Smoking Cigarettes at Expos

Njhustler1

Njhustler1

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm a non-smoker and proud of it. Last year I attended the Valley Forge Super Billiard Expo and I was shocked that they allowed people to smoke cigarettes at the convention. The downstairs tournament area was packed with hundreds of people chain smoking cigarettes, all day, all night, for 4 days. The smell was so intense it was to the point of offensive. If the powers that be really want to clean up the sport and give it a good family name, smoking would be a good place to start.

If anyone from Allen Hopkins productions is reading this, please take note of the feedback. I'm sure people will feel strongly one way or another.
 
Njhustler1 said:
I'm a non-smoker and proud of it. Last year I attended the Valley Forge Super Billiard Expo and I was shocked that they allowed people to smoke cigarettes at the convention. The downstairs tournament area was packed with hundreds of people chain smoking cigarettes, all day, all night, for 4 days. The smell was so intense it was to the point of offensive. If the powers that be really want to clean up the sport and give it a good family name, smoking would be a good place to start.

If anyone from Allen Hopkins productions is reading this, please take note of the feedback. I'm sure people will feel strongly one way or another.
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If they want to have an area where people can play and still smoke fine, but I think 2 things should be done:
1. There should be no smoking in the Tournament area.
2. There should be food stands and eating locations available in non-smoking areas.
I don't think that's too much to ask, I know it took a lot of enjoyment out of my matches (or was it match singular, I refuse to remember) to be in a smoking environment.
 
That's a good point. It does detract from the overall enjoyment for us non-smokers. That gave me another thought. If they refuse to ban smoking completely, which I'm sure will happen, they should at least allow you to deny your opponent the ability to smoke during the match if its distracting to you.
 
I remember many of us playing in the APA Regional in Roebling last March. It was the smokiest room I have ever been in. Your eyes adjust to the smoke but my video camera didn't lie. It was like everyone playing in thick fog. It was disgusting and we were all sick for days afterwards (even smokers). The event is great, the people are great, but I just cannot go back there.
 
Njhustler1 said:
That's a good point. It does detract from the overall enjoyment for us non-smokers. That gave me another thought. If they refuse to ban smoking completely, which I'm sure will happen, they should at least allow you to deny your opponent the ability to smoke during the match if its distracting to you.
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Although I am in COMPLETE agreement with both you and Steve, and a fellow nonsmoker, your own experience shows that we're a singular TINY minority. I sincerely doubt that Allen is going to change a successul formula, especially with a very vocal majority of clientele voicing serious objections to any type of prohibition. This would include players, exhibitors, and certainly many paying customers to the Expo. Love to see it happen...even the slight changes suggested by you and catscradle...but doubt it will happen anytime soon.:rolleyes:

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
It may happen sooner than you think. Many cities across North America are banning smoking from public places.

This summer I'm happy to report I was able to walk out of the pool hall with out smelling like smoke.
 
I know of two non-smoking rooms in Florida. One being Waldos in Daytona Beach, and the other being Anatasia Billiards up around St. Augustine. It is SO nice to walk out of both places and not reak of smoke. Smokers at both places go outside and seem to gladly smoke elsewhere.

The only other place I know of is my living room...nothing like having your own table at home. Only thing I have to battle there is my three cats and their shedding.

Shorty
 
The Derby City Classic is worse. I've never been exposed to so much smoke in my life and I've been tending bar for 35 years. I've been to Valley Forge and Louisville is smokier. It's disgusting for smokers and non smokers alike.
TommyT:eek:
 
Ok, first I am a smoker and this view is as such.....


I have to admit, at some of the events I've been to/played in the smoke even bothered me. One word here SMOKE EATERS....

Now on to my rant, Why jsut because someone doesnt smoke do they feel they have the right to make the rules for the others?

Depending on what you read/belive health risks are either real or not.

Since no one yet said anything about the health risks and it has been mostly how distracting it is. What about people who wear over powering colonge or perfume? Or have really bad BO? Since these all distract me, should they ban this as well? Have a BO' only area?

I dont think so. We have to remember that there will ALWAYS been some ofset in life that offends us, and living here gives them that right. Your right to free choice is also my right....

jmo....
 
