Libertine: On the Prowl

Vidi, vici, veni -- I saw, I conquered, I came. _______________________________________________________________

A Smoking Rant

02:17, 2009-Feb-21 .. Posted in rants .. 4 comments .. Link

I work with a lot of people in their early 20s. And it seems nearly all of them smoke, almost without exception. It seems as if a larger percentage of them smoke than did those of my generation when I was in my 20s.

I don't get it. Growing up with information about the dangers of smoking, from lung cancer to emphysema, bombarding them at every turn, I don't see how anyone with half a brain takes up smoking nowadays. I pass them huddling outside on their smoke breaks, sometimes making a smart remark, "Getting a head start on that case of lung cancer, hmm?" and they laugh and keep on puffing.

The truth about the dangers of smoking have been around since the early sixties, at least, yet people continue to doggedly take up smoking. It's almost as if they have a death wish. Surely everyone has had a relative, friend, or who has known someone personally who died from the effects of smoking. Yet, they smoke on.

My mother smoked. Smoking was a direct cause of her early death in her forties from a massive stroke. I remember my father doing everything he could to get her to stop, but she kept on until it killed her. However, her death served as a negative example for her children, none of whom smoke today, myself included.

But at least my mother's generation has an excuse for when they took up smoking. My mother began smoking as a teen during World War II when the negative effects of smoking were not yet clearly known. Indeed, smoking was promoted at that time as an aid to weight loss, and several advertisements of the time featured doctors endorsing their favorite brand of cigarettes.

But people today who start smoking -- there is no excuse. It's just plain stupidity.

Following below are a couple of ads that convinced my mother's generation that smoking was harmless

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Untitled Comment

07:07, 2009-Feb-21 .. Posted by engieviral
Somehow, smoking is still seen as "cool" for teens. The problem is, the cancer sticks are so addictive that it is very hard to stop.

My father used to smoke, but he gave up just after I was born. He even did it cold turkey - I still wonder if this is why he is a grumpy old man :P

My younger brother (early 20's) smokes socially. I have never seen him smoke by himself, but his friends smoke, especially when drinking.

I occasionally smoke cigars. By occasionally, I mean less than once a month. I will almost always have an exceptional rum or scotch with it and I will admit I enjoy it. At the same time, I don't recommend it.

EclectaComment

07:20, 2009-Feb-21 .. Posted by Eclectablog
My mom's obstetrician came in after my birth and sat on her hospital bed next to her while they smoked together and talked about the delivery. She was 17 years old. She died 35 years later from lung/brain/breast cancer.

Untitled Comment

08:33, 2009-Feb-21 .. Posted by littleMissConfused
I quit almost 15 years ago. I'm glad I did. I don't understand how anyone around here can keep smoking, you can only smoke outside of public places now....and in Minnesota it gets bitterly cold some days. I just laugh at the smokers at work when it is -30 and they are all outside freezing, just to have a smoke!

Untitled Comment

09:14, 2009-Feb-21 .. Posted by LauriesAsylum
I started smoking when I was 13. Both my parents smoked as did all my friends. I finally stopped after several failed attempts when I was 26. Hardest thing I've ever done in my life, even had withdrawal symptoms like an addict. To this day, I still have dreams about smoking and can almost taste them in my dreams!

It doesn't matter what you hear about the health concerns, if you're addicted, you're addicted, and you'll stop when you're ready. So, I do understand the people that smoke.

What I don't understand though, is why they start in the first place. When I started, you never heard it was bad for you, heck they even had smoking commercials on TV at the time. Now, it's in your face about the dangers of smoking, but still they start. It has to be that they feel cool and maybe it gives them some self-esteem. Who knows.