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by Native_Floridian from Casselberry

Last Post 88 days, 3 hours Ago


So I'm REFUSED Employment or told I WILL NO LONGER have a job BECAUSE I SMOKE?   I think NOT, THIS IS BLATANT DISCRIMINATION! Despite what you NON-SMOKERS say, if I CAN NOT be refused a job because of the following circumstances listed below, then SMOKING DEFINITELY SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED as a way for employers or anyone to deny or fire someone from their job!

Here are the circumstances one can not be refused or fired from a job:

If I am gay and refused a job, DISCRIMINATION!

If I am black and refused a job, DISCRIMINATION!

If I am handicapped and refused a job, DISCRIMINATION!

If I am of any specific religious belief and refused a job, DISCRIMINATION!

And this is the one that BOTHERS ME the most, if I IMBIBE (Alcoholic beverages AFTER WORK on my OWN TIME) and refused a job, IT IS STILL DISCRIMINATION!


Yet, because I may smoke, I am REFUSED a job, is this NOT the same as any of the above?

Are these same companies that are REFUSING me or anyone else employment or if employed, telling me I have to QUIT SMOKING all together, are these same companies telling their employees the same holds true for ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES? That if they drink AFTER WORK that they WILL ALSO NO LONGER have a job as well? NO? , Why not?


Where are all the TV AD and DISCRIMINATION LAWYERS at now?  Why are they NOT fighting this on the smokers side?   Why is the Government so BRAIN-DEAD they are supporting this with all the EXHORBITANT TAX MONEY they make on Tobacco products?



Both the Lawyers and the Government fight the race card issue, these lawyers they all fight issues about some drug you or a family member has taken and gotten sick or injured, even died from, they fight and get off DRUNK DRIVERS even! But where are they at now?   Why are they neglecting the smokers and OUR CIVIL RIGHTS?

I can guarantee you the first IDIOT COMPANY that tells me they REFUSE to hire me because I smoke WILL have a lawsuit brought upon them, (you better be dang well prepared to PUT THIS IN WRITING TOO!)   As stated, this is BLATANT DISCRIMINATAION, plain and simple!  And last I checked ANY DISCRIMINATION PRACTICES ARE STILL AGAINST THE LAW!
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Native_Floridian read my blog view my photos
Aug 4, 2008 | 11:48 AM

And also, DO NOT EVEN think of testing me or anyone else for "tobacco products" when I or they take your drug test/screen for employment or even during employment! ILLEGAL DRUGS are one thing, but tobacco IS NOT ILLEGAL, therefore YOU, NOR ANY ENTITY/COMPANY or ORGANIZATION has any right to TEST ME or ANYONE for its USEage PERIOD! If you do, YOU ARE VIOLATING MY CIVIL RIGHT TO CHOOSE MY OWN PATH and as long as it IS NOT ILLEGAL, again, you have no dadgum business checking for it in my or anyone elses body!!!

So just keep on refusing people jobs or fire them because they smoke and I'll bet the FEDERAL COURTS WILL turn this against the very companies DISCRIMINATING AGAINST SMOKERS of TOBACCO products because, again, this IS NOT ILLEGAL, but DISCRIMINATING AGAINST ANYONE because they smoke DEFINITELY IS!

YBSRobin read my blog
Aug 4, 2008 | 12:39 PM

Instead of blatant discrimination, could it be now more employers are seeing 2nd hand smoke as a health hazard to those who don't smoke? We operate more than one family business, and we do not allow smoking in the office, nor are breaks allowed for "just smoking" either. In addition to lunch, there is one break in the am and one in the afternoon. We have provided an area for those who smoke to where the smoke does not affect the other employees, however many businesses do not have that luxury of extra space in which to do so. And we have had two smokers leave threatening lawsuits because we would not cater to their habit. So it is possible that the laws are starting to change not for the sole purpose of discrimination, but to protect the rights of everyone as a whole?

Native_Floridian read my blog view my photos
Aug 4, 2008 | 3:40 PM

Second Smoke STILL HAS YET TO BE PROVEN PERIOD! And if Second Hand smoke is so dang bad why are we also not BANNING ANY VEHICLE that outputs CARBON MONOXIDE? Hmmm, here we have a MORE DEADLY UNSEEN GAS that CAN KILL YOU in a matter of minutes, but that's okay, but the second hand smoke, which IS NOT going to be detrimental to anyone UNLESS it is an ON GOING, 7 day a week, 24 hours a day, then maybe it may harm you, but what little folks are exposed to "second hand smoke" is a LOT LESS DANGEROUS than vehicle emissions!

