkids and greatgrandkids (and never smoking!), I was taken aback. Her parents smoked heavily inside their home when she grew up. Gosh, do you think that carcinogenic smoke may have had anything to do with her death?
My concern was not so much about your lies, but the effect they might have on other people who might believe what you had made up as a lie to be the truth, that in fact, a building with an air conditioner had cleaner air than one without and so was safer to breathe in than a building without one.
Since you are apparently unable or unwilling to articulate the actual issues about which you are so fearful for the future, I can't help you. May God have mercy on you.
The ban in public establishments and the imposed raised government taxes on Tobacco products are just the beginning.. just the prelude of what is yet to come..
One by one you are being told what you can do and what you can't do. Personal choice is quickly diminishing. These laws are segregating people as well..
What are some of you going to do when they impose the Obesity tax (take up smoking)? Obesity has become an epidemic, and the government is concerned with the health issues... Some small children at 3 and 4 years old are weighing in at 100 pounds.. Maybe they will take these kids away from their obese parents, the parent does purchase the food and feed them.. This is just one example of things to come..
So, just remember when you are condemning those people who do smoke and keeping your mouth shut about these huge federal tax hikes as well as watch and condone their rights being taken away, you might be the next one with huge taxes imposed on your own vices. Maybe the obese won't be welcome either ... where will it stop? You think this can't happen? Think again...
Linda, you said it all! Right on! And to Airweave I say you set the tone by being insulting and using profanity in your reply. You may assume anything you like regarding my comments but I have the right to express them just as you do. There are air scrubbers and ionizers that help a great deal with indoor air quality. I am sorry to hear that your wife passed away pre-maturely. The pre-mature death and disease in our time is being caused by our denatured and factory farmed food which is devoid of nutrition as well as the drugs which the big pharmaceutical companies push with abandon. Did you ever notice the frequency that you see drug advertisements on television? People need to have more common sense, educate themselves and stop thinking the government is going to take care of them. More Governmental regulation is the last thing we need. And Airweave lastly you can spare me the condescending and presumptuous praying for God to have mercy on me. People like you give organized religion a bad name. Without bringing my religious beliefs into our discourse I wish you and your loved ones health and happiness.
9ball:
No sane person could possibly interpret any comment in my post as insulting.
You anti-government types need to understand that our government is the people of this country. Do you remember "of the people, by the people and for the people"?
People like you give Americans a bad name.
PS I don't do TV.
PPS Your senselessly broad assumption that praying is condescension and presumptuous indicates your abysmal and unrefutable ignorance. Stop posting and observe. Another brainlessly broad assumption, stated as fact in your last post, is "The pre-mature death and disease in our time is being caused by our denatured and factory farmed food which is devoid of nutrition as well as the drugs which the big pharmaceutical companies push with abandon." Since when did idiots like you have a grasp of all the causes of disease? Hahaha
I used to go to Las Vegas a lot. I quit going a few years ago when so many other states went truly smoke-free in all workplaces. I live in Seattle and I'm used to going anywhere I want without breathing other people's smoke. In Vegas, it would still be hard to gamble, go to a bar, etc. You'd have to do research to find out what was nonsmoking. If Las Vegas ever really quits catering to the small percentage of people who still smoke, I'll go there again.