In regard to "Got a light?" by Bridget Sharkey (Oct. 24), I think the author overreacted a bit to a simple question. I doubt the guy had the intent to force upon you thousands of years of gender stereotypes in a simple three word question. You gave him far too much credit. It was just a simple question that asked whether you smoked or not.

Did you bother to ask him if he thought that smoking made guys' teeth yellow and their "breaths stink and stuff?" When I see girls smoking as I am walking past them on the quad, the image of a "prostitute" or a "sex pot" does not pop into my head. I merely wince as they blow the acrid smoke into my path and whisper, "ugh." Actually, I do that for anyone, not just girls.

I must admit that I am not thinking about their long-term health when I disapprove of strangers smoking. It's not that I don't care about it, it's just that the negative aesthetics of smoking are so much more apparent in my conscious. Had I stepped into cow manure, I assure you the first thing I would think about is the smell, and in a far second are thousands of microbes living inside that could cause harm to me later.