Angry Dad here--please read!

[Martoch]

GRRR!!! This #%#% lady made me so mad this morning! Ok, here's the short story...

I'm on military leave right now because my son's daycare provider is on vacation. Well I dropped my son off at school, and while I was pulling out of the parking lot I noticed a family walking toward the school so I stopped my car to let them pass...even gave them a nice smile. Family = mother (30 or so with 12yr old boy, 5 yr old girl). Well I noticed the mother smoking even though she was with her children. (I'm calling her mother because no true mommy would smoke with their kids in the car). Just before entering the school's front door, the mother throws her freakin' cigarette on the ground...mind you, this cigarette is still lit and only halfway gone. I was so irritated by this that I stopped my car right there in the middle of the parking lot, got out and stomped the cigarette out, walked into the school...called the mother aside, and angrily told her never to throw her cigarettes in the school parking lot again! I even told her that if she did, she better at least put them out so a child cannot pick them up and take a few potentially fatal puffs. Let me tell you folks, I was furious! I hate seeing "parents" smoking with their kids in the car to begin with, but to throw the damn thing lit onto the school property...I was like Bill Bixby turning into the Incredible Hulk. My eyes were glowing and I was chanting, "don't make me angry, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry".

Questions, comments? Agree with me, disagree? I need some feedback on this, my girlfriend couldn't believe I actually confronted the lady...

[Knothead]

W-e-e-e-l, Martoch, actually, I must confess to having been guilty of what you're describing, so maybe I shouldn't say anything...

Okay, I'll say this much: If I were you, I would reserve that kind of confrontational behavior for actual abusive actions on the part of the parent. I 'got it' that you don't approve of smoking, and that's fine.

But there is a line. IMO, don't sweat the small stuff. There's lotsa BIG stuff out there.


Although, I DID like that part about how you stomped out the cigarette...

[Sohgin]

I agree about not sweating the small stuff. And seriously, if kid is picking up anything off of the parking lot and putting it in his mouth then his parents have bigger worries on their hands.

[Martoch]

Hmm...maybe I disagree with you a little about leaving a lit cigarette in an elementary school being "small stuff". My son could easily have picked up that smoke and puffed away until his little lungs collapsed. I've seen it happen unfortunately. Sure, there are bigger issues out there...but this is definitely not a small one. Let me just clarify...if you want to smoke, hey...puff away until your lungs turn black...just don't give my child the chance by leaving your cancer sticks lying around.
BTW, I used to smoke...so this is not coming from a non-smoker who doesn't know how hard it is to quit. However, I would never do it around my son or anybody else's for that matter. Ok, nuff' said for now.

[Martoch]

Originally posted by Sohgin
I agree about not sweating the small stuff. And seriously, if kid is picking up anything off of the parking lot and putting it in his mouth then his parents have bigger worries on their hands.

You need to read the thread about my son...he's autistic. You can't really explain the dangers about picking things up off of the street and putting them in your mouth to him. Even if he wasn't, kids are intrigued by things they don't know about...if a child sees a parent do it, he or she might want to give it a try.

Aside from it being against the law, it's just so wrong...(not smoking itself, but throwing lit ones down especially in a school parking lot)

[jman01pa]

I agree with your ideas a 110%. I am certain I would have handled it the same way you did. I am angered all the time by "rude" smokers and bite my tounge on many occasions. Sometimes I dont.

Not too long ago I was burned on the arm by a stranger being careless with her cigarrette in a crowd. I went off on her with such anger that a rent a cop stepped in and told me to let it go.

I will give moral support to anyone who wants to quit smoking and have no sympathy if you continue too.


J

[Martoch]

Amen! I bite my tongue more than I should...on a few occasions while I noticed someone throw their cigarette out of their car window at a stoplight, I've picked it up and handed it back to them with a polite, "excuse me sir/ma'am, I believe this is yours."
They don't even think about giving me attitude about it...they know they're 100% wrong on the issue so they take it back with no problem at all.

[jman01pa]

Originally posted by Sohgin
I agree about not sweating the small stuff. And seriously, if kid is picking up anything off of the parking lot and putting it in his mouth then his parents have bigger worries on their hands.

So instead of sticking it in their mouth, what if it went in their eye or someone elses. Or play with it and burn someone. Or play with it and burn something down with people in it. That might seem far fetched, but a child mimicks adults and their interpretation may be that much different.

I can argue all day long on this topic.


J

[Angela]

Throwing a lit cig on the ground is a hazard if for no other reason than it could burn someone! Actually, I don't comprehend why smokers think it is OK to throw their butts around, lit or unlit. Cigarette butts are garbage and those folks who leave them all over the place should be fined for littering! I used to smoke two packs a day in my younger years, and I never left my butts on the ground. If everyone smoked unfiltered cigarettes it wouldn't be such a problem--they biodegrade rapidly. But those filters are around for years!

I think pointing out to this woman that a lit cigarette is a hazard to everyone would be a very legitimate thing to do.

[Knothead]

I think pointing out to this woman that a lit cigarette is a hazard to everyone would be a very legitimate thing to do

Yep, he did that!

(I agree, there's no excuse for throwing butts around, btw. )


I predict this thread will turn into a "smokers vs. non-smokers" debate...