Smokers - Could there be stupider people?

[Doot]

I dunno. Most people who smoke at this point were introduced at a young age to smoking. Peer pressure and the like. The thought process of knowing that it's something sstupid and harmful isn't present. This is something that has been happening for a while that I think, with the education being provided via the Nations #1 Babysitter (ie TV) and the truth.com ads will show waning numbers in children picking up smoking. More often than not, you will find statistically that when under the age of 18 is when most people take up smoking.

Impressionable, they become addicted. Nicotine is addictive. No matter what. you got through withdrawels from smoking just as much as any other habit you form, any other addiction you crave. So in the time you usually occupy yourself with such a thing, you find another.

People who want to quit smoking and people who know to be mindful in the situations, not assholes. People who knowingly and just don't care who they offend with smoke, assholes.

I don't condone smoking, in fact when I see people do it that I care about, I tell them they need to stop and I leave it at that. It is a disgusting act, but one that is very hard to break.

I've lost my grandfather to the likes of it. My mother, I'm sure it helped with her untimely leave of this earth, and me and Sakura are the only ones out of 5 siblings that don't smoke. So I don't praise people who do it but I understand what struggle it is to quit. (Especially when you have to pay TOO DAMN MUCH for the patch or gum or what what) If truth.com really wants ot help, then they need to offer those to smokers for free.

[SluggerGirl]

Everybody has control over their own lives. It's the fact that some people are just not ready to quit. They are/and will be ready when they want to be ready. All in due time, my friend. Therefore, if everybody has control over their own lives.....doesn't that make them not an asshole? If I am correct?

Also, to them [the smokers], they do think they have a logical reason for smoking.....relaxation on their behalf. Therefore,....if that is a logical reason for some people....then, it is not stupid. It might be stupid to some people, but not to others.

We all think differently on this matter...everybody has their own opinions. However, that is no reason to call somebody an asshole...or what they are doing is stupid. People do what they want to do. I'm sure you do what you want to do, am I correct? Well, then, let others do what they want to do. This is America....we just fought for our freedom! We have the freedom to think how we want to think, the freedom to do what we want to do.

Some smokers might be considerate enough to leave a non-smoking room to go have a cigarette...I for one do that, when I feel the need for one. Others...that do not do something like that....leave a group of people who don't smoke.....yes, I do feel that they are inconsiderate of others around them and their feelings.

[Geron]

Listen, all I'm asking is for smokers to have rights to. I defend big tobacco two because my family's crop business in the Philippines sells to Philip Morris International. The truth.com people have come and sent letters to us and in a nearly borderline threatening manner said that since we're selling to them, we're part of the problem.

WHAT THE FUCKING HELL!?!?

So in logic, those who sell plastic to Ford are killers to because they couldn't protect people enough from car crashes!?

And don't give me that old truth.com commercial bullshit either. Tobacco is more hazardous than car crashes! OH SHUT THE FUCK UP!

Alright, listen, we know what we smokers are getting into and we know its bad side, alright?!? But sometimes we need to escape the harsh reality that there are people like truth motherfuckers who go onto a Spanish Inquisition because of what we do.
Just leave us alone, and TONE DOWN THOSE DAMN COMMERCIALS!

We don't want to hear some teenage bitch with a noserign blaspheming that Tobacco companies drive ambulances around town while drunk and hit old people with them and then put them into their cigarettes! We just want to hear "smoking is bad for you, so lay it down" THAT'S IT!

No blaming the companies! NO saying the CEOs are cocksuckers! Just a warning about the product they sell! THAT'S IT!

Now I'm off to smoke. anyone who wants to join me can!


[To razer: Wait, I'm the bad one here cause I smoke?! I'm just wondering ::drag from cigar, blows smoke away from his face, just to be polite:: ]

[Doot]

Quote:

I defend big tobacco two because my family's crop business in the Philippines sells to Philip Morris International.

This will explain why you feel so personally attacked by Razers view on smokers.

Quote:

So in logic, those who sell plastic to Ford are killers to because they couldn't protect people enough from car crashes!?

With this flawed analogy in mind, what preventative measures do "Big Tobacco" make to ensure the health and well-being of it's consumers? Please enlighten me, I'd like to know.

Quote:

And don't give me that old truth.com commercial bullshit either. Tobacco is more hazardous than car crashes! OH SHUT THE FUCK UP! Just leave us alone, and TONE DOWN THOSE DAMN COMMERCIALS!

Have a remote? Change the channel. Hit mute.

Quote:

No blaming the companies! NO saying the CEOs are cocksuckers! Just a warning about the product they sell! THAT'S IT!

Knowingly selling something that is proven in medical, scientific records for the deterioration and mass amounts of deaths of people isn't the fault of the companies selling it. It is within the responsibility of the person to be educated enough to NOT do something harmful to their bodies.

But it just goes to show how much money will always weigh heavier than a human life.

Albeit generalizing about calling all smokers "assholes" isn't correct, but with comments like some of them reading through these posts with expletives galore sure isn't helping your argument.

Let's try to keep this civil.

[KenseiKurisuchan]

Let's all take a deep breath.

