UGH. My first ever real anti-smoking experience

[rajuabju]

Well, I just got home a short while ago from dinner with 2 friends, and what a night. had to share with my fellow BOTL's.

First, let me say I live in West Los Angeles, which as many of you probably know, is the capital of the anti-smoking movement.

Anyhow, we enjoyed a nice dinner at a local restaurant called the Wilshire, in the city of Santa Monica. In the back of the restaurant they have a large, open-air patio. In the BACK of the patio, they have a deck area with some couches and what not, FOR SMOKING.

The whole area is a very chill, low-key lounge and they have a very nice bar. Its a place to relax.

Unfortunately, SOME PEOPLE decide to have their DINNER (not smoking, not appetizers, not drinks) in the back deck area... even though there are PLENTY of other tables available both inside and outside.

Well after dinner, myself and my 2 friends went to the deck area to light up... after specifically asking the hostess and an assistant manager if it was ok to light up, since there were other patrons there. They both said yes, that the deck area was a 'smoking area'. Great. So we grabbed our drinks and went.

I was smoking my delicious and favorite all time smoke, a Padron 1964 Imperial Maduro. Let me just tell you, that if I start one of these, I DO NOT STOP FOR ANYTHING. Not until I'm satisfied. Buddies were smoking an Oliva Serie G and the other had a Ashton VSG. So I mean they are quality smokes, not something cheap. And we all had 15 or 18 year old Scotch.

Within 1 minute of us lighting up, the lady next to us complains and asks us to put them out. Uhhh WE POLITELY respond that this is the smoking deck, etc... she then starting to be a BITCH about how smoking is bad for your health, 2nd hand smoke kills, its bad for the environment, I swear I was waiting for her to blame global warming on my Padron.

She is ruining my smoke. I'm ready to SMACK her. She has her husband get the manager. The manager comes to us... and was about to ask us to put them out when he realizes we had previously asked him about smoking. He then tells the lady its the smoking area, we have the right to smoke, and he'd be happy to reseat THEM.

Victory! She leaves shortly thereafter. But jeez, this was a 40 minute process, by now I was 2/3 of the way done. I guess i will have to smoke another one tomorrow to make up for this unsatisfying experience

[Esoteric]

Originally Posted by rajuabju

Well, I just got home a short while ago from dinner with 2 friends, and what a night. had to share with my fellow BOTL's.

First, let me say I live in West Los Angeles, which as many of you probably know, is the capital of the anti-smoking movement.

Anyhow, we enjoyed a nice dinner at a local restaurant called the Wilshire, in the city of Santa Monica. In the back of the restaurant they have a large, open-air patio. In the BACK of the patio, they have a deck area with some couches and what not, FOR SMOKING.

The whole area is a very chill, low-key lounge and they have a very nice bar. Its a place to relax.

Unfortunately, SOME PEOPLE decide to have their DINNER (not smoking, not appetizers, not drinks) in the back deck area... even though there are PLENTY of other tables available both inside and outside.

Well after dinner, myself and my 2 friends went to the deck area to light up... after specifically asking the hostess and an assistant manager if it was ok to light up, since there were other patrons there. They both said yes, that the deck area was a 'smoking area'. Great. So we grabbed our drinks and went.

I was smoking my delicious and favorite all time smoke, a Padron 1964 Imperial Maduro. Let me just tell you, that if I start one of these, I DO NOT STOP FOR ANYTHING. Not until I'm satisfied. Buddies were smoking an Oliva Serie G and the other had a Ashton VSG. So I mean they are quality smokes, not something cheap. And we all had 15 or 18 year old Scotch.

Within 1 minute of us lighting up, the lady next to us complains and asks us to put them out. Uhhh WE POLITELY respond that this is the smoking deck, etc... she then starting to be a BITCH about how smoking is bad for your health, 2nd hand smoke kills, its bad for the environment, I swear I was waiting for her to blame global warming on my Padron.

She is ruining my smoke. I'm ready to SMACK her. She has her husband get the manager. The manager comes to us... and was about to ask us to put them out when he realizes we had previously asked him about smoking. He then tells the lady its the smoking area, we have the right to smoke, and he'd be happy to reseat THEM.

Victory! She leaves shortly thereafter. But jeez, this was a 40 minute process, by now I was 2/3 of the way done. I guess i will have to smoke another one tomorrow to make up for this unsatisfying experience

Crappy deal about the anti-smoking nazi. Thank goodness the manager had your back on that. If he did not get your back , he would've been nominated for most douche-tastic person of the week haha

[zitro_joe]

This lady deserved what I call "Equal Rights"

[Bakoux]

Nice victory over the anti-smoking bitch!!! Grats!

[Hemingway in Havana]

Originally Posted by rajuabju

Within 1 minute of us lighting up, the lady next to us complains and asks us to put them out. Uhhh WE POLITELY respond that this is the smoking deck, etc... she then starting to be a BITCH about how smoking is bad for your health, 2nd hand smoke kills, its bad for the environment, I swear I was waiting for her to blame global warming on my Padron.

See, this is a perfect example of why I just don't get these people. If they believe that it's soooo freakin' bad for them, then why do they stay? You'd think they would want to get away from the evil smoke ASAP! But the answer, of course, is that they just want to pick fights and/or show how they think they are somehow superior to us. Don't let these jackasses get you down, enjoy that next smoke...

[smelvis]

Can I say Bitch here?

[Nurse_Maduro]

Congrats on the victory, but it's a shame you had to go through all of that in the first place. Try as you might, it still kills the whole point of firing up a nice stick: to RELAX.

I know this taught me a valuable lesson though. I'll never light up in a smoking section again with first asking permission from a manager. Thanks, Danny...I hope today's smoke is better experience!

[rajuabju]

I was definitely happy that the manager did back us up... though when he was walking over, he certainly had that "I'll make the smokers leave" look, but when he saw it was US, he changed his mind quickly to save face. At least thats how it seemed to me

Regardless, its just a sad state of affairs in my opinion. I understand that cigar or cigarette or pipe smoke bothers many people. Heck, it bothers me sometimes too. But thats why places do their best to seperate smoking and non-smoking. But if a non-smoker is in a smoking area, they should have NO RIGHT to complain.

[jadeg001]

...bad for the environment? Really?

[iRace559]

Wow man that sucks. Sorry to hear about that. Luckily the manager had your back on this one.

[smokin nightly]

Thats cool bro...stick it to the enemies of pleasure....

[mrsmitty]

This is why I smoke at home or at a b&m and no where else. I want to enjoy my cigar and not haft to worry about people bitching.

[Cigary]

Glad this story had a happy ending at least. Not all people understand that cigars can be expensive and once started they dont taste better later. For them to complain about you having your cigars in an area that was smoke friendly was BS,,,,I don't argue with people anymore as much as I will sit and look at them and just continue to smoke and blow the smoke in their direction or will try and say in a voice as humble as possible ( yeah right ) if you don't like the smoke from my cigar I suggest you look for another area to breathe in.

[Rubix^3]

Sure, the story has a happy end, but I totally sympathize for the time this tormentress wasted.

[ETC Erik]

I own a B&M and I have to admit cigars can be pretty stinky. I suppose however it is a sign of the times. As long as your personal rights are more popular than my personal rights, it is ok to discriminate.