In the recent postal survey about same-sex marriage, I voted yes. I didn't do this because I am gay (I'm not), because I believe in marriage (I think it's absurd), because I have a gay family member who has struggles (to the best of my knowledge, I don't),  because I enjoy the gay mardi gras (I don’t like community events), or because I wanted to help the nation piss Tony Abbott off  (as noble an idea as that is).

I voted yes because I believe that any human being should be able to do whatever they want, so long as they are not adversely affecting anyone else.

Read more from Philosophically Yours: Debate is so much bigger than same-sex marriage

Given that gay marriage directly impacts on no one other than the two-people getting married, I cannot see any reason to object to it. It is absolutely none of my business and, for that reason, I found it offensive that we were being asked to vote.

I am also a strong advocate for the legalisation of all narcotics and associated drugs.

I can't see a single logical, evidence-based rationale for drugs not being freely available to people aged over 18 through licensed premises like hotels.

The fact is, I can get these drugs on the street (and they will often be unclean). If they were legal they would be clean, the crime element would be significantly reduced and an education campaign could be funded with the money saved from the unsuccessful war on drugs.

Consistent with these views, I would never argue that tobacco in any form be banned. Every person who wants to smoke has a perfect right to smoke, so long as they affect absolutely no one else. I suspect that most smokers and non-smokers would agree with me.

That said, earlier this week I was walking through the CBD first thing in the morning breathing in the pipe tobacco smoke from a fellow walking ahead of me. A day later, I was walking down another street in a crowd breathing in the smoke from a cigarette being hoovered by a fellow walking a few paces ahead. This happens to me a lot.

So if people find it offensive when I fart in their faces, why would they think it acceptable to breathe in their tobacco smoke? If I would be charged with a crime for putting arsenic in some one’s water, resulting in their death, why would it be any different when I am subjected to tobacco smoke?

The fact is, no amount of tobacco smoke is good for you --. and any amount of tobacco smoke in my lungs is bad for me. This poison has the potential to trigger one or more of a number of cancers and research is beginning to suggest that vaping devices may not be any safer.

So I have to ask: Does anyone have the right to put my health at risk by breathing smoke over me and those around me?

And given that cigarette butts are not biodegradable, what right does a smoker have to drop a cigarette butt in the street? Not only is this illegal, it is damaging the planet that my children and their children have to live on.

The big question then, and taking into account my belief in civil liberties, should Australia take a lead from Singapore and ban smoking in all public places? 

Further to this, should it be illegal to smoke in a car that is co-habited by a child? Does any parent have the right to put their child’s life at risk?

This article is not about smoking. It is all about civil liberties.

Just as a smoker has a right to smoke, and should retain that right, I have a right to breathe air that will not give me cancer, and our children have the right to not have their world destroyed by pollution and their lungs destroyed when travelling to school in the morning.

What do you think? You can contribute to this debate any time.