California Bans Smokeless Tobacco at MLB Stadiums

[Armchair_QB]

Can't wait to see this get enforced.

California tells MLB players: No more chewing tobacco

 

[The Big Ragu]

I am very anti-smoking -- because of the risk that your behavior might have secondary effects on others. You are infringing on others with your smoke. I personally hate being around people who are smoking and I find second-hand smoke disgusting.

I also think anyone who uses any tobacco isn't very smart -- my opinion.

But this kind of law is ridiculous. If someone wants to chew tobacco -- as dumb as I, or anyone else, thinks it is -- it has zero residual health effect on anyone except the person doing it. It's not my, or anyone else's place to make that kind of decision for others. If someone gets some kind of utility out of using tobacco that exceeds (for them) the risk they are taking. ... well, that is for them to decide. To each his own.

I believe that laws should only prevent people from doing things that potentially infringe negatively on others. To me, this idea that we are going to protect people from their own decisions crosses a line of silliness -- and actually impinges on people's freedoms.

 

[Starman]

You ever been in a dugout where a bunch of heavy chewers have been spitting on the ****ing floor for six hours? It's ****ing disgusting.

In the olden olden days of baseball guys used to **** in the corners of the dugout, too.

We put an end to that and everybody lived.

 

[old_tony]

And the same people behind this dumb****ery think marijuana should be legal.

 

[User 11148]

"Stupid is as California does, Mrs. Blue ..."

 

[Stoney]

You ever been in a dugout where a bunch of heavy chewers have been spitting on the ****ing floor for six hours? It's ****ing disgusting.

Might be disgusting, but it's also what baseball players do. Something they're known for, and have pretty much always done--at nearly ever level above the kiddie leagues--ever since the game's been around. What's next, banning beer from Mardis Gras?

In the olden olden days of baseball guys used to **** in the corners of the dugout, too.
.

Pissing in the dugout used to be a commonplace thing? I did not know that. By any chance do you have a link to back this up?

 

[Stoney]

And the same people behind this dumb****ery think marijuana should be legal.

Marijuana should be legal. And so should chewing by adult baseball players. Both stupid restrictions, at least IMO.

 

[bigpern23]

I am very anti-smoking -- because of the risk that your behavior might have secondary effects on others. You are infringing on others with your smoke. I personally hate being around people who are smoking and I find second-hand smoke disgusting.

I also think anyone who uses any tobacco isn't very smart -- my opinion.

But this kind of law is ridiculous. If someone wants to chew tobacco -- as dumb as I, or anyone else, thinks it is -- it has zero residual health effect on anyone except the person doing it. It's not my, or anyone else's place to make that kind of decision for others. If someone gets some kind of utility out of using tobacco that exceeds (for them) the risk they are taking. ... well, that is for them to decide. To each his own.

I believe that laws should only prevent people from doing things that potentially infringe negatively on others. To me, this idea that we are going to protect people from their own decisions crosses a line of silliness -- and actually impinges on people's freedoms.

Couldn't agree more. This is absurd. If MLB wants to come to agreement with its player's union outlawing smokeless tobacco in the dugout because of the negative health effects on its players and the message it sends to its fans, that's up to them. The state of California has no business outlawing it. I also don't understand why the state specifically bans it at baseball games and nowhere else.

 

[Steak Snabler]

You ever been in a dugout where a bunch of heavy chewers have been spitting on the ****ing floor for six hours? It's ****ing disgusting.

In the olden olden days of baseball guys used to **** in the corners of the dugout, too.

We put an end to that and everybody lived.

Sunflower seeds are damn near as bad.

 

[LongTimeListener]

This is completely a THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!! law.

 

[BadgerBeer]

And the same people behind this dumb****ery think marijuana should be legal.

Yet you are the ultimate ***** that thinks Chase Utley should be suspended for doing what baseball players have done for over 100 years. That being said I agree with you on this one (tobacco, not pot).

 

[Armchair_QB]

This is completely a THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!! law.

Yet these ****s would be perfectly fine with their kids smoking pot.

 

[SpeedTchr]

Hallelujah. I often think the death penalty should be reinstated for people who spit in public.

 

[old_tony]

Yet you are the ultimate ***** that thinks Chase Utley should be suspended for doing what baseball players have done for over 100 years. That being said I agree with you on this one (tobacco, not pot).

Major difference between a good, hard slide and what Utley did.

 

[dixiehack]

How is this legal, at least in LA and SF, which are privately-owned stadiums? They are going after one specific sport, and there is not an overriding public interest to protect such as with eliminating secondhand smoke.

 

[JimmyHoward33]

Boston did this last month too.

Boston bans chewing tobacco in ballparks, including Fenway - The Boston Globe

 

[YankeeFan]

If it will save just one life...

 

[YankeeFan]

Brian Doyle used to have a big wad of tobacco:

Who else put so much in at a time?

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Does this ban also apply to the players' wives?

 

[JohnHammond]

Real men love a big wad of chaw and hate hard slides.