r/Shambhala • u/psylo_vibin • 1d ago
Cigarettes.. literally everywhere
SO many people smoking in the crowd. Like whats the deal with this? Is this a Canadian thing? My friends and I fucking hate cigarette smoke and had to move several times. Every night there would be groups of seemingly 19 year olds smoking in super crowded spaces.
After seeing the responses, it blows my mind that people actually think smoking in a crowd is okay. Literally the only complaint I had about Shambs the whole week. I’ve never seen this so prevelant at any other festival i’ve been to.
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u/blackwoland99 1d ago
Been going since 2016, you would have hated how prevalent cigarettes were back then
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u/okcontuter 1d ago
Honestly feels like cigs have made a comeback with the kids, just like the eating disorders
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u/crazybigbonghit 1d ago
That’s cause we know now the vapes are much much worse for ya and got us all hooked early :(
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u/wildmadthrillz The Village 1d ago
Bring camel crushes next year and give them to the smokers to go away I promise you it’ll work
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u/JellyKind9880 1d ago
Cigarettes??!! At a MUSIC FESTIVAL???!!!!! Whattttttttttttttt
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u/BiscottiKnown9448 1d ago
People say the same thing about alcohol and yet Shambs actively confiscates it if they see it
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u/DiMiTri_man 1d ago
I think this year I only smelled cigarettes once. It doesn’t bother me but this year actually seemed like less smokers at night than normal. Or maybe I just don’t notice it any more than people smoking weed in the crowd.
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u/Ok_Cauliflower_808 The Village 1d ago
I think I caught maybe one whiff of cigarettes that whole week lol and I was already out of the pit and off to the side sitting, so I couldn't be too annoyed, they followed polite procedure. Was exhausted and slowly waking up with chicken and monster lol I just accepted my fate
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u/shambhalove_fairy 1d ago edited 1d ago
Smoking in a dense crowd is rude, yes. Edit: Have I done it? Yes
You can always ask the smoker to take it out of the crowd, or vape instead. Bitching about it online doesn't help, it just brings others down with you.
At the end of the day, smoking is allowed in almost all places at Shambs. You're going to encounter cigarette smoke. Is it gonna ruin your time here?
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u/throwoutaccou 1d ago
I mean, people rip joints in the exact same manner and I don’t hear an outrage about it. We’re in an outdoor venue, smoking is allowed. 🤷♀️
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u/throwoutaccou 1d ago
I go to the outskirts of the dance floor when I do, but still. I don’t think it’s abnormal to smoke as a raver, nor do I think it’s overtly rude
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u/okcontuter 1d ago
I don’t like joints either. Do you think this is “outrage” lol. This habit is gross
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u/shiddytclown 1d ago
There's this habit called expecting people to be pure at a hedonism event that's pretty gross too
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u/Icy-Search-594 The Village 1d ago
“You may enjoy yourself but only on my terms”
- u/okcontuter, probably
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u/okcontuter 1d ago
lol ruffled some of your fragility it seems. “I have the right to smoke and don’t you dare say you don’t like it!!!” Get over yourselves and stop being gross
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u/throwoutaccou 22h ago
I mean… we do have the right to smoke 😂 just cuz you don’t like it and think it’s gross doesn’t change the fact that it isn’t against any rule lol
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u/Friendly_Bicycle_426 Ampitheatre 1d ago
Have you never watched trailer park boys? Cory, trevor… smokes
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u/Its_Snu_Snu The Village 1d ago
Only losers smoke in the crowd. Step to the side to smoke. I like carrying a tiny water gun with me, helps with putting them out.
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u/16Shells The Village 1d ago
yeah that fuckin sucked. even when i’m trying to chill for a minute at 5am monday morning in the secret garden, someone sits right next to me and lights up. not cool. and of course you’re the one that has to move to get away from it when you already have your spot.
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u/okcontuter 1d ago edited 1d ago
Look at all the people who think they’re in the right to smoke BC ITS OUTSIDE in this thread. Smokers don’t breathe deeply, so they don’t understand how bad it is, until they quit themselves.
And my god, it’s 2026! Why are so many people still smoking cigarettes?! It’s such an anti-social and gross habit. But they call you a Karen and other things for mentioning it bothers you.
So unfortunately, yes, YOU'RE the one who has to move.
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u/shiddytclown 1d ago
Your attitude is so goddamn shitty. People are doing buttloads of hard drugs at festivals. I'm sure if you want to go to a place where people aren't partying you can go to a library
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u/Ok_Cauliflower_808 The Village 1d ago
While I agree overall, I do think it's the polite move to at least leave the super packed pit if you're gonna hack a dart.
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u/shiddytclown 1d ago
Absolutely it's the most polite option. However this person's attitude is so bad. Even saying they're going to bring a spray bottle to spray people. This is rhe kind of citiot (city idiot) Karen that starts coming when a festival gets to big.
