First if the laptop looked like that on the inside then it maybe should have been denied service.
BUT then how would one clean that kind of mess? They can't open the chassis...that would definatley void the warranty.
Smoking is NOT illegal anywhere that I know of. If smoke residue can build up inside of a machine.....especially inside a laptop then one could argue that the machine design was at fault and not the fault of the owner who was doing nothing illegal.
So was the machine design at fault for not providing enough ventilation?
Or was the machine owner at fault for excessive smoking around the computer.....
Very very interesting!!!!
Tar sticks to everything, and sufficient airflow for ventilation can not in any way, shape or form be considered a design flaw in consumer electronics.
Amazing pics you found there! Disgusting to say the least.
Anyhow, although I don't smoke, and despise second hand smoke (yay for a state law that prohibits smoking inside!) I don't see how Apple can get away with this one. The right thing to do would be to either deny Applecare up front (which may fall into some sort of other legal issue) or to refund the customers their Applecare. Also, can anyone find this stated in the Applecare warranty, and when it was introduced into its legal terms?
Agreed the techs should be safe, but if smoker issues pose that much of a problem, then that part that voids the warranty should be stated up front clearly (unlike how I just phrased this sentence)
You fail test 101 of semi-consciousness: understanding your own prose. Thanks for agreeing that smoking is legal in Canada too.
Yikes. The rest of your post is an unadulterated rant, and not worthy of the time it will take to respond. In any event, by your own reckoning of how 'intense' you get on this topic, it will not appeal to your cognitive sense, so why bother. (If I might, you sound like someone who has had a terrible family experience with a smoker who suffered. If that's the case, my sympathies).
I don't think the point is the legality of the issue. The point is that nearly every warranty is qualified in that it will not cover abuse, misuse, or accidental damage of whatever component. Tar from tobacco smoke is covered in at least two of those categories.
I used to be a repair tech for Apple and I gotta tell you, people treat their computers like crap. Having seen some of the absurd abuse damage people brought in, I think this was much more than a case of Apple trying to be cheap about honoring the warranty. I once had a guy bring an iPhone in that he had dropped in the toilet. He brought it in in a plastic bag, with water AND PISS in the bag. Obviously, this isn't the same issue, but as a consumer you have to reasonably realize that there are certain things that just aren't covered. Smoking around your equipment and having it damaged is as much your fault as if I'm drinking a coke at my computer and spill it. Not Apple's fault or obligation to cover it (and by the way, on several occasions, I covered/repaired such situations along with many of my co-workers).
My point is this: I've seen 'the other side' of Apple's tech support and it is superior to anything else out there. They have to deal with so much crap and get no credit for all the good services they provide.
Its kind of nice to work for them anymore...now I'm allowed to post on forum topics ;P
Amazing pics you found there! Disgusting to say the least.
Anyhow, although I don't smoke, and despise second hand smoke (yay for a state law that prohibits smoking inside!) I don't see how Apple can get away with this one. The right thing to do would be to either deny Applecare up front (which may fall into some sort of other legal issue) or to refund the customers their Applecare. Also, can anyone find this stated in the Applecare warranty, and when it was introduced into its legal terms?
Agreed the techs should be safe, but if smoker issues pose that much of a problem, then that part that voids the warranty should be stated up front clearly (unlike how I just phrased this sentence)
Now that is a very good point! Should there be a warning that excessive smoke can be harmful to your computer!!! Lol :-) The same warning they have on a pack on cigs.........
I have worked on and built enough computers and have seen some pretty gross stuff from bugs and fleas inside of a computer tower to pet dander and none of it could be considered healthy to be around.
I just don't think they should have denied warranty replacement or service. As stated by others here that tar from cigarette smoke will eventually cog up the working parts inside of a tower and a laptop then Apple should give explicit warning about this voiding the warranty.
They might be doing this already hidden in the small print somewhere......
I don't think the point is the legality of the issue. The point is that nearly every warranty is qualified in that it will not cover abuse, misuse, or accidental damage of whatever component. Tar from tobacco smoke is covered in at least two of those categories.
I said nothing about damage to the machine in anything I wrote above, so I have no idea what you're referring to.
You may want to read the headline of this thread, for starters.
