Should I or shouldn't I

[leadman]

Often when we are travelling you see something occurring you often turn a "blind eye" because of many reasons; culture, different country etc, but there are other times you have to say something or act. Last month coming back from LHR via NRT I had the 10 hour stopover. Parked myself in the JAL lounge just near the Smoking Lounge but away from the door. Watching the family of 4 in there, two kids probably under 5, in a smoke filled room was hard to watch. Is it because of the oft mentioned nanny-state we have here, or upbringing, I don't know but I finally had to say something to the staff. What ensued is a long story but it was suggested that "I" best relocate away from the Smoking Room as the parents wanted to be with their kids as was their right! I don't know what others think, or been in similar situations, but should I or shouldn't I, I still would do it......

 

[dodgeyhack]

30-40 years ago it wouldn't be that unusual for kids to be subjected to a lot of smoke filled rooms.
In this case I probably wouldn't. There's lots of countries where it's still like that and changing the situation for them this once isn't going to make a difference in the long run if that's the way their parents are.
Can understand why you did though. It's sad for the kids.

Were they Japanese? To me the kid doesn't look so.

 

[newmarket]

You should NOT be taking pictures of other people's children to post online.

 

[JohnK]

Kids cannot make these decisions. They should not be allowed in a smoking room regardless of whether their parents think the kids need to be in there with them or not.

Common sense says that you take turns to go and have a cigerette in the smoking room and let your kids breathe in clean air.

 

[casanovawa]

If the parent's care that little for their own health, or for that of their children, its probably not going to achieve much for the angst involved...

 

[TomVexille]

Yes we live in a nanny state, but the smoking bans of areas where kids may be is one of the best aspects of said nanny state.

 

[newmarket]

Yes we live in a nanny state, but the smoking bans of areas where kids may be is one of the best aspects of said nanny state.

Sure, but he is in Japan not Australia. It doesn't matter. It is wrong for leadman to post photo's of other people's children on the internet. It doesn't matter how wrong the parents are or how self righteous leadman is.

 

[leadman]

Point made and taken Newmarket, and agree. it was an innocent mistake as I had the camera trying to get a good shot of the 787 in JAL livery. will be more cautious next time.

 

[samh004]

You should NOT be taking pictures of other people's children to post online.

Personally I don't see the issue in this situation. Similar to taking any other photo where you inadvertently catch others in the background. If the photo was a little more focused on just the child it could be more of an issue I feel.

As for exposing kids to smoke, don't agree with it. However, I probably wouldn't intervene as it's their parenting. If they gave the child a cigarette, perhaps.

 

[incumbent]

Were they Japanese? To me the kid doesn't look so.

Why on earth would it matter, and how on earth can you tell at that distance? (And no, don't need another rehashing of various stereotypes)

 

[TomVexille]

Sure, but he is in Japan not Australia. It doesn't matter. It is wrong for leadman to post photo's of other people's children on the internet. It doesn't matter how wrong the parents are or how self righteous leadman is.

Thank you for clarifying the OP which I did read. Yes, posting the photo is probably not the right thing to do, and leadman agreed that it was an innocent mistake. I did think that my comment was in response to leadman's comment about Australia being a nanny state. Yes I do understand that smoking is completely acceptable in Japan. Doesn't mean that exposing children to it is a good idea.

 

[dodgeyhack]

Why on earth would it matter, and how on earth can you tell at that distance? (And no, don't need another rehashing of various stereotypes)

Who said it mattered?

 

[Shamrock55]

Likely they smoke in the same house and rooms as the kids if they are happy to do this in a public place.

So not much benefit by making an issue of what you say in the lounge, though there is no doubt to your good nature. I agree I would feel terrible watching it. But thats still the reality in many countries where people still smoke a lot.

I have many memories of running around Irish pubs when I was a kid breathing in all the adults smoke. Not great but its just the way it was and still obviously is.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Point made and taken Newmarket, and agree. it was an innocent mistake as I had the camera trying to get a good shot of the 787 in JAL livery. will be more cautious next time.

It may have been an 'innocent mistake' at the time of taking the picture, but it wasn't once you decided to publish the photo (or not withdraw it).

However - it depends if that is important.

I suppose I would advocate protecting the privacy of any individual, not just a child, in cases where a person might the the subject of the photo, but their identity is not an essential part of the story. I probably would have refrained from publishing or photo-shopped to blur the face.

Interesting issue however. But I guess there's not a lot that can be done. As other have pointed out, the child is probably subjected to smoking inside their house. The smoking room here looks fairly empty, not like the crowded ones at BKK or HKG (where children should probably be banned).

 

[prozac]

There are still many countries where smoking is quite acceptable. It may not fit with our modern cultural view but what difference is it that the child is exposed to smoke in their country of residence or in a smoking lounge? If it were in Australia you could make a song and dance if you chose to, but in another country you should respect the local cultural mores just as you would expect those people to respect your culture if they were in Australia.

As for posting a photo of a child, I think it is pretty hard to make out any facial features in that photograph.

 

[leadman]

Thanks and understand the comments, and my apologies I did not know I could edit, so its done, withdrawn. Apologies to those I offended as I did not mean any wrong. In my role in Asia I see a lot of harm to people and the environment and its a case of, yes you have to say something. Just to clarify, I only spoke to the lounge staff, no one else, and I did not make a big act about it. they were pleasant in suggesting that I sit somewhere else in the lounge. It is not my right to tell parents how to raise children and I did not overstep the mark here.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It is not my right to tell parents how to raise children and I did not overstep the mark here.

It is an interesting issue. There are part of Tokyo where smoking is not allowed on the streets (Shinjuku for example) - so it's not like the Japanese are unaware of the impact on those who don't smoke or wish to be exposed to smoke. Similarly China also has smoking bans in some buildings, clubs and bars. So they are aware of the issues.

Perhaps the parents hadn't turned their mind to the potential dangers and you saying something could have at least given them food for thought. Perhaps an email to JAL customer services recommending a ban on children in smoking rooms? At least that gives you the opportunity to try and deal with the problem, and you've probably done all you can.

 

[Pushka]

I grew up in an era where smoking was prevalent in theatres, restaurants and planes. Its just a matter of history. I would not have done anything.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I grew up in an era where smoking was prevalent in theatres, restaurants and planes. Its just a matter of history. I would not have done anything.

I agree - but that doesn't mean it's 'right' to apply those same standards now. We've had amazing advances in science and health in the last 20-30 years - we know a lot more now than we did then. We know it's right to protect children from second hand smoke. It is confronting when we see things we know are wrong.

But the issue is universal - human rights are abused all over the world, but it's not easy to effect change.

 

[Pushka]

I agree - but that doesn't mean it's 'right' to apply those same standards now. We've had amazing advances in science and health in the last 20-30 years - we know a lot more now than we did then. We know it's right to protect children from second hand smoke. It is confronting when we see things we know are wrong.

But the issue is universal - human rights are abused all over the world, but it's not easy to effect change.

Sure. But is it right to impose what we see as wrong in our culture in another?

Pretty sure there are things that other cultures might see as harmful in our culture but is it their right to point that out to us?