If you want an unpopular opinion: ban car exhaust in all public spaces. Watch people go from "second hand smoke kills!" to "are you fucking crazy?".
this post was submitted on 06 Jan 2026
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Unpopular Opinion
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You took it out of my mouth and I am not a smoker, well said yesman.
Oh for sure! It's a well known problem that's been subject to increasingly strict regulation (for good reason), and modern cars are a significantly less pollutant. Ending the addiction to fossil fuels would be a huge win, but also a much larger undertaking than preventing the effects of SHS.
You did exactly what he wrote. I also prefer banning cars over smoking
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It’s inevitable. US may be the last holdouts of buggy whip manufacturers but it really seems like a lot of the world is entering the steep part of the transition curve.
But most cars aren’t that bad of smell anymore. After a couple years driving an EV, it’s the noise of legacy cars that annoys me more. The thing is the most annoying car noises are probably from people who think buzzing and grinding sounds cool but have clearly never heard a true muscle car.
As an ex-smoker who hates the smell of cigarettes probably more than non-smokers ever will, I don't disagree in theory. But we shouldn't stop with just assaults to one sensory perception. In for a penny in for a pound as they say.
Loud-ass exhausts, booming subwoofers, and other assaults on the ears should also be banned in public. Strong colognes and perfumes...also banned in public.
Ugly sweaters, poor fashion choices, and shitty cars with anime girls painted on the side? You guessed it: They're assaults on the eyes and should be banned in public
Or we could just deal with the fact that other people like things we don't like.
Loud-ass exhausts, booming subwoofers...
These can indeed have negative health effects and are banned in many places, the latter at least after certain hours (noise complaints!). MOT inspection fails vehicles with excessively loud exhausts and in many places you can get a "rolling inspection" from a traffic officer on the road resulting in a fine or "fix-it" ticket.
Strong colognes and perfumes…also banned in public.
Don't have negative health effects on most people, though you can be asked to leave from many health care institutions if using too strong scents. Not really comparable to smoking but the argument could certainly be made.
Ugly sweaters, poor fashion choices, and shitty cars with anime girls painted on the side?
Only causes death by second-hand embarrassment. Maybe not excessively scantily clad anime girls at a... kindergarten? but apart from that only emotions will be hurt.
0 evidence for your bullshit. Perfume makes me feel sick. Call centerd ban perfumes for tbis reason. It is VERY comparable smoking. When I can smell peoples perfume as they drive past me, that is FAR worse than smoke.
Don't have negative health effects on most people, though you can be asked to leave from many health care institutions if using too strong scents. Not really comparable to smoking but the argument could certainly be made.
I had a coworker once that I swear to god used to bathe in perfume. You could smell her 2 minutes before she crossed your path and 5 minutes afterwards.
Had someone similar at my office, I had to ask her to stop at least spraying herself on the row because it was giving me and another headaches.
She did oblige to her credit
Smoking causes negative health effects for everyone - this is not the case for perfumes. As I said, the argument could certainly be made to ban strong perfumes, but it isn't the one I'm making. I definitely reject the case that Adm. Patrick made that public smoking should be allowed because strong perfumes are allowed.
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And smoking is already banned in buildings, within 15 feet of an entrance of buildings, on buses, in parks, etc.
Nobody hates the smell of cigarettes like true ex smokers. It simultaniously turns our stomachs and reminds us we will never ever feel truly relaxed or happy ever again.
Smells like rancid cat piss to me now, but man did I love my American Spirits.
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Yes, end with "protect the children!".
I've heard that smoking anything is actually just fentanyl and socialism combined into terrorism.
A small minority of some smokers are the only ones who find that unpopular. It smells like shit and makes me cough immediately. I’m an ex smoker too and can say I’m an asshole for ever subjecting others to cig smoke
That's not an unpopular opinion, that's just common sense.
I was a smoker for years and what made me quit was when I really grasped how much it makes you reek.
I have staff who take smoke breaks and god lord you can smell that nasty shit the moment they walk back on the floor.
it isn’t practical to ban smoking in public places but all Campus work sites should have designated smoking areas.
I smoked for probably 20 years and I completely agree. Yall smokers stink! You can still smoke in bars in my state and you can smell that stank from the parking lot.
I don't think this is that unpopular, other than with smokers/ vapers. In the UK smoking is already banned everywhere indoors at least.
I think they want outdoors as well. Though that is assuming based mostly on how normal indoor smoking being banned already is.
Yes. Restaurants, bus stops, train stations, public parks etc.
I think it pretty much is?
Unless this is one of those "America is Default" posts 💁♂️
Strange comment. I don’t know of a single country that outright bans smoking in all public spaces. America or otherwise.
I think they mean outdoor places, too. I don't recall that being common. I assume they'd also be against designated smoking areas, since that doesn't fix all secondhand smoke to leave them around.
Then everyone needs to support those who smoke not being allowed to be told they can't smoke in their home. Fucking landlord parasites and their bullshit overreach into what someone is allowed to do where they live.
As someone who grew up with 3 smokers until I moved out on my own I had no idea how bad I smelled to the people around me. It gets in EVERYTHING and the worst part is when you grow up in it you have NO IDEA until you get away from it long enough for your sense of smell to notice it. I was shocked. It took about 6 months.
Was playing MTG with my brothers one day and couldn't figure out why my eyes were red and what the smell was.... Then all the comments from people my whole life hit life came back and ran through my head. I was amazed then so so so fucking angry at the adults that raised me for it.
I do smoke marijuana since it was legalized here but after my upbringing I'm very self aware of my vice's problems and make sure I'm not a nuisance.
But I will contend that I hate the smell of tobacco as much or more than ex amokers
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