(Hooray, we’re imposing our values on others! Third from left, a newly svelte Diamond Dallas Page)
Kill-joys, health nuts and other proponents of the Nanny State (and I don’t mean the Fran Drescher star vehicle) are partying (quietly) this morning, as a ban on smoking in nightclubs, bars, etc. is due to take effect in Austin, TX this September.
Aside from the deadly impact this will surely have on venues I visit as often as once a year, I cannot help but wonder which other activities, currently thought to be socially acceptable, will soon be banned in public? Masturbation, projective vomiting, ritual cutting, intravenous drug use, all come to mind. Don’t laugh. Someday you might be saying “when they came for the smokers, I said nothing. When they came for the chronic masturbators, I said nothing. But when they came for me and the other projectile vomiters, there was no one left to speak.”
Don’t you mean nanny town. The rest of Texas must laugh at Austin all the time – that is when they aren’t climbing your clock towers with a scoped rifle.
the much feared loss of patronage in light of the indoor no-smoking laws in new york city were never realized. sorry i cannot cite a source, but a couple of recent articles in the local press (i am pretty sure the ny times was one) showed that no deadly impact on bars and live music clubs was experienced. smokers still patronize the clubs, and go outside to slowly kill themselves (and not make the rest of us cough and smell bad).
Jim,
let ’em laugh. And never mind the rest of Texas, if you’re looking to get shot by a sniper, the DC/Northern VA/MD area has a nice recent history in that dept.
Howard,
I’m confused. You’re saying that I should’ve voted “no” on the Smoking Ban, but “yes” on the “Doing Blow In The Bathroom” Ban?
I am blown away to learn that the closing of Coney Island High was in no way related to the lousy music or ugly patrons.
Give me a break. This won’t have a “deadly impact” on clubs and bars in town. They’re mostly in competition with each other and as long as they all play by the same rules, there’s no significant financial impact to them. And it is a lot more pleasant to go out since the smoking ban went into effect a couple years ago.
Anita,
I remain disappointed. If the Smoking Ban isn’t going to cripple bars and clubs I dislike, than what was the purpose in my voting for it?
Please don’t tell me that my taking 10 minutes out of my Saturday afternoon might make going out more pleasant for or anyone else. I don’t think I could live with that knowledge.