Thursday, October 23, 2008

Quiet Please!


One of the side effects of the smoking ban in cafés and restaurants is that smokers feel compelled to go outside in the street to have their shoot fix. And what happens when they are outside altogether? They talk, laugh, chuckle... drop their cigarette ends on the ground and trigger much anger from the neighbors! The problem has become so important that the town hall had to react and launched a massive campaign. The photo I took shows one of the posters you can now find outside many places. It says "Outside, let's talk quietly" and the little shoeshine box on the left is, in fact, a portable ashtray that is provide for free to cafés and restaurants so that they can give them to their customers.

53 comments:

  1. No one can take a picture of a poster and make it this interesting with the perspective like Eric.

    Smoking causes more problems than it is worth, Oui?

    mammie

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  2. Something tells me that this will generate backlash from the smokers. I don't recall this ever being a problem in the US.

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  3. I hope this idea works! I like the photo - the pink and blue really catch my eye.

    The office building across the street from mine does not allow their workers to smoke on the company grounds - not even in the parking lot - so at any given time I can look out my window and see people smoking in the street!

    Is it that good?

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  4. Oh and when I say "in the street," I do not mean on the sidewalk.

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  5. go outside "to have their fix"
    rather than "shoot" I think.

    Love the little box! What a great idea! Much better than dumping the cigarettes all over the sidewalk.

    Part of me finds it hard to believe that Parisians find cigarette butts on the ground offensive, but I guess things have changed quite a bit.

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  6. Thanks for the "fix" of my English Tomate! I just changed it.

    About cigarette ends on the ground, well in fact before it was OK because they were scattered everywhere, but know they really are concentrated outside cafés and restaurants.

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  8. (a) Congratulations, Lynn!

    (b) The shortest route between my place of residence and my place of study takes me past the main entrance of a major hospital, which is also the gathering place of smokers prohibited from getting their hit of nicotine within its walls. Sometime there are only one or two of them, but sometimes there are as many as ten or fifteen. When there are this many, the cloud of second-hand smoke generated is impossible to dodge. Needless to say, I now take a slightly longer route - which, while it gets me there a little later, gets me there in a better frame of mind and feeling less like I've had ashtrays shoved up my nostrils.

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  9. Maybe what Eric was thinking of was shooting up. Kind of the same difference.

    Elaine, I wonder if this hasn't been as much of a problem as smoking bans proliferate here because more people have been quitting here. Maybe Paris wasn't ready to quit smoking! I wonder, was the smoking ban put into effect for the citizens, or for the tourists?

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  10. I very much dislike the smell of cigarette smoke. And another thing what do these people do with their butts when they are at home. Grind them out on the floor and walk away?
    Oh! no, they have those stinky ashtrays. Nothing smells worse then those stinky ashes. I guess you have guessed by now I am not a smoker!!

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  11. Gramma Ann -- I'm with you: I don't even mind second-hand smoke as much as I do a dirty ashtray.

    Don't know whether the ban was prompted by locals or because of non-smoking tourists, but my Parisian friends all quit years ago.

    As for the ban: As Martha would say: It's a good thing!

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  12. From the gigging musician's perspective, I've got to tell you I don't mind playing in clubs "sans fumee" these days. Even though the smoky ambiance made for great B&W photos, it created horrible lungs. Plus, I don't have to air out my clothes or my drums anymore. And quit calling me Puff Daddy! ;-)

    Lynn...re: your new job CONGRATS! (even if it's a little late)

    Eric...welcome to the land of THE ELECTIONS! You'll see Amirka at its finest. Enjoy Boston but don't try "pahkin yah cah in Hahvahd yahd!"

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  13. Welcome back to the States, Eric.

    Are you still awake? ;-)

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  14. And yes Suzy, I just arrived in Boston. It's cold ;)

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  15. I'm not a smoker and I like the fact that people can't smoke in restaurants anymore, but to talk quietly when outside??!! What else is next?

