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hey'll just stand on the street, unless that is banned too?

Think they were planning on banning this too.

There's nothing worse than sitting outside on a sunny day, enjoying some fresh air and some twat lights up their cigarette and inflicts it on everyone else. Those flavour vapes too
There really is no argument for it being allowed.

"They'll get over it" isn't a justification for banning something (or for introducing any legislation for that matter). We shouldn't use it against others because we don't ever want it used against us. The whole point of Dunt's piece is that there is a liberal principle that we should apply to any such suggestion i.e. that we should be free to do what we like if it doesn't cause harm to others.

Nobody used "they'll get over it" as a reason, that's a strawman. Millions of people dying slow, early unnescessary deaths is a burden on us all. Smoking, like the combustion engine, the wood fired stove, is coming to an end, because it kills us. Those whining about liberty are a minority, it's to be expected, but it wont have any effect on the wider trend of society moving away from things who's benefits are far outweighed by the suffering they cause, or which can easily be replaced.

Interesting dog - cat equivalence.

Touché.

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The extent to which govt should legislate / regulate to protect people against themselves is an interesting debate.

Its a self-correcting balance that every government strikes, and despite the obvious problems with our system, governments generally reflect society. Some changes are lead by government, some by society, but each one catches up with the other.

For ~85% of the population only small dogs are on the list that they can choose from, so it’s a little more balanced than it appears (from that particular perspective).

They really do use that. Quoting from just one post here:

Smokers will be annoyed and then they’ll get over it and start being annoyed at something else.

The problem is that humans are hugely resilient animals and we can live relatively normal lives under really adverse conditions. The majority of the Russian population seem to have "got over" the fact that they live in an appalling kleptocracy led by a sociopathic gangster.

I'm not opposed to a fair level of government control, especially in public spaces where our actions effect others (e.g. SUVs) but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't have that liberal principle at the heart of law-making.

maximum number of cats you can have in a house is 3.

3 seems quite generous. I assume it's because there are people with 2 cats, but no one ever stopped at 3.

that doesn't mean that we shouldn't have that liberal principle at the heart of law-making.

Jonathan Sumption did the Reith Lectures a few years ago and discusses the amount of legislation. Probably still on BBC Sounds.

However, I'm not sure what the liberal principle you're referring to is?

This is part of bringing in mandatory cat licensing- they said that they won’t destroy the fourth cat should you have one, it can die of natural causes.

Essentially that you should be able to do what you want, as long as it doesn't cause harm to others.

What constitutes "harm", the level and directness of the harm, and the effect of removing someone's right to do something are all things that then have to be considered.

They really do use that. Quoting from just one post here:

For clarity, is your misinterpretation of that wilful or due to a lack of comprehension?

Cats generally don't like sharing their space with other cats.

Don't Switzerland have a rule that you can only buy rabbits and guinea pigs in pairs, as they are social animals?

Lots of countries ban ferrets

Do they even like sharing spaces with people?

To be fair I have two cats and anyone who wants four should be put in jail

When I met my now wife, she had 4 cats (potential red flag).

Were down to 1 now.

They literally use the words "they'll get over it".

I'm not saying that there aren't good reasons to consider banning smoking; I'm saying that just asserting "they'll get over it" as a way of dismissing people's objections to the introduction of a new law is not something we want to encourage.

"Cycle helmets should be made mandatory. Cyclists will complain at first, but they'll get over it."

My late great aunt had 9 cats in a 1 bed, 3rd floor flat in brixton. Quite grim now that I think back

Why?

So the nazi party looks like winning the election in Germany.

No one seems to have mentioned this.

User name checks out

They literally use the words "they'll get over it".

Was just trying to ascertain if you were being thick or dishonest. Thanks for clarifying.

Righty ho. Thanks for contributing.