coming to an end!

For this weeks blog I'm supposed to get my audience to take action and bring my topic to an end. As I've said before, I just wanted people to stop smoking at the entrances to the campus buildings. I feel that most of the responses were in agreement with my desire and that's pretty neat-knowing that others feel the same way I do.
I also have stated that there have been signs put up to remind people the appropriate distance they should be smoking and I feel that has helped and I haven't seen any problems since then. I don't know if anyone else feels like there's been an improvement or not...so let me know.
Other than that, the only other thing would be to contact the school board and ask them if they could ask school officials to just keep an eye on it and if they see someone smoking too close to the buildings to ask them to move. When I started my blog I felt that was probably the road I was going to have to take to get the smoking under control, but now I don't see a problem. If anyone has any other idea's or feels any different let me know so I can address it in my next blog!

Smoking

I've been writing about the importance of smoking twenty-five feet from the campus building entrances. I think that it's really important for people to do that because not every one wants to walk through second hand smoke to get to class. I've also focused on the fact that I've noticed cigarette butts on the ground all over campus which is as bad as throwing your left over trash on the ground for people to walk through. I especially don't understand why smokers can't put their butts in an ash tray because they're placed at the appropriate distance from all the buildings for smokers to not only smoke, but put out their cigarette, instead of throwing it on the ground. Since I've started my blog there's been signs put up reminding people to smoke away from the building and I think it's helped a lot.
As for a course of action...I think the signs have worked and my only other suggestion was that school officials should just keep their eye's out for smokers who aren't obeying the law and remind them to keep it at a distance. When I suggested this I also stated that it would have to be a long term job and some of the responses I got was that it wouldn't really fix any thing. I also believe that is true because some people will only follow the rules if they know they are being watched or that there will be consequences so it would definitely have to be a continuous thing. I don't really have any other suggestions and I'm open to new idea's if anyone has any!

Responses...

Since I've started blogging on smoking on campus I've addressed some issues and thought it would be nice if smokers would stay away from class entrances. The responses I've received have been helpful and for the most part every one's agreed with me. Several people have said that they also don't appreciate walking through other people's second hand smoke and who can blame them? I'm a smoker on occasion and even I don't like it!!
I've also had some responses stating that this is a pointless battle because the smokers and non smokers will never agree and people will end up smoking where they want no matter what. This was stated after I suggested that school officials just keep their eye's out and let people who are smoking within the twenty-five feet to move away from the buildings. I also agree with that statement, people who break the "rules" will follow them for a period of time if they know they are being watched or will have a consequence. But once the smokers know they won't be told move farther away from the buildings they will start to move closer and smoke where ever they please. I do think that most people who smoke understand that their smoke bothers other people and will happily move if someone says some thing...but then again who wants to have to keep reminding people that there is a law that you must be twenty-five feet from a building.
I am happy to know that people agree with me about the second hand smoke because I thought that it might just be me that it bothered. It's nice to know that other people have the same thoughts and agree with you, even if there's nothing you can really do! I've been really happy with all of my responses to my blog, it's a lot of fun to discuss an issue and hear feedback and know what your fellow classmates are thinking.

blogging

Blogging is very different from other forms of writing. You are able to say exactly what you are thinking, write the way you want with out worrying about your format or what type of writing you are doing, and you can make a stand on any topic you please and send it out into the world wide web for others to read and comment on.
When you blog as apposed to writing a paper in class you can say exactly what you mean. You don't have to sugar cote your thoughts for your teacher or classmates which you might do if you were writing a paper on Huckleberry Fin. It also is easier to speak your mind since it's rather impersonal, I know I'm more comfortable with it because I don't have to get feedback face to face.
When you write a paper in class you usually have a specific format you need to follow and for some people that's really difficult. I've been out of school for seven years and this is my first semester back so getting back into the swing of things is rather difficult. I can't believe how much I have forgotten and the acceptable way to write a paper is definitely on my list! I do feel comfortable blogging though, because it's all about what I want to say-not about how I say it.
I also think that blogging is unique because you not only get to speak your mind, but your voice is on the Internet for anyone to see. You can get feedback that's both positive and negative to expand your view on any topic you desire to write about. Other people can open your eyes to new things you never knew about, and it could even change your opinion or outlook on any given topic so that's cool. You can't get that from writing a paper you just turn in and no one responds to.

let's sum things up!

For my blog I've talked about the problem with smoking too close to the building entrances at school. How walking through peoples second hand smoke to get to class isn't fair and it needs to stop. I've also talked about how I smoke occasionally so I understand that when you need to smoke, you need to smoke! I don't think people need to stop smoking or anything, just move it a few feet from the doorway and respect those who don't smoke.
There are ash trays placed twenty-five feet from all entrances as well as all over campus. It would be nice if there was a designated place for people to smoke and if it was covered I think they would appreciate it as well. I've also blogged on behalf of the smoker and talked about their concerns as well. How it is an addiction and it's hard enough for some people to go two hours with out one so when class is over and they get outside all they think about is lighting up.
I think if school officials would just keep an eye on things and if they see someone smoking too close to remind them to back it up a few feet it could really make a difference. The only problem with that is it would be a long term job.

Challenges for the desired outcome

I don't really care if people smoke, I do smoke on occasion so I know how it is. I do however want to keep it a distance from the entrances to the buildings because I also know how the people who don't smoke feel about walking through other's second hand smoke.
Some of the obstacles that might arise would be that some individuals wouldn't take their smoking a few feet from the door. Now everyone knows that there's a law stating that you need to be twenty-five feet from a building but let's be honest, no matter where you go people don't abide by that law. When you go to the supermarket or the gas station you always see people smoking where ever they please, as if they don't think they should follow the rules. They also throw their butts anywhere they see fit, even if there is a trashcan or ashtray right next to them.
Another challenge would be that if the law was enforced how long would it last? A lot of people who do stuff they shouldn't or who just slack off when they should be working change their behavior if they're told to. They also keep doing what their told to until they think that everyone has forgotten and then they can go back to doing whatever they want. That might be why people are smoking where ever right now, no one has keep on enforcing it.
I think the only way to overcome these obstacles would be to let everyone know that they must abide by the law or there will be consequences like a small fine. Or someone working at the campus could just enforce this behavior by reminding people that they need to move when they notice people smoking too close to the buildings. I think that if people are nagged about it enough they will stop and move the twenty-five feet from the building. The only problem with this is that if people stop enforcing it people will start smoking right in front of the buildings again so it would have to be a long term project.

How about a compromise

I've blogged on the problems with smoking on campus and some issues that follow concerning the student body who don't smoke. I've also blogged on behalf of the student body who do smoke and shared some problems they face as well. I think it's time to see what we can do so both sides can get along.
Walking around campus this past week I've noticed new signs in front of the buildings stating "no smoking past this point." I've also noticed those trashcans with the ashtrays on top in front of those signs and even further away from the building.
I'm pleased to say that people have been abiding by the law and staying away from the building entrances. Every day this week as I've gone to class people have been smoking in front of those trash cans and I think it's working just fine. Smoking away from the entrances was all anyone wanted so I think that the compromise has been made.
The question now would be to the student body, the one's who smoke and those who don't, and see if they have noticed the difference. If the people who don't smoke have noticed the same change as I have and if they like the change or would prefer something different? Also, for the students that smoke, do they feel like they're being pushed out, being treated unfair, or are they happy moving a few feet away from the door?