More people ejected from SFGAm for smoking.

Wow, this park is really cracking down and now they claim they have a zero tolerance policy in effect.

Click here.

As a smoker, I don't have a problem with it.

It's not too hard to find one of the smoking areas. (10 in the case of SFGAm)

F'n smokers! :)

It's a rule, they broke it, they were ejected.

Maybe they should've just spent the money for admission on Lotto tickets instead.

Imagine an apology letter:

We're sorry you broke our rules and got tossed.
Have a nice day!

^Agreed as I am a smoker too.

You have to be deaf and blind to not know this park has a no-smoking policy. *** Edited 10/17/2007 6:19:35 PM UTC by Chitown***

Wow. I heard a girl at King's Dominion the other night say in the queue for one of the haunts "Eew, a smoker," referring to another teenager who was smoking. It really surprised me being that we were a) near Richmond and b) plenty of kids her age smoke

As more and more parks implement these kind of areas (and all four did on my midwest trip--KW, GL, CP, and KI), I think you find fewer and fewer excuses for anyone who claims "They didn't know."

I honestly don't know what a practical solution would be that doesn't involve ejection. Maybe putting one of those blacklight stamps on first-time offenders, and if you're caught again they see the stamp and then your kicked out? That way, the person wouldn't feel like they're being prosecuted.

Smoking is a touchy topic for many! I can't be around it, I get massive headaches and in turn that puts me in a pretty foul mood.

Funny that nicotine is #1 on most addictive list. Heroin is #4. Granted, you can function on nicotine, the facts are still there. But I think people should do what they want... but I tell you, ciggarette smoke is the most annoying of just about anything you can smoke (other than being equal as bad to cigars...) I mean the illegal stuff you can smoke pales in comparison...

It's like the society is becoming very controlling, but at the same time the whole 'smoking ain't cool' thing I find very progressive... *** Edited 10/17/2007 7:02:21 PM UTC by J7G3*** *** Edited 10/17/2007 7:16:32 PM UTC by J7G3***

Society is killing Jews?

You should really understand what that word means before you start tossing it out there.

I think the complete cultural change reagarding smoking is pretty interesting.

I grew up in a time and place when smoking was a completely accepted thing. I remember when a teenager could easily buy a pack of cigarettes, I remember my dad smoking in department stores, I remember ashtrays inside the mall.

Perhaps that's why I have such adversion to the current anti-smoking trend? (and for the record I didn't start smoking until I was 24)

What seems most interesting to me is the way it's moved from a socially acceptable drug (like alcohol, caffeine, aspirin or whatever) to a socially unacceptable drug (cocaine, heroin, marijuana, etc) - smoking are being forced into corners and private places to feed their habits not unlike users of the other socially unacceptable drugs while bars, coffee houses and extensive pharmacutical aisles (and commericals) continue offering more socially acceptable forms of addiction.

Not meant to be a commentary on right or wrong by any means, more of an observation on a major social shift in thinking. (although I often wonder why prohibition failed so miserably, but this modern phasing out of smoking seems so widely accepted :) )

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Jeff said:
Society is killing Jews?

You should really understand what that word means before you start tossing it out there.

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yowza! yes sir! your right :) I'm just not a very political person, don't mean to offend anyone. Fixed :)

I agree with you Gonch. I'm a recovering alcoholic/drug addict. Booze is nearly forced on me in some places. It's everywhere. And I think booze causes more problems and death than any other drug (cept maybe nicotine?). Hell, I can handle the 'hard' stuff (but don't go near anything anymore) but booze - I go crazy and wind up in the hospital or nearly dead.

Funny, the controlling society. Money controls it too, it seems.

And if any of the above has offended anyone, I didn't mean to, big bear hugs.

So... how bout that new woodie in St. Louis?

*** Edited 10/17/2007 7:21:16 PM UTC by J7G3*** *** Edited 10/17/2007 7:23:09 PM UTC by J7G3***

More and more places are going smoke free. Personally and (nothing against you smokers out there), I think it's a good idea.

