"Thanks, Tobacco: You Killed My Mom"

reply to post by Mynaeris
agreed. It is useless to waste time on people who refuse to look at the science. They continue to state over and over that there is no conclusive proof that smoking causes lung cancer, in spite of statistics that show higher rates of lung cancer in people who smoke.
It is my personal, and never to be humble opinion, that the mininum tax on a pack of cigarettes should be $10.00 at the Federal level. That money could then be used to help fund the medicare and social security shortfall.

reply to post by GradyPhilpott
Amazing. I was having this discussion with someone tonight about a relative of mine who is an alcoholic, and how his attitudes and thought processes had changed. (He's always looking for an argument, drunk or sober.) It the same with smokers.
I confront them them every day and get the same arguements everyone is getting here. They just don't want to face up to their addiction.

It is always sad when somebody dies, even sadder when the death could be prevented.

I am not giving tobacco companies a pass for adding worse chemicals to their product, but nobody has to smoke the 1st cigarette.

Nobody has to start smoking, drinking, drugs, or any other damaging or risky behavior. If you have started you can quit ... it maybe a struggle to quit, but it is possible.

Smoking is unhealthy and needs to banned from public places ... although by each business or local vote (not by the feds ... smaller government is the way to go)

Originally posted by kettlebellysmith
reply to post by Mynaeris

 

agreed. It is useless to waste time on people who refuse to look at the science. They continue to state over and over that there is no conclusive proof that smoking causes lung cancer, in spite of statistics that show higher rates of lung cancer in people who smoke.
It is my personal, and never to be humble opinion, that the mininum tax on a pack of cigarettes should be $10.00 at the Federal level. That money could then be used to help fund the medicare and social security shortfall.

So if you truly believe that Cigarettes are evil why be a hypocrit and use evil money?

Here in Australia we already pay nearly $10 tax per packet of cigarettes anyway with each increment rise spouted as being for the increase to pay for future medical treatment due to "smoking related" illnesses not to bankroll everyone elses medicare and social security. Pay for that yourself through your own increased taxation Thank You.

Of course, like everything else, it gets funneled into consolidated revenue.
So no one really knows if its being put aside for "smoking related" illnesses.
Chances are it doesn't.

What this really needs is proper education to people -- both smokers and non-smokers.

People need to understand and accept that everyone has the right and choice to enjoy a habit/pastime/indulgence.

However, those indulging in said pasttimes also need to understand that if what they indulge in can affect those around them, either directly or indirectly, the need to show some respect and appreciation of that, especially if it's something like smoking where controlling the smoke itself isn't as easy as something say alcohol (unless it's in vapour form but that isn't too common! )

Now, I'm not pointing a finger at all smokers because there are lots who smoke and DO respect the fact that, nowadays, it's becoming a minority and very socially unacceptable (at least in North America and the UK).

But when I say education I don't mean the typical adverts or school advisors who only show and detail the worst aspects of smoking. Because while those aspects may be true, they end up putting people into either the "all for" or "all against" camps. And when that happens, you force people to have very extreme, very opposing views. And those views solidify over the years from a young age and end up becoming rigid beliefs which are very hard to change.

So rather, I'd like to see something that shows the harmful and addictive nature of smoking, but then compare it to things like alcohol or prescription medication, etc -- show that how *anything* can be addictive and have negative affects on people and those around them. Show that we're "human beings" and we enjoy these pastimes and we always will. But that we need to be mindful of others who do not and when these pasttimes can affect others, we need to be aware of it and adjust our behaviours accordingly.

I don't know what the exact 'education' should be. Im' just mind-dumping here. But all I know is what is being sold to us as 'education' of smoking (and other substance usages) nowadays seems to only further divide people to the furthest ends of the spectrums rather than meet in the middle to come up with logical solutions that both sides can agree on. Sigh....

even water can kill you if you drink too much.

if you smoke you get cancer, that obvious. so why don't you just stop smoking?

Originally posted by Mynaeris

Originally posted by BlesUTP
reply to post by Mynaeris

 

i never walked past you before

and i have respect for other people, i dont smoke indoors i go outside. its not hard to not be an a-hole

Smokers I dislike most are:

Smokers who smoke just outside the doors of stores and malls.

"Polite" smokers who walk down the street and turn away from their companion to exhale and blow it into your face instead.

Smokers who insist on standing in line smoking so that everybody else can inhale their smoke.

Smoking parents who smoke while handling their infants.

Smoking parents with children with asthma who won't quit.

I think thats a good start - there are more if you would like me to continue.

I am a smoker and I agree with most of the points made here by Mynaeris...
I hate to preach to people but, seriously if you don't care for your well-being show a little respect for the well-being of the children!!! It breaks my heart when I see parents smoking with kids in the back seat and you see the poor kids coughing and their cough sounds like an actual smokers cough...it really makes me want to give them a piece of my mind!!!

