Politics of Smoking

POLITICS
1

I post this thread so that the CHUD-munity© will have a place to discuss smoking, both pros and cons, outside of the realm of the “Quitting Smoking” thread.

To start it off, does anyone have any opinions on our President’s habit? This person seems awfully concerned with his private buisness

I’d posted about this issue before, so to catch everyone up on where I stand on this particular political pickle, here is that post:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Princess Kate View Post Is she kidding? Mr President, I implore you to keep smoking. Your example is the best thing to happen to the image of smoking in this nation since Sean Connery* first lit up as Bond in the era of Camelot. Do not bow to the pressure. You ate salmon and rice EVERY night of the campaign. In this nation where the average fifth grader is overweight, you are a shining example of fine health. Do not listen to these whiners who want to destroy your calm, and peace of mind. Alexander the Great was not a smoker (He may have tried hash in India). However, if he were, he’d not have stopped in the middle of an Afghan war. That’s just craziness! * Stay cool and stay smoking, Mr President. I like to think of you out on the south portico, taking a drag and plotting the future of our nation. I wouldn’t have it any other way PS: A fictional smoking President
2

I have no idea why anyone, especially a woman, would smoke.

Smoking:

Shortens your life by decades

Stains your fingertips

Stains the skin around your mouth and nose

Fucks up your hair

In general ages you

Fucks up your lungs

Gives you a disgusting hacking cough as parts of your lungs eject themselves through your mouth

Give you a man’s voice (ok if you’re a man I guess)

Makes you stink

On the other hand, if more people smoke our heatlhcare costs will go down. After all, if more people die young we won’t have to spend $ to keep them alive!

3

but…but…it makes you cool…right??

4

Hi, long time lurker first time poster… ok, that’s out of the way:

I got to say there’s more to it than simply “but it makes you cool right?” or pictures of James Bond. Considering the title of the thread I think there’s a lot of territory to be covered in the political realm of smoking laws.

The potential implications of smoking bands, limitations, etc. makes for an exciting civil rights debate. If you want to go ahead and smoke, I think we can all look past why and ultimately say, suite yourself, sure thing, but at the same time we can’t pretend 2nd hand smoke doesn’t exist nor should we exaggerate it’s results (especially when it occurs outdoors). So naturally, if not too painfully obvious, there’s a great and in my opinion interesting conflict of interests here.

What do you guys think about those proposals (rumors?) of Bloomberg to outlaw cigarette smoking in public parks in NY?

5

every time I see one of those Truth commericals…I want to buy a pack. Just like MADD stuff.

6

I would like to personally thank each and every smoker for joining the Mortality Acceleration Program. The more you smoke, the less you’ll draw from Social Security and Medicare.

7

Quote:
Originally Posted by lordelsey View Post every time I see one of those Truth commericals…I want to buy a pack. Just like MADD stuff.

I feel you man, when Supersize Me came out every time I heard the dude inteviewed I was itching for some Maccas.

8

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cylon Baby View Post On the other hand, if more people smoke our heatlhcare costs will go down. After all, if more people die young we won’t have to spend $ to keep them alive!

Lung cancer is a pretty cost-intensive disease to treat, so probably not.

9

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chavez View Post Lung cancer is a pretty cost-intensive disease to treat, so probably not.

Has anyone actually done the math? I always wonder that when people assert that “X costs us Y billions per year.”

10

I can understand some kid in 1955 who started smoking because it looked cool and had no clue about the health risks.. But how can anyone, with the mountain of PSAs, warning labels, and general outcry, start smoking today and then act like some kind of victim when they get sick?

11

Smoking is disgusting, stupid, and dangerous. I smoked for six years, and I regret every puff I ever took.

12

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cylon Baby View Post I have no idea why anyone, especially a woman, would smoke.

For the life of me, I cannot figure out what gender would have to do with it

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cylon Baby View Post Shortens your life by decades!

Not true, necessarily. There are health risks, but unless you get lung cancer (which is far from certain), “decades” is a gross exaggeration

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cylon Baby View Post Stains your fingertips!