    Oh my, I can see what a tough time smokers must be going through...

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  16. Here in Chicago, most restaurants and many businesses have large containers with sand for people to put their used cigarette ends. We've had a smoking ban of one kind or another (now almost total) for a while. Office workers would congregate outside the office doors so for anyone to enter they had to walk through a cloud of smoke. Now there's a new ruls (maybe it's a law, I forget) that you can't smoke within 15 feet of the entrance to a public building. Much easier now to walk in the door. Originally, there was a lot of complaints from the smokers but now more and more are quitting. Better for everyone's health.

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  17. A smoking ban was first instigated here by bartenders and wait staff because they were forced to work in secondhand smoke.

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  18. BTW Eric, you must have forgotten to tell me what time to pick you up at the Portland airport! Lynette and I are going to take you to the restaurant where her son is chef. And she really knows how to dine - http://portlandoregondailyphoto.blogspot.com/2008/10/cheesecake-run-down-to-crumbs.html

    I'm sure it just slipped your mind.

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  19. I must say that I am full of joy that I can visit Paris and go out to eat without eating in smoke! I can only wait for the day it happens here, which I hope will be soon. I get really stuffed up around smoke and my eyes start watering almost immediately. Thankfully, most of our favorite restaurants don't allow smoking already, but there are a few holdouts. It is funny though, since on the rare occasion that we do go there, the "smoking section"--what a joke since it is all one big room--is almost empty, while there is usually a wait for the "non-smoking section"!

    Breathe clear everyone and have a great night!!

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  20. Eric just knowing you have touched down on American soil makes me feel the aura of royalty! WE have awaited this day for so long. Hopefully you won't see the wonderful places at major intersections where there at butts piled up in the gutters from our traveling smokers. Frankly I can hardly wait to get to Paris , with or without puffers outside of cafes. The political smokescreen here is enough to make you choke. That said, hope you have a grand time with some American CDP folks !!!

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  21. Love your blog!
    I'll be in Paris for 10 days in November so all of your helpful information will come in handy!

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  22. Oh my....what has France come to? Pretty soon we'll have to give up our baguettes placed directly on the table too.

    Oh my, what has Boston come to? The king of PDP has set foot on her soil without as much as a PDP-mobile. This should inspire the Pope's press team.

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  23. USElaine, "Something tells me that this will generate backlash from the smokers. I don't recall this ever being a problem in the US." In the French quarter of San Francisco it does generate a backlash - NOT from the smokers. Just the other day, I was having lunch at Cafe Bastille. I love to have sit in the chairs that they have on the sidewalk outside the cafe. And an woman from Romania was smoking after her lunch. A couple of American women sitting a few tables from me said, "Oh, disgusting! Do they allow smoking outside?" I looked over to them and said, "Go inside." I'm not a smoker; and I could care less if people smoke. I just don't care. Someone told me once that if you are brought up as a child in a home where the adults smoke, you will be a smoker. That is not true. When I was a kid, everyone in the art scene smoked. Everyone hanging out at our home smoked. In the old photos, everyone has a cigarette and a drink in their hands. I just never got into smoking and neither did my brother. Go figure? :-s

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  24. "I don't even mind second-hand smoke as much as I do a dirty ashtray."

    I agree!!

    The other day, someone in the street was smoking a pipe, now that was really pleasant.

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  25. My X, a film-maker, Parisian, never smoked, even though his father does. WHO CARES!

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  26. I don't believe in "second hand smoke". Just like I didn't believe that the "Twin Towers" WOULD NEVER FALL.

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  27. When I was in Paris this summer, I really noticed the decline in public smoking. What a contrast to my first trip 10 years ago! (I must admit, though, the aromatic smoke of French cigarettes added a certain mystique to the atmosphere in Paris back then. But then, who really needs an unhealthy mystique?)

