I wish more smokers did that. At least then I wouldn’t have to be exposed to their second-hand carcinogenics. I really hate the smell and what it does to breathing abilities (I’m asthmatic).
I quit driving. I love someone pouring a ton of pollutants tells me about the smoke from a little cigarette. While we’re at it, ladies didn’t you mothers tell you to take the stairs if others can smell your scent? Can’t believe you’re still using that gas mower that throws off more fumes than a Mac truck. Oh, nice that you can afford to keep your house at 72 degrees all year round. Love those PCBs from the electric plant. Ah, but don’t smoke the most highly taxed product in America, you might die 8 years early and help save Social Security. How many children do you have? I guess this old ball of rock can support another 7 billion Maybe I’ll quit smoking and start all of the above like all the other hypocrites.
Lewreader does sound bitter - probably because he thinks smokers are being singled out in a hypocritical, tunnel-visioned manner ( which they are ).I believe we have to have an “outlet” for that sort of prejudice. We can’t help ourselves-it’s in our Puritanical roots. If we
become more “permissive”
in other areas of society, we must
pick on someone or something else. It’s like a game of
whack-a-mole. It’s gonna pop back up somewhere.
Tobacco has been mass-marketed much like corn syrup
has over the last couple of decades, simply to meet the demand. The point is, for those who may not look at
health care epidemics besides the pulmonary kind,
you can find the result of the average American diet in
any hospital ICU -morbid obesity,diabetes,and yes, cardiovascular disease. But you are only beginning to
hear the first rumblings about the real dangers of using
corn sweetner. It’s not the sweetner itself, so much as
how the agriculture and food industries have marketed it.
It’s now in just about everything we consume. Look at
the ingredients label on a package of hot dog buns, for
example.Health care trends come and go,literally. It is
just so typical of our society, though, media driven as it
is, to focus on one health care problem while myopically
ignoring another that may be worse.
Not that we have ever been good at
getting out in front of these problems when there’s big money involved.
While I do get a little miffed at the constant demonization of smokers, I must concede one point: they do harm people other than themselves. I am talking about beyond the financial impact on health care. People who gorge themselves on sweeteners and have obesity related problems are harming no one but themselves. Second hand smoke, however, can be just as harmful as the direct stuff. While I support the rights of others to use tobacco, I am also concerned with my right not to have to inhale the smoke myself. It is quite a conundrum.
“While I do get a little miffed at the constant demonization of smokers, I must concede one point: they do harm people other than themselves. I am talking about beyond the financial impact on health care. People who gorge themselves on sweeteners and have obesity related problems are harming no one but themselves.”
cutiepie29 over 14 years ago
I wish more smokers did that. At least then I wouldn’t have to be exposed to their second-hand carcinogenics. I really hate the smell and what it does to breathing abilities (I’m asthmatic).
lewisbower over 14 years ago
I quit driving. I love someone pouring a ton of pollutants tells me about the smoke from a little cigarette. While we’re at it, ladies didn’t you mothers tell you to take the stairs if others can smell your scent? Can’t believe you’re still using that gas mower that throws off more fumes than a Mac truck. Oh, nice that you can afford to keep your house at 72 degrees all year round. Love those PCBs from the electric plant. Ah, but don’t smoke the most highly taxed product in America, you might die 8 years early and help save Social Security. How many children do you have? I guess this old ball of rock can support another 7 billion Maybe I’ll quit smoking and start all of the above like all the other hypocrites.
librisleo over 14 years ago
@Lewreader Bitter much?
bueller over 14 years ago
Lewreader does sound bitter - probably because he thinks smokers are being singled out in a hypocritical, tunnel-visioned manner ( which they are ).I believe we have to have an “outlet” for that sort of prejudice. We can’t help ourselves-it’s in our Puritanical roots. If we become more “permissive” in other areas of society, we must pick on someone or something else. It’s like a game of whack-a-mole. It’s gonna pop back up somewhere.
Tobacco has been mass-marketed much like corn syrup has over the last couple of decades, simply to meet the demand. The point is, for those who may not look at health care epidemics besides the pulmonary kind, you can find the result of the average American diet in any hospital ICU -morbid obesity,diabetes,and yes, cardiovascular disease. But you are only beginning to hear the first rumblings about the real dangers of using corn sweetner. It’s not the sweetner itself, so much as how the agriculture and food industries have marketed it. It’s now in just about everything we consume. Look at the ingredients label on a package of hot dog buns, for example.Health care trends come and go,literally. It is just so typical of our society, though, media driven as it is, to focus on one health care problem while myopically ignoring another that may be worse. Not that we have ever been good at getting out in front of these problems when there’s big money involved.
lazygrazer over 14 years ago
Saw a teeshirt the other day that said
I’M AN ORGAN DONOR! Gave my lungs to the tobacco industry.
zev.farkas over 14 years ago
Smoking: suicide bombing on the installment plan.
notinksanymore over 14 years ago
While I do get a little miffed at the constant demonization of smokers, I must concede one point: they do harm people other than themselves. I am talking about beyond the financial impact on health care. People who gorge themselves on sweeteners and have obesity related problems are harming no one but themselves. Second hand smoke, however, can be just as harmful as the direct stuff. While I support the rights of others to use tobacco, I am also concerned with my right not to have to inhale the smoke myself. It is quite a conundrum.
nobody_special Premium Member over 14 years ago
notinksanymore said,
“While I do get a little miffed at the constant demonization of smokers, I must concede one point: they do harm people other than themselves. I am talking about beyond the financial impact on health care. People who gorge themselves on sweeteners and have obesity related problems are harming no one but themselves.”
Unless they trip and fall on you … :P