This may be true, I’m not certain. I don’t smoke enough for that to happen. I have a little mark on the palm of my right hand from holding my glass piece, but that goes away if I stop smoking for a few weeks. So, I don’t think the “skin stains” factor should influence anyone’s personal smoking decisions.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cylon Baby View Post Stains the skin around your mouth and nose

That sounds a little suspicious. If that does happen, I’d have to assume you’d be smoking quite alot before you were ever in danger of your nose changing colors. And again, I don’t smoke that much so that’s not really a deterrent

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cylon Baby View Post Fucks up your hair

I’ve never heard of such a thing, even in the TRUTH ads

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cylon Baby View Post In general ages you

Ok, I’ve heard this one before and believe it to be true. However, isn’t that one of the main reasons to smoke in the first place? (Making you look more mature?)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cylon Baby View Post Fucks up your lungs

True. 100%. Then again… so does living in Los Angeles, the anti-smoking capital of the world!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cylon Baby View Post Gives you a disgusting hacking cough as parts of your lungs eject themselves through your mouth

Um, I think you’re thinking of sharing a telepod with a fly, or maybe cancer or something. Regular smoking does not cause you to cough up any organs

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cylon Baby View Post Give you a man’s voice (ok if you’re a man I guess)

I have no idea how much you’d have to smoke for that to be true, but definitely 2 PPD+

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cylon Baby View Post Makes you stink)

Correction: Makes you smell (like smoke). Not the worst smell in the world. Grow up.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cylon Baby View Post On the other hand, if more people smoke our heatlhcare costs will go down. After all, if more people die young we won’t have to spend $ to keep them alive!

I’m more worried about the fact we’re turning into a nation of fat people, than the small fraction of the population that smokes. Oh, and unless you’re really unlucky, you won’t have any illness from smoking right up untill you get sick enough to die from it (if that even happens). Being fat and lazy causes a life time of expensive health issues.

13

If you’re younger than 35 and still smoke, you don’t want to quit and still think it’s cool, you’re a moron and a deluded douchebag who will hamper the medical system with their failing health.

Even worse here, as the state will pay for these fuckers. Yeah, they’ll die sooner, but they’re gonna be way more sick with lung cancers and other smoking-related diseases.

14

There is absolutely no good reason to smoke. None whatsoever.

15

I’ve never smoked, but the number of people I’ve seen try to quit and fail, over and over again, tells me it’s gotta be the most addictive shit in the world. If you quit smoking successfully, you should feel free to try any other drug, because from what I can see you can definitely kick any habit.

16

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad Millette View Post There is absolutely no good reason to smoke. None whatsoever.

It’s a wonderful social tool. Some of the best times in my life were had sharing cigs with friends

17

Then you’ve led a shitty fucking life.

18

Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil View Post I’ve never smoked, but the number of people I’ve seen try to quit and fail, over and over again, tells me it’s gotta be the most addictive shit in the world. If you quit smoking successfully, you should feel free to try any other drug, because from what I can see you can definitely kick any habit.

It’s weird. My dad was part of the greatest generaton and got free Lucky Strikes during the war. He got back home, and despite smoking from age 14, quite cold turkey. My mom was the only person to complete the stop-smoking program she took when I was born. The only time in my life I’ve smoked regularly, during July 2004 when I was at the Boston DNC and was buying my own packs, was a breif experience. I got home, had one craving, and then just stopped and never thought about it again (craving wise). I’ll smoke if others are having one, but feel no need to have cigs. That’s not to say I havn’t struggled with addiction, just not from cigs. I find them almost entirely non-addictive, compared to other stuff

19

Phil, I don’t know the science behind it, so I can’t say whether nicotine addiction is particularly severe. But the fact is that part of why it’s so hard for people to quit is that it’s so fucking easy to get a pack of cigarettes. That willpower can break down so easily when a fix is just five bucks a gas station away. I know that was one of the biggest difficulties for me, passing gas stations on the way to work and having to fight that temptation to buy a pack.

20

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad Millette View Post Then you’ve led a shitty fucking life.

Brad! Tractor beams! Pull up, PULL UP!

(You’ve done the favor for me in the past. Thought I’d return it.)