nowlin@ihu1e.UUCP (Jerry Nowlin) (06/11/84)
I've always been opposed to the practice of smoking. Whether a pipe,
cigar, cigarette, or some other variation on the theme. I've heard and
repeated various arguments against it. Personal health, public health, cost
to taxpayers, sin to most religions, fire hazard, and on and on. If you work
around computers you've probably heard a couple others like the real aversion
some disk drives have for smoke particles.
I have yet to hear a valid reason *for* smoking. I've read the arguments
about the loss of income to individuals and tax revenue to governments, but
maintaining the economic base that rests on the tobacco industry isn't a valid
reason for an individual to start or continue to smoke. It's just an excuse
used by legislators to justify getting their campaign contributions from
Reynolds etal. I won't even give credence to the "I'll start to gain weight"
type of response. That's just defending one lack of will power with another.
This isn't tongue in cheek. I'm trying to solicit tangible reasons for
smoking. I want to try and understand what motivates people to start or keep
smoking in spite of the overwhelming evidence that they are seriously harming
the health of themselves and the people they associate with. I've got 3 kids
that are going to have to make the decision to smoke or not some day and I
want to be able to understand both sides of the issue so I can explain it to
them. Experience tells me that dad saying no isn't going to cut it, and I've
got enough respect for my kids not to try it.
If you smoke you must have a reason. Let me hear it. I'll be glad to
hear from non-smokers too. I realize this is an issue akin to religion in
that logic doesn't always prevail. I stayed of my soap box (as much as
possible) so please don't get too carried away. If you know of a better group
or other forum to carry on this discussion please let me know.
Jerry Nowlin
ihnp4!ihu1e!nowlinrochester@xenon.DEC (06/13/84)
In response to Jerry's opinion on smoking, let me offer a glance from the smoker's point of view. <this line goes up in smoke> 1st premise, "Smoking is dangerous to health." Yes, smoking is on the list of substances which, when consumed in excess, bring about higher levels of health problems. What other substances appear on this list of "no - no's? Eating: excessive sugar excessive salt fatty foods fried foods Drinking: coffee & tea (caffeine) alcohol soft drinks (caffeine, sugar) My viewpoint is that people tend to eat and drink what they like, rather than what they *should* eat and drink. Clearly, there are substances that do Mr. Body harm, but which we enjoy so much that we ingest them anyway. The flaw is not in the substance itself, whether salty potato chips, beer, or tobacco. The flaw is the person who abuses, these sustances. As a smoker, I can see the value of enjoying a cigarette, but only in moderation. I smoke only after my evening meal. For me smoking is tied in to relaxation, the feeling of having completed all the compulsary duties of the day. I rarely smoke more than 4 or 5 cigarettes each day; heavy smokers range from 40 - 60 cigarettes daily. The heavy smoker's habit is need-oriented, and because he/she is smoking all day long, the pleasure of smoking is diminished, in the same way that our other pleasures are diminished when done excessively. When I was a child I hated brocolli, mushrooms, seafood, and many, many other things. My first taste of alcohol (a sip of beer) also definitely turned me off. In typical boyish fashion I also refused to play with girls. It took time and many taste tests to begin to appreciate all of these. Now they are among my favorites. I suspect this is also why I smoke. Initially it was to be cool with the guys. Later, as my own tastes became refined, so did my appreciation of various tobaccos. What so many never see is that smoking is not just a mechanical function. When not abused, it becomes simply another pallet and pysch pleaser. Like wine (which can be greatly abused) smoking is a taste and texture study in variey and quality. Smokers who are inconsiderate to others, who make others breathe a cloudy environment ought to be severly scolded. Smokers who are not hurting anyone (but themselves) must be allowed the right to savour tobacco as they choose.