More idiots in the news...

[TacitBlue]

I knew it! the smoking death stats always seemed a little inflated. That isnt why I smoke though, I know it is bad for you, I guess it just comes down to not caring. I do however fully intend to quit in the event that I ever have kids, or get the urge to quit. Anyone who knows me would know that when I say a I fully intend to do something then I will do it, so dont give me that "you say that now..." stuff please.

[jordonj]

I'm not sure this guy (or his mom) would agree...







By the way, the whole story is here

And it has a happy ending!

[Politically Incorrect]

Yeah your right hard to argue with a comic strip

Again let me state I in no way condone smoking or encourage anyone to start, in fact it is aweful habit and I have no one to blame but myself for doing it, but I do however hate seeing people telling me stats, and forcing thier opinions in my face going around like they are so much better than me. I find it insulting that a person standing behind me in a line at the store telling me "those cigarettes  will kill you!" while they await thier turn to pay for the two cases of beer.
I have smoked for nearly 20 years and I'm not proud of it, but if it means anything, my last check up  my doctors can't belive that I have the lungs of a non smoker, still doesn't mean I shouldnt quit.
Fact is is that numbers are inflated, and there are many other things that cause lung cancer and heart disease than smoking in greater numbers it is just that they never release the facts

So next time I light up a cigarette I may be taking more time off my life but that is my business, afterall as you gobble down that double cheeseburger, fries and beer I'm not here posting my findings on cholesterol and artery hardning facts all with hot links.

And for anyone about to post the "second hand smoke" argument, stop right now! Unless you drive a car that has no emmissions, work in a place that doesn't produce emmisons, and you never burn brush or trash, etc. I don't want to hear about how I'm endangering your life

[Saitek]

I never did that (just incase you had me I mind ) and I never think I am better than you for not doing it, we all have faults nd no doubt I'll have faults that you won't have. I guess that when it is a type of suicide (as I view it) I feel stronger if you know what I mean and would do all I could to get people to see it how it should be viewed. Cancer sticks and coffin nails each one knocking ones life a few hours at a time.  ::)

Since you raised Passive Smoking - I will chime up and mention it! Everyone needs to drive, it is an absolute necessity and until technology comes up with something better and available to the average man then it will be taken. Tobacco on the other hand is not necessary and would not only save billions of pounds on the Health Service, but would impove the quality of people's lives.

No-one can help emisions. We all need electricity, we all need transport. But to be frank few of us get down under a car on a road to breathe in exhaust fumes! In actual fact unless one is in a densly traffic clogged area in a city fumes are unlikely to be much of a problem. Walking in and out of shops however and down the street I could breathe in enough fag smoke to have one of my own. Tabacco is a demerrit good, while vehicles are merrit goods with disadvantages. The difference is important; One is necessary for society and the other hinders and detracts.

[Hagar]

I'm with Fret on this one. All this anti-smoking propaganda is 50 years too late for me. According to some people I should have been dead long ago. I'm fed up with being blamed for whatever they like to think up next.

Everyone needs to drive, it is an absolute necessity and until technology comes up with something better and available to the average man then it will be taken.

Driving is not a necessity if there are alternative forms of transport. If people walked or cycled short distances instead of taking the car this would give them much-needed exercise. However, I'm in no position to criticise.

But to be frank few of us get down under a car on a road to breathe in exhaust fumes!

I often see mothers waiting to cross the road at traffic lights with a small child in a push chair with its little face directly level with car exhaust pipes. Small children are the most vulnerable & I suspect this might be the real cause of all the allergies people seem to suffer from now.

[Saitek]

I'm with Fret on this one. All this anti-smoking propaganda is 50 years too late for me. According to some people I should have been dead long ago. I'm fed up with being blamed for whatever they like to think up next.

There are always exceptions, but we talk in majority cases - and you haven't lived a full life yet.

Driving is not a necessity if there are alternative forms of transport. If people walked or cycled short distances instead of taking the car this would give them much-needed exercise. However, I'm in no position to criticise.

Most of the time one needs to use the car I find. Little choice.

I often see mothers waiting to cross the road at traffic lights with a small child in a push chair with its little face directly level with car exhaust pipes. Small children are the most vulnerable & I suspect this might be the real cause of all the allergies people seem to suffer from now.  These were very uncommon in my young days when there was far less traffic.

Unlikely - unless the cars you see have their exhausts on the bonnet! Asthma doesn't kill usually anymore anyway.

I don't see the logic in that. Smoking has not been allowed in most shops for many years. I suggest that every time you walk down the average street you would inhale far more noxious traffic fumes than from the odd whiff of tobacco smoke. As for people that jog alongside busy roads, they must be mad.

I do. Because people can't smoke in shops they create smokescreens outside. I live in Inverness, which I know isn't the size of London and such places, but anyway I can assure you I rarely end up breathing in car fumes in any dangerous or concentrated amount. The amount of people blowing smoke though is just unbelievable. I can really end up taking a full lungfull of it sometimes in town, not odd whiffs, and I have rarely experienced a lungfull of fumes by standing next to a double decker bus in central London (where I have visited more times than I can possibly remember). I always make sure I make a real scene of disgust to the person in going "yuk, filthy fags!" or something loudly in their hearing if I breathe in fag poison!

