This question came about over a discussion my brother and I had about whether dogs should be on leashes when outside. We both agreed that yes, they should, for several reasons, but that’s not the point.
Let’s use a hypothetical to better illustrate the question. Imagine that there’s a perfume - vanilla, for example - that doesn’t bother you at all (you don’t like nor dislike it), but that is very upsetting to some people, and can even cause some adverse reactions (allergies or something). In this hypothetical, based on the negative effects, you agree that vanilla perfumes should be banned. Currently, however, they are allowed.
You’re walking down the street, and randomly smell someone passing you by and they’re wearing a vanilla perfume.
Would that upset you? Why, or why not?
My answer is yes, without a doubt. Even though the smell itself doesn’t bother me, the fact someone would wear that perfume and not only potentially upset others, but put them in danger, is upsetting.
My brother, however, would say no! He couldn’t explain his reasoning to me.
I know this is a little convoluted, but I hope I got my question across.
I’ll take “broad questions that can only be answered in context” for $200 Alex.
Seriously, ask me this question on 10 different days in 10 different ways and I’ll never give the same answer.
Even in the context of your vanilla perfume hypothetical I don’t have enough information to answer. How severe a reaction, what percentage of the population is affected, where is the perfume wearer at the time, why hasn’t it been banned and/or what makes me an expert who’s opinion is worth a damn, etc etc etc?
From what little info I have on the hypothetical (either directly stated or assumed via omission), no, I wouldn’t be upset. I didn’t see anyone being harmed, the perfume wearer wasn’t doing anything illegal, I am personally unbothered by the perfume, and I’ve got my own shit to deal with.
Eta: To make this more clear, I am an ex smoker, who fully agrees that bans on smoking in public areas make sense, but am in no way personally bothered by cigarettes. I also think smoking is more apropos to the question than a mystery perfume, as the harm of smoking and 2nd hand smoke is well established.
If you are smoking on a crowded street, I’ll be upset. But in an alleyway to get away from the crowded street, good on ya, you did what you could.
Smoking near children, get fucked. Smoking while walking home from the pub when only other pub goers are around, you do you. Context is key.