The biggest downside to my APA and TAP leages is the intense smoke that you can cut with a knife at my local pool hall.
 
Personal preferences aside, does anybody know what effect cigarette smoke has on tables? I know if I'm in a smoky room, even if I'm not smoking myself, my clothes will smell quite strongly of cigarettes afterward. I have to imagine some of this stuff gets into the table cloth as well. Does this shorten the life of the cloth? :confused:
 
OrigZaphod said:
Why just because someone doesn't smoke do they feel they have the right to make the rules for the others?
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Why just because someone does smoke do they feel they have the right to populate the air in public places with their deadly fumes?
 
hobokenapa said:
Why just because someone does smoke do they feel they have the right to populate the air in public places with their deadly fumes?
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tap tap tap.... why is it also that you'll often hear smokers say that non smokers have the right not to go where people smoke?

J
 
OrigZaphod said:
Ok, first I am a smoker and this view is as such.....

I have to admit, at some of the events I've been to/played in the smoke even bothered me. One word here SMOKE EATERS....
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If they work (which I'm not sure they do) most places refuse to maintain them because they don't want to spend the money or they don't buy enough to handle the smoke because they don't want to spend the money.

Now on to my rant, Why jsut because someone doesnt smoke do they feel they have the right to make the rules for the others?
...
jmo....
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Even though I detest smoke I agree it is Allen Hopkins' decision, I hope it proves to be in his financial best interest to make the decision to ban smoking. Short of that, I really think the food vendors should not be in the smoking area regardless.
 
You need to rescind your tap, tap, tap

supergreenman said:
tap tap tap.... why is it also that you'll often hear smokers say that non smokers have the right not to go where people smoke?

J
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If you were talking about a Library I would completely agree. However we are talking about a pool room. A pool room is not a public place. It is a private business that allows the public in. The owner makes the rules and if its legal then he has said in effect(no matter whether you like it or not). you have the right not to go where people smoke.
 
1pRoscoe said:
The Super Billiards Expo starting Mar06 will be a complete non-smoking event.
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No offense to anybody, and if you smoke I don't care, but I can't believe in today's day and age that people exhibiting or attending at a trade show would reduce it to a grass roots event by having everyone smoking like a chimney.

Hopefully the exhibitors, who are paid professionals at the trade show, would not demonstrate a lack of professionalism by smoking within their business settings.
 
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Gregg - I couldn't agree more.

Hobokenguy - nice signature. guess we have a friend in common.

OrigZaphod - what a bushleague response. Let's come back to reality here and think about this for a second. Most people can probably count on one finger how many times they've been so distracted and disgusted by someone's B.O. that it got in the way of their game. On the other hand, you know how many times non-smokers get bothered by people who are stinking the table up with smoke? Answer: every time they play a smoker. If you're so addicted to cigarretes that you cant wait a half hour until your match is over to step outside for a break, then you got bigger issues to worry about. I think its time we started to inconvenience the smokers rather than the non-smokers.
 
OrigZaphod - what a bushleague response. Let's come back to reality here and think about this for a second. Most people can probably count on one finger how many times they've been so distracted and disgusted by someone's B.O. that it got in the way of their game. On the other hand, you know how many times non-smokers get bothered by people who are stinking the table up with smoke? Answer: every time they play a smoker. If you're so addicted to cigarretes that you cant wait a half hour until your match is over to step outside for a break, then you got bigger issues to worry about. I think its time we started to inconvenience the smokers rather than the non-smokers.
Today 02:57 PM



Good point but... Are we not now talking about a "convenience" issue then? The last few I was in, yes it was very smokey, but not at the tables. It was set up so that the tables were all in a middle section with sitting tables around the edges, there were no food/drink smoking AT the table, and the only ones allowed in the middle section were the Players actually playing that set. All others the outer ring.

as postd it is still a financial issue. If there are enough people at a local hall that do not smoke and come in enough, they should ask the owner to create a area that is smoke free. But if a non-smoker goes to an hall/event that has a majority of smokers then I am sorry, they are out numbered. When I quit the first time, I HATED the smell of smoke, but realized it was there choice to smoke, and mine not to bearound it if I chose...
 
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