Anyways, as a smoker we need to understand that our smoking DOES harm others if they inhale the second hand smoke or as some one mentioned Third hand. I don't see smoking as a conspiracy, it is our own will to smoke or to quit. At the moment I have cut down to 3 cigarettes a day with the help of patches, hopefully within a month I won't be wasting my health and money on just "smoke".. might as well be rolling up money and smoking it

QUIT SMOKING: www.outsmartcigarettes.com.au...

I found this humorous, as it relates to those ardently defending the use of cigarettes:

I recognize six stages of development in the addict:

1. Delight and Discovery

2. Protection and Promotion

3. Defense and Denial

4. Resentment and Relapse

5. Acceptance and Abstinence

6. Growth and Gratitude

The addict may oppose any social or legal restrictions on use of their particular addictive; all restrictions seem unduly harsh, the addict tends to view him or herself as a rebel or enlightened reformer. The circle of real friends grows smaller while the devotion of fellow users is mistaken as real friendship. At this point the addict is protecting the trigger from blame, protecting use of the trigger and still attempting to promote its use by others.

Addictions

Most of those defending tobacco use are in stages 2 and 3.

[edit on 29-1-2009 by Avenginggecko]

Thats right all you anti smokers keep bashing the filthy cancer sticks while you continue to consume the heap of chemicals in the food you eat... now there is some body pollution. why don't they make cigarettes illegal , why don't they remove all the pollution from our food... why in the hell would any of the mega corporate elites want the population healthy... healthy is less money.

Cancer care is a #ing joke anyways, they haven't updated the technology or methods at all in the past 30 years.... pathetic

[edit on 29-1-2009 by aLinkToThePast]

Originally posted by aLinkToThePastCancer care is a *bleeping* joke anyways, they haven't updated the technology or methods at all in the past 30 years.... pathetic

Really?

Link1
Link2
Link3
Link4
Link5

And that's barely even looking...

In the past 10 years there have been some fantastic breakthroughs in cell imaging, nanoscale drug delivery and cell physiology that I don't recall hearing about 20+ years ago.

Originally posted by aLinkToThePast
Thats right all you anti smokers keep bashing the filthy cancer sticks while you continue to consume the heap of chemicals in the food you eat... now there is some body pollution. why don't they make cigarettes illegal , why don't they remove all the pollution from our food... why in the hell would any of the mega corporate elites want the population healthy... healthy is less money.

Cancer care is a #ing joke anyways, they haven't updated the technology or methods at all in the past 30 years.... pathetic

[edit on 29-1-2009 by aLinkToThePast]

Some of us 'anti-smokers' actually do take care to keep the crap in GMO foods out of our bodies

Also, unless you include the methane from my farts, me eating unhealthy food doesn't have a direct impact on your health. Oh, and I make every effort to pass gas in privacy.

So someone was dumb enough to knowingly smoke a carcinogenic substance and then died. What's the big deal?
I'm more concerned with the chemicals and hormones that are spiked into our drinking water and foods. You know, the ones that are within "acceptable healthy limits".
We already see the effects on fish and other wildlife, the feminization of species. Not good for our, or any other species' long term reproductive health.

Then again, if the NWO was going to cull the population, this would be an excellent under the radar method.

PS to the guy who said we should legalize hard narcotics : Yes, we should. We can tax the sale of said substances, and classify them as restricted substances like alcohol and cigarettes. The allure of being a badboy who is cool and dangerous by doing drugs would be somewhat lowered, as well.

Before prohibition drugs were not a big problem, heck we even gave hard drugs to babies as medicine, and things worked out ok. Sure, there are some people who have addictive personalities, but if we taxed the sale of these substances, we could use the proceeds to help the problem users like AA does for alcoholics. Everybody wins, and we have some extra money to invest into education, social programs, or infrastructure.

Originally posted by noonebutme

Originally posted by aLinkToThePastCancer care is a *bleeping* joke anyways, they haven't updated the technology or methods at all in the past 30 years.... pathetic

Really?

Link1
Link2
Link3
Link4
Link5

And that's barely even looking...

In the past 10 years there have been some fantastic breakthroughs in cell imaging, nanoscale drug delivery and cell physiology that I don't recall hearing about 20+ years ago.

Most of the links you posted are reasearch facilities they have not been implemented and made avaliable to the public yet. If they have it would be only for the people who can afford the extra thousands upon thousands of dollars. I was referring to what is used to treat cancer for the majority chemo..

Originally posted by Avenginggecko

Originally posted by aLinkToThePast
Thats right all you anti smokers keep bashing the filthy cancer sticks while you continue to consume the heap of chemicals in the food you eat... now there is some body pollution. why don't they make cigarettes illegal , why don't they remove all the pollution from our food... why in the hell would any of the mega corporate elites want the population healthy... healthy is less money.

