| roselyn 15.03.2005 10:20 |
We know that: Smoking is a dangerous and self-destructive habit. Various poisons contained within tobacco smoke cause or contribute to cancer of the mouth and lungs, heart problems, emphysema, gum disease and a variety of other physical diseases. Cigarette smoking is the most preventable cause of premature death in the United States . That’s important! Want evidence of the dangers of smoking? Consider these statistics: A smoker’s risk of heart attack is more than twice that of nonsmokers. Cigarette smoking is the biggest risk factor for sudden cardiac death -- smokers are looking at two to four times the risk of nonsmokers. Studies have shown that cigarette smoking is also an important risk factor for stroke. The evidence also indicates that chronic exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (secondhand smoke, passive smoking) may increase the risk of heart disease. Most smokers sincerely want to quit. They know cigarettes threaten their health, set a bad example for their children, annoy their acquaintances and cost an inordinate amount of money. Nobody can force a smoker to quit. It's something each person has to decide for himself., Sometimes the cigarette is used as a tranquilizer.. Once a smoker understands his own smoking behavior, he will be able to cope more successfully and select the best quitting approaches for himself and the type of life-style he leads. Quitting is hard, but don't give up! Quitsmoking Now! For better Life,,!!! link |
| Mr.Jingles 15.03.2005 10:35 |
Here in New York there's been a very anti-smoking stand in the past years. I still remember how they always asked you "smoking or not-smoking" at any restaurant, and chances were that if you went out on Friday or Saturday night you'd have no choice but to pick the smoking section or find another place to eat. I have to say that the new anti-smoking laws have truly changed things for the better. |
| MetzgerR 15.03.2005 11:12 |
I would have absolutely no problem seeing an end to smoking, but that could have something to do with the fact that I am extremely allergic to the smoke itself, and do not enjoy a massively swollen face, puffy, runny eyes, and a hard time breathing... Ja ne! |
| geeksandgeeks 15.03.2005 16:25 |
Keep cigarettes legal, I say - and tax the living hell out of them. The per-pack tax in Kentucky is three cents, for God's sake. It needs to be increased to at least a buck fifty, if you ask me. Also tax the living hell out of alcohol and ammunition. And legalize marijuana and tax the hell out of it. Supposedly we're at a loss for ways to increase government revenue, but it seems pretty obvious to me... |
| Hitman 15.03.2005 16:44 |
i quote you Mandy, but without generalize...because then after 10 years they will legalize cocaine, then lsd, then heroine then Britney Spears cds.... the end of the world |
| Brimon 15.03.2005 18:53 |
I'm a smoker, and over the past few weeks I've been trying to ween myself off them. I'm down to about 5-6 a day instead of the 20 I'd normally smoke. I agree with a ban in public places because it is a filthy habit, and I'd never smoke around children. Hopefully in a couple of weeks, I'll be all for a total ban. *doesnt light another cigarette.* |
| Gunpowder Gelatine 15.03.2005 18:57 |
I'm all for a ban. I just don't see the point of smoking, especially not in public places. It's awful enough to want to slowly kill yourself with those disgusting cigarettes, but spare everyone else from the secondhand smoke! Sorry, I know I kind of sound a bit out of control. But my grandmother just died a couple months ago of lung cancer at 63, most likely because of her years of smoking and I just wish people wouldn't do that to themselves and to the ones that love them... |
| inu-liger 15.03.2005 20:09 |
I'm for a ban as well. Smoking is one of the most stupid habits anyone would get into. |
| geeksandgeeks 15.03.2005 20:36 |
Hitman wrote: i quote you Mandy, but without generalize...because then after 10 years they will legalize cocaine, then lsd, then heroine then Britney Spears cds.... the end of the worldOne could argue that, but I'd prefer to be a little more optimistic. We can have more liberal drug laws without being stupid about it. I just think it'd be a good way to increase government revenue. We need one. Hmmm... |
| iGSM 15.03.2005 20:44 |
I'm for it. Just to see smokers suffer. I can't really care for smokers i.e. my brother who is a shockin' smoker...as in he smokes a lot, not that he doesn't hold the skills to smoke. I keep telling him he'll die. The stupidest response I get is 'Got to die of something' to which I respond 'Yep, lack of oxygenated blood to the brain, just like everyone else!'. So in other words yeah. I'm for it. They're cracking down in Australia. Soon it'll be a smokey free world. Damn you Marco Polo and your explorations! |
| StrangeQuark 15.03.2005 22:24 |
