Public Asked to Choose the Hand Signal that Will Solve Beijing's Smoking Problem. Uh Huh.

Steven Schwankert | Apr 14, 2015 10:00 am | 5 comments | 3856 reads

The people who brought you approved moves for dancing grannies are now seeking public input on an official hand signal to be used for citizen enforcement of yet another Beijing smoking ban.

As we noted Monday, the smoking ban is set to go into effect on June 1 throughout the city. The last time a comprehensive city-wide smoking ban was implemented in Beijing, on May 1, 2008, it lasted about four days. This time, individuals are set to be fined RMB 200, and establishments that do not address smoking could be slapped with a RMB 10,000 penalty for violations.

Part of the campaign involves establishing an official hand signal to that concerned members of the public can use against smokers. Three images have been put forward as choices. Let's take a look:

1. What it's supposed to mean: "I am bothered by your smoke."

What we think it means: It looks like a cast member from The Mikado covering her mouth as she laughs.
 

2. What it's supposed to mean: "Please stop smoking."

What we think it means: You're in time out, mister. Either that or, your kung-fu is pretty good. But mine is better. Ha ha. Ha ha ha ha.
 

3. What it's supposed to mean: "Smoking is not allowed here."

What we think it means: Talk to the hand, smoker man.
 

Now here are three images we think illustrate how well the new ban will succeed:

"To which sign are you referring, exactly?"
 

"I couldn't see that sign, it was behind me."
 

"That sign only refers to the other table."

We're looking forward to June 1.

Images: China Daily, CityLab, WBUR, World's Best Site

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admin's picture admin Submitted by Guest on Tue, 04/14/2015 - 11:27

To add the "No Smoking Beijing" Wechat account, search either 无烟北京 or wuyanbeijing

Once you follow the account, go in to view it.

To report a smoking violation, go to the third option on the menu bar at the bottom "控烟行动" (marked as 1 below) then choose "我要举报" (marked as 2) from the pop-up menu

You can type in the name of the place, address, what you see or even add a picture or video.

 

Books by current and former Beijinger staffers

http://astore.amazon.com/truerunmedia-20

Steven Schwankert's picture Steven Schwankert Submitted by Guest on Tue, 04/14/2015 - 10:38

This is a joke. The definition of smoking "outside" in our building is in the stairwell -- not a fire exit, but the only up-down access corridor in a six-storey office complex. The only hand signal that's going to be used during this campaign is a fist, when smokers threaten or attack people who try to send them into nicotine time out.

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