Smoking is a Religion
Smokers of the world unite! How long will we tolerate being discriminated against? How far will we allow society to go in a bid to outcast us before we start to fight back?
Hi. My name is Karla and I am a smoker.
If I was to go for a job interview at a random company, I can and should expect to have my basic human rights protected from prejudice.
The potential employer who conducts the interview with me can not and should not allow my sex, religion, culture, sexual preference, disability (or lack of), and/or body shape to be a factor when considering my application (within reason).
Although it is a sad reality that in life, personal biases will often cloud people’s judgement, altering any decision they do eventually make, but it wouldn’t be something they could in turn express to you.
Could you imagine that conversation?
“I’m sorry, but being a woman of your age, and with that skin colouring? You’re just not what I’m looking for.”
The cash registers would be ringing in your head as you make your way straight to the lawyer’s office with several integral reasons for pursuing a hefty lawsuit.
But, and here is the kicker, if that same person saw your cigarette packet or smelt the tobacco from you, they now have a good excuse not to hire you.
“I’m sorry, but due to your smoking habit we won’t be considering your application any further. Have a nice, short life.”
This type of statement is considered to be acceptable and is not a breach of any of your basic human rights. Why, you ask?
Maybe smokers aren’t considered human.
Smokers have been getting a raw deal now for years. We all get painted with the same tar-saturated brush and are then expected to sit back and remember why this is. After all, we’re apparently bad, evil people and therefore we must continue to suffer and pay dearly for our habit.
Advertising bans are increasingly being imposed on tobacco companies in a pathetic bid to try and reduce the likelihood of people choosing to smoke. All the while, alcohol advertising becomes increasingly sexy and seems to be perfectly acceptable.
I admit, it’s not the wisest thing to roll a smoke while in control of a vehicle, and sometimes road conditions aren’t ideal for people to be smoking whilst driving.
But I also know that the chances of a smoker downing a 20 pack of cigarettes and then getting behind the wheel, only to cross over the centre line, killing a young innocent family are pretty slim. Give that same smoker a 20 pack of beer and the odds start looking a lot grimmer for everyone.
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Post CommentMichael
On August 9, 2006 at 2:50 pm
love it! pity about all the anti smoking ads in the middle of it but the irony is kinda funny… i’m a smoker too, but now i look forward to being thought of as my religious believe so people can stop tellin me what to do! yeah!
Nuray
On August 9, 2006 at 7:31 pm
yay about time honey… lets go show the world no more discrimination of any kind!!
Karla
On August 9, 2006 at 10:42 pm
Leah, you may not choose the overweight person, but that person can and should sue you if that is your reason for saying no… because they have the right to. You are a female. If a company said you will never be able to make it anywhere with them because they don’t promote females, sue them! It’s your right. You may have a medical reason for having bad breathe. It is your right not to be judged because of it. Bigotry is a choice too, and if you wish to exclude people because of your lack of humanity, it is you who misses out in life. Personally, I don’t like the smell of tobacco, so I choose to use gum and perfume. Judgement is a harsh thing for one person to do. War puts a huge strain on resources. Drinking strains the health system. Drugs. Genetis disorders. If someone knows that their baby will require medical attention for many years, if not for their lifetime, but still chooses to carry and give birth to that child, should they be persecuted too? But your opinion is noted and thank you for your feedback. I’m glad it is not my misfortune to have you in my life to tell me how worthless you think I am…
Kelly
On August 11, 2006 at 4:10 am
Leah, i work every waking hour for someone else and also trying to get a bussiness up and running, and when it comes time for me to employ others i will be picking people that i see fit and that means smokers to,i will not turn away anyone just because they smoke, they do however have to understand the times for smoking. most people are more considerate about smoking now than they used to be anyway.I do not totally disagree with you. Only one more thing, junk food is also bad for you and fluffs up your health but u dont see the law sending people out side to eat a bag of chips do you??
Leah
On August 13, 2006 at 12:49 am
Kelly, you are absolutely right about damagine health, but a bag of chips eaten by someone beside me has absolutely no impact on MY wellbeing. Smoking does. I think its a great rule. My father smoked all through my childhood and when he no longer lived with us I got cravings for cigarettes. He smoked in the car, he smoked in the house. Obviously I was getting enough niccotine by passive smoking to become addicted. Not cool. Maybe not everyone smokes around kids cos thats “bad” but really what is the difference between smoking by children or adults?