I used to be a repair tech for Apple and I gotta tell you, people treat their computers like crap. Having seen some of the absurd abuse damage people brought in, I think this was much more than a case of Apple trying to be cheap about honoring the warranty. I once had a guy bring an iPhone in that he had dropped in the toilet. He brought it in in a plastic bag, with water AND PISS in the bag. Obviously, this isn't the same issue, but as a consumer you have to reasonably realize that there are certain things that just aren't covered. Smoking around your equipment and having it damaged is as much your fault as if I'm drinking a coke at my computer and spill it. Not Apple's fault or obligation to cover it (and by the way, on several occasions, I covered/repaired such situations along with many of my co-workers).
My point is this: I've seen 'the other side' of Apple's tech support and it is superior to anything else out there. They have to deal with so much crap and get no credit for all the good services they provide.
Its kind of nice to work for them anymore...now I'm allowed to post on forum topics ;P
We have a family friend that does repair work for Apple. I have heard numerous stories about computer abuse. Apple has always been very very gracious with warranty replacement/service so this really stands out to me as out of the norm for Apple.
I have worked on and built enough computers and have seen some pretty gross stuff from bugs and fleas inside of a computer tower to pet dander and none of it could be considered healthy to be around.
I just don't think they should have denied warranty replacement or service. As stated by others here that tar from cigarette smoke will eventually cog up the working parts inside of a tower and a laptop then Apple should give explicit warning about this voiding the warranty.
I used to be a repair tech for Apple and I gotta tell you, people treat their computers like crap. Having seen some of the absurd abuse damage people brought in, I think this was much more than a case of Apple trying to be cheap about honoring the warranty. I once had a guy bring an iPhone in that he had dropped in the toilet. He brought it in in a plastic bag, with water AND PISS in the bag. Obviously, this isn't the same issue, but as a consumer you have to reasonably realize that there are certain things that just aren't covered. Smoking around your equipment and having it damaged is as much your fault as if I'm drinking a coke at my computer and spill it. Not Apple's fault or obligation to cover it (and by the way, on several occasions, I covered/repaired such situations along with many of my co-workers).
My point is this: I've seen 'the other side' of Apple's tech support and it is superior to anything else out there. They have to deal with so much crap and get no credit for all the good services they provide.
Its kind of nice to work for them anymore...now I'm allowed to post on forum topics ;P
Seriously, the guy just bagged up the phone with the toilet water?! That screams bio-hazard. Thanks for fixing our computers though!
I don't think the techs should be working on tar infested machines. I just think it should be clearly stated in the warranty. I'd like some proof that its there. If not, then Apple should just refund people their extra Applecare warranty and tell them to take the machine elsewhere.
Seriously, the guy just bagged up the phone with the toilet water?! That screams bio-hazard.
I don't think the techs should be working on tar infested machines. I just think it should be clearly stated in the warranty. I'd like some proof that its there. If not, then Apple should just refund people their extra Applecare warranty and tell them to take the machine elsewhere.
That would be a great idea. When buying Applecare they should a question "Are you a smoker?" then it would direct you to a page with a disclaimer that too much smoking over an extended period of time with be harmful to both the machine and that could void the warranty. Then there would be a little "I Agree" button to proceed with the purchase.
That would be a great idea. When buying Applecare they should a question "Are you a smoker?" then it would direct you to a page with a disclaimer that too much smoking over an extended period of time with be harmful to both the machine and that could void the warranty. Then there would be a little "I Agree" button to proceed with the purchase.
No, it wouldn?t. AppleCare protects against manufacturing issues. Nothing about tar smoke or dropping an iPhone in a toilet is a problem is a problem with the manufacturing.
Warranties are insurance against the manufacturer?s error, not your own. I?m always amazed that people feel entitled to be able to do the stupidest things with their products and expect that someone else should pay for their stupidity.
Sledge hammers are legal but I smash up my Mac with one I will not be expecting a free replacement. if My house catches fire and the soot and smoke clogs my Mac my home owners insurance will pay for a replacement.
Well this is your mistake, you are assuming that everywhere is like the USA. In Canada it's illegal in most public places, all indoor public places, all restaurants, bars, and public buildings and on all sidewalks within 10 metres of the building. You can smoke in your car, your house, and on a residential sidewalk but that's about it. New laws will be coming into effect banning even more places next year. There are countries with more severe restrictions than us, but I am not going to look them up for you.
I appreciate I am being a bit intense about my views here, but you just don't have an argument. Nothing you say has made any kind of logical sense. Smokers are drug addicts. People don't like to think about it that way and it's rude of me to keep saying it out loud perhaps, but it's a plain and simple fact. Ask your doctor. Or come up with one single argument as to why smoking *isn't* drug addiction.