Then again, some places can take it too far, like places in Cali, that ban smoking in your own home.

I watched two different people getting escorted out of Six Flags Great America for smoking last weekend. But I also noticed several other people smoking while waiting in line. They give you list of rules when you pay to park, and it does state that you will be ejected if you break them.

If only Cedar Point would do this.....

EDIT: Well at least enforce it, but not kick people out right away, maybe a warning... *** Edited 10/17/2007 8:41:23 PM UTC by Parker17***

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Parker17 said:
If only Cedar Point would do this.....

EDIT: Well at least enforce it, but not kick people out right away, maybe a warning... *** Edited 10/17/2007 8:41:23 PM UTC by Parker17***

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Kick 'em out. My two visits this fall to CP have been filled with smokers everywhere. I could smell cigarette smoke the entire day. At night you see one glowing butt after another down the midway.

^Hell, I'm a smoker and I agree with you.

Kick 'em out! They got the warning when they entered the park.

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Lord Gonchar said:
smoking [sic] are being forced into corners and private places to feed their habits not unlike users of the other socially unacceptable drugs while bars, coffee houses and extensive pharmacutical aisles (and commericals) continue offering more socially acceptable forms of addiction.

Not meant to be a commentary on right or wrong by any means, more of an observation on a major social shift in thinking. (although I often wonder why prohibition failed so miserably, but this modern phasing out of smoking seems so widely accepted :) )

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I've brought this up before, but there was a couple behnd the bathroom near Raptor smoking (in a smoking area) and she said "They hide us like they're embarassed of us."

As to why prohibition failed miserably, but smoking is being phased out rather quickly, here's my theories:

1) If someone is just drinking, you don't home smelling like their drink and need an immediate change of clothes and a shower

2) Alcohol doesn't stain your walls and other items unless you spill it on the wall or carpet. At one of my first jobs as a typesetter, we kept the lights off so it was easier on the eyes. In the days leading up to move to another facility, we had to turn on the lights and there was yellowing of the walls, the keyboards, the monitors etc. It was really gross.

3) Smoke drifts, alcohol doesn't. If I go to a small indoor concert/dance club where a lot of people are smoking, even if I move it's gets really hard to breathe.

4) Fires. How many more people have to be displaced out of their homes/apartments or die in their homes/apartments because someone fell asleep, or was careless at putting out their cigarette?

Is alcohol just as dangerous when some is careless? Just look at DUI or DWI figures or fights that get started, people making bad choices such as drinking themselves to blacking out, alcohol poisoning etc .

5) Cancer. A lot of people die from lung cancer. It may not be a now thing, but it does catch up to many people eventually. Now I will add this, I think alcohol catches up to people much quicker if abused on a regular basis.

I recently met up with one of my bandmates from eleven years ago who is an alcoholic, and he's definitely not as mentally sharp as he once was. It was really sad.

6) Litter. Look at the side of most turning lanes, and it's completely disgusting how many people don't dispose of cigarettes correctly.

7) Alcohol in a social setting is seen as more acceptable and can be promoted in t.v. ads, whereas cigarettes get the shaft except for certain magazines.

8) Alcohol helps some people lose their inhibitions, whereas, cigarettes do not i.e. see your typical college campus or even high-school.

9) Alcoholism is much easier for people to hide than cigarette addiction.

10 Most people can have one or two drinks, but there are some people who cannot stop lighting-up one after another no matter how hard they try. I've seen chain-smokers in action and it's incredibly sad.

That's all I could think of for now LG. Have away at me!

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Intamin Fan said:

I recently met up with one of my bandmates from eleven years ago who is an alcoholic, and he's definitely not as mentally sharp as he once was. It was really sad.

9) Alcoholism is much easier for people to hide than cigarette addiction.

That's all I could think of for now LG. Have away at me!

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Hmmm... well sobering up really helps some of us sharpen up our mental skills. And if an addict (like myself) finally have a chance to 'mature' for all those years i was drunk and high.