And I NEVER smoked EXCEPT on DESIGNATED BREAK TIMES, nor did I smoke around NON-SMOKERS unless they joined us smokers.


Sorry the LAWS can not change for LEGAL SUBSTANCES unless ALL are taken into it, but yet, alcohol consumption is okay and I've worked with many a lush that came to work like that, they can keep their job, but I can't because I smoke ONLY on MY TIME or COMPANY APPOINTED BREAKS or AFTER HOURS.

Sorry it IS DISCRIMINATION and it is BLATANT DISCRIMINATION.

People need to quit being so dang stupid about this and quit making IDIOT LAWS for UNINTELLIGENT folks that think they know what they are talking about and don't know anything about any real facts to back it up.

How did they test this second hand smoke theory, eh? Where is the proof to back it up? They isn't any, it's just like hearsay evidence, no FACTS to back it up at all!

YBSRobin read my blog
Aug 5, 2008 | 8:01 AM

For one thing, remember you are talking about a work place. No one is going to pull their car inside and leave it running now are they? Before you go off on disagreeing with "2nd Hand Smoke'," do some research, other wise it just makes you look like you're whining because you can't get your way. COPD is a factor that has been proven to be caused by smoking. And COPD, and continuing Bronchitis in younger people have been proven being caused by 2nd hand smoke while being exposed to it for over a period of time. When you have children growing up in a house to where parent's smoke, just think what 18 years of exposure will do. And the other thing is, cigarette smoke just plain stinks and makes a person smell rancid. You don't smell it because you're used to it! If you want to smoke on you're on time to where no one has to deal with it, then that's find. But people who don't smoke, don't want it forced on them!

YBSRobin read my blog
Aug 5, 2008 | 8:08 AM

BTW, I could send you to a couple of sites to do some research. But working in the medical field for 20+ years, before going into my own business, I have something better for you're whining, cigarette habit. Visit a children's cancer hospital and talk to the doctor's there. Visit a group home to where people are dying caused by cigarettes - those suffering with lung cancer. Visit a Pulmonologist / Respiratory office and see how many younger children and teenagers are being fitted with CPAP machines or have to be on medication because of their parent's selfish behavior of smoking! Then see who is discriminating who! But as most smokers do, you'll always have an excuse to make yourself look better while lighting up at the same time!

NOBSHERE read my blog
Aug 5, 2008 | 9:24 AM

LMAO ... Some are so tough behind a keyboard. Amusing though! Keep up the good work...

Native_Floridian read my blog view my photos
Aug 5, 2008 | 1:28 PM

Mother in law has COPD because she has been smoking for a very long time, my wife grew up in a house where both parents smoke, so then I'm guessing now if someone LIVES with a smoker they too WILL BE DENIED a job because they are around a substance that is PERFECTLY LEGAL?

Yes, companies have a right to keep folks from smoking INSIDE the building, but smoking is done OUTSIDE COMPANIES, but there is a PARKING LOT is there not where all the cars are and some folks do sit and run their cars to crank the AC on hot days if they eat their lunch in their car or take a nap on their lunch time, so your comment about running a vehicle INSIDE is totally pointless since we all know smoking can not be done inside, but if I am a smoker and smoking on my breaktime (I NEVER took extra breaks to smoke, some do, but I see NON SMOKERS ABUSE this too!) OUTSIDE AWAY from the building IS MY RIGHT and IS NOT THE RIGHT of ANY COMPANY/ENTITY/ORGANIZATION or PERSON to tell me that.

And since you bring up health problems, what about SCLOROSIS(sp?) of the liver by Alcoholics, but I don't see alcohol being banned, especially WHERE CHILDREN ARE PRESENT! This includes SPORTING EVENTS, FLEA MARKETS, HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS, etc. So why are we told NO SMOKING because it's a BAD EXAMPLE but it's still okay to ADVERTISE on TV and make it look so wonderful or see folks guzzling beer or other alcoholic beverages in front of children, but, wait, that's okay because it can't harm them? WHAT A LOAD OF MALARKY!!!! DRUNK DRIVERS KILL MORE PEOPLE DAILY than ANY TOBACCO PRODUCT WOULD in A YEAR!