I'll come right out and say it that I'm a smoker, but with that said, I am probably one of the most conscientious smokers you'll find out there. You're pointed remarks that smokers are drug addicts is flat out wrong and it speaks from your personal hatred of smokers, which is evident. Yes, nicotine is an addictive drug, but not all who smoke become addicted. In fact, many willingly walk away, and I've known quite a few. You can't be an addict if you can willing quit. I guess that proves you wrong. Frankly, I despise your type who think its their business to tell others what they should and should not be doing and how to do it. Funny you come from Canada. By the way, I'm not sure where you hail from in the nation that is our attic, but I would rather be a smoker who lives in the beautiful, clean New England than a so called "healthy" individual who has lived in a city all their lives. Every time I drive to NYC for a visit, I laugh to myself as I imagine all those poor saps living is that DISGUSTING blanket of haze that's called pollution. So think twice before you go lecturing smokers my friend, because there is much much more out there that is at least as deadly as cigarette smoke.
As for Apple, if they are going to be in the business of denying customer repairs based on OSHA governance, I think they should openly disclose that their AppleCare is voided if the customer smokes. I personally have never heard of tar build up in electronic devices before, but being a smoker who never smokes inside any kind of building, even my house (how gross), I guess I wouldn't know.
And I thought dust was the only thing to worry about.
You know, I think this is a good move for Apple. Anyone with much experience working on consumer electronics should think this is a good thing for Apple. I've repaired computers and other consumer electronics for about 13 years, and it is really appalling to see what shape the interiors of these things are like. I lived in a dairy county in central texas for awhile, and computers clogged with dairy dust are like magnets for cockroaches. We charged $120 just for containment, extermination and cleaning on these machines. Also, tar from cigarettes, dust and human hair are more than just allergens and irritants to human systems; when they build up in sufficient quantities or in just the right places, they actually can form a path for electrons to migrate across, creating shorts in the hardware. So you've got to discharge all the capacitors and soak the darned piece in pure denatured alcohol (depending on what it is, of course) for long enough to dissolve the tar, and then attempt to put it back together after it is brushed and dried and hope for the best. It's labor intensive, most shops aren't willing to even attempt such an operation (for good reason), and replacement under warranty should not be covered by misuse or abuse. And that's what neglecting your electronics is. Clean your stuff! Put a pair of pantyhose over your vacuum hose and clean that nonsense out every once in awhile. 2 users reporting denial does not constitute corporate greed, it seems to indicate a couple of severe, isolated cases, not a widespread conspiracy.
And for the record, addicted smokers are drug addicts. So are people addicted to caffeine, and every other 'legal' substance added to foods and sundry items. It is what it is, and rose-colored glasses don't change anything. Deal with it.
Well, hmmmm.....I could buy a new MacBook Pro for $2200 or a new Dell Latitude for $1200.
With Dell, I have the option to buy a four year warranty. And how many years is Applecare? Two, maybe three years at most?
AppleCare is one year by default, 3 years extended. I?ve dealt with many machines from corporate to consumer over the decades and I can assure you that Apple?s warranties are the best I?ve seen/ They are very lenient compared to others. You can?t say that about Dell. Just hope to god that you?ll never need to use your Dell warranty.
I appreciate I am being a bit intense about my views here, but you just don't have an argument. Nothing you say has made any kind of logical sense. Smokers are drug addicts. People don't like to think about it that way and it's rude of me to keep saying it out loud perhaps, but it's a plain and simple fact. Ask your doctor. Or come up with one single argument as to why smoking *isn't* drug addiction.
I would qualify as being on the left to right wing people. I agree that if the computer in question had excessive smoke damage that it probably shouldn't be fixed under warranty, as I know heavy smoking people who smoke around their computers indoors, it is indeed gross and damaging to the hardware in high enough amounts.
As for everything else you said, I'd have to say that you should probably try doing some traveling if you haven't already, because your views are very extreme and honestly off-putting. Your rhetoric could use some work as well. The world is not as black and white as far lefties or far righties make it seem. Applying the label of drug addicts with no control over their actions to all smokers, brushing off the opinions of nobel prize winners, and refusing to listen to another point of view besides picking out the parts you want to argue with is not a good way to get people on your side.
Comments
Now this brings up a few things......
First if the laptop looked like that on the inside then it maybe should have been denied service.
BUT then how would one clean that kind of mess? They can't open the chassis...that would definatley void the warranty.
