New neighbor smokes, how to best deal w/ this selfish pr!ck?

[PeterB]

Cell phone jammers are illegal in this country... unfortunately. I'd like to see the law change on this one.

Pam has a point... if that approach doesn't work, you always have more in your arsenal.

[OWC Jamie]

You smell the smoke when he's actually smoking ?
Or just when you know he's out there.
(You'd be surprised how many people start gagging when they see someone smoking and the wind is blowing the other way.)
The reason I ask, is your post starts off extremely confrontational, which will get you nowhere.
He's going to smoke. Sad, his choice.
If there's a renting rule that prohibits smoking on the property rather than in the building, then by all means go for it. That rule is there for the tenents comfort. If the rule only covers i n the building, then anylize where his habit would impact you all the least and ask him to smoke there.
Some people will respond nicely to your concerns about your health and air quality.
Some will see you as an adversary that is a selfish pr&*% that only cares about themselves.
I usually extend a wish that someone not smoke for their health reasons, rather then mine.
Caring (or at least the illusion) goes a lot further than confrontation.

[Grateful11]

It is amazing how bad cigarette smoke smells and how far it will carry. I've been
30-40ft. from the road in front of my house and a car will go by doing 45-55mph
and I'm actually able to smell the smoke. The prevailing winds usually come from
that direction. I grew up with a Dad that smoked and despised it then and I still do.
I don't think people that smoke really know how bad the stuff smells until they
quit. I know at least 3 people at work that used to smoke and now they can't stand
to be around it. We have about 150 people where I work and we're down to less
than 20 that still smoke.

Definitely don't go too far by taking matters into your own hands. Let the landlord
handle if possible.

[incognegro]

Grateful11 is right. it's an acrid, horrible smell.

i was driving the other day and smelled the harsh odor, looked around, and saw someone in a vehicle across an intersection who was smoking. nobody near me had a butt in their mouth.

i lived with a smoker for a while; i could always tell when he first lit up, it was the nastiest at the beginning (Marlboro reds).

[RAMd®d]

(You'd be surprised how many people start gagging when they see someone smoking and the wind is blowing the other way.)

You'd be surprised by how many people (non-smokers especially) can smell that smoke from great distances, or from cars on the street with their windows down.

You might not be surprised at how many people write that "ability" off as psychosematic. You might not be surprised at how many people believe that by people are faking the gaggin, and don't realize that the wind can and has changed directions.


...your post starts off extremely confrontational...

Who is he confronting, by way of this post?


Some will see you as an adversary that is a selfish pr&*% that only cares about themselves.

True. Those would probably be smoker sympathizers.


I usually extend a wish that someone not smoke for their health reasons, rather then mine.

I don't waste time with that tactic. It only works on those who would have likely honored the requests of Buzz's neighbors in the first place. More likely is one to get the response "It's my health, I'll do the worryin' around here, Babalooie!"

I don't care if the smoker wants to seal him or herself in a giant ZipLock bag. No problem. But I have no problem being a selfish prick where my health is concerned. I don't need somebody risking it for me.

The same feeling would apply if this neighbor were playing music too loud, parking where he shouldn't, etc. Complainers could be call SPs by sympathizers. So what.

Several neighbors have already asked him to refrain, and when asked, he simply walks a building, or two, away for the time being. Given the hot weather lately, everybody has their windows open, and when new guy insists on sticking close to the buildings to smoke (and talk), it is very annoying. He has sufficiently proven his selfishness in the short time he has been here; how do we get him to be more considerate, after he's already been asked dozens of times?


It seems that the SP has been "confronted" already, to little or no avail. At this point, I would not presume him to be a decent guy or that any "caring" would improve Buzz's situation.

Reading the lease and contacting the property management seems to be the only and best recourse at this point.

[OWC Jamie]

Don't do the adhesive labael thing, you could end up paying to paint his car plus damages. You're not going to teach him anything.

[bfd]

[quote PeterB]Cell phone jammers are illegal in this country... unfortunately. I'd like to see the law change on this one.
Cell phone jammers aren't illegal. Using a cell-phone jammer is, and the FCC fine is something like $11,000.

There is no evidence that FCC has ever caught or fined anyone for the use of a cell-phone jammer.