Cancer care is a #ing joke anyways, they haven't updated the technology or methods at all in the past 30 years.... pathetic

[edit on 29-1-2009 by aLinkToThePast]

Some of us 'anti-smokers' actually do take care to keep the crap in GMO foods out of our bodies

Also, unless you include the methane from my farts, me eating unhealthy food doesn't have a direct impact on your health. Oh, and I make every effort to pass gas in privacy.

Yes some.. some meaning very few,. most on the other hand don't . When i say most i mean almost all, just because you think you eat healthy doesn't mean your actually eating healthy. Unless you are eating 100% organic, no chemicals , artificial flavours, no soda drinks whatsoever, no juices which aren't purely from organic fruits.Noo fast food, noo restaurants... I doubt you overanalyze to this extent when buying food. Anything which has anything added besides the actual product,or grown without pesticides isn't natural or healthy.

ummm. stop driving a car....

[edit on 29-1-2009 by aLinkToThePast]

Originally posted by BlesUTP
while very touching, i think its safe to assume she killed herself.

nobody put a cigarette in her mouth, and how could you not be aware of the conditions that come along with smoking.

i smoke, maybe a couple a day, but if i were to die it wouldnt be anyones fault but my own.

the tobacco companies put out addictive cigarettes, yes, but nobody is forcing anyone to buy them. its called will power. and when i can gather up mine ill be quitting, or i wont and ill continue. but its my choice, just as it is everyone elses choice.

Fools believe this! Make Pot legal then. I smoke a pack a day and nobody forces me too...but I can't quit....self loathing to the max especially because I have 4 kids. Make me pay $50 a pack. Civilly commit me! You all are going to pay for us smokers. You all have to get our second hand smoke in Casino's and riding in our cars. You all have to work longer and harder because selfish bastards like me have to take a smoke break every 20minutes or when ever there is a crappy job that we don't want to do and you are the only one left standing around to do it.
...So do you all want to keep giving me the right to smoke...then give me the right to smoke pot.
...I can't quit! Do me a favor, do the people you love that smoke a favor, and make smoking illegal....we are addicted both physically but more damaging is that we are psychologically addicted. Don't even compare it to Alcohol...I love my beer but I wait until weekends or football. Sure some people can't handle it. I don't believe in making it illegal to ride a motorcycle without a helmet either. Nor a seatbelt. But these damn cigarettes own me and millions of us and it costs the rest of you a ton of money. I love my cigarettes...take them away from me please.

reply to post by aLinkToThePast


The 'ole tried and true car routine. Always a good fallback, eh? Some people aren't in areas where they can easily use public transit, so they are forced to take a vehicle to survive, whereas a smoker uses cigs for mere pleasure, and not survival.

And as far as eating healthy, if you visit Whole Foods, Central Market, or Sprouts (at least here in the South, I dunno about other places), it's pretty easy to do everything you listed above. All three chains I listed specialize in healthy/organic foods, and they are all large stores.

Different people react differently to different chemicals. My grandfather smoked from the time he was a wee kid till he was 95 and died in an unrelated matter. If you want to condemn the smokers though and ban their habit I would suggest getting rid of women's perfume. Most of those strong floral scents just stirs my allergies and I can't breathe. I've been in a car with four ladies carpooling to work and I have to hang my head out of the window because the mixed smells give me migraines and stuffy sinuses.

To make matters worse I have to sit nearly every day beside an older lady that literally bathes in the stuff. Seriously I can smell her coming from about 20-30 ft. I've even had to get allergy shots in a work day.

A funny story,many years ago while i was smoking,i heard about these herbal cigaretts ,they were cheaper so i thought lets give them a try, i was near some friends in a canteen while chatting i lit one up, shortly after a friend said ,,WHAT THE F--- is that smell ,we all looked around ,and i just could not stop laughing, it stunk so bad, the smoke was thick like a fire,but it was different,and so it was the topic of conversation for quite a while,i can still see their faces when i think about it, and it still makes me laugh.

Res Ipsa,

Have you tried Chantix?

www.mayoclinic.com...

It is no magic bullet - but I know a few of my highly stressed co-workers who swear it was the only thing that ever was powerful enough to make them quit.

(They tried all the patches, slow-down regimines, etc. beforehand)

seriously though - you need to quit before it is too late - I lost my mother and aunt to smoking - and both of them were active, healthy eaters - who should have had 20 more years easily.

Now they will never see their grandkids grow up.

(I didn't really know my grandparents either as they all died from smoking when I was a toddler as well)

If you do not want to devestate your family - you will set a date today to quit being a slave to this purposely deadly habit.

I pray you will!

reply to post by Flighty
That's your law. If I wrote the bill, all tax monies obtained from tobacco would be funneled into a special fund(interest bearing) that would be designated for healthcare use only. It would be UNTOUCHABLE!!!! In other words, a real trust fund, unlike the Ponzi scheme FDR foisted on us those many, many years ago, may he burn in hell forever.