Not Smoking at TAMX

phyz

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phyz
Joined
Jan 20, 2004
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There seems to be a sentiment echoing through some TAM threads: a desire for a non-smoking hangout during the off-hours. Most of us seem keen to socialize, but find it difficult to endure the punishment of second-hand smoke. We need a smoke-free Del Mar.

Ideally, the good people of Vegas will choose to join the rest of the modern, civilized world by going Smoke Free. (I think we all understand this is a workplace conditions issue, not a nanny-state issue.)

Barring that, the non-smokers among us might hope to arrange or by brute force take over The Grandview Bar, leaving the smokers to puff away at the Del Mar.

It's a thought, and we have time to think it through.
 
For Tam X, I'm planning to be where my friends are. Some of them smoke, and I understand that quitting can be a tough task. Since I dislike the thought of segregating myself from them far more than I dislike cigarette smoke, I'm not inclined to make them choose between being social and uncomfortably fighting off a smoking habit.

My guess is the Grandview Bar also allows smoking. I didn't check, but I think everywhere on the casino floor outside the restaurants probably allows smoking.
 
I'm wondering if we can set up a voluntary smoker's zone at the Del Mar. Technically, we can not force people not to smoke in the lounge. But, we can ask really nicely for smokers to stay in one corner, while they are smoking, out of respect for those of us who can't stand the lousy smoke.

I do not think that moving the non-smokers to a different bar area is desirable for most folks. Especially since the Grandview might also allow smoking, any way.

But, keep in mind: We are not segregating the smoking people, only their smoke. There are other possible solutions, though most of them are impractical:
* Enforce use of smoke-free electronic cigarette things, such as e-cigs
* Wrap some sort of barrier around the smokers while they are smoking, which might look ridiculous
* Large fans can be set up to blow smoke away from non-smokers
* Etc.

Setting up a voluntarily enforced smoker's section, although still kinda mean, might be the best option, as far as I can see.
 
Wowbagger said:
I'm wondering if we can set up a voluntary smoker's zone at the Del Mar. Technically, we can not force people not to smoke in the lounge. But, we can ask really nicely for smokers to stay in one corner, while they are smoking, out of respect for those of us who can't stand the lousy smoke.

I do not think that moving the non-smokers to a different bar area is desirable for most folks. Especially since the Grandview might also allow smoking, any way.

But, keep in mind: We are not segregating the smoking people, only their smoke. There are other possible solutions, though most of them are impractical:
* Enforce use of smoke-free electronic cigarette things, such as e-cigs
* Wrap some sort of barrier around the smokers while they are smoking, which might look ridiculous
* Large fans can be set up to blow smoke away from non-smokers
* Etc.

Setting up a voluntarily enforced smoker's section, although still kinda mean, might be the best option, as far as I can see.
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I've told people in the past they can't sit at my table if they smoke.

Plus, how do you plan on keeping the smoke from travelling? One girl was smoking a particularly noxious smelling brand, and she was 10-12 feet away from me.
 
Phlebas said:
For Tam X, I'm planning to be where my friends are. Some of them smoke, and I understand that quitting can be a tough task. Since I dislike the thought of segregating myself from them far more than I dislike cigarette smoke, I'm not inclined to make them choose between being social and uncomfortably fighting off a smoking habit.
Click to expand...

My take on it as well.
 
I'm surprised this was an issue. Most modern bars, especially in Vegas, have very good air handling systems that seem to whisk away any smoke that isn't at your table or the net table over. Usually, just asking that your party doesn't smoke is enough to give you a reasonably smoke free environment.
 
I certainly don't want to infringe on anyone's right to smoke. I am just unlikely to make friends with anyone who smokes because I can't stay in their presence while they are smoking. :(

I don't know whether the air handling system at South Point is sub-par, but I had a hard time just being on the casino floor. Being adjacent to someone who was smoking pushed it over the top from uncomfortable to intolerable. I admit that I am probably more sensitive than most, but there's nothing I can do to change that short of wearing a surgical mask, and that would also make socializing difficult. ;)

I find myself weighing this in the balance of choosing Dragon*Con over TAM in the future.

Felicity
 
Just go to the next TAM London (if there is one). Then everywhere except just outside the front door is non-smoking.
 
Dr. Keith said:
I'm surprised this was an issue. Most modern bars, especially in Vegas, have very good air handling systems that seem to whisk away any smoke that isn't at your table or the net table over. Usually, just asking that your party doesn't smoke is enough to give you a reasonably smoke free environment.
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This. Cigarrette smoke was not an issue for me at all.

On the other hand, AC currents permanently striking my skin was an issue for me. Next year I'll take a light jacket to TAM.
 
Dr. Keith said:
I'm surprised this was an issue. Most modern bars, especially in Vegas, have very good air handling systems that seem to whisk away any smoke that isn't at your table or the net table over. Usually, just asking that your party doesn't smoke is enough to give you a reasonably smoke free environment.
Click to expand...