I didn't

Native_Floridian read my blog view my photos
Aug 5, 2008 | 1:36 PM

YBSRObin stated: "you'll always have an excuse to make yourself look better while lighting up at the same time!"

That is the LAMEST thing I've read here, this IS BASICALLY ABOUT DISCRIMINATION, but apprently you are one of those too-self-righteous NON-SMOKERS to comprehend this.

I HAVE NEVER MADE an EXCUSE to light up, for your information KNOW-IT-ALL:

I DO NOT LIGHT UP if CHILDREN are NEAR or PRESENT AROUND ME

I ASK those around me if OUTSIDE and even IN MY OWN HOME, would you mind if I smoke, if they answer, they'd rather I didn't, I STEP OUTSIDE AWAY FROM THEM to smoke.

I DO NOT light up where a lot of folks are mingling, even OUTSIDE if no one is smoking, but if it's a group of smokers or even non-smokers with smokers, then, yes, I'd probably light a cigarette or cigar.

I also USE ORGANICALLY GROWN Tobacco and it DOES NOT have the TAR, CARCINOGENS and other added ingredients that COMMERCIAL cigarettes have in them and is why I make my own!

Too bad I can't say that for the Alocoholics out there that DRINK and then get behind the wheel of the vehicle, MANY TIMES with PASSENGERS or worse CHILDREN in the car!

But this blog was created NOT to hash out MEDICAL commentary, it was hashed out to show that this is STILL DISCRIMINATION, but as you have so eloquently shown, NON-SMOKERS do not seem to COMPREHEND this.

Native_Floridian read my blog view my photos
Aug 5, 2008 | 1:37 PM

NOBSHERE, meet me in person and you'll find out I'm, just as TOUGH off the keyboard as on it! And that IS NO BS!

Native_Floridian read my blog view my photos
Aug 5, 2008 | 1:47 PM

BTW: We need to BAN FOOD too then. BOTH my parents got cancer, NEITHER of them smoked, nor were they around it enough, where did they get there cancer from the FOODS we eat. So I guess we shouldn't eat, drink, drive or smoke ANYTHING. So let's all just curl up and die shall we? Good grief!

No matter what it is, IT MAY or COULD BE BAD for you, but that IS OUR CHOICE and our CIVIL RIGHT to make THAT CHOICE.

Noone should be telling us what we should or should not be doing as long as it is LEGAL!

UncleRob read my blog view my photos
Aug 5, 2008 | 8:33 PM

Nowhere is it written, not in any of our too-many laws, not the Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence ... nowhere is it written that anyone has the right to harm others by filling their air with carcinogenic smoke.

The dangers of second-hand smoke are not myths or rumors, rather facts gleaned from multiple studies.

Smokers have the right, in my opinion, to kill themselves, should they desire, by any means they choose. All we ex-smokers and non-smokers ask is that we be left out of those plans. I don't think that's an unreasonable request.

nati -- you are to be commended for being, apparently, the most considerate and courteous smoker who has ever lived. But the fact remains that you are poisoning the air the rest of us breathe.

I agree with you that cigarettes should be declared illegal. Good luck with that. You might as well try to outlaw stupidity.

smitty read my blog
Aug 6, 2008 | 12:09 AM

Let's just face it Native, there are just
too many self righteous, state hijacking,
skittish, coddled scaredy-cats trying
every day to change our little neck of the
woods down here and everywhere else the native people are nice and laid back. I missed
the days when everyone left everybody else
alone but, now the government has made
it legal to attack the "unsavory" behavior
of smoking. Naturally your going to have
your no-life bufoons jumping on the wagon
to cover their own shortcomings!

I agree with everything you
said and it's crap that I can be refused
a job for smoking on my own time. If people
don't like my smoke so much then why do they
all follow me around so they can tell
my boss I'm smoking. (true story, lost a job over it a few years back before it was even legal to discriminate against smokers). Jump off a bridge you whining little faggits!

There's plenty cubic feet of air to
go around...especially outdoors!

smitty read my blog
Aug 6, 2008 | 12:29 AM

BTW, if there is anything people should
be pi$$ed off at smoking about it's
the "inconsiderates" that throw their
butts all over the place...now THAT
DOES get me upset and they do ruin
it for us that DO CARE about others
rights to clean surroundings.

