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When 50% of the population smoked, smoking in bars was accepted. Non-smokers who didn't want to spend an evening wreathed in smoke didn't go to bars. Those who

When 50% of the population smoked, smoking in bars was accepted. Non-smokers who didn't want to spend an evening wreathed in smoke didn't go to bars. Those who did knew what they were in for. I think approaching people to try to get them into bed is a lot like smoking. At one time, 50% of people in a bar were engaged in that activity. If you went to a bar in the evening, you knew that would be a part of the environment. That doesn't mean it wasn't annoying or awkward for the people being hit on who just wanted to enjoy an evening with friends. It's understandable too that as it becomes rarer, it also is more likely to be seen as creepy, just as smoking has become more offensive as it becomes more rare.

kthejoker2 7y ago
Counterpoint: showing up at a bar that encourages smoking is a much stronger signal when there are less people that do it. A human voluntarily showing up at a bar in the age of Tinder is a strong signal, too. So in theory the "creepiness" of assuming their intention to meet others as potential dating material should reduce as well. And just like it would be gauche to go as a nonsmoker to a smoking bar and complain about the smoke in your face, it would be the same to go to a singles bar and complain about the unwanted attention of other patrons.