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To: But what if your neighbors (comment)
Wow, this comment really stuck me in a bad way. I recently moved into my apartment - it was probably built in the 1930s and there are tons of cracks in the walls and windows. When the people below us smoke on their balcony, it wakes me up in the middle of the night - our bedroom is consumed with smoke and the windows are closed. I cannot even hide under my sheets because the smell permiates through. I come home from work and our flat smells like we let someone smoke in our apartment. We try to burn insense and candles to hide the smoke. I notice that my throat is usually sore at night time too - this is highly unusual for me. I talked with my doctor and they informed me that we are indeed breathing in second hand smoke from this situation.

This is a real scenario that happens. I'm assuming that our neighbor smokes on the balcony because he does not want his flat to smell like smoke - neither do I. He has chosen to take up a habit that effects other people than himself - he is the one who should make a change.

Obviously the issue of smoking is a strong one for me and I have made the conscious decision to avoid the smoke by not frequenting smoking establishments. I should be able to have my home be a smoke free environment of my choosing as well.