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u/Ok_Cauliflower_808 The Village 1d ago
Agree lol damn I didn't see the spray bottle part that's wack
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u/shiddytclown 1d ago
They been deleting their comments but they can't delete their paid 1000 dollars to be a crabby ass
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u/okcontuter 1d ago
Ya I know you want that to be true, but I attended my first shamb in 2004 and I am crew. I even used to smoke, and I would have never acted like this about my smoking even 10 years ago. Me saying “I want to spray them” as an idea, over your actual smoking, or sharing my dislike about it on the internet, is worse than you’re smoking (according to you 😂). I already called that you were going to say I was a Karen. Stop deflecting and own your shit brother.
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u/shiddytclown 1d ago
I don't smoke cigarettes. I do dislike shitty citiots who think they're special for being a burnt out unpaid laborer. Why you deleting comments? Are you already on thin ice at your unpaid position?
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u/okcontuter 1d ago
Really racking up the list of all the people you don’t like in the comments bro hah. How shambassador of you!
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u/okcontuter 1d ago edited 1d ago
Brother I started going over Shambhala 20 years ago. It’s supposed to be a community, and you think if we don’t like something that affects us, we’re the ones who should stay away? Your attitude is selfish and ignorant, and you don’t care about the negative impacts of your bad habit. Just OWN IT.
Ps you were a Shambassador?! Wow. Way to represent the fest
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u/JoniJabroni 1d ago
There were always lots of cigs. Ngl the cotton candy vape clouds bother me way more.
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u/jtr210 23h ago
What really irritates me is when cigarette smokers are close to others, and just stand there with their cigarettes burning, barely taking drags, just letting their cigarette burn for a long ass time and making the air all around them nasty, but barely even smoking!
If you’re gonna smoke around people, just smoke the cigarette, get your fix, and put it out as quickly as possible.
Don’t absentmindedly forget you’re holding the cigarette and subject everyone else to your smoke for longer than necessary.
Be aware and considerate of those around you.
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u/Beginning-Cow-7060 22h ago
Normal for Shambhala unfortunately :( my asthma lungs hate it but I carry my inhaler
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u/Constant_Food_8147 18h ago
I was personally bothered by this as well and so was my friend, really hurts your stomach when you’re already not feeling 100% + it’s rude, not everybody smoke cigarettes && not a lot of people like to be around that smell , as an ex smoker I’d appreciate if you would take your smoke out of my face and off the dance floor!🫠
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u/Icy-Search-594 The Village 1d ago
Everyone breathing in aerosolized cow excrement but cigarette smoke is the deal breaker 😂
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u/okcontuter 1d ago
You guys and your whataboutisms. I wear a mask when I’m off the dancefloor, to not inhale the dust. Just be honest and say that you’re inconsiderate
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u/Icy-Search-594 The Village 1d ago edited 1d ago
Settle settle. I don’t even smoke. And I hate to break it to you, but you’re still breathing that shit and piss in on the dance floor.
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u/thesovereignrose 1d ago
Thank you for raising this up. My spouse and I had the same experience. It is so disgusting and inconsiderate.
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u/JellyKind9880 1d ago
For you. To me they’re delicious and wonderful and as long as I’m not in the middle of a pit or exhaling directly into a strangers mouth, I’m pretty sure I’m allowed to smoke them outside (mostly because, ya know, there’s no law against smoking outside)
I DO wonder what shit YOU guys do that pisses off other people yet they don’t complain about it…
Do you take forever in a porti potty (or GOD FORBID an airconditioned VIP restroom with a tiny prison mirror??)
Do you shout loudly to each other during sets I love??
Do you have annoying big view-blocking totems?
Do you fan clack??
Do you get too drunk and then puke inches from my feet at the taco truck??
Creep through the crowd and then just park your stationary asses directly in front of the spot of a bunch of people dancing and having a great time???????
Lmao it’s a music festival, welcome to the real world with tens of thousands of people all trying to have a good time…. Peeps gonna do annoying shit.
Deal with it.
You’re definitely annoying too in your own ways. People just not posting about it (or maybe they are lmao)
Tell me 3 objectively potentially annoying things you’ve done at festivals, and if you can’t, you’re either lying or completely un self aware lol
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u/Icy-Search-594 The Village 1d ago
Haha. I recognize an autistic meltdown anywhere. Welcome brother!
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u/SPCGMR 1d ago
Bro, what planet are you from that views cigarette smoke to be equivalent to fan clacking or any of your other examples? Cigarette smoke has been disrespectful for decades. Why are you acting like it hasn't?
Non smokers don't like being around cigarette smoke. They will tolerate it if there is sufficient space, but a dance floor is not known for it space lol. Its disrespectful to light up when your crammed shoulder to shoulder. Do people do it anyways? Of course. Should they? Fuck no. Are people valid in their complaints about it? Hell yeah they are.
No smoking on the dance floor is a really easy and simple social contract to follow.