With that said, I would like to know
why the people that clog their arteries
every day with fast food refuse to
throw away their Wendy's, Checker's
and McD's bags and cups (you know, the crap I have to step on every time I get out of my car in most parking lots)in an appropriate trash receptacle? Maybe they should be next on the Job Nazi's list. Until they find solutions
to these problems, don't even dare bother
me about smoking a cig on MY OWN TIME!

Native_Floridian read my blog view my photos
Aug 7, 2008 | 10:25 AM

Smitty, I concur, I see TRASH ALL OVER the highways, I see smokers toss LIT cigarettes/butts out their windows onto the "GRASSY or DRY SIDES" of the road, which can start some nasty brush fires, that to me is DEFINITELY IDIOCY on these MORON SMOKERS parts. I paid a whopping $1 for a SELF-EXTINGUISHING ASHTRY for my vehicle and I USE IT, I also DUMP IT when it's full in a TRASH RECEPTACLE, not in the parking lot or side of the road or out my window, that too me just shows you up as a SLOVENLY DISRESPECTFUL BOOB that has no business smoking, eating or driving on our highways UNTIL they can CLEAN UP their act! I even carry a PERSONAL ASH TRAY in my pocket with me so if I smoke I have a place to put the butt and ashes from my smoke! And I know there are a couple others here that do this, Candy Aquino(sp?) is one and I commend her for trying to be as courteous and respectful with her smoking as I am.

But if we're going to ban smoking all together, then PROHIBITION NEEDS to BE PUT BACK IN PLACE as well. We should shut down ALL BARS and ANYWHERE ELSE Alcohiol is sold/served, we should do the same with all FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS because of the so-called health issues they proclaim and also the tobacco shops as well. So like said, let's all just curl up and die shall we? Hoo boy!

Native_Floridian read my blog view my photos
Aug 7, 2008 | 10:31 AM

BTW. The Federal Courts need to overturn their EMPLOYEES CAN TAKE GUNS to WORK as well as allow you to have them in your car. After all, there are some folks that ABUSE this as well, but you see that's okay too. A person with a gun can kill faster than second hand smoke, even faster than a drunk driver, so then why are we continuing to support and allow people to carry guns, eh? I feel that is EXTREMELY DETRIMENTAL to MY HEALTH too, but because you don't smoke it, that is supposed to be okay, oh wait, a gun smokes after it's fired, and I'm pretty damn sure GUNPOWDER is also a CARCINOGEN, so you gun toters better not shoot that gun at anyone 'cause it may also give them cancer from the smoke reside wafting around in the air. So yea, let's just take all the guns away too.

THINK ABOUT IT PEOPLE, you want what you want to have, but then you opt to TAKE AWAY from others, either way you look at it, IT IS ALL WRONG and NO ONE should be telling ANYONE what they should or should not be doing if it is LEGAL, Illegal substances are a different matter, but if it's considered LEGAL, it SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE and the folks that enjoy or use LEGAL PRODUCTS should also be LEFT to their own devices!

Native_Floridian read my blog view my photos
Aug 7, 2008 | 10:38 AM

Uncle Rob, tobacco is NOT the only thing poisioning the air, so to me that really is not a very valid complaint since a cigarette or cigar is a pittance compared to what factories and automobiles do to our "air" and even "water" supply!

We have a coal fired plant (OUC) in Orlando, this thing may have "filters in place", but it still generates POLLUTION at a high rate.

We have factories that use chemicals for cleaning their products (I know I've worked for many of them myself) and this TOXIC stuff gets pummped into our air AND our water supply.

I do agree with SOME smoking bans, like when in a restaurant where food is served, but I do not agree with it if it is OUTSIDE in OPEN SPACE, but I do agree that companies and retail stores should NOT put the darn ashtrys right in front of the store and doors, they should be at least 2500' or more away from any doors or windows that can be opened.

So I don't disagree with some of the bans, but I do disagree and find it DISCRIMINATION when it keeps me from getting a job and paying my own bills! This is where I have the BIGGEST issue with these smoking bans, in this case outside and keeping me from a job are EXCESSIVE and EXTREME and I do and will consider it DISCRIMINATION!

Native_Floridian read my blog view my photos
Aug 7, 2008 | 10:46 AM

And to the drinkers (Alcohol) out there, well apparently YOU DO NOT REALIZE HOW MUCH YOU STINK and REEK when you imbibe either, I sure don't like the smell of it and it gives me a bad headache when I do (smell alcohol when someone has been drinking to excess).