I don't know if there were more people smoking, or the AC was not working as well this year, but last year I noticed the smoke, but wasn't bothered by it. This year it seemed worse and I left the bar one evening as my eyes were beginning to smart. That said, I don't know that excluding other TAMmers is the way to solve the problem.
 
Normally smoke would be a problem for me, but I can put up with it for a week at TAM. It really only bothered me enough to get up and move to a different area once.... I think it may be because the whole casino smells like cigarettes anyway, so it didn't bother me much when someone was actually smoking.
 
Phlebas said:
For Tam X, I'm planning to be where my friends are. ... I dislike the thought of segregating myself ...
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For TAMX, I want my friends to be with me. Most don't smoke. And they've already segregated themselves by not coming to the Del Mar beyond a quick face-show on Wednesday night. They've been driven out by the toxicity of the smoke. Maybe they shouldn't be so sensitive; maybe the South Point HVAC should do a better job. Interesting, but academic.

We have already allowed the smoke to scatter us. I'm hoping we clever skeptics can devise a plan to bring us back together. SmokeFreeVegas is one solution but I'm not, uhm, holding my breath for that. I'm looking for a Plan B. Just brainstorming at this point.

As it stands, the Del Mar is for smokers and the hearty souls willing to endure the smoke (I'm one). My concern is that the population of hearty souls is decreasing and that the sensitive non-smokers have no viable option. If that's the way the collective likes it, no action is required.
 
phyz said:
For TAMX, I want my friends to be with me. Most don't smoke. And they've already segregated themselves by not coming to the Del Mar beyond a quick face-show on Wednesday night. They've been driven out by the toxicity of the smoke. Maybe they shouldn't be so sensitive; maybe the South Point HVAC should do a better job. Interesting, but academic.

We have already allowed the smoke to scatter us. I'm hoping we clever skeptics can devise a plan to bring us back together. SmokeFreeVegas is one solution but I'm not, uhm, holding my breath for that. I'm looking for a Plan B. Just brainstorming at this point.

As it stands, the Del Mar is for smokers and the hearty souls willing to endure the smoke (I'm one). My concern is that the population of hearty souls is decreasing and that the sensitive non-smokers have no viable option. If that's the way the collective likes it, no action is required.
Click to expand...

Agreed.

I know of one particularly attractive young lady who left Friday night because of the smoke. For me, this is a bad thing. :mad:
 
phyz said:
For TAMX, I want my friends to be with me. Most don't smoke. And they've already segregated themselves by not coming to the Del Mar beyond a quick face-show on Wednesday night. They've been driven out by the toxicity of the smoke. Maybe they shouldn't be so sensitive; maybe the South Point HVAC should do a better job. Interesting, but academic.

We have already allowed the smoke to scatter us. I'm hoping we clever skeptics can devise a plan to bring us back together. SmokeFreeVegas is one solution but I'm not, uhm, holding my breath for that. I'm looking for a Plan B. Just brainstorming at this point.

As it stands, the Del Mar is for smokers and the hearty souls willing to endure the smoke (I'm one). My concern is that the population of hearty souls is decreasing and that the sensitive non-smokers have no viable option. If that's the way the collective likes it, no action is required.
Click to expand...

I understand. And I agree that finding a compromise is the best solution. Perhaps the other bar (which looks bigger and more open anyway) would be a better place. If the smoke would just dissipate towards a high ceiling, the Grandview might be no worse than the casino in general.

But I think splitting the group into two bars and assigning the smokers to one is no answer, and doomed to fail anyway. And Wowbagger's suggestion of having some sort of wind sock and deploying a phalanx of fans is overly complex, not to mention a logistical nightmare. (Which is probably why there's no table for it yet...)

It really may be as simple as asking the smokers to step to the edge of the space when they need to light up. Those of us with them at the time can wander over with them.

What do the smokers do during the day when the TAM programming is going on? Do they just go to the casino and find an ashtray?
 
phyz said:
For TAMX, I want my friends to be with me. Most don't smoke. And they've already segregated themselves by not coming to the Del Mar beyond a quick face-show on Wednesday night. They've been driven out by the toxicity of the smoke. Maybe they shouldn't be so sensitive; maybe the South Point HVAC should do a better job. Interesting, but academic.

We have already allowed the smoke to scatter us. I'm hoping we clever skeptics can devise a plan to bring us back together. SmokeFreeVegas is one solution but I'm not, uhm, holding my breath for that. I'm looking for a Plan B. Just brainstorming at this point.

As it stands, the Del Mar is for smokers and the hearty souls willing to endure the smoke (I'm one). My concern is that the population of hearty souls is decreasing and that the sensitive non-smokers have no viable option. If that's the way the collective likes it, no action is required.
Click to expand...

My solution: respirators ;)
 
icerat said:
fish bowls over their heads work well :)
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Not really. The smoke will build up, and escape from under the bowl, from the sides.

What we need are long transparent tubes to put around people's heads. That way the smoke will rise out of the top of the tube, like a chimney.

I was putting some thought into the design, too.

I think a small hole, with one of those rubber seal thingies, might be needed so the wear's hand can manipulate the cigaratte.
 
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