    To Eric: I am hoping we can come up with some sunny weather for you while you are here in Boston. I know we are a bit chillier than Paris at the moment, so be sure to wear socks!

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  28. VEry japanese solution of the problem. I like it. :-)

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  29. Michael, PDP mobile cracked me up! I was thinking "Papal Visit" too. I alerted Team NYC to get that red carpet all rolled out. I hope Ken Mac can find a bar with lots of "character" HA
    The White Horse might be just the thing :)

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  30. And maybe Madison Square Garden for a mass "blessing" of the followers! Pehaps he can do an email blessing for those of us in the US that can't make the trip! "Long Live the King"!

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  31. Thanks Lucio, thanks Coltrane!

    I think these little boxes are a good idea and given free? Well, that's just so rare in the UK. I have noticed the horrid mess that cigarette butts make.

    Hey hey hey! Today in my post? You'll never guess! I had a gift... the DVD of Amelie! I am absolutely shocked and delighted to see it. I know this must have originated from the PDP comments box somehow, I just don't know who! I thank you very much, whoever it is.... truly, thank you. Big smile. I am going to try to watch it tonight!! Hurrah. xx

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  32. Eric, you should come to California. The weather is much warmer!

    Speaking of California - Bay area PDP'rs (and anyone else who is interested or just curious) please shoot me your email addresses at "clayz4u@yahoo.com." I have a flyer for a talk to be given on Dec 13th in SF by Terrence Gelenter, founder, director of Paris Through Expatriate Eyes that I want to share with you. "Everything you need to experience in Paris as a Parisian" Heather from Naughty Paris shared it with me; she'll be appearing via video. Maybe we could make a day of it?

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  33. Great images. I've included your blog in a recent posting "20 Awesome Photoblogs - Paris". Check it out when you have a moment. Best of luck and keep up the great work!

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  34. Upon second thought, maybe I was a little too care free with the WHO CARES. I remember the first time I watched Disney's "Alice in Wonderland" and the caterpillar was blowing smoke rings in Alice's face -- I thought, Wow, Alice is really sweet; that would -- so -- get me angry. Why doesn't she just turn around and walk away? Yes, blowing smoke in someones face is definitely second-hand smoke which I hate :-)

    Lynn, You are so popular. Your fans send you gifts. Maybe it is from a "back stage Johnny". You must tell us when you figure it out.

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  35. Lois I'm really thrilled, it is indeed kind, amazing. Er...what's a 'back stage Johnny'?

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  36. Just found your blog and I'm excited to keep coming back every day! I've only been to Paris once, but I'm convinced it's the most magical city in the world!

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  37. Fans Lois? I wouldn't say so, thanks anyway. Friends yes! Who was it? :)

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  38. Lynn, A "Back Stage Johnny" is a man who hangs out back stage where his girlfriend performs so that he can see her. In this case, the stage being your blog.

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  39. Lynn, I forgot to mention, the "Back Stage Johnny" gives gifts to her. Sort of like what you got. This person obviously has been following your blog. And admires you.

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  40. those portable ashtrays are so french. Where else would that happen?

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  41. "Back Stage John" !!! Lois, you sure have a fertile imagination! You are going to scare our poor Lynn.

    A bit of detective work, Lynn, and you will figure it out.
    How many people from here have your address?
    How many people from here think Amelie is an absolute "must"?
    It is a matter of making your day happier...
    Easy peasy...

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  42. Awwww -- "easy peasy" -- that's so cute!! : ) Whoever wrote that and whoever sent Lynn that thoughtful gift (whether they are one and the same or not) is another one of the reasons I like coming here so much. PDP has no shortage of just plain wonderful folks.

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  43. Easy Peazy Lemon Squeezy!

    Lynn it would have to be someone close by, or at least in the same country. The DVD got to you only two days after it was mentioned here.

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  44. ...It did seem a little scary after what Lois said, I must say... brr!

