Smoking at tournament matches

JoeyA

JoeyA

Efren's Mini-Tourn BACKER
Silver Member
I'm going all in with this rant.

I believe that all pool tournaments should ban smoking during tournament play even if smoking is legal in the tournament rooms.

My reason is quite simple. I should not have to sit next to someone's stinking cigarette smoldering in an ashtray while they are playing a match. Nor should I have to tolerate smoke clouds blown out over the pool table. This smoking during a tournament match is plain BULLSHIT.

It negatively affects my pool game because it irritates my eyes. If this makes me a whiney baby, then so be it.

I'm also tired of cigarette smoking pool players reaching for their cigarette, just as I am about to shoot a shot and I am facing my opponent from across the table. Same goes for striking a match or using a cigarette lighter. This is all BULLSHIT.

I am really fed up with smoking during a tournament match and I'm declaring war on cigarette smoking during a tournament match. And NO, this is not an effort to get smoking banned from pool rooms. In a pool room, I can always get up and move away from someone who is smoking but in a tournament I am confined to one area and just don't like being distracted by smokers and their smoke.

I realize that a lot of AZBers are not tournament players but if you've ever played in a tournament and don't smoke and your opponent has a cigarette laying in an ashtray and the smoke keeps drifting toward you, well let's just say it's no fun, especially after driving a few hours to play in an event.

I'm not an anti-smoking zealot in general but during a tournament match, non-smokers shouldn't have to deal with these irritations and distractions.

Let's hear your opinions..., especially those of you who play pool in tournaments.
 
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I'm with you on this. While smoking was allowed in NC the majority of the ppl I played had a cigarette lit the entire time we played....not even a break in between. Didn't realize how much it irritated me until they banned it and I walked into the action room at the Derby. I couldn't stay more than 5 minutes in there with all the smoking.
 
Uh Oh

What was it that made Joey A. lose his composure over someone elses actions ? Strange as it may seem ,I have not smoked in over 21 years but to me it seems like more of a pool room and or tournament with the smoke.To each his own though .I can see where it could become bothersome.
 
JoeyA said:
I'm going all in with this rant.

I believe that all pool tournaments should ban smoking during tournament play even if smoking is legal in the tournament rooms.

My reason is quite simple. I should not have to sit next to someone's stinking cigarette smoldering in an ashtray while they are playing a match. Nor should I have have smoke clouds blown out over the pool table. This smoking during a tournament match is plain BULLSHIT.

It negatively affects my pool game because it irritates my eyes. If this makes me a whiney baby, then so be it.

I'm also tired of cigarette smoking pool players reaching for their cigarette, just as I am about to shoot a shot and I am facing my opponent from across the table. Same goes for striking a match or using a cigarette lighter. This is all BULLSHIT.

I am really fed up with smoking during a tournament match and I'm declaring war on cigarette smoking during a tournament match. And NO, this is not an effort to get smoking banned from pool rooms. In a pool room, I can always get up and move away from someone who is smoking but in a tournament I am confined to one area and just don't like being distracted by smokers and their smoke.

I realize that a lot of AZBers are not tournament players but if you've ever played in a tournament and don't smoke and your opponent has a cigarette laying in an ashtray and the smoke keeps drifting toward you, well let's just say it's no fun, especially after driving a few hours to play in an event.

I'm not an anti-smoking zealot in general but during a tournament match, non-smokers shouldn't have to deal with these irritations and distractions.

Let's hear your opinions..., especially those of you who play pool in tournaments.
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I agree. It also affects me mentally as often I will make a big show out of moving all my stuff away from the place where the cigarette is. Then I will dwell on it and get more pissed and eventually dog a few shots thinking about how inconsiderate they are. Pretty soon I am out of the tournament and whining about the conditions.

Out in Vegas the BCA banned smoking in the tournament room. This had a negative effect on sales, it caused the smoking to go out into the hallway which was worse because then with the lower ceilings in the hall the smoke was thick and terrible. But even with the lower sales it was worth it because as a vendor having to stand in that terrible smoke filled room all day was horrible.