YMMV

[Grateful11]

>I don't care if the smoker wants to seal him or herself in a giant ZipLock bag.

They would never do that because they would have to breath second hand smoke.
That's why they always ride around with the window down, that and they think
other people won't smell it on them if they keep the window cracked. Nothing
grosses me out more than to see a really nice or classy looking woman smoking,
huge turn-off for me!

OT: Ever see some 70 yo woman driving, talking and smoking
at the same time and the cigarette is just bouncing up down
like crazy? I laugh everytime I see it.

We were at a county fair many years ago and we were near the kiddie rides
with my kids and nephew, there was a set of race cars that went around in a
circle real slow. About that time I happen to be looking directly at this ol'
woman that had one of those extra longs in her mouth and she looks at her
daughter and says, "Put him in the Dale Earnhart Car!" My wife and I both about
cracked up. That cigarette was bobbing like a conductors baton to every word
she said. I think I'll remember that moment until I die.

BTW: There was already two kids in that car but they crammed him in there anyway, it was made for two.

[OWC Jamie]

FCC doesn't have the man-power to enforce it.
Listening to cell phone conversations isn't illegal either. Neither is possession of a receiver to listen in.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(You'd be surprised how many people start gagging when they see someone smoking and the wind is blowing the other way.)

You'd be surprised by how many people (non-smokers especially) can smell that smoke from great distances, or from cars on the street with their windows down.
>>{b] I'm one of them, no surprise there.{/b]
You might not be surprised at how many people write that "ability" off as psychosematic. You might not be surprised at how many people believe that by people are faking the gaggin, and don't realize that the wind can and has changed directions.
My own Mom is one of many of those people who start gagging and having reactions to just the sight of someone smoking. EVEN SOMEONE ON TV. If cigarette smoke bothered me as much as it did her, I might even react the same way.

...your post starts off extremely confrontational...

Who is he confronting, by way of this post?
the new neighbor he's all ready decided is a selfish pr!ck. You didn't read the subject line ? He then goes on to claim he's all ready confronted the neighbor with his concerns.


Some will see you as an adversary that is a selfish pr&*% that only cares about themselves.

True. Those would probably be smoker sympathizers.
empathizers, it gets you a lot further in life


I usually extend a wish that someone not smoke for their health reasons, rather then mine.

I don't waste time with that tactic. It only works on those who would have likely honored the requests of Buzz's neighbors in the first place. More likely is one to get the response "It's my health, I'll do the worryin' around here, Babalooie!"

I don't care if the smoker wants to seal him or herself in a giant ZipLock bag. No problem. But I have no problem being a selfish prick where my health is concerned. I don't need somebody risking it for me.

The same feeling would apply if this neighbor were playing music too loud, parking where he shouldn't, etc. Complainers could be call SPs by sympathizers. So what.

Several neighbors have already asked him to refrain, and when asked, he simply walks a building, or two, away for the time being. Given the hot weather lately, everybody has their windows open, and when new guy insists on sticking close to the buildings to smoke (and talk), it is very annoying. He has sufficiently proven his selfishness in the short time he has been here; how do we get him to be more considerate, after he's already been asked dozens of times?


It seems that the SP has been "confronted" already, to little or
it seems you've found the answer to an earlier question
no avail. At this point, I would not presume him to be a decent guy or that any "caring" would improve Buzz's situation.

Reading the lease and contacting the property management seems to be the only and best recourse at this point.


Doctors try "tough love" including refusing care and treatment to those that smoke. It doesn't work.
So do Dentists.
Parents try it with kids , it rarely works. They sure do think they've fooled you into thinking it has though.

Pam's method works. It takes a LOT more effort and patience. Deep grasp of what compassion is and its value.
When you get phone calls 15 years later from an ex-employee who's finally quit successfully, and the phone call is only to tell you they've quit and stayed quit for the last 6 months , nothing else, I take the 4 or 5 minutes for the pat on the back they've called for.

[PeterB]

[quote bfd]
There is no evidence that FCC has ever caught or fined anyone for the use of a cell-phone jammer.

YMMV
True, but do you want to be the first one to get a fine?

(Keep in mind: I am ALL in favor of jammers, and I happen to think the law is wrong on this one and needs to be changed. I'm just making the point that if you get caught using one, the consequences can be severe.)