PASSIVE RESISTANCE

If you are the passive type, following are a few suggestions on how to "wear out" an environment that does not respect your choice to smoke. The purpose of passive resistance is to unnerve and provoke the opponents -- while complying with their rules -- until they make mistakes that ultimately work against them.

At Work

The workplace is, for most smokers, the most inhospitable place. Unfortunately, little can be done to correct that, just now. However, a few techniques may be effective in the long run:

• When you take a "cigarette break", make it last as long as possible within "safety" limits, in order to reduce productivity. Smokers are often the most productive workers, since they tend to be hyperactive. Slowing down will help your nerves, and contribute to the cost of the non-smoking policy.

• Talk to your co-workers. Induce them to do the same.

• Propose a smoking section inside the building, complaining that your treatment is unfair. Remember that most city bylaws are on a voluntary basis; they are there to land the force of the government to managements who want to adopt a non-smoking policy.

• If you are harassed by your co-workers or -- worse -- by the management because you smoke, a reminder that this is none of their business is usually non-confrontational. If you are planning to quit, make sure that it is your choice, not their choice. If successful in quitting, you may tend to think that this is not your problem anymore. This is a mistake. Smoking prohibitions are the beginning of the end!

At Home

Home is -- for now -- still the safest place for a smoker. Unfortunately, this is not an absolute: one-sided state-run propaganda now invades our homes through newspapers, radio and television ads designed to make you feel guilty and/or stupid, as well as attempting to instigate your own family against you by making them feel as if they are under attack by your poison. Here is what you can do to protect yourself:

• Before reading the newspaper, quickly browse though it, looking for anti-smoking ads. If the paper is particularly hot about the issue, buy another newspaper.
• If there is an anti-smoke ad on the tube, switch temporarily -- or permanently -- to another channel.
• If you hear an ad on the radio, change station.

In many cases smokers are forced to smoke outside their own house (often in temperatures of many degreases below zero) by the spouse. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. Try to have a designated area in the house where you can smoke, and explain to your spouse that secondhand smoke is not dangerous and -- at any rate -- it is your choice, and it should be respected as such. If this is not accepted, then one should begin to wonder if it's worth it...

Socially

• Do not socialize with militant anti-smokers. You will save yourself a lot of frustration, and anger.

• Do not participate in non-smoking parties, and kindly explain the reason(s). Be dry, short and to the point, and do not engage arguments or pissing contests.

• If you entertain nonsmoking guests who are not allowing you to smoke when you visit, make sure that you smoke when they visit you. Establish you territory, while sending a silent, clear signal that they have no effect on you. Don't feel guilty: when you visit, they are not very hospitable to YOU!

• If your nonsmoking guests allow you to smoke at their place, it is a good idea not to smoke (or smoke outside) when they visit you, to reward them for their kindness, and encourage them to keep being civilized!

• Carefully avoid visiting -- that is, bring your money to -- areas with smoking bans (see boycott). When possible, drive your vehicle instead of flying or taking the train. This will damage the carriers, while allowing you to smoke, and enjoy the panorama!

• If you fly internationally, tell your travel agency that you want a smoking route. It is important that you insist, since their natural tendency will be to tell you that "there are no smoking flights available anymore" -- it is the easy way out. THIS IS NOT TRUE. State propaganda wants you to think that the entire world is moving against smokers. This is another lie. Most foreign carriers have regular international smoking flights.

• If you are on a smoking flight, it is important that you fill a customer service card (available on all flights) praising them on their respect for your right, and telling them that you will continue to use their airline for as long as they will sustain their policy. If you are forced to take a nonsmoking flight, still it's important that you fill the customer service card, indicating your outrage for their disrespect of your right, saying that smoking flights can be arranged, and that you will boycott their airline at the earliest opportunity. If you want, mention the CRS Report, and Report No. DOT-P-15-89-5 prepared for the U.S. Dept. of Transport (see elsewhere in this site)

• If you own a business that is not subject to anti-smoking regulations, select and mark a smoking area with one of the "Smokers Welcome" signs available for download from our image bank (coming soon).

• If you own a business that is subject to anti-smoking regulations you are usually forced to prominently display a "No Smoking" sign ( so much for the freedom of owning your own business!). That's the (unfair) law (remember that at the next elections). However, there is no law that is forcing you to display a sign of apology to the clientele for being forced to display a "No Smoking" sign! (see our Image Databank).

• Before an election, take the time to ask the electoral office of the various candidates about their position on smoking. Ask them if they consider smoking a civil, or human right. Ask them if they support (or plan to support) a smoking ban. Do not expect a straight answer, for being a politician means the ability to never give you a straight answer. Look for clues. Do not vote for candidates babbling about "healthy environment", even if they belong to a party you may like. Those "healthy environment" statements usually mean the suppression of your rights in the name of health!