What single thing at faire hurls you off into the depths of rage?

[LadyFireKissed]

I try to let people know when I can, and like I said I am mildly allergic. So not so bad yet to have to go to the er.  But sometimes I can't always let people know, and more important are the people who are just around who just don't think or care.  I don't presume to tell people they can't smoke though, just think of others when you do... 

[chainshot]

Sorry but I will respectfully agree to disagree here. First I will apologize for those smokers that are inconsiderate of others and yes they are out there. As a smoker I paid my way in to see the same things you did and the same price even. So I deserve to enjoy myself as well. Number 1 I do not smoke in the vendors enclosed area as there is not adequate airflow. Number 2 If seated at a show I will excuse myself and step to an area less likely to create a problem for others. Number three I am aware of the space my cigarette is in and have averted issues with people wearing extremely nice garb and not paying attention to anything and had I not moved my cigarette gues what burned garb. Number 4 I never intentionaly blow my smoke in anyones face. Number 5 If POLITELY asked I have been known to put a cigarette out after having just lit it. Common courtesy goes a very long way on both counts and as a smoker we generaly get the raw end of the deal. Yet it is perfectly acceptable for some drunk to spill his/her drink on garb and staining it. 

As a cigar & pipe smoke I third it

[The Rabbi]

I try to let people know when I can, and like I said I am mildly allergic. So not so bad yet to have to go to the er.  But sometimes I can't always let people know, and more important are the people who are just around who just don't think or care.  I don't presume to tell people they can't smoke though, just think of others when you do... 

Absalutely agree my good lady Courtesy and Respect should apply in all things and I admit to many faults but I do try to abide by these two things.

[Rowan MacD]

   Common courtesy goes a very long way on both counts and as a smoker we generally get the raw end of the deal. Yet it is perfectly acceptable for some drunk to spill his/her drink on garb and staining it. 

I have to agree with Rabbi as well.
   Inconsiderate smokers can certainly ruin a day for someone else, but seriously, I have had a LOT more ruined experiences (and stained garb) thanks to immoderate drinkers than the oblivious smoker.   
   

[Merlin the Elder]

LadyFire, I think we're all saying about the same thing. The people I know and hang with at faire who are still smokers, have always been courteous to me.  Be aware of something, however. Some of us smoked for so long—when it wasn't an issue—and on occasion, simply forget ourselves.  Back when I still smoked, one time...just out of habit ..., I reached into my pocket, took out a cigarette, and lit up in a client's office. I think I was more surprised than he was!  

There is rudeness on both sides of the issue. Having been off cigarettes for 3½ years, I understand that the odor is offensive to some, but to tell someone "they stink" is out of line, yet I had someone tell me that. Smokers and non-smokers alike need to show a little common courtesy to each other.

[Rowan MacD]

There is rudeness on both sides of the issue. Having been off cigarettes for 3½ years, I understand that the odor is offensive to some, but to tell someone "they stink" is out of line, yet I had someone tell me that. Smokers and non-smokers alike need to show a little common courtesy to each other.

True.  I would no sooner tell a smoker that they 'stink' or that they are 'polluting my air',  than I would call an overweight person a 'fata$$' or tell them they are 'ruining my view'  for not being a size 4.  Both are exactly the same kind of rude, IMHO.  

edit for grammar.

 
   

[jackrocks]

I try to let people know when I can, and like I said I am mildly allergic. So not so bad yet to have to go to the er.  But sometimes I can't always let people know, and more important are the people who are just around who just don't think or care.  I don't presume to tell people they can't smoke though, just think of others when you do... 

I have to agree! As a family of six that includes 5 severe asthmatics, I appreciate it when people don't blow it in our faces. It can be frustrating when your child starts coughing, you pull out an inhaler to help your kid breathe, and people just stand there, blowing smoke at a child having an asthma attack that they caused. Its aggravating. Just like they did....I paid money to come to faire, I would like to not spend the weekend in the hospital with my kid(s) bc of it, we came to have fun, too.

The thing is that common courtesy would go a long way....but sometimes people get so bent on having their own way they forget to care about harm they may be inflicting upon others. My whole extended family are smokes....but they've watched my kids turn blue often enough that they no longer smoke around them, or if they do, they walk WAY away from them:) which I do appreciate.

[Rowan MacD]

   Why would anyone blow smoke at a kid?  Wow.
   