Eventually they barred smoking from the hallways as well and relegated it to outside which was better all the way around.

For non-smokers at least.
 
Whats just as bad is going for a smoke during a match. if you cant play a match without a fix QUIT/
 
Agreed!! Or how about when your at the table and your opponent blows smoke right towards the table or uses their lighter coincidentally during your last stroke.
 
I'm surprised that there are actually tournaments that allow smoking during play. Even Japan, which has one of the highest rates of smokers in the world (and probably the highest in a non-developing country), is pretty much entirely smoke free during tournament play. I only play in one tournament that allows smoking during matches and it is out in the boonies and averages 4 people a week (I go because it pays well and if the manager wins, he keeps the money in a pot for the next week).
 
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I smoked cigaretts all my life until about 5 yrs. ago I started weening myself off of them, now that I'm a non-smoker I have alot more energy which I really need for my stamina playing pool since I'm older now.

What was really bad was back when smokers laid their cigaretts on the tables, at least we can be glad those days are gone for the most part!


David Harcrow
 
Smokless Events a must

Its a too bad that those who are smoking can't quit. Its a bad habit that all smokers would agree. It disrupts the flow of the tournament. I watched the USBTC on TAR stream and i saw a 20 minute break so someone could go smoke in the middle of the match. That's rude to the opponent and to all those in the bracket who are waiting.

Many States already bar the unhealthy habit. Indian Casinos who hold tournaments do not ban smoking. The day is coming when its a thing of the past... hope its soon
 
nuther smoking thread going right now

I can see no reason that a smoker's rights should have more value than a nonsmoker's rights. Smoke is definitely a factor in me playing a lot less pool. I hate coming home tired and having to wash the clothes I was wearing and shower before I can even stretch out and rest a bit. I hate my truck stinking of cigarette smoke until I let it air out for a few days. I hate smelling cigarette smoke for days because the residue is in my lungs and sinuses. Most of all I hate the inflamed sinuses and bronchial tubes that will make my life miserable for several days after being in heavy cigarette smoke even with smoke eaters running. Even the poker rooms realize secondhand smoke shouldn't be a forced part of the deal; seems like pool rooms would get a clue especially during tournaments. I suspect that there would be a distinct increase in entries if smoking was banned during tournaments.

Best I recall less than 1/5 of people smoke. I can't understand why the minority should impose their will on the majority. No option but to tolerate smoke when smoking is allowed in a tournament and with one room with decent tables within an hour drive each way there is no real option to tolerating smoke to play pool. Well yeah, there is one choice, the one I made. I play a little pool now and then but it is an all day trip when I do. I never stop in for an hour or so when I am in the area like I would in a nonsmoking environment. It just isn't worth all the hassle for a few hours play or less. More and more it isn't worth the hassle for four to eight hours play or to compete in a tournament. Sounds like you(JoeyA) spent about 18 hours straight in a smoke filled environment to compete over the weekend. More fun than I can or will try to stand!

Hu
 
Hey Hu, at least buffal's Billiards has 2 large smoke machines-

ShootingArts said:
I can see no reason that a smoker's rights should have more value than a nonsmoker's rights. Smoke is definitely a factor in me playing a lot less pool. I hate coming home tired and having to wash the clothes I was wearing and shower before I can even stretch out and rest a bit. I hate my truck stinking of cigarette smoke until I let it air out for a few days. I hate smelling cigarette smoke for days because the residue is in my lungs and sinuses. Most of all I hate the inflamed sinuses and bronchial tubes that will make my life miserable for several days after being in heavy cigarette smoke even with smoke eaters running. Even the poker rooms realize secondhand smoke shouldn't be a forced part of the deal; seems like pool rooms would get a clue especially during tournaments. I suspect that there would be a distinct increase in entries if smoking was banned during tournaments.

Best I recall less than 1/5 of people smoke. I can't understand why the minority should impose their will on the majority. No option but to tolerate smoke when smoking is allowed in a tournament and with one room with decent tables within an hour drive each way there is no real option to tolerating smoke to play pool. Well yeah, there is one choice, the one I made. I play a little pool now and then but it is an all day trip when I do. I never stop in for an hour or so when I am in the area like I would in a nonsmoking environment. It just isn't worth all the hassle for a few hours play or less. More and more it isn't worth the hassle for four to eight hours play or to compete in a tournament. Sounds like you(JoeyA) spent about 18 hours straight in a smoke filled environment to compete over the weekend. More fun than I can or will try to stand!

