Smoking as a Public Health Issue

[kevins_bebe]

Re: Smoking as a Public Health Issue

secondhand smoke kills more then the person acually smoking a cigarette. all cigarette companys should just close down. people dont realize that you die early, get wrinkles faster, and all that good junk.

sigh*, i just learned about this in schoool.

[Nul]

Re: Smoking as a Public Health Issue

1. Unconstutional, this is limiting the first amendment.
2. Must be passed by the people, usually not happening.
3. Once again, by the people, plenty of places are limited, and none in the car??, now that is going to seem insane to the voters.

I prefer not to use drugs or smoke, blah blah blah, you get it.

[Wlfwnd91]

Re: Smoking as a Public Health Issue

secondhand smoke kills more then the person acually smoking a cigarette. all cigarette companys should just close down. people dont realize that you die early, get wrinkles faster, and all that good junk.

sigh*, i just learned about this in schoool.

I believe second-hand smoke is more dangerous than the smoke going through the filter, but keep in mind, that the person smoking the cigarette is also getting their dose of second-hand smoke, therefore even though the second hand smoke is more dangerous, the person smoking is getting both.

Taxes are already being put into place on cigarettes, but honestly I don't see the point. The government only did it to make more money, and that's it. People don't care how much cigarettes cost. It could be $10 a pack and people would still buy them. So this option only helps if you want the government to have more money. It doesn't help if you have the people at heart.

I honestly don't remember the last time I ever saw a cigarette commercial. It might just be where I live, though I never saw one when I lived in Chicago either. I think the anti-smoking commercials oughta be taken off commercials, cause they are the most innacurate, biased, lies I have ever heard.

I do think that steps should be taken in public facilities, such as: hospitals, schools, etc. etc. However, as someone mentioned, restaurants and bars are privately owned, and it SHOULD be upto the owner of that facility whether smoking is allowed or not. Whether that's the case or not, I'm not sure, but that's the way it should be. I do know that in 95% of restaurants there's a non-smoking and a smoking section, so that's not even a problem. Bars are bars, don't go into a bar if you're not expecting someone if not a lot of people to be smoking. It all comes down to common sense.

The only thing that I have a problem with is the smoking around children in a car or a house, however, I don't see how these problems can be avoided. My parents went and smoked in the garage when they did, but I know a bunch of parents who smoke in the house when they have young kids, and that, I believe, is a problem.

Smoking should not be abolished. It's a freedom and a right. There's no drugs in cigarettes that make anyone less able to perform tasks, such as alcohol or pot might, therefore I see no problem with people doing it. There's a sign on the side of the box that says "This will cause cancer" in laymens terms. And if after that, someone still choses to smoke, then it's their right.

I'm done

EDIT: This doesn't mean that I like smoking, or do smoke, or approve of it, this is just what I believe.

[TheRapingDragon]

Re: Smoking as a Public Health Issue

i am rofling at the above statement.

This is critical thinking, stop posting things like this, and your above "peace bro". Try to at least show a shred of intelligence when posting in here, ok.

Now, here in the UK there is going to be a smoking ban starting in April of this year. It will ban smoking in all public indoor places, such as restaurants, pubs, offices, etcetera. I personally agree with this as being the way to go about smoking.

I don't smoke, nor will I ever, but let me tell you that sometimes when I come in and my parents are smoking, well, I don't have a problem telling them that it is disgusting. Smoking, to me, is something that needs to be totally eradicated, the more that is done to prohibit the usage of it, the better.

I would be happy for anything to happy, banning advertising, complete banning. It is all good.

[Wlfwnd91]

Re: Smoking as a Public Health Issue

This is critical thinking, stop posting things like this, and your above "peace bro". Try to at least show a shred of intelligence when posting in here, ok.

I agree with this. This is the first time I chose to wander in here to see what it was about, and seeing things like that was kind of disappointing, personally. Evascythe, you have really shown nothing to justify your reasoning, other then that it's "disgusting" and "kills" and blah blah blah. Have some intelligence or stay out of here.

[Armadegon]

Re: Smoking as a Public Health Issue

I agree with this. This is the first time I chose to wander in here to see what it was about, and seeing things like that was kind of disappointing, personally. Evascythe, you have really shown nothing to justify your reasoning, other then that it's "disgusting" and "kills" and blah blah blah. Have some intelligence or stay out of here.

Although I recognise the validity of your complaint do you actualy think that people will respond to it? Just let it be. If you want to discuss or complain then maybe you should go into the suggestions forum and make a thread about banning users who missuse the critical thinking forum. Otherwise just ignore it.

[RandomPscho]

Re: Smoking as a Public Health Issue

Now, here in the UK there is going to be a smoking ban starting in April of this year. It will ban smoking in all public indoor places, such as restaurants, pubs, offices, etcetera. I personally agree with this as being the way to go about smoking.

This works fairly well. In the beginning, at least here, there were protests in bars where tons of people smoked. After a week they stopped. You WILL notice a big difference in restaurants. If you ever go to somewhere with people smoking you'll notice how good the law is.

[sherbtail]

Re: Smoking as a Public Health Issue

I agree with the law coming into the UK to ban smoking in public places but an outright ban is just stupid. I really hate smoking but banning it would just be impinging on people's rights. I'll agree to a ban on cigarettes only when another law is passed banning people from eating themselves to obesity. Both kill you.

