grputland,

How do you feel about coughing or blowing ones nose in public? What about kissing in public?

I would like to see people having sex in public. Free porn. That would be wonderful. The human body is a beautiful thing.

But, I am more interested grputland, in where you would direct your self righteous indignation it weren't for smokers. What would your outlet be? You would still need an outlet for that. I think if you really think about it, you would agree that you would be poorer for the absence of smokers.

You better watch out, I am starting a movement about self-righteous indignation in public. It should only be partaken in the privacy of ones home. I don't need to see your tut tut. Your fake cough and glare, your passive aggressive demeanour or your confrontational grandstanding to the waiter.

That'd be right, Houellebecq. Those who act against the public interest always want to be protected from public criticism.

New scientist last year stated that the scientific evidence for long term harm caused by passive smoking in out door situations was poor, it went on to say that overstating the evidence in support of a undoubtedly good cause (stopping smoking) will rebound- discredit science .

Pragmatically there are many more offensive things that people do in public, for example the wide acceptance of outrageously offensive ,often physically dangerous, public drunkenness is much more of an issue than a bit of smelly smoke on a balcony.

I'm a non-smoker BTW.

What is the 'public interest'? Who defines it?

Houlley as much as I enjoy playing with you don't you get sick of being adjudicator? :)

Massive garlic inhalation is not a problem and dogs are usually confined to neighbourhood disputes or parks. They are not things that are in your face and most normal people I would imagine can put up with a bit of inconvenience - it is give and take.

However, you may be too young to remember the days when smoking was everywhere, one could not get away from it even in the workplace. You may not remember sitting at work having to endure smoke on a regular basis. I do not want to go back to that no matter how unpopular the position of anti-smoking particularly from some uber-libertarians who can only see the issue from one side of the 'rights' equation.

An excellent article and highlights for me how rules and regulations completely monopolise our life.I am tired of life being regulated to excess--- I am advised (or face a fine) where I can walk, run, jog, eat, smoke, send my children to school--(provided it is within the prescribed kilometers)so surely it is time to STOP and allow us all to live as was destined. What have all the regulations given us? A safer society? A healthier society? Or more red tape and jobs for the dumb and dumber?