Hu
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To get rid of the smoke. But on tourny night the Worlds Pool Hall is full of players and watchers so the smoke is much more. And some of the smokers do not even use ash trays. They dump the ashes right on the floor. Smokers do not have any concern for non smokers at all!!
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
Smoke breaks during a race to seven are a joke. Especially when a weekend tourney consistently goes to Monday morning.

I've seen local streams where it's like okay now what's his name is going to take HIS smoke break.

I want to see the final but can't stay up til 6 am. Allow a bathroom break only. Those smoke breaks turn into 15 minutes. Smoke between matches.
 
You guys are right. Smoking should be banned because it's a health risk and it smells bad. You know what else is a health risk and smells bad? Bacon. I'm sick and tired of all these bacon eaters imposing their will upon non-bacon eaters. It's too bad the bacon farmers, with all their bacon money, lobby against bacon bans. Don't even get me started on alcohol.

Lol...you guys are ridiculous. What makes you think you are entitled to tell somebody else what he can or can't do with his property? Smokers and non-smokers have the same rights. You can choose to smoke, or you can choose to not smoke. Just like you can choose to gamble, or you can choose to not gamble. Just like you can choose to smoke weed, or you can choose to not smoke weed--oh wait, a bunch of whining idiots already made that last decision for you.
 
Drew said:
You guys are right. Smoking should be banned because it's a health risk and it smells bad. You know what else is a health risk and smells bad? Bacon. I'm sick and tired of all these bacon eaters imposing their will upon non-bacon eaters. It's too bad the bacon farmers, with all their bacon money, lobby against bacon bans. Don't even get me started on alcohol.

Lol...you guys are ridiculous. What makes you think you are entitled to tell somebody else what he can or can't do with his property? Smokers and non-smokers have the same rights. You can choose to smoke, or you can choose to not smoke. Just like you can choose to gamble, or you can choose to not gamble. Just like you can choose to smoke weed, or you can choose to not smoke weed--oh wait, a bunch of whining idiots already made that last decision for you.
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Bacon may smell bad, but there isn't a health risk from smelling it. That is the crux of the "problem" here. Quite frankly, if you want to take the other side of this argument, you are going to have to come up with some better arguments than these. And please go ahead and start on alcohol. I'll make a great case countering you saying smoking is in much more need of being banned from being consumed in public than drinking is.
 
The Chinchilla said:
Bacon may smell bad, but there isn't a health risk from smelling it. That is the crux of the "problem" here. Quite frankly, if you want to take the other side of this argument, you are going to have to come up with some better arguments than these. And please go ahead and start on alcohol. I'll make a great case countering you saying smoking is in much more need of being banned from being consumed in public than drinking is.
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There is no evidence of second hand smoke being a health risk...but good try. I'm not going to start on alcohol because I am a firm believer of liberty and although drunks are sometimes obnoxious and violent, I respect their right to treat their body however they like.

It's very simple, if you have a problem with something, then avoid it. Personally, I hate animals. But you don't see me out trying to ban pets. I just choose to not hang out with pet owners for very long...you are more than welcome to choose to not go to a smoking pool room.

You DO NOT have the right to tell anyone what they can and can't do with their property. That includes bar owners. End of discussion. Go lodge a complaint. If the bar owner feels he can make more money by catering to a specific demographic, I'm sure he will do that.
 
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Drew said:
There is no evidence of second hand smoke being a health risk...but good try. I'm not going to start on alcohol because I am a firm believer of liberty and although drunks are sometimes obnoxious and violent, I respect their right to treat their body however they like.

It's very simple, if you have a problem with something, then avoid it. Personally, I hate animals. But you don't see me out trying to ban pets. I just choose to not hang out with pet owners for very long...you are more than welcome to choose to not go to a smoking pool room.

