Smart idea for ashtrays

another smart idea for an ashtray, especially now, that summer will come (hopefully! we still have snow on the ground!)and people will sit outside, is something in the shape of a flowerpot, with a whole in the bottom, reversed on a plate with a rather high side, almost like a low bowl. Is ideal for a garden ashtray, you dampen out the cigarette on the bottom of the flowerpot and throw it into the hole. No wind will blow the ashes around. I sold many of them, people were intrigued by the idea.

Monika

-- Monika Schleidt snipped-for-privacy@schleidt.org

I'm astounded - Smoking in public place about a year ago even in bars became illegal, but even before that smoking in NZ definately was socially unacceptable. I wouldn't dream of making an ashtray - yeah I'm a reformed smoker :o) It just surprised me that it is still obviously acceptable in other countries. Most smokers I know now are a bit ashamed.

Thank God, there are still some places where people who became addicted 30 years before "the non-smoking-fad" kicked in are still able to enjoy good food and good company without being glared at. They do exist, but are few and far between.

I am a smoker, and I won't become a non-smoker until I am a match-weight. Some people have been smoking for 50 years or more. To exclude them from any indoor activities and make them feel like outcasts because they fell for the tobacco propaganda way back is NOT what I call kind treatment. If countries make cigarettes perscription wares and make CERTAIN that each year means a year OLDER for the total smoking population - ie. make CERTAIN youths don't start smoking - then's the place where I might just cheer for a bandwagon.

Ok - that's my 20 bits worth. This "discussion" is WAY O.T.

Suffice to say - there is still a need for ashtrays and the gadget I mentioned can be a fun and useful addition to those that are made by people on this group.

Marianne

Lol I didn't mean to start something, I was genuinely surprised. Smokers are welcome anywhere here, just not their smoke. When the law was passed many of the pubs etc screamed and said they would go bust, but it has not happened, if anything bars are busier than before because people are not put off by the smokey atmosphere. The idea of presciption smokes for those addicted is not bad, then you get no youngsters starting. I apologise and I will not carry this on further, I reacted, I watched my sister dieing of a smoking related cancer smoke imaginary cigs on her death bed - yeah I reacted - sorry.

Ashtrays and smart are two words which do not go together!!

I'm going to add to this and I will probably offend most smokers. Firstly, I am not personally attacking anyone or pointing the finger; I am just making a comment regarding the subject - so I dont want any messages back of personalised slagging - please!

This is a subject very close to my heart....I am ashamed to say I tried it at school - but got wise!!

Luckily my kids won't even try a cigarette as they have seen the effects that smoking can have - my dad was a 40-a-day man. He's 62 and cant walk, he had a heart attack when he was in his early 50's and has pipes and tubes sticking out of most orifices. Nice....not!! What sort of life does he have now? I've got to visit him in hospital in an hour...

My step dad died of throat cancer about 10 years ago, and it took him over 3 weeks of complete zombied pain before he died. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

How anyone can condone smoking is beyond me - and you certainly wont find me making anything which could be used as an ashtray.

Regards banning smoking in public - personally I say "Hooray it's about time!"

I once heard a 'joke' (if u can call it that) about smoking in public - I can't remember exactly how it goes but "Your pleasure is smoking - the residue of smoking putrifys the air, makes my clothes stink and gets into my lungs" punchline "Well my pleasure is drinking - and the residue of that is urine - is it ok for me to urinate all over you?".

Smoking is a totally selfish act that affects the people around you - your family, friends and public. When the effects of smoking hit (healthwise) its your family and friends who have to cope with it - why do you care? - you're long gone by that time!

The only smoke I like to see comes from the exciting moment of seeing your pots in a sawdust bin after a raku fire.

Sorry folks - I hope you sympathise and see my view - lets stick to the ceramic type of pot....and dont waste life.

In article , JM writes

I am 69. I smoked until 14 years ago. I have Emphysema, luckily not badly, but it's not nice to have! My Grandson's other Grandpa has it much worse than me; he sounds like a grumbling Volcano most of the time and has real problems breathing.

Go to:

And please Read it.

Steve

I was biting my tongue and going to let this pass but this was the straw that broke the camel's back.