Razer, I know how you feel. I lost my favorite uncle to ciggarettes. He died of lung cancer two years ago. We all loved him, and we tried to get him to stop. But the truth is, smoking is addictive. In the end, he was actually able to quit, but it was too late. Fortunately, he was also kind. He never smoked near anyone, no matter what the circumstance was. And he hated smoking. But he couldn't stop. I know exactly what you mean when you say they're all assholes, but the truth is, a lot aren't. You can be a good person and smoke. I know that it's dangerous, even to those around you, but it's hard for those people to stop.
But, I understand Geron's side as well. Razer, you have to remember that you can't see this from a smoker's point of view. Geron has stated that he too has some problems, and smoking is his way of escaping. I do that too with writing. My habit's a little less dangerous, but it's just a different way. And I can also see what he means about the truth.commies. If some carpal tunnel syndrome awareness group came in every time I typed, I'd be quite pissed as well. I know the dangers of typing, but it helps.
That's my....3 cents.
Sorry if I offended anyone with this post.

[GAAZ]

What's really funny is that people expect tobacco companies to fund organizations to help stop smoking like rehab or something...Yet ALCHOHOL manufacturers get off scott fre.

Do I think Tobacco is whacko (Even if yer NOT a teen) yeah...Do I hate alchohol too yes..Yes I do.

Why doesn't thetruth.com go after Alchohol? We KNOW it's addictive..We KNOW people die from alchohol poisoning (MUCH faster than cancer too) and we KNOW people who smoke and drive are just as bad as people on cell phones but people who DRINK and drive are WAY worse.

So why do we get disturbing commercials about smoking and never get commericials about pserosis of the liver or someone puking their guts out in a ditch or maybe a picture of someone's face halfway through a windshield just at that point where you can make out the face but the scalp is ripped from the head?

TheTruth.com is WAY biased. "My daddy died from Cigarretes" "My Uncle lost his chin" "Project SCUM is tobacco's plan to sell to homeless and Gays." You realize Alchohol manufacturers don't give a shit about ANY of you right?

Cigarettes aren't even allowed to have commercials. But we're allowed to see commercials of people drinking and having fun and DRIVING from bar to bar. Why don't we see anyone drinking themselves into a depressive stupor which is WAY more common then half-nekkid big tittied women jumping on a table dancing for a couple fat dudes poundin back nachos and brewskies?

Basically it's a double standard. Since ALL the people at Truth.com are probably alchoholics themselves and don't wanna admit to their problems. Or they feel alchohol's ok since it makes SO many people "happy".

[Lanfear57]

Demonic wrote:

Suicide = illegal. Smoking = legal. Moron laws.

well said

[Geron]

[Razer]

Well I can't speak for anyone at Truth.com and it seems that Geron has an issue with them personally. Also, if you'll recall the original letter I posted I have no problem with someone wanting to kill themselves. My issue was the fact that what you do for yourself affects others against their wills. That is wrong. Period. I'm not saying you can't do it, I'm saying doing it is wrong. Morally wrong, not legally. Unfortunately, you have the "I smoke because I have problems and it makes me feel better" crowd. I have problems too. If I come over and smack your mother in the face and say "I have problems and this makes me feel better" are you going to say "Oh, then that's ok"? I doubt it. But because smoking "makes you feel better" my 7 year old son should have his body destroyed? If you're in your house thenit's your business. It's still stupid but it's your right to be stupid. And when I say this I mean that you're discoloring your walls, deteriorating your fabrics, smelling up your clotehs and furniture, along with the damage you're self inflicting. I think that qualifies as stupid. If someone bought a new TV and came home and smashed it with a hammer, you'd probably say it was stupid. They have a right to do it, but it would still be stupid (illogical). And for the record, I am against alcohol and drugs also but for the sake of continuity we'll leave each issue to it's own thread.
It seems everyone's taking the "asshole" comment too seriously, like I said they would. We're trained to view "asshole" as a bad thing that we must automatically attack (much like "none of your business". Notice how you can never be told that without getting offended even tho 99% of the things that happen in the world are none of your business?). You can raise kids and be an asshole, you can go to church and be an asshole, you can dive in front of a bullet and be an asshole. It's not all-encompassing. If someone went to the bar, got shitfaced, and came home and beat his kids you'd say he was wrong. But if he sits in his easy chair and reads to his kids evry night while smoking a cigarette, he's a candidate for Dad of the Year. Never mind that he's may be doing more damage that way.

As for the addiction issue...yes, tobacco is addictive. So is sugar. So is being online. So is "fun". There is nothing that you like that cannot be considered addictive if you want to consider it that way so that's a big safety net (cop out). My definition of addictive would be something that has a control over you to use/depend on it against your free will. Cigarettes do not do that. They cause incredible cravings but if someone locks you away from cigarettes for a week only a small percentage will actually wither away and die. I've seen drug addicts go thru withdrawal fits. I had to physically fight and sit on one of my friends for over an hour while he was really fuct up. Cigarettes are nowhere near as powerful.

I'm done with this one. It was just me getting my feelings out. I knew I would offend people from the start but

[Lanfear57]

people dont mind getting your feelings out. thats what the rant threads are about. if they dont like it, they can just go somewhere else and pretend they never saw it. besides, most of us like a good debate anyways.