My family went to Hatch park last night and encountered a foul-mouthed teenager that made me cringe. Those were not words I wanted to teach my kids.
How many times does approaching a person and asking them kindly to stop just lead to more profanity, or ridicule?
I didn't ever find out if my politely asking would have ended the infraction because the kids stopped swearing before I could get over to them.
On a similar note, the Davis County Health Department has banned smoking in public. (Golfers remain unprotected by Daddy-County Health).
We don't ban the exhaust from automobiles, and we don't ban refineries.
What do you think?
This is a great example of nanny government at its worst. A ban on OUTDOOR smoking in public places is a pathetic waste of our government's time.
ReplyDeleteNice that there is an issue we can agree on every once in a while!
Yeah, and the thing is that I hate smoke. Yet, on my way home from the park yesterday, I encountered a man smoking in his front driveway.
ReplyDeleteWe gave him a friendly hello, (while keeping our distance), and kept walking.
It's a night and day reaction, on my part, to the profane teens. I wouldn't have minded the swearing if it hadn't reached my kids ears, but I wouldn't ask the government to stifle those kids.
We live in a hazardous world, and we must do our best to avoid its pitfalls on our own. The government will usually botch measures put in for our protection.
I don't support the outdoor smoking ban, but am not concerned enough to actively oppose it either. I do think that in some crowded, confined outdoor spaces (I'm thinking about the lines at Disneyland) people shouldn't smoke. I think most people already restrain from smoking in line (and in crowds in outdoor public places). You can't legislate courtesy. But, by golly, the county is going to try!
ReplyDeleteI bet there is a law or ordinance somewhere about profanity. Did you call and register a complaint with the city?
Natalie, I'm in the same boat as you. I'm not going to fight this one just on principle.
ReplyDeleteLaw against profanity?
I guess I've never considered that.