Smoking is NOT illegal anywhere that I know of. If smoke residue can build up inside of a machine.....especially inside a laptop then one could argue that the machine design was at fault and not the fault of the owner who was doing nothing illegal.
So was the machine design at fault for not providing enough ventilation?
Or was the machine owner at fault for excessive smoking around the computer.....
Very very interesting!!!!
Tar sticks to everything, and sufficient airflow for ventilation can not in any way, shape or form be considered a design flaw in consumer electronics.
Just say no! Your computer will thank you!
Amazing pics you found there! Disgusting to say the least.
Anyhow, although I don't smoke, and despise second hand smoke (yay for a state law that prohibits smoking inside!) I don't see how Apple can get away with this one. The right thing to do would be to either deny Applecare up front (which may fall into some sort of other legal issue) or to refund the customers their Applecare. Also, can anyone find this stated in the Applecare warranty, and when it was introduced into its legal terms?
Agreed the techs should be safe, but if smoker issues pose that much of a problem, then that part that voids the warranty should be stated up front clearly (unlike how I just phrased this sentence)
You fail test 101 of semi-consciousness: understanding your own prose. Thanks for agreeing that smoking is legal in Canada too.
Yikes. The rest of your post is an unadulterated rant, and not worthy of the time it will take to respond. In any event, by your own reckoning of how 'intense' you get on this topic, it will not appeal to your cognitive sense, so why bother. (If I might, you sound like someone who has had a terrible family experience with a smoker who suffered. If that's the case, my sympathies).
I don't think the point is the legality of the issue. The point is that nearly every warranty is qualified in that it will not cover abuse, misuse, or accidental damage of whatever component. Tar from tobacco smoke is covered in at least two of those categories.
And that's just OSHA my friends. Wait until Obamacare is shoved down our throats .....
'Obamacare down our throats?'
Heh heh, sorry, I cannot resist this: http://blackliberal.files.wordpress....-smoking-2.jpg
My point is this: I've seen 'the other side' of Apple's tech support and it is superior to anything else out there. They have to deal with so much crap and get no credit for all the good services they provide.
Its kind of nice to work for them anymore...now I'm allowed to post on forum topics ;P
Amazing pics you found there! Disgusting to say the least.
Anyhow, although I don't smoke, and despise second hand smoke (yay for a state law that prohibits smoking inside!) I don't see how Apple can get away with this one. The right thing to do would be to either deny Applecare up front (which may fall into some sort of other legal issue) or to refund the customers their Applecare. Also, can anyone find this stated in the Applecare warranty, and when it was introduced into its legal terms?
Agreed the techs should be safe, but if smoker issues pose that much of a problem, then that part that voids the warranty should be stated up front clearly (unlike how I just phrased this sentence)
Now that is a very good point! Should there be a warning that excessive smoke can be harmful to your computer!!! Lol :-) The same warning they have on a pack on cigs.........
I have worked on and built enough computers and have seen some pretty gross stuff from bugs and fleas inside of a computer tower to pet dander and none of it could be considered healthy to be around.
I just don't think they should have denied warranty replacement or service. As stated by others here that tar from cigarette smoke will eventually cog up the working parts inside of a tower and a laptop then Apple should give explicit warning about this voiding the warranty.
They might be doing this already hidden in the small print somewhere......
I don't think the point is the legality of the issue. The point is that nearly every warranty is qualified in that it will not cover abuse, misuse, or accidental damage of whatever component. Tar from tobacco smoke is covered in at least two of those categories.
I said nothing about damage to the machine in anything I wrote above, so I have no idea what you're referring to.
You may want to read the headline of this thread, for starters.
I used to be a repair tech for Apple and I gotta tell you, people treat their computers like crap. Having seen some of the absurd abuse damage people brought in, I think this was much more than a case of Apple trying to be cheap about honoring the warranty. I once had a guy bring an iPhone in that he had dropped in the toilet. He brought it in in a plastic bag, with water AND PISS in the bag. Obviously, this isn't the same issue, but as a consumer you have to reasonably realize that there are certain things that just aren't covered. Smoking around your equipment and having it damaged is as much your fault as if I'm drinking a coke at my computer and spill it. Not Apple's fault or obligation to cover it (and by the way, on several occasions, I covered/repaired such situations along with many of my co-workers).
My point is this: I've seen 'the other side' of Apple's tech support and it is superior to anything else out there. They have to deal with so much crap and get no credit for all the good services they provide.
