Hey, do we know how to have a good time or what? <BR>I don't smoke. (Ruby, I'm not saying you do.) I don't really care if other people smoke. But, I wish they wouldn't drop their butts on the beach when they're done smoking. Yecchhhh!!!! <BR>Talk about being inconsiderate.

Even tho I try to respect other people's rights, I have to admit it bothers me to see my state becoming an ashtray. <BR>Example 1: While waiting for a green light at a heavily used underpass, I glanced to the side of the road and saw what must have been at least a bucket's worth of butts in the gutter <BR>. <BR>Example 2: About a month ago I was at a concert on the beach in Clearwater and everything was just about perfect - Jimmy Buffett-style music, nice cool breeze from the water, soft cool sand beneath my feet - no, wait a minute - is that a cigarette butt my toes are diggin up? And another? and another? And then to top it off, with room to sit (or stand) wherever you want, the guy next to me lights up, smoke blowing in my face, then puts it out in the sand along with all the other butts! <BR> <BR>So why can't so many smokers respect EVERYONE'S right to a clean environment? Is that really asking too much?

I teach journalism and news writing, and while I encourage my students to be creative in their research, I also hold them to higher standards than hearsay gathered on a website chat-area, which is what this forum is. <BR> <BR>I have to say I'm particularly annoyed when someone posts a question here for the obvious purpose of filling up a few graphs for tomorrow's paper. <BR> <BR>If they are going to use direct quotes from people, fine, but the people should be told that's what will happen, even if they are posting anonymously. <BR> <BR>If the reporter/columnist is going to report info gathered here as if it were definitive, from a reliable source, it's just plain lazy and not good research. <BR> <BR>Ruby, "hmmmmm" is right -- why aren't you going to authoritative sources instead of anecdotal comments?

Not only can you smoke and drink on the beach, I highly recommend sex on the beach as well.

Just had to return this to the top for continued discussion!