True being obese doesn't harm other people (except on cramped planes...) but that is why I agree with the ban on smoking in public places.

Education is the answer, not a ban.

[jewpinthethird]

Re: Smoking as a Public Health Issue

1-3 have already happened or are in the process of happening. The tax is called sin tax and includes alcohol.

1. Both alcohol and tobacco have limits on what they can advertise. Alcohol companies cannot show anyone drinking their product. And the tobacco has already received a bunch flak for their advertising method.

2. There is also already a tax on alcohol and tobacco products, it's called the sin tax.

3. Smoking has already been banned in high foot traffic areas, restaurants, colleges, etc.

About the second hand smoke issue: second hand smoke is only dangerous if you are exposed high concentrations of smoke constantly (such as a child who has parents who smoke). Walking by someone who is smoking in the park isn't going to hurt you (unless you are allergic).

[Wootsicle]

Re: Smoking as a Public Health Issue

If you begin to think intelligently, you realize that arguing FOR smokers is absolutely idiotic. All you're doing if you're smoking tobacco is literally killing yourself. If that's what you want to do, fine, go ahead, but you should only be able to do it inside your own home. To add to that, everyone in the home at risk of second hand smoke should have to actually agree that you're going to do it. Honestly, is it worth it? No. Smoking is a waste of, well of everything.

[Evascythe]

Re: Smoking as a Public Health Issue

This is critical thinking, stop posting things like this, and your above "peace bro".

Don't you tell me what to do.
I am allowed to laugh if I wish.
There is no law preventing me from doing so.

[Pumble]

Re: Smoking as a Public Health Issue

Don't you tell me what to do.
I am allowed to laugh if I wish.
There is no law preventing me from doing so.

No, but there's forum rules to prevent you from being an idiot. Stop blindly attacking other people without posting anything of substance yourself.

I actually think that smoking is an issue being handled fairly well by the government at the moment (Canadian government, although i'm pretty sure the laws are nearly the same in the US, not sure about other areas); by discouraging smoking without banning it outright, which i doubt would have any effect outside of wasting the police's time. I think the three things you mentioned are all perfectly reasonable ways to discourage it, although i think education is the most important thing, especially with teenagers. I hate these "drugs are bad" style anti-smoking campaigns, because of course the best way to tell teenagers not to smoke is to have a bunch of adults tell them it's bad for them. I don't really know the most effective way to do this, because statistics aren't exactly effective either.

Most of the smokers left out there today are adults who know it's a health risk but have a very hard time quitting or don't bother, or stupid kids who start smoking because all their friends are doing it. I know a few of the second group who started in grade 7-9 and already want to quit today. Whatever works, i guess.

[PunkNJunk]

Re: Smoking as a Public Health Issue

Yeah, you tell the world what they can't do. There's nothing as unforgivable as freedom to do stupid things, especially when they don't hurt others.

yes it does hurt others.
even if its in the privacy of your own room.
when you are having your voice box removed or you have to tell your family that you have lung cancer from something that you could have prevented, when they have to suffer because their loved one is going to die because of cigarettes.
thats when it affects others.
and your going to hate yourself for it.

also smoking makes no sense.
all you do is sit there and breathe in smoke which serves no purpose.
and also if you pay 3.50 to 5.00 bucks a day for a pack of cigarettes multiply that by 7 and then by 52 and then think about what you could be doing with all that money you spent on cigarettes instead.

lemme do it for you
3.5 x 7 x 52= $1274
5 x 7 x 52= $1820

so that can cost you anywhere between $1274 - $1820 a year.

PS i used to smoke.

[ToshX]

Re: Smoking as a Public Health Issue

I really hate smoking but banning it would just be impinging on people's rights..

I wouldn't say this, because it also harms other people who don't want to be harmed. If you're walking behind someone on a sidewalk and they're smoking, you cannot just walk up to them and be all like "hey, uhh, get rid of the smoke, kay?" You either have to walk slower to get away from him or walk past him, or something just to not breathe in the smoke. It's just like smoking in a public place or while waiting for a bus. You cannot simply tell a person to stop smoking in front of you because it hurts you, they'll probably be angry and tell you to move.

Also, banning would only be reasonable when either a large majority of the population wants it banned, or when such a small minority of the population smokes that it would not change much. And in either case, it'd probably only work if they warned people years ahead of time, and there were many resources to help quit smoking. There already are, but many people can't stop smoking, even if they try with the resources provided by many companies.

Walking by someone who is smoking in the park isn't going to hurt you (unless you are allergic).

Yeah, but you have to remember that we're not all perfect and young. Think of the 80 year old with asthma walking a little every day to stay alive. The second he begins breathing in smoke and coughing, his life is slightly shortened. Now imagine having to be around people like this nearly every day at that age.

Most of the smokers left out there today are adults who know it's a health risk but have a very hard time quitting or don't bother, or stupid kids who start smoking because all their friends are doing it. I know a few of the second group who started in grade 7-9 and already want to quit today. Whatever works, i guess.

The majority of smokers, and no, I'm not just talking out of my behind, statistics show this, the majority of smokers are people who started when they were younger so many years ago because most people were not aware that smoking is this bad for you. Do you notice how people even smoked on TV and no one cared so many years ago? It's because they weren't aware of exactly what it was doing.

[rickz0rz]

Re: Smoking as a Public Health Issue

To summarize it all with a quote: "Your rights end where mine begin."