"Your right to smoke ends at my nose"

[Prometheus]

Those words were written on the old IMDb boards some 20+ years ago by some person whose name I have forgotten. As you can probably surmise, there was a discussion going on about smoking in pubs and restaurants.

My response (as clearly as I can remember it):

"My right to smoke does not end at your nose or anywhere else. Your nose is simply where my my responsibility to courtesy begins."

Courtesy

For those unfamiliar with the term, let me refer you to Merriam-Webster:

behavior marked by polished manners or respect for others

a courteous and respectful act or expression

consideration, cooperation, and generosity in providing something (such as a gift or privilege)

I have obviously enhanced the words that I feel are central to its meaning.

I think those words are central to defining what it is to live in a human society and chief among them is "respect."

Just about everybody seems to want some, yet those same people can give a list of reasons why certain other people should not be afforded any.

Some of you may have figured out that this post isn't going to be about smoking. It isn't.

Is it about wearing facemasks?

You bet your sweet ass it is! So, if you're anti-mask, you might as well run away now... unless you think you have a really good reason why your loved-ones don't deserve your respect.

Should respect be given? You first! Put on your mask!

Should respect be earned? You first! Put on your mask!

But, but, but... government FORCE!

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. You'd be more than happy to wear a mask as long as the government didn't make it mandatory.

Bullshit!

If you know that wearing a mask is the right thing to do - either for reasons of health or courtesy - you'd be wearing one and encouraging others to do the same so that the government would have no reason to exert force. Do you punch a dude in the mouth and then tell him he has no right to be upset about it or retaliate?

The sad state of affairs in many western countries is that providing common courtesy has become less and less common while its demand has been on the increase.

This seems like simple economics to me.

Anyway... thanks for reading.

/rant

[SRK]

Your right to smoke begins at my dick. Is what I should tell girls.

[Prometheus]

Jan 17, 2021 6:50:36 GMT SRK said:

Your right to smoke begins at my dick. Is what I should tell girls.

Let us know how that works out for you.