    I understand though, Anonyme, of course! It is such a kind gesture, truly, absolutely lovely and I adore it. Thank you!

    I just watched it! Ohhhh....sigh......simply enchanting. What a funny, sweet little girl she is, living in her own little world, observing life and taking the pieces others ignore, examining and savouring them. Intriguing. Romantic. Funny. French. Very French from what I remember. Those little cafes where not much is said, but there are long, long looks and glances. lol! I must watch it again soon. Maybe even tomorrow! It was great for my French, too. Thank you so much, mystery gift-sender.... x ... :)

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  45. Coltrane "Eric...welcome to the land of THE ELECTIONS! You'll see Amirka at its finest. Enjoy Boston but don't try "pahkin yah cah in Hahvahd yahd!""
    Elections? What elections?! As for pahhhking my cahh, well, trop tahhh!

    Jill" BTW Eric, you must have forgotten to tell me what time to pick you up at the Portland airport!" LOL. I'll go to Portland one day I'm sure ;)
    Especially now that I know there is an irresistible cheese cake there!


    Virginia "Eric just knowing you have touched down on American soil makes me feel the aura of royalty! LOOOOOOOOOOL ! "
    "That said, hope you have a grand time with some American CDP folks !!!" I'm sure I will.


    Michael "as much as a PDP-mobile. This should inspire the Pope's press team." LOOOOL again!

    Rainie "I am hoping we can come up with some sunny weather for you while you are here in Boston. I know we are a bit chillier than Paris at the moment, so be sure to wear socks!" Well, today was sunny - and cold, true! But I don't care, I love the foliage, really nice.

    Lynn "
    Hey hey hey! Today in my post? You'll never guess! I had a gift... the DVD of Amelie! I am absolutely shocked and delighted to see it. I know this must have originated from the PDP comments box somehow, I just don't know who!" Ooooh I love that kind of stories. May the one who sent you Amelie be thanked and blessed.

    Suzy. This talk sounds interesting I must say, if you go, let me know what was said, it's always interesting to hear what expats say about the city you live in. (and as far as going to California, well yes, it's warmer, but it far from Paris!)

    Ilovephotoblogs. Thank you. I checked your list and I saw you have real gems among your favorite Paris photo bloggers. The competition is fierce.

    Thrilled... "I've only been to Paris once, but I'm convinced it's the most magical city in the world!" I agree!!

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  46. Eric, wasn't it exciting? The you-know-who is now I-know-who! I shall tell you soon Eric ... lol!

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  47. Hmm Amelie??

    As for smoking outside. I'm not sure what one does about the noise of people laughing and joking and enjoying their banishment but for the butts (cigarette), it is simple enough. Place a bucket full of sand and people will put their butts in there instead of under their heels. Sort of, "put people in a pigsty and they will behave like pigs" or "when in Rome ..."

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  48. It's funny, I always hated cigaratte smoke, but while living in Paris a few years, I got used to it in cafes, etc. I just can't imagine being in a Paris cafe without it. Even though I hate smoke, I am also sad about this. It's almost like stripping Paris of part of it's uniqueness and culture- like when they opened the Kentucky Fried Chicken several years ago.

    And I can't believe noisey people in Paris could be a problem. Never thought I would see the day of a campaign against that! Maybe noisy youth on mopeds, but not this!

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  49. Eric! Thank you for putting up this poster. How unique. Only in Paris. {{sigh}} My hubby & I were there for our first anniversary in August 2006 (we agreed to celebrate a little late to catch more shows, but that is another story...) & the one thing I did NOT like while we were there is that we went to a lovely dinner & the restaurant was FILLED with smoke. It was very tiny (as many are in Paris), only sat like 15 people total, and everyone, except us, was smoking & eating...Now that the ban is in place, I WANT TO GO BACK!!

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  50. Intéressante cette campagne. Nous vivons sensiblement le même problème à Montréal mais aucune campagne de sensibilisation encore instaurée ici.

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