What I was trying to say here has been said better by Chris:

“But smoking is bad. I just don’t like it. I don’t want people smoking near me”; was his final argument (actually his first, final, and only argument).

He just didn’t get it. He didn’t understand why the government shouldn’t step in and force a private property owner to do whatever HE personally wanted them to do. He thought it was entirely reasonable that his preferences should be made into law, and should infringe on the rights of the property owner. As far as he was concerned, because he didn’t want people smoking around him while he ate, then no-one should ever be allowed to smoke in a restaurant.

As we were about to be seated I turned and made one final statement: “Sir, d’you know what the most dangerous words in the English language are? ‘There oughta be a law'”

Amen to that. Saying ‘There oughta be a law’ oughta be followed by the judicious application of the cluebat.

For those unfamiliar with the term, here is what I mean:

Of course, to keep the health and safety bods happy, when applying The Clue to those of a younger disposition, corks should be placed over the spikes. So you can’t accuse me of being cruel…