I like what you said about smokers knowing what is an appropriate time for a smoke during work time. Some of my colleauges are honestly out there on the hour every hour. Seems unfair when they are paid to work, just like me.
Best of luck with the new business!
Aana
On August 13, 2006 at 6:54 pm
Smoking is not a religion, it may have a wide following but that by any means does not make it a religion. If employers see fit not to want to employ smokers for valid reasons (prehaps if you worked for smokefree or in the health sector)then they should be able to do so.
Employers should have the right to make sure they hire people who are able to do the job they require but also to represent the company. If that representation means a non smoking policy then so be it.
Kate
On August 14, 2006 at 2:12 pm
My doctor is a smoker, and a bloody good doctor. Admitedly, most people when they go into health industries they are more aware of their health, whether thats smoking, drugs or alcohol, but they aint all angels either! If your going for a job with smokefree, and you need to promote the smokefree message, thats what you do. If you cant do it personally cos you smoke then DONT GO FOR THE JOB IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!! Not hard.
I smoked for 12 years and have stopped now for 6 months. I’m as good a worker as before, but now take all my breaks instead of short ones like before. It means I’m working strictly to the hours I’m suppose to so my boss is probably missing the smoking me. I still sit with the smokers tho. They have so much more fun than the non-smokers. Talk about yawn!
I guess like the catholics, I’d be what you’d call a non-practicing Smoker, yeah? Still my religion and hope someone gets the message to the idiots in charge of this planet.
BIG CHEESER
On October 18, 2006 at 10:52 pm
I don’t care if you smoke or not; but if you’re applying to a private company, then that company should have the right to hire whoever they want for whatever reason; their aren’t any “basic human rights” that are getting violated when an employer refuses to hire a smoker. He’s not preventing you from eating, sleeping, defending yourself, etc. You don’t have a right to the company’s job; it’s not your job, it belongs to the company.
Big Cheeser
Anti smoker
On January 17, 2008 at 5:07 pm
dam straight BIG CHEESER i hate it wen my dad smoked around me. smoking suks and if u really want to get cancer destroy ur health and have ur lungs bleed then go ahead cuz smoking may feel good but not as much as bad
guy
On January 17, 2008 at 5:17 pm
UR NOT ENVIROMENTALLY FREINDLY! WAT ABOUT ALL THE SMOKE UR PUUTIN IN THE AIR? WAT ABOUT THAT? wow big whoop udont use up as much resources cuz u die young! wat about kids who die at age 12 or13 r they enviromentally freindly? NO!
BrandoGil
On March 5, 2009 at 10:12 am
I’m a smoker and I agree with this. I’m a waiter and I go from the moment I clock in to the moment I clock out without a cig, every shift. It doesn’t interfere with my job, I keep mouthwash in my car so that my tables don’t judge me based on smoke-breath, however, I don’t believe that someone whom has other “bad habits” should be punished either. Bite your nails? Thats fine. Twiddle your thumbs? Okay. Hum tunes while walking? Also fine. So why is it that people will automatically judge me when I go so far not to be?
Myra
On March 8, 2009 at 11:59 pm
You got a good opinion there but is it seriously a religion?
Sad for employers to treat people like that>:(
Nabiel
On April 10, 2009 at 3:21 am
I’ve been a smoker for half of my life and it really irritates me when people judge me when I hold a cigarette. What happened to the whole “coolness” factor of a cigarette? I remember when smoking was considered a fad and now the tables have turned! Anyways, I do believe smoking is a religion and we should not be punished for such a thing! However, I must elaborate on this being a habit; biting your nails, humming tunes, twiddling your thumbs are all habits that won’t damage those around you. Smoking on the other hand, especially second hand smoking are more dangerous to innocent bystanders than to ourselves.
Sure you can tell them to move aside when someone is smoking, and guess what they do! But BECAUSE they do, we have thus deemed them to be judgmental. So long story short, they don’t like us because we smoke, but because being around us… hurts them.