speaking as a smoker, I can say that it's just plain politeness not to smoke in the midst of a crowd. You're an asshole if you think you can stand there with people crammed all around you, and just blow smoke in everybody's face, drop ash on their shoes, and occasionally almost light someone's hair on fire (I've only smoked in a "crowd" once and definitely achieved all of these things). If you're gonna smoke, you go to the bar or to the back or somewhere where there's elbow-and-smoke-dissapation (sp?) room. It shouldn't have to be a question of legality; it should just be a question of good manners. <P>But remember, smokers are paranoid. We feel like we're the MOST repressed minority there is, at least in terms of getting away with stuff in public places. We're touchy about these things, so if there's a place where we CAN actually smoke without having to hide away somewhere, of course we're going to take advantage of it.
<P>And quite frankly, if the guy was bothering you that much, get some balls and ask him to move. If you're not nervy enough to just say, "Sir, you smell like a wet dog and I can't actually see the band through your haze," then make something up: "Sir, my friend here has asthma, and we're afraid that if you keep blowing smoke in her face, she's going to have an attack and die convulsing right there on your ugly wing-tips." If he's still an ass after that, feel free to spit in his hair or something, cause it's out of your hands. <P>That is all.
