by Catriona Mills

Today's Life Lesson

Posted 21 August 2008 in by Catriona

People who walk up to where I am legally smoking, sit down next to me, and then loudly point out to each other the “No Smoking” signs several metres from where I am legally smoking irritate me intensely.

I feel that’s a valuable lesson.

Not learning it might have led to social confusion and some ill-judged friendships.

Share your thoughts [5]

1

Leigh wrote at Aug 21, 07:06 am

Somehow I missed the whole smoking being unacceptable thing, it really is becoming the new discrimination thing isn’t it.

2

Catriona wrote at Aug 21, 07:59 am

It certainly is. But to borrow an only vaguely applicable—but awesome!—quote from Futurama, “ocean madness is not excuse for ocean rudeness.”

I’m a considerate smoker: I carry an ashtray, I don’t smoke in the presence of other people as far as I can avoid it, I don’t even smoke in my own home.

And there’s no excuse for passive-aggressive behaviour like that, especially when I wasn’t doing anything wrong.

Still makes me cranky just thinking about it.

3

Matthew Smith wrote at Aug 22, 02:54 am

What you need is a come-back. Maybe you could have walked over and kicked the shit out of the sign and then glared at them threateningly.

4

Catriona wrote at Aug 22, 03:07 am

I did think about bopping them both on the back of the head. I’m still thinking about doing that, actually.

Kicking the sign wasn’t an option, since it was spray-painted on the ground. That would only have hurt me.

5

Tim wrote at Aug 22, 09:48 am

You could start carrying a ‘Smoking’ sign around. Then you could wave it back at people like that.

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