Smokers have a place

By Jeremy Gatlin

Everyone has habits.  Some are good, some are bad and some are downright disgusting.

Smoking is one of those habits many people possess that I find repulsive. I realize everyone has the freedom to do what they want, so the point of this column isn’t to persuade you to stop smoking. The point is to make you cognizant of us non-smokers.

During my college career at Winthrop, there have been times I’ve been walking to class or lunch and have had the misfortune of getting behind someone smoking a cigarette.  On every occasion that these people exhale, I’m enveloped by the pungent odor of their cigarette smoke.

It was just last week that I was walking behind someone and their smoke and ash hit me in the face. 

I’m so glad you’re enjoying your cancer stick while I’m behind you trying to hold my breath.

I find people like that very discourteous and they agitate me to no end.  There are designated areas on campus where they can smoke. 

Why don’t they use those areas and stay out of mine and other people’s way?

Secondhand smoke contains 4,000 substances, more than 60 of which are known or suspected to cause cancer, according to cancer.org.  The Web site also states this type of smoke causes between 35,000 and 40,000 non-smoker deaths from heart disease every year, and 3,000 of those nonsmokers will die from lung cancer.

Do they really want to contribute to that?  I don’t think they do, so they should use the designated areas.