Its kind of nice to work for them anymore...now I'm allowed to post on forum topics ;P
We have a family friend that does repair work for Apple. I have heard numerous stories about computer abuse. Apple has always been very very gracious with warranty replacement/service so this really stands out to me as out of the norm for Apple.
I have worked on and built enough computers and have seen some pretty gross stuff from bugs and fleas inside of a computer tower to pet dander and none of it could be considered healthy to be around.
I just don't think they should have denied warranty replacement or service. As stated by others here that tar from cigarette smoke will eventually cog up the working parts inside of a tower and a laptop then Apple should give explicit warning about this voiding the warranty.
Bingo! Well-said.
What a bunch of whining Pussies here.
I used to be a repair tech for Apple and I gotta tell you, people treat their computers like crap. Having seen some of the absurd abuse damage people brought in, I think this was much more than a case of Apple trying to be cheap about honoring the warranty. I once had a guy bring an iPhone in that he had dropped in the toilet. He brought it in in a plastic bag, with water AND PISS in the bag. Obviously, this isn't the same issue, but as a consumer you have to reasonably realize that there are certain things that just aren't covered. Smoking around your equipment and having it damaged is as much your fault as if I'm drinking a coke at my computer and spill it. Not Apple's fault or obligation to cover it (and by the way, on several occasions, I covered/repaired such situations along with many of my co-workers).
My point is this: I've seen 'the other side' of Apple's tech support and it is superior to anything else out there. They have to deal with so much crap and get no credit for all the good services they provide.
Its kind of nice to work for them anymore...now I'm allowed to post on forum topics ;P
Seriously, the guy just bagged up the phone with the toilet water?! That screams bio-hazard. Thanks for fixing our computers though!
I don't think the techs should be working on tar infested machines. I just think it should be clearly stated in the warranty. I'd like some proof that its there. If not, then Apple should just refund people their extra Applecare warranty and tell them to take the machine elsewhere.
Seriously, the guy just bagged up the phone with the toilet water?! That screams bio-hazard.
I don't think the techs should be working on tar infested machines. I just think it should be clearly stated in the warranty. I'd like some proof that its there. If not, then Apple should just refund people their extra Applecare warranty and tell them to take the machine elsewhere.
That would be a great idea. When buying Applecare they should a question "Are you a smoker?" then it would direct you to a page with a disclaimer that too much smoking over an extended period of time with be harmful to both the machine and that could void the warranty. Then there would be a little "I Agree" button to proceed with the purchase.
With Dell, I have the option to buy a four year warranty. And how many years is Applecare? Two, maybe three years at most?
Dell covers accidental damage, no problem. If Apple suspects that the damage was accidental, you the consumer are screwed.
If MacIntoshes are superior to PCs, then why are the PC warranties much better? What extra value would I get by spending $1000 more for a MacIntosh?
I am not a fan of the evil empire, but Apple makes it very risky to buy a machine that you would trust your clumsy 8 year old son to use.
I wonder if Apple employs the same rules for Cannabis infested Macs?
The techs don't report that....they just inhale rather deeply!!! :-)
That would be a great idea. When buying Applecare they should a question "Are you a smoker?" then it would direct you to a page with a disclaimer that too much smoking over an extended period of time with be harmful to both the machine and that could void the warranty. Then there would be a little "I Agree" button to proceed with the purchase.
No, it wouldn?t. AppleCare protects against manufacturing issues. Nothing about tar smoke or dropping an iPhone in a toilet is a problem is a problem with the manufacturing.
Warranties are insurance against the manufacturer?s error, not your own. I?m always amazed that people feel entitled to be able to do the stupidest things with their products and expect that someone else should pay for their stupidity.
Sledge hammers are legal but I smash up my Mac with one I will not be expecting a free replacement. if My house catches fire and the soot and smoke clogs my Mac my home owners insurance will pay for a replacement.
Well this is your mistake, you are assuming that everywhere is like the USA. In Canada it's illegal in most public places, all indoor public places, all restaurants, bars, and public buildings and on all sidewalks within 10 metres of the building. You can smoke in your car, your house, and on a residential sidewalk but that's about it. New laws will be coming into effect banning even more places next year. There are countries with more severe restrictions than us, but I am not going to look them up for you.