   

[Zardoz]

Like Rowen said, I'd be a lot more upset if somebody spilled stuff on my garb. I don't really care about smokers one way or the other.

[kcdcchef]

The thing that sucks about some/most smokers at faire, is they view that since Sir Walter Raleigh is worked into so much of the humor, that since cigars are considered fine, that many smoke in their acts depending on the faire, it's fine to just some wherever you want whenever you want, and will do so right around kids/nonsmokers, etc.
I've always said to those smokers who hate smoking areas/non smoking rules, thank your fellow inconsiderate smokers.

[Merlin the Elder]

I haven't run into acts that smoke...seen a few flames, though.

At Scarby, and the rest of the faires I've attending, there are few that are downright rude with their smoking, although there have been some. This year at Scarby, there was someone in line before cannon just smoking away. I'll bet I did that a few times myself, thinking back. These days we're a little more socially aware, or so one would think.  A non-thinking cigar smoker outside an enclosed pub also caused a problem briefly.

But rage?? Nah...just a bit of irritation.

Rowen, I don't think anyone would intentionally blow smoke at a child. Some people are just oblivious to what is occurring around them.

[kcdcchef]

I haven't run into acts that smoke...seen a few flames, though.

At Scarby, and the rest of the faires I've attending, there are few that are downright rude with their smoking, although there have been some. This year at Scarby, there was someone in line before cannon just smoking away. I'll bet I did that a few times myself, thinking back. These days we're a little more socially aware, or so one would think.  A non-thinking cigar smoker outside an enclosed pub also caused a problem briefly.

But rage?? Nah...just a bit of irritation.

Rowen, I don't think anyone would intentionally blow smoke at a child. Some people are just oblivious to what is occurring around them.

must be a regional thing. At KCRF they work smoking into the pub sing regularly, and have a daily Royal Cigar Smoker where everyone sits around drinking beer, smokign cigars, and it's the best humor of the day generally. and same at PARF, they work Sir Walter Raleigh into the humor all the time. at any rate, seems when sitting at the various acts, people blow smoke right at you and don't seem to care at all. what puzzles me is we are generally sitting on hay bails with dead leaves all around, you'd think smoking would be on the dangerous side, but what do i know.

[DonaCatalina]

Chef,
the people smoking don't really think about the hay bales, dead leaves and such until there is a major fire. TRF has put paving stones under all of their designated smoking areas in an effort to mitigate careless cigarette butt dropping.

But I guess having a 100 acre wildfire threaten the fair was quite the wake up call.
It was sad to drive down the highway outside the fair entrance and see the miles of burned pine trees. Many, but not all, of last Fall's wildfires were started by cigarette butts.

[kcdcchef]

Chef,
the people smoking don't really think about the hay bales, dead leaves and such until there is a major fire. TRF has put paving stones under all of their designated smoking areas in an effort to mitigate careless cigarette butt dropping.

But I guess having a 100 acre wildfire threaten the fair was quite the wake up call.
It was sad to drive down the highway outside the fair entrance and see the miles of burned pine trees. Many, but not all, of last Fall's wildfires were started by cigarette butts.

you know i wondered about TRF and smoking - since Texas seems to be wildfire central in recent years. And I remember how dangerously close it was to faire site. sadly, a friend we go to faire with is one of those inconsiderate smokers. he lights up anywhere anytime. doesn't care at all. when he comes to our house we make him go outside like any smoker who visits. but it's sad how we'll be next to kids, elderly, anything, and he lights up. and at faire, you see so many other smokers who make an attempt to go elsewhere to smoke, not him though.

[Hoowil]

I have to say, I smoked for years in my younger days. It was my choice then, not the people I smoked around. It was also my choice to go someplace that had designated smoking areas. I was not going to make somebody else smoke, be it first or second hand, if they did not want it. If you smoke, you know you do. If you go someplace that has designated smoking areas, learn where they are, and plan you walks around your smoking. After all, you are the one doing it. At the same time, if I am with friends or family who smoke, I will not begrudge them their habit, if they accept the local rules (house, faire, wherever).
In my life I have also put out two separate brush fires at places I was working, and an inconceivable number of trash fires, as well as three small brush fires that I came across elsewhere because people were careless with ashes and butts. If people don't think a carelessly thrown or dropped butt can cause damage, let them stand still while we throw burning embers at them.
Well, bit of a rant there, and I appologize.