[TacitBlue]

Well, thats the last time I mention smoking here.

[Hagar]

I do. Because people can't smoke in shops they create smokescreens outside. I live in Inverness, which I know isn't the size of London and such places, but anyway I can assure you I rarely end up breathing in car fumes in any dangerous or concentrated amount. The amount of people blowing smoke though is just unbelievable. I can really end up taking a full lungfull of it sometimes in town, not odd whiffs, and I have rarely experienced a lungfull of fumes by standing next to a double decker bus in central London (where I have visited more times than I can possibly remember). I always make sure I make a real scene of disgust to the person in going "yuk, filthy fags!" or something loudly in their hearing if I breathe in fag poison!

I'm sorry Ben but you're fooling yourself. You've been taken in by all the propaganda from the anti-smoking lobby, some of which is completely untrue & not based on fact. I find your attitude towards smokers in general as offensive as you obviously find their habit. I can't believe that there are that many people smoking out in the open air at the same time to affect you in the way you describe. To get a "lungfull" someone would have to deliberately blow it in your face. Just because traffic fumes are mostly invisible doesn't make them harmless. If diesel engines belched out clouds of black smoke as they used to you would be able to see just how much volume of exhaust fumes one bus can produce. Multiply that by the number of vehicles on the street over a given period & you have some idea of the problem. Cigarette smoke rises & disperses naturally in the air. Traffic fumes tend to remain at the same level for some considerable time.

Unlikely - unless the cars you see have their exhausts on the bonnet!

Just open your eyes next time you're in town & you will see what I mean.

[Politically Incorrect]

I needn't say more, Thank you Hagar for clarifying the point I wanted to make! it would have taken me a few post to do that LOL!!
I think that you are correct, if it weren't for the fact that people could actually see the cigarettee smoke I doubt so much fuss would be made. But to each thier own.

And just to make you feel better Ben I wasn't pointing directly at you, although you did make me think of it, it has happened time after time where the links to bogus facts and mis-information pop up by the uninformed and not only smoking but other personal belifes, PETA comes to mind
But very few times do you read the post that contain the harms of food and drink and everyday living that affect a greater majority than that of a smoker

And tacitBlue don't worry about bringing up the topic, your thread was hijacked and I applogise for adding to it, but look at the bright side this allows us to shine the light on others dark and shadowed world filled with propaganda!  

[TacitBlue]

Oh, I'm not to concerned about my thread getting hijacked.  ;)

[ATI_7500]

Most of the time one needs to use the car I find. Little choice.

If you're living in the middle of nowhere (or America) - yes. If you're living in a rather populated area with the possiblity of using public transportation - absolutely no!

[jordonj]

The flaw in comparing Exhaust Fumes (and things are being done about it here in some parts of the US) to Secondhand smoke is that there have been several studies that prove it harmful (particularly to those who are allergic to it and to those with Asthma).  The smoke gets in your clothes, your hair, and houses and cars stink of it for some time.

It can trigger reactions much more readily than can exhaust.

I have no beef with those who smoke in places that its allowed, it's those who smoke in areas that are clearly posted "no smoking" or guests who light up without asking...

Now for the record, my posting of the cartoons was in response to this:

I guess it just comes down to not caring.

[Saitek]

Well, I have nothing against smokers Doug, (aren't you one? If you are you know I don't detest you!) - just when they blow poison into my path which I have to splutter through that I detest their behaviour, not them, their behaviour. If I pass you on the street and you blow a chemical gas attack over me then I'm afraid you'll get the same treatment! (unless I happen to recognise you then I'll spare you! )

I don't care a button what any smokers defence is, I have read up on the subject, been through it in my education and more and more evidence of it's awful effects comes out every year. I am not foolish at all in any respect - far from it!
The evidence gathered by scientists is done by respectable people and billions has been spent reseaching it. It has got to be one of the most reseached health self induced issues ever done in modern history. The facts stand and the anti-smoking lobby use them to their advantage.

I will never be convinced by anyone that car fumes are more dangerous than smoking, or pose a threat on any level anywhere near smoking.  

Using the car has got nothing , I repeat nothing! to do with smoking. It is something not comparable as I have already said. The ONLY reason why smoking isn't illegal is because of the massive revenue it brings to the government in taxes. If it wasn't for that it would probably be put in the same class as Canabis.

Now, no hard feelings - I have relatives that smoke and like everyone know people that do - I never let it get between me and them - so I don't treat anyone here any differently if they do.

Cheers all -- oh and sorry for attacking your thread Tacid Blue... it nearly turned into a killing one!

[Hagar]

The smoke gets in your clothes, your hair, and houses and cars stink of it for some time.

It can trigger reactions much more readily than can exhaust.

Just to make it clear that I'm talking about smoking in the open air. I fail to see how anyone can seriously compare that with the amount of noxious traffic fumes everyone out on the average street is forced to inhale at any time of day. The whole thing is ridiculous.

[TacitBlue]

... it's those who smoke in areas that are clearly posted "no smoking" or guests who light up without asking...

I agree with you 100% there. I would consider it one of the rudest things a guest could do to light up without first asking, or seeing the host himself smoking. And, "no smoking" signs are usually there for a good reason.