I too began smoking back when it was advertised on TV, when doctors said 'this is GOOD for you', when it was a sign of being 'grown-up'. I was 12 years old. By the time I was 21, I was smoking 3 packs a day of Camels. That was when I first tried quitting. It took me 9 years to make it solid but I finally did. By the time I had my first child it was known how bad it was for the fetus and for children in general and yet it was still totally unacceptable to ask people not to smoke where you were because you were pregnant.

I have absolutely no problem with people using drugs. What I do have a serious problem with is my being forced to do so. If someone walked by your table in a restraurant and put one drop of - lets say urine - in your drinking water, you would be highly offended but you would still have the choice to not drink that water. That urine would be less dangerous than the nicotine/tar and the other chemicals added to cigarettes that are all put into the air which both smokers and nonsmokers must breathe.

Both of my children are asthmatic. Before they banned smoking in restaurants in NY we could not go out to eat. When they passed this law restraurant owners cried how it would ruin their business. It didn't. In fact more people ate out because not only did smokers still go out to eat but those like our family could now eat out as well.

By the way, as a potter your risk for lung cancer, other cancers and heart disease increase dramatically if you smoke. There is an non-additive effect of smoking and other chemicals that are inhaled as a potter.

Yup, yup, yup... but back to the subject of making an ashtray, after all, we make wares to sell, they can use 'em for whatever floats their boat. But I have a sentimental liking to ashtrays as they were the first thing I made. Heck, most all my failures became ashtrays or cutting boards. Then I'd proudly declare that I meant to do that. This is the new millenium, unless you've been living under a rock, we all know the "evils" of smoking, sheesh. Everybody knows somebody who got bit, like the 6 steps to Kevin Bacon. But that doesn't mean we should deprive those who indulge a manner in which to neatly dispose of that little cancerous monster. Make it sound like sex toy manufaturers have to stick it up their what for in order to be able to justify their goods. Some people smoke, they've already been kicked to the curb, thats why I think we should make a pocket ashtray. I like the idea of placing dry clay remnants in your pocket, dorp that butt in and slap the side of your pants till it goes out. This makes it enjoyable for all concerned, the smoker has theirs and we get to watch 'em dance. And its recyclable too. I call that a win/win situation. Yup, I'm a non smoker who quit some 25 years ago but I don't go all phobic ballistic about it. Life's full of risks, I ride a motorcycle with no seat belt or airbags, okay, well that depends on who's riding on the back. Point is, we make stuff to sell, really neat stuff, that ashtray sounds really neat. Now that some many potters are paranoid about making them, I bet there's a far market for them. Make a bunch of 'em cause from what I'm reading, smokers are dying off, it'll become an instant collectable.

In article , Kees Kroozr writes

Nicely put KK

You added a nice chuckle to the thread. Thanks. Again, I have to say that I don't have a problem with people smoking or doing any other drug. I'm very strongly for decriminalizing drug usage period. I just think it is exceptionally rude to make other people have to breath in the drug you're using without them having a choice in the matter and then to be offended because they object to watching their child go into an asthma attack from the smoke. There are just certainly things that should not be done in public places because if you are considerate person you realize that your rights end were another's begins. In public you don't spit, you don't take a dump, you don't piss in the swimming pool, you don't .... well I should leave it at that.

I'm happy to read a discussion on making ashtrays (I too have made a few - never was happy with any of them functionally). I'm not happy to read about how sad it is for the poor smoker now that they can't smoke in public places.

Donna

Finally something almost on-topic for the group. Thanks, Kees.

I know that I am taking a risk, but I don't run out in the road in front of busses and I don't drive without wearing a seat-belt.

As you so humorously put it - all we who do something that might shorten our life span (be it paragliding or smoking) KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING AND WHAT RISKS WE ARE TAKING! Let it be at that. I will.

Those that buy ashtrays can use them for tea candles or paper-clips for all I care, as long as they buy them. The nicer the "dish", the more attractive to the buyer.

Would love to see some more on-topic stuff on this thread.

Marianne

Yeh ok - but the other 'dangerous' hobbies you mention don't force other people to do it too. As stated previously, smoking is intrusive, and abusive to other peoples rights. As for nice dishes - ashtrays will always be obvious to their purpose (i.e. cigarette rests) - and as a non-smoker I would never purchase something that resembles an ashtray however pretty it may be. Let the topic rest on the agreement that smokers and non-smokers will always beg to differ - both sides have their own opinions (however, selfish they may be). JM