(Trial-)Debate #1 - Smoking law (pre-poll)

[Plep]

Hi!

Welcome to the very first (trial-)debate!

The topic for this debate will be:

No Smoking Law. It's now illegal to smoke inside any building in NY State including bars, resturants, sports clubs and arenas.

This poll will close in seven days, and then the debate will start! After the debate you are supposed to give your opinion again in the post-poll and then we can decide who the winner is!

As i said, this is a trial debate, so it's not 'official' yet, since we still need to sort a few things out.

Well what are you waiting for? tell us what you think!

[edit] This debate will be between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw

[edit2] Since we had some minor problems, the debate is now delayed for one week, so it will probably start around the 4th of April.
You also might have seen the polls in your common rooms. That will be the way that future debates will be arranged, there will only be polls in the houses that are not participating....so it won't be done with one poll in the debates section like this one...( sorry...my bad...)

[Nobby]

I personally think that it is a great idea!

I hate smoking, the smell etc! Its totally vile

I think its a great idea, why should people be forced to breathe in other people's cigarette fumes! it will cut down lung cancer from passive smoking as well. I know that there are designated areas in some places for smokes but you can still smell it etc.

I know smokers socialise when they go out but i think it is worth the unconvience to smokers. Other people's health for instance! Bad news for cigarette companies, but what the hell eh!

I know its bad news for smokers but consider other people who don't smoke. What a bonus it is! Whahoa!

I'm all for it!

[Alice I]

I have to say I am in favor of the law, even though I was very recently a smoker myself.
Yes I quit 2 months ago and am better for it.
When I was a smoker and I had to go outside for a smoke; it was inconvenient, but it also cut down on the amount that I smoked when I was out. Also I really hated the smell of it myself and preferred to be outside in the breeze.
People didn't stop going to bars when this law was put into effect. I can see that when I drive by various bars throughout the city with large groups of smokers standing outside.

Essentially we all have to live together and smoking really is a smelly and terribly unhealthy habit. Smokers should not complain about keeping it out of confined spaces and in close proximity of non-smokers; if for no other reason than common curtsey.
And yes I did feel this way when I was a smoker.

[Violet]

I'm not sure, i mean i think that it's fair enough to not want people who dont smoke to have to breathe in other peoples smoke. But it is the choice of the smoker whether they smoke or not, and its restricting their choice. Maybe having a whole other room or something for smoking, but not neccassarily banning it completely.

[Marcus Baker]

Errr...Im against the law, even though im not much of a smoker or anything, I just dont think it is fair to create such a drastic law. I mean, for people who want to have fun and who do smoke, Bars and sports clubs are the places to do so. And by creating this law, you are sort of making smoking illeagal, which isnt so. If people dont like the smell of it and who dont like it, there is always the non-smoking section. Well, this is just my opinion.

[Won Wheezy]

I agree with Marcus and Violet, although I have never touched one of those disgusting things in my life. It is a too drastic restriction, and this kind of law wouldn't be possible in Europe, cause people just wouldn't care - in Austria anyway. Unfortunately in my country there is still a big need for non-smoking areas in bars and clubs. I've not once been to a club that had such a place, they're all filled with smoke, and it makes your eyes sting after a minute, yuk!
But if every place had a room for smokers I would be quite happy.

[Female_alien]

It's obvious that nosmokers are for this and smokers are against this law. Since I hate the smell and cigarettes I thought to myself:This is great. But than again, it's not fair! I'm really not for this and not against this law. It's exaggerated. There should be special rooms for smokers and nonsmokers. I don't know
This is too drastic. But smokers shouldn't damage the health of people around them and the smell is terrible also.
I'll decide after the debate, which actually means I can't take a part in it, right?

[Nobby]

yeah but seperate rooms for smokers and non smokers is restricting. What if just one of your friends smoke? Problems!

[Female_alien]

One of us would sacrifice. And that would be necesaary with or without the law. Only with the low the sacrific would be healthier

[Plep]

I'll decide after the debate, which actually means I can't take a part in it, right?

I think you can take part in the debate! because it's about the way you debate, not about what you debate...so you can have the weirdest opinion in the world, as long as you defend your "assigned opinion" well you are a good debater...(hmmm i hope this is a bit clear )

Speaking of the debate, i totally forgot to say between who the first debate will be....uhmmm what do you say about Ravenclaw vs Gryffindor ????
(hold our horses hufflepuffers and slytherinners, there will be enough other debates )

This means though that both houses will have to make teams of 5 members (we can try this with 5 members first, after the debate we can decide to increase or decrease the number for the next debates).

OK last but not least, i think it's better to keep the "official debate topics" clean, so i suggest we make a special chat topic for the conversation that is going on here....is it possible to move the replies on this topic to a different topic and to "lock" this topic???

I know, i'm being annoying....but hey isn't that what moderating is all about???

[Won Wheezy]

ok, then *puts away the list with arguments*
I agree with F_A, and I think a lot of smokers would use the smoker's rooms for a quick smoking break and then go back again - cause a lot of them don't like smoke-filled rooms themselves! Only the really heavy smokers would stay there all the time.

[Krum]

OK, guys let's just keep our comments for ourselves-we might be sqeezing the arguments out the debaters or giving them new ideas.Let's keep it fair, shall we?
PS:my opinion about the law:
i think that the law is*censored*and i think that it should*censored*.Who's with me?

[fierce]

Yeah Krum I agree with you, since you're so diplomatic, and for the moment i am being diplomatic too, which basically means being a fence-sitter!

On Seaquest DSV once they had an episode with a smokers room, and all the smokers went in there and it was like an airtight room with glass so you could see in there and talk to the people on the other side. Interesting! And very drastic! I don't like smelling like cigarettes when i come home from clubs, but i also have friends who smoke, so they'd be in & out all the time.

Note that i am still sitting here on the fence

[Krum]

yeah, i'm diplomatic-after all(notice how i'm bragging)i'm a moderator .btw i have another idea for a debate after this one is over

EDIT(how cool-i can edit myself ):by Paul's idea, i think, we should make the polls in the common rooms of the houses that aren't debating

[Plep]

the debate is now delayed for one week to organise some things, also see the edited start post