How to Smoke Cigarettes Without Disturbing Others

Let's face it, smoking doesn't light up everybody's day. Remember the golden rule and be considerate.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ashtrays
• Ashtrays
• Breath Fresheners
• Cologne
• Perfume

1. Smoke outside if you can.

2. Get as far away from nonsmokers as possible, especially if going outside is impossible.

3. Consider drafts, wind directions and space considerations before lighting up, even in a smoking-permitted room.

4. Realize that smoke can't read those signs that designate "No Smoking" sections.

5. Dispose of your smoking materials as soon as you're done; the ashtray smells even worse than the smoke.

6. Crack the window in the car to create a "chimney" effect. Better yet, use rest stops as smoke stops.

7. Keep in mind that porous materials - hair, wool and fur - will trap smells. Stale smoke can be a difficult odor to eliminate.

Tips & Warnings

• Sweeten your breath with gum, mints or toothpaste before getting close to a nonsmoker. Perfume doesn't hurt, either.
• Now that more people are quitting, finding a tolerable smoking area is harder than ever.
• Try smoking substitutes and quitting aids; some people swear by controlled nicotine gums, herbs, acupressure and prescription patches.
• Be careful of all smoking materials that can start fires. Never smoke in bed or while reclining on the couch.
• Be aware of the health risks of smoking, especially cancer and emphysema.
• Smoking in designated nonsmoking areas can result in fines and arrests, especially in public buildings and airplanes.

[Wildscribe]

on 12/3/2007 Don't just blow smoke away from children. WAIT. There is no excuse for endangering their health.

[werdy_nerdy]

on 3/25/2007 Getting cancer is one side effect of smoking, another is a persistent bad odor - on your clothes, on your breath, in your hair, in your car. I'm not sure if smokers sense of smell is actually impaired (although it might be), or if it's merely a case of someone getting used to a smell. But smokers, please be considerate that some (although not all) of you, frankly, stink. I'm not trying to be rude here, but I know plenty of smokers who don't realize just how offensive it is to stand near them - even then they don't smoke - because their clothes and breath are simply nasty. Keep it in mind or else the rest of us will laugh at you behind your back, just as if you had bad body odor.

[ExConPatriot]

on 12/12/2006 Odors - Sit in a folding chair and smoke not even a foot away from a window beside the wall with the window just in front of you and to your right (Or Left). That way the smoke will blow in front of you and slightly to the right (Or Left) and the majority will go out the window. I prefer to have a blanket over me while i do this so my clothes don't smell like an ashtray. When you're done spray the room down with something that smells good, lasts long, and isn't overpowering. I prefer Axe. Spray you, the chair, blanket, curtains, and the surrounding area.

[LLamm]

on 12/7/2006 Great article! Very necessary. May I add a few points:

Not all people who cough as smokers light up are doing so to rudely make a point. Be considerate of asthmatics and people with other breathing disorders, for even a few breaths of second hand smoke can have serious medical consequences. (I, for one, WISH I was healthy enough to smoke.)

Please make every attempt to stand downwind when smoking outdoors, as some have pointed out already. A hot ash from a cigarette once flew into my eye. It wasn't pretty, nor did it feel good.

Some people exhale that last drag as they're entering a room, building, bus etc. Please don't. Refer to my first point.

on 9/25/2006 If someone walks toward you and coughs to imply that they are irritated, respond by saying, "That's a pretty bad cough you got there. You're lucky you don't smoke." If they persist with a lot of 'second hand smoke' b.s., make a deal with them that you'll be getting the cancer, gum disease, emphysema and premature death and they can just carry on with their healthy lives.