You DO NOT have the right to tell anyone what they can and can't do with their property. That includes bar owners. End of discussion. Go lodge a complaint. If the bar owner feels he can make more money by catering to a specific demographic, I'm sure he will do that.
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http://www.epa.gov/smokefree/healtheffects.html

What?
 
Drew said:
You guys are right. Smoking should be banned because it's a health risk and it smells bad. You know what else is a health risk and smells bad? Bacon. I'm sick and tired of all these bacon eaters imposing their will upon non-bacon eaters. It's too bad the bacon farmers, with all their bacon money, lobby against bacon bans. Don't even get me started on alcohol.

Lol...you guys are ridiculous. What makes you think you are entitled to tell somebody else what he can or can't do with his property? Smokers and non-smokers have the same rights. You can choose to smoke, or you can choose to not smoke. Just like you can choose to gamble, or you can choose to not gamble. Just like you can choose to smoke weed, or you can choose to not smoke weed--oh wait, a bunch of whining idiots already made that last decision for you.
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The rights are not the same when one person can poison the air of the person next to them.

I agree that a person can smoke or not smoke. That's not the issue. The issue is when the activity influences the person next to them. You can make examples in a hundred ways.

Let's go to an egregious one, I want to burn plastic in my garage and vent it towards your house. Burning plastic releases toxins that are especially harmful. Should I have the right to do this with no blockage whatsoever?

If you take the full libertarian stance then yes I should and you would then have the right to shoot me to stop it. Obviously though in most societies you don't have the right to kill me for whatever reason you want to so then you have to take other steps.

Or maybe you think it's ok if I paint my shelves in my driveway and the overspray covers your new car, or your kid?

There is a certain civility that comes with being in proximity to each other that must be maintained or else the population will be reduced dramatically in violent ways.

I feel that you have no right to poison me. Anywhere that there is a common space the default position should be that no one should do anything in that space that harms others. Thus if one wants to poison themselves then they should be free to do so in any manner which does not also endanger others.

Consumption of alcohol is a form of poision as is bacon. But both of these activities can be done with zero adverse affect on the person standing beside the consumer of these two things. Smoking does not fall into that category.

Perhaps I would like to practice my swordsmanship. Obviously I cannot walk into the pool room and start doing wild sword maneuvers. Even if I were not going to harm anyone it is clear that people should stay clear of the blades. Thus I am imposing my will on the group and claiming a certain amount of the commons as my own until such time as I am done. That would get shut down pretty quickly for obvious reasons.

So no, it's not simply a matter of choice. It's a matter of harm. My body is not yours to violate with your smoke. If I willingly stay in your proximity when you smoke then I certainly am complicit but when the default position is simply not to foul up the commons neither of us has any problem with physical harm.

Personally I feel that the answer is e-cigarettes or some other solution that keeps the smoke from entering the common air. I think people should be allowed to do drugs, drink, smoke, and really whatever they want as long as they are not invading my space.

If you feel brave enough then go play pool naked. If everyone walks out then the pool room owner can decide to make a rule against naked pool. And if people wold do the same for smoky rooms then that would work as well. But the fact of it is that people will make concessions in order to do what makes them feel good. Even though they have a choice they won't exercise it if the alternative is less pleasurable.

All that said I LOVE bacon and over here we have a sort of candy bacon that is SO AWESOME. I love to go get 100 grams of it and wolf it down. It's like bacon chewing gum, so freaking great you can feel your heart stopping with each bite.
 
The Chinchilla said:
Bacon may smell bad, but there isn't a health risk from smelling it. That is the crux of the "problem" here. Quite frankly, if you want to take the other side of this argument, you are going to have to come up with some better arguments than these. And please go ahead and start on alcohol. I'll make a great case countering you saying smoking is in much more need of being banned from being consumed in public than drinking is.
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And alcohol is good for you. In moderate amounts. Wine especially is good for the heart. But alcohol through fermentation may fight off parasites and other ailments.

I think it's been conclusively proven that smoking is not healthy at all in any way.

But still I don't think it should be banned. Just don't do it in common areas.
 
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