Rantings on Second-hand Smoke.

For my first post after taking a walk down memory lane, I need to vent.  I am so exhausted of the blatant disregard so many people seem to have for the well-being of others.  I fully agree that each person is free to make their own decisions and live their lives however they so choose, but it's bad enough when you make unhealthy choices for yourself.  It is completely ridiculous that society has become so passive about the negative consequences of those decisions spreading to others.  This is most easily demonstrated with smokers.  Yes, there are some smokers who are very conscientious and try their best to remain respectful, but the vast majority don't even think twice about the action of lighting up.  Cigarette smoke is one thing that passersby cannot avoid.  It contaminates the air all around.  When I walk into the store with my daughter, I can't NOT walk by all the smokers out front.  When we go for a walk, I can't NOT avoid the person all the way at the end of the block, even if I cross the street.  When I get out of my car and the person parked next to me is smoking away, yes that affects me, too.  When we open our windows to let in the fresh summer air and instead we get billows of cigarette smoke, we end up having to forgo the beautiful night.  What you are free to do on your own property should NOT have an adverse effect on your neighbors.  I love how you can report a noise violation when the college kids next door are having a party at midnight, but you can't report a violation of the air you breathe.  But there's more to this idea than cigarette smoke (or marijuana, etc).  Impaired judgement when your under the influence of ANY substance is just as bad.  And those people I've heard state their suicidal thoughts of walking into traffic or jumping off a bridge onto the highway never stop to consider the lives they would endanger in doing so.  The human species has become so very selfish and entitled.  It's frustrating to see a world where almost everyone you hear of consistently puts their wants and needs ahead of all others.  I certainly don't expect a utopian society of selfless individuals.  But a little more consideration in the world would mean all the difference to the safety and well-being of out world, and most dearly to me, my daughter.