Although I am sure I have some amount of brain damage, I'm much better than I was when I was drinking, and getting better all the time.

Did you friend make amends to you? Working some sort of program does wonders for most addicts.

about 9) - thats debatable! Depends on how bad the disease has progressed in the individual.

People hide it well on here ;)

One of Great America's smoking zones is to the right of Triple Play - a family ride. Every revolution, I went through that whole 'very noticeable' zone of smoke drifting over to the ride.. uck!

I have an inkling (and may be way off) that alot of these people are putting up some sort of fit when told they are not to be smoking where they are - hence getting booted. The second chance thing would be nice, but who knows whats really going on.

*** Edited 10/17/2007 9:53:23 PM UTC by J7G3***

The problem with smoking everywhere is that a person can't smoke without interfering with another person. That's why people are so against smoking. If someone wants to drink and walk home, they are just doing it to themselves, and not interfering with other people.

I believe that this no-smoking policy outside of lines, restaurants, or bathrooms is garbage, and if people want to smoke, others can just go somewhere else. Smokers shouldn't need to have desiginated areas to smoke. They should smoke like they did before. They just need to enforce the people in line. That's the only problem because you can't move away from a person in line. They are in front of you, or in back of you.

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Spinout said:

I believe that this no-smoking policy outside of lines, restaurants, or bathrooms is garbage, and if people want to smoke, others can just go somewhere else. Smokers shouldn't need to have desiginated areas to smoke. They should smoke like they did before. They just need to enforce the people in line. That's the only problem because you can't move away from a person in line. They are in front of you, or in back of you.

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hmmm.. Go to Europe! Funny how smokers complain so much about my farts...

I tried shooting up in a room full of smokers once and they really got upset. I mean, who's never gotten a shot at the doctors before? At least it didn't make them stink and and give them a headache.

(I'm being sarcastic folks; they were just mad cuz I wouldn't share my needle ;)

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Spinout said:

I believe that this no-smoking policy outside of lines, restaurants, or bathrooms is garbage, and if people want to smoke, others can just go somewhere else. Smokers shouldn't need to have desiginated areas to smoke. They should smoke like they did before. They just need to enforce the people in line. That's the only problem because you can't move away from a person in line. They are in front of you, or in back of you.

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It may seem that lines are the only problem because you can't move away from it, but not all midways in theme parks are that wide. And sometimes with the crowds its very hard to avoid things. How many times have you been stuck behind that slow person that you just want to get around? I'm always stuck behind that slow person. Now If that slow person I'm stuck behind is smoking I can't avoid that cloud of smoke that I'm walking into. Walking in the midway can be just as bad as sitting in line with someone.

Also if I am not smoking and someone near me is, why should I have to re-route my path to avoid them as you say I should?

As I have said before I support the kick out policy as it would be very difficult to start a strike system. In the end when all is said and done smoking out of a designated area is braking a park rule, the result is ejection. If you don't show that you are serious about your rules, your rules are not going to be taken seriously (ie cedar point, or the old Six Flags). I think all this "bad press" about people being kicked out is showing how much Six Flags is taking back the parks.

Think about it in terms of a guest complaint...

If I am a person breaking the smoking rule and get kicked out then I go to complain about this, it doesn't mean much. I can state my story and why I am aggravated, but in my story I will have to say I broke this policy. And really I can't get an apology from the park for doing that.

If I am a guest who notices a smoker that is out of a smoking area, maybe I am even bothered by their smoke and tell someone, and that employee just talks to them and gives them a warning I am going to go complain. This time I will say hey this person was breaking a rule, it affected me and seemingly nothing was done. What can the park say then? When the guests feel they are being hurt by a rule being broken and it seems nothing is done (which is what a warning is) the park is in the wrong.

As a park you would rather have a complaint from a guest who broke the rules, then a complaint from a guest who followed them.

I applaud Six Flags for enforcing their policies. It actually gives them credibility which I can't say about Cedar Fair for the same policy. I just wish CF would step up and eject people for policy violations too.