But the drunks that don't smoke have the gall to say we are poisoning their air, well what about those of us that dobn't imbine (I don't drink alcoholic beverages period!), I don't like smelling the alcohol on your breath or clothing either, you don't want to breathe my smoke, well NEITHER do I want to breathe YOUR alcohol fumes! So it's a TWO WAY STREET here folks. Can't have it BOTH ways!

Native_Floridian read my blog view my photos
Aug 7, 2008 | 11:47 AM

Here's ONE you folks HAVEN'T even THOUGHT ABOUT: WELFARE and UNEMPLOYMENT RATES RISING because of company REFUSAL to hire a smoker!

Now that companies CAN (seemingly) DISCRIMINATE against someone because they smoke, doesn't anyone see that this WILL ALSO INCREASE the UNEMPLOYMENT RATE?, Not to mention that these same idiot companies forcing this ban ARE and WILL BE CREATING POSSIBLE WELFARE CASES as well!

So now you folks tell me, would you rather keep the SMOKER EMPLOYED or would you idiots that want to maintain and FORCE people out of a job because they are a smoker, do you really want YOUR TAX MONEY to support these folks on WELFARE? Just remember, some of these idiotic bans CAN and WILL CAUSE EXCESSIVE UNEMPLOYMENT and this too, WILL AFFECT the UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, which is already at an all time high! Not to mention possible hardships on families!

Native_Floridian read my blog view my photos
Aug 7, 2008 | 11:48 AM

@nd part from above:


Even if I were a die-hard NON-SMOKER (and I was at one time), I would not want to have my tax money paying welfare checks to a person perfectly capable of working, but because they may be a smoker, have lost or been denied a job and NOW WE (all of us) will have to foot the bill to help them along.

No, I'm not trying to make this a NON_SMOKER vs SMOKER issue here, I am just trying to point out by imposing such IDIOTIC BANS as not being allowed to smoke on or off the job on breaks or our own time WILL CAUSE UNEMPLOYMENT and WELFARE CASES to RISE where these lunatic bans may be put into place!

So now THINK ABOUT that and WHERE SOME MORE of YOUR TAX MONEY may be going because of such lunacy.

Or has NO ONE even thought about this side of the coin and the repurcussion it can cause?

smitty read my blog
Aug 11, 2008 | 5:59 PM

Like I said Native, the fact is if the establishment says it's bad then the sheeple will naturally jump on anyone who partakes in it while blissfully ignorant to the fact
that they have some rather unsavory vices of their own . This can include fast food addiction, drinking, pills, hitting
their kids, wife, husband every night or
anything else that gets them off or helps
them feel BIG. They won't admit it but, it exists! I can guarantee you that up to
35% of the workplace are involved in taking
illegal prescriptions every day and the reason
I know is that people openly admit to it so
where's this ramdom drug testing??? They're
afraid to do it because they'd lose most of their workforce. Smoking is nothing compared to the problems a pill junkie can cause.

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Native_Floridian

True Native Floridian and of Southern Heritage and PROUD OF IT!Currently live in Casselberry, Florida with my wife and two cats, one of which is my avatar photo.I am also a "Paranormal Investigator" and do have a strong belief in ghosts, spirits, demons and things not explainable of this world. Despite what folks say, not everything does have a scientific explaination and I, believe it or not, am of a scientific mind myself, but I have seen and experienced things that absolutely have no scientific or logical explaination.I HATE BRAIN DEAD POLITICANS and BRAIN DEAD VOTERS that would put incorrect people into office beause of their gender or color, that IS NOT what makes or breaks a candidate.I believe it is actually time to throw our Government out with the trash! Why? Because all they do is they KEEP WORKING AGAINST US, because they sure ARE NOT WORKING WITH or FOR US!I dislike people that do not have enough sense to stay home to drink alcoholic beverages, but would rather drive drunk (sometimes with children in the vehicle!) and impaired on the roads than find a designated NON DRINKING DRIVER!I really dislike people (transplants) talking badly about my home state and it is something that will rile me up and may just have me say something you won't like, but if you insult where I grew up and was raised, EXPECT the same in kind. I try to be tolerant, but this is one area I HAVE NO TOLERANCE for transplants insulting the "Florida way of life", don't like it, keep your mouth shut and go home. I don't and have never went and visited any other states and bad-mouthed it, even if I didn't like it, I kept considerate of YOUR HOME while I visited, why can't you do the same when in Florida?

Member Since: 2/1/2007