geeksandgeeks wrote: Keep cigarettes legal, I say - and tax the living hell out of them. The per-pack tax in Kentucky is three cents, for God's sake. It needs to be increased to at least a buck fifty, if you ask me. Also tax the living hell out of alcohol and ammunition. And legalize marijuana and tax the hell out of it. Supposedly we're at a loss for ways to increase government revenue, but it seems pretty obvious to me...Have to agree with this... here we have nice high taxes on tobacco, but they could be higher. I also think smokers should be excluded from receiving free healthcare for problems associated with smoking. There will be a city-wide ban in July of this year, with no loopholes for bars or casinos. Hurrah! And yeah, I can't see why marijuana couldn't be the same, either... it has no worse attributes than alcohol or tobacco, yet they are both legal; and of course we all know Prohibition didn't work. And plus, I wouldn't mind baking "special" cookies now and then without having to feel like I'm a bloody criminal. ;o) Btw geeks, how did your guests like your vegetarian dinner? I was sort of wondering what dessert you eventually chose, and if it was a hit... |
| dragonzflame 15.03.2005 22:39 |
In December smoking became illegal in workplaces in New Zealand; this included all bars and restaurants. This, in my opinion, was the most (perhaps the only) wonderful thing that the Government has done for us. The whinging about it mainly focused on "it's our right to smoke and we chose to and they're depriving us of our right" but most completely brushed off the idea that people like myself choose NOT to smoke and they were depriving US of OUR rights. I love it. I love not going out and coming home stinking of other people's smoke. I love not continually worrying about having holes burnt in my clothes. And if a few smokers have to stand outside in the cold to have their cigarette, well, that's their problem. You have to take the rough with the smooth when you make a choice. |
| Serry... 16.03.2005 18:40 |
Yes I would, but I think it'd happened in Russia in the next century only. |
| iGSM 16.03.2005 20:48 |
Same thing happened in Australia. No smoking in workplaces or with in 10 metres of a restaurant/bank and what not. I think it's great. I love seeing smokers congregate. It's so fun to see 'em coughing, spluttering and spitting phlegm to with in centimetres of my feet. |
| geeksandgeeks 16.03.2005 21:36 |
StrangeQuark wrote:Ah, yes, thanks for your help on that! Checked out some of those recipes on the site one of you gave me, and eventually found several excellent shortbread recipes that were big hits. So it went quite well :)geeksandgeeks wrote: Keep cigarettes legal, I say - and tax the living hell out of them. The per-pack tax in Kentucky is three cents, for God's sake. It needs to be increased to at least a buck fifty, if you ask me. Also tax the living hell out of alcohol and ammunition. And legalize marijuana and tax the hell out of it. Supposedly we're at a loss for ways to increase government revenue, but it seems pretty obvious to me...Have to agree with this... here we have nice high taxes on tobacco, but they could be higher. I also think smokers should be excluded from receiving free healthcare for problems associated with smoking. There will be a city-wide ban in July of this year, with no loopholes for bars or casinos. Hurrah! And yeah, I can't see why marijuana couldn't be the same, either... it has no worse attributes than alcohol or tobacco, yet they are both legal; and of course we all know Prohibition didn't work. And plus, I wouldn't mind baking "special" cookies now and then without having to feel like I'm a bloody criminal. ;o) Btw geeks, how did your guests like your vegetarian dinner? I was sort of wondering what dessert you eventually chose, and if it was a hit... |
| Farlander 17.03.2005 00:21 |
geeksandgeeks wrote: And legalize marijuana and tax the hell out of it. Supposedly we're at a loss for ways to increase government revenue, but it seems pretty obvious to me...Would never work, since there's already a system in place to get the drug illegaly. People would just keep using it to avoid paying the tax. |
| Hitman 17.03.2005 14:11 |
yup farlander this was a clever opinion... |
| *3*Playful as a pussycat 17.03.2005 16:44 |
ugh... my mum used to smoke but she finally quit! *claps* but anyway, i completely depise the mere smell of that crap...just recently, actually, i had to put up with smelling it when i was trying to eat in a restaurant...and get this, i was eating in the non-smoking section! grrr...it was aweful...im never going there again... |
| geeksandgeeks 18.03.2005 17:33 |
Farlander wrote:People evade taxes anyway. No reason why it's not worth a shot.geeksandgeeks wrote: And legalize marijuana and tax the hell out of it. Supposedly we're at a loss for ways to increase government revenue, but it seems pretty obvious to me...Would never work, since there's already a system in place to get the drug illegaly. People would just keep using it to avoid paying the tax. |
| thePresence 18.03.2005 18:26 |
well, it should be banned in public places. at home, the smoker has a sense of security (unless you are a paranoid f*** like i am)so they can pretty much do whatever they wish. yes, tax the cigs, raise prices or whatever you want but most peoples wont qiut. |