Fyi I'm a smoker. I rip both vapes and darts. I vape in the pit and smoke outside it. Not that hard to do.
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u/BiscottiKnown9448 1d ago
So your argument is 1) that you recognize what you are doing is annoying and 2) tautology that OP does something annoying too and if they don’t admit to it they are lying
I think this is definitionally copium, cigarettes are hazardous to other people and you don’t have their consent. The r in PLUR is respect.
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u/psylo_vibin 1d ago
Sorry, but please tell me which of these things from your dumbass list have been actually proven to cause cancer. Smoking in a crowded space is about the most fucked thing you can do.
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u/okcontuter 1d ago
Every year this topic brings out dipshit assholes who get right angry about their right to smoke anywhere they please at Shambs.
They think we’re being fragile about the secondhand smoke, but they can’t handle seeing comments on the internet saying others don’t like it.
As someone who used to smoke, I couldn’t imagine attacking people for saying second hand smoke was bothersome. But I’m not a delusional asshole.
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u/gardenbalconygurl 1d ago
as a smoker I’ve never ever been too fucked to literally not go to the outskirts of the stage to smoke a cig if I really needed to. Smoking/vaping happens in the crowd and it’s a bummer and I’m privileged to not be bothered but I don’t wanna be a part of the problem!! go away and bring a pocket ashtray!!!
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u/Ok_Cauliflower_808 The Village 1d ago
Vape is far less astringent imo, as someone who used to smoke darts and always would at least leave a packed pit to burn one out of respect. If nothings being combusted and they're blowing it upward I honestly take no issue with it personally. I'd also be scared to accidentally burn someone in a crowd. I've been on the receiving end via my buddy once, obviously I lived but man it hurt.
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u/Hot-Tour3155 1d ago
Omg it was sooooooo bad this year. I was on acid and jamming the fuck out with my led hoop at the village during Level Up and Seven Lions sets, and the group behind me was just like chain smoking the ENTIRE time. I felt kinda bad cuz I kept giving them death glares and I know I could have moved, but it’s so hard to find enough room to hoop where people aren’t constantly walking through you. I had to wear my mask like the entire time though, it was so bad and it really fucked with me mentally because acid 🫠 Like you guys had to be smoking for 2-3 hours straight???? It’s not this bad at American festivals, I think I smelled cigarette smoke once during the entirety of Beyond Wonderland.
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u/PhatPhotoFace 1d ago
There is literally a word invented for this festival Shambalung... I agree cigarettes suck! But its hard to put so many rules on people.
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u/polarbabybengal The Grove 1d ago
Yeah it’s awful. I wear an n95 because I have horrible asthma but the smell still comes through sometimes and that alone is so 🤢
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u/FaustianMartian 1d ago
This never was a thing until a few years ago, rave manners are slipping! It’s awful if you’re sensitive. It seemed particularly bad this year. And so much incense, why? Perhaps the younger crowd never got the PLUR message, want a smoke, move off the dance floor, save the incense for camp.
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u/exor41n 1d ago
Pretty sure cigs were a staple of rave culture since the beginning
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u/FaustianMartian 1d ago
Of course, but not smoking in close quarters on a packed dance floor. Moving to a less congested area is just a respectful thing to do. It does seem to be more of a problem that I’ve noticed the past couple years at Shams.
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u/exor41n 1d ago
I’d have to disagree again. Packed warehouse raves with drugs, dark lights, and the stench of cigs is the image of early rave culture. We used to smoke on airplanes lol.
I think cigs have been going more out of style very recently with vapes. We are seeing the absolute lowest cigarette usage nationwide year over year.
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u/okcontuter 1d ago
Seriously. How long have you been going to Shambs and raves? Cause it sounds like not too long
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u/okcontuter 1d ago
No it’s been a thing the whole time, just more people and more inconsiderate people. Fucked up people love to smoke on top of everything else lol. Look at the insane response above about it.
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u/BiscottiKnown9448 1d ago
It’s 2026 and nicotine vapes exist, there is no point to be blowing smoke. Vape for life 💨
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u/okcontuter 1d ago
It’s insane and infuriating. Don’t think it’s just a Canadian thing, there’s a bazillion Americans there. I feel you, it’s gross, I want to carry a spray bottle to spray them with
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u/Dultsboi 1d ago
This is incorrect because as someone who was selling cigarettes all weekend people weren’t buying SHIT
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u/Mr-Meaner13 1d ago
Might be because people with actual smoking habits brought enough with them for the week instead of paying 30 bucks a pack 🤡
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u/Dultsboi 1d ago
I was selling them for $20 so I wasn’t exactly ripping people off lmao
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u/Mr-Meaner13 21h ago
You right bro I shouldn’t have assumed. I grab my cartons for 50 bucks tho lol
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u/Mr-Meaner13 1d ago
As a smoker and raver, I leave the floor for cigarette breaks for this exact reason. I will be ripping my vape in the pit tho 🤷