I appreciate I am being a bit intense about my views here, but you just don't have an argument. Nothing you say has made any kind of logical sense. Smokers are drug addicts. People don't like to think about it that way and it's rude of me to keep saying it out loud perhaps, but it's a plain and simple fact. Ask your doctor. Or come up with one single argument as to why smoking *isn't* drug addiction.
I'll come right out and say it that I'm a smoker, but with that said, I am probably one of the most conscientious smokers you'll find out there. You're pointed remarks that smokers are drug addicts is flat out wrong and it speaks from your personal hatred of smokers, which is evident. Yes, nicotine is an addictive drug, but not all who smoke become addicted. In fact, many willingly walk away, and I've known quite a few. You can't be an addict if you can willing quit. I guess that proves you wrong. Frankly, I despise your type who think its their business to tell others what they should and should not be doing and how to do it. Funny you come from Canada. By the way, I'm not sure where you hail from in the nation that is our attic, but I would rather be a smoker who lives in the beautiful, clean New England than a so called "healthy" individual who has lived in a city all their lives. Every time I drive to NYC for a visit, I laugh to myself as I imagine all those poor saps living is that DISGUSTING blanket of haze that's called pollution. So think twice before you go lecturing smokers my friend, because there is much much more out there that is at least as deadly as cigarette smoke.
As for Apple, if they are going to be in the business of denying customer repairs based on OSHA governance, I think they should openly disclose that their AppleCare is voided if the customer smokes. I personally have never heard of tar build up in electronic devices before, but being a smoker who never smokes inside any kind of building, even my house (how gross), I guess I wouldn't know.
And I thought dust was the only thing to worry about.
You know, I think this is a good move for Apple. Anyone with much experience working on consumer electronics should think this is a good thing for Apple. I've repaired computers and other consumer electronics for about 13 years, and it is really appalling to see what shape the interiors of these things are like. I lived in a dairy county in central texas for awhile, and computers clogged with dairy dust are like magnets for cockroaches. We charged $120 just for containment, extermination and cleaning on these machines. Also, tar from cigarettes, dust and human hair are more than just allergens and irritants to human systems; when they build up in sufficient quantities or in just the right places, they actually can form a path for electrons to migrate across, creating shorts in the hardware. So you've got to discharge all the capacitors and soak the darned piece in pure denatured alcohol (depending on what it is, of course) for long enough to dissolve the tar, and then attempt to put it back together after it is brushed and dried and hope for the best. It's labor intensive, most shops aren't willing to even attempt such an operation (for good reason), and replacement under warranty should not be covered by misuse or abuse. And that's what neglecting your electronics is. Clean your stuff! Put a pair of pantyhose over your vacuum hose and clean that nonsense out every once in awhile. 2 users reporting denial does not constitute corporate greed, it seems to indicate a couple of severe, isolated cases, not a widespread conspiracy.
And for the record, addicted smokers are drug addicts. So are people addicted to caffeine, and every other 'legal' substance added to foods and sundry items. It is what it is, and rose-colored glasses don't change anything. Deal with it.
Peace Out.
Thank you for that sensible post.
Well, hmmmm.....I could buy a new MacBook Pro for $2200 or a new Dell Latitude for $1200.
With Dell, I have the option to buy a four year warranty. And how many years is Applecare? Two, maybe three years at most?
AppleCare is one year by default, 3 years extended. I?ve dealt with many machines from corporate to consumer over the decades and I can assure you that Apple?s warranties are the best I?ve seen/ They are very lenient compared to others. You can?t say that about Dell. Just hope to god that you?ll never need to use your Dell warranty.
I appreciate I am being a bit intense about my views here, but you just don't have an argument. Nothing you say has made any kind of logical sense. Smokers are drug addicts. People don't like to think about it that way and it's rude of me to keep saying it out loud perhaps, but it's a plain and simple fact. Ask your doctor. Or come up with one single argument as to why smoking *isn't* drug addiction.
I would qualify as being on the left to right wing people. I agree that if the computer in question had excessive smoke damage that it probably shouldn't be fixed under warranty, as I know heavy smoking people who smoke around their computers indoors, it is indeed gross and damaging to the hardware in high enough amounts.
As for everything else you said, I'd have to say that you should probably try doing some traveling if you haven't already, because your views are very extreme and honestly off-putting. Your rhetoric could use some work as well. The world is not as black and white as far lefties or far righties make it seem. Applying the label of drug addicts with no control over their actions to all smokers, brushing off the opinions of nobel prize winners, and refusing to listen to another point of view besides picking out the parts you want to argue with is not a good way to get people on your side.