M
makare
My sister was on my side trying to get my mom to quit for years. Then she started smoking at 14. People can know the danger and still do it.
- Status
Cajungal
Staff member
I think it does affect people differently. My mom quit when she was young. Dad was going to the store, and he said, "Cigarettes?" She thought for a moment and said, "Nah." I've known people who are hurting after 20 years and people who can smoke one and take it or leave it. I guess you're lucky.
You sound like someone who sometimes enjoys one as opposed to someone who's addicted to them fortunately. It happens, and I suppose plenty of teens think that will be them--until it isn't. Biology's an odd thing.
I know people that quit who can't stand the smell of a cigarette any more... of course i guess that doesn't mean they don't get a craving.
Added at: 07:12
Smoke enough and you get addicted, some people probably just have a higher tolerance...
C
Chibibar
If I offended you, I'm sorry. I have quite a bit of friends who either have quit cause they can't afford it (find other stuff to do like video games), health reasons, and some are still addicted to the stuff. I believe that some of my friend who did manage to quit is pretty much the sheer will to quit. It is hard, but it can be done, but it is pure will.
The other method is chemical treatment but those are hard, expensive, and sometimes ineffective.
Also instead of spending millions of dollars on ads, why not spend that money on clinics? to me, I just think it is not as effective (but that is just me)
I'm exactly the same way.
You can quit whenever you want to, you just like always having a cigarette in your mouth, isn't that right, smoking baby...
It's not that I was offended (so no worries) as much as it seems that when people talk about alcoholism, pain killer addiction, or addiction to hard drugs like meth and coke, they talk about how hard it is to quit, and how horribly addicting these drugs are, and how horrible it must be to be chemically dependent on these substances; but when people talk about smoking cigarettes, they talk about how smokers are choosing to destroy their lives or refusing to quit, and how raising the price of our drug source or showing us nasty pictures is supposed to magically make us less chemically dependent upon it.
C
Chibibar
I understand. I post on this thread cause I think the whole "nasty picture" isn't going to work. It is not a magic fix.
I should start a tobacco company that harvests only the highest quality tobacco plants farmed by Indians that still follow ancient customs and their medicine man personally blesses each leaf then sell then at 100 bucks a pack. Think I would have any takers?
I always fiddle with something else when I'm at bars... But then again I'm banned from almost every one...
C
Chibibar
In this day and age? I am sure you can actually sell it. There are always people who are eccentric enough to buy that
J
JCM
Such pictures have been on brazilian cigarette boxes, and it show a significant drop, specially among teenagers, who's rather not have to look at a dying man whenever he reaches for a cigarette.
However, it also has become part of our culture and jokes, for example;
A "mineiro" (guy from the state of Minas Gerais, the equivalent of a blonde in most jokes) asks for a box of cigarettes, looks at the cover and sees a picture of a burned out cigar and the words "SMOKING CAN CAUSE SEXUAL IMPOTENCE".
He then looks at the store owner and says "Can't you just give me the one that causes cancer?"
However, it also has become part of our culture and jokes, for example;
A "mineiro" (guy from the state of Minas Gerais, the equivalent of a blonde in most jokes) asks for a box of cigarettes, looks at the cover and sees a picture of a burned out cigar and the words "SMOKING CAN CAUSE SEXUAL IMPOTENCE".
He then looks at the store owner and says "Can't you just give me the one that causes cancer?"
O
Overflight
"Minas" is Portuguese for "mines"
In this day and age? I am sure you can actually sell it. There are always people who are eccentric enough to buy that
O
Overflight
Oh God, why did you have to remind me of that.
Aykroyd, dude! What the hell HAPPENED to you?
Aykroyd, dude! What the hell HAPPENED to you?
He became eccentric.
One could argue he's returning to his roots...
Just remember, those people are trying to kill you...
J
Jiarn
C
Chibibar
And now the tobacco company are fighting BACK!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44171861/from/RSS/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44171861/from/RSS/
So I wonder how many people that support this are against requiring the viewing of an ultrasound before getting an abortion?
And regarding the effectiveness, remember no one in government actually wants everyone to stop smoking. They get their money from the taxes, plus get an EVIL issue to fight and campaign against.
And regarding the effectiveness, remember no one in government actually wants everyone to stop smoking. They get their money from the taxes, plus get an EVIL issue to fight and campaign against.
C
Chibibar
personally I think it is a waste of money.
So is taking care of under and uninsured smoker's end of life medical needs.
C
Chibibar
That is where my socialist side come into play. I think everyone should have equal access to medical need as long they are citizens. Not a citizen, sorry bub, you better have insurance then.
Spend millions of dollars on a patient's terminal cancer because they thought smoking was cool.
Sold!
Seriously, I get addiction, and it sucks. And I think society has a role in the health and help of its people, but also you bear most of the personal responsibility for those choices. If you choose to smoke, and I choose to avoid that, or vice versa, why should the non-smoker pay for the smoker's expensive health treatments?
It's a complex question. It may be easy to decide when you're talking about an obvious poor choice like smoking that has a huge, huge end of life cost, but there are a lot of issues where the balance is much more difficult.
Same question, different line. How do we balance personal freedom vs personal choices incurring a cost on society.
Same question, different line. How do we balance personal freedom vs personal choices incurring a cost on society.
C
Chibibar
It is a good question and got me thinking quite a bit, but alas, I don't have the answers.
The only closest thing I can think of is a draconian method of society. If you are willing to hurt yourself, you are on your own, but that goes against my personal nature. I try to help people when I can, but lately I don't stop for strangers on the road anymore (if they have car issues), or give our change to beggers (illegal in Dallas). I do help random people when they are short on money at a restaurant, but I notice I am more weary of people in the world after reading stories about how some good Samaritan are robbed trying to help people with "car trouble"
- Status