Do you smoke?
I hate to use shock images, but this guy asked for people to see this picture of him.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/myfotopage/2424624202/
There are very few things I tell people not to do. I don’t care if gays marry. I have my feelings on things like abortion, but I’d never tell someone what they should do in their own life. I also really don’t care if people oppose online poker or even more specifically, if they don’t really like thepokerdb and they feel that online statistics sites should be banned. Everyone can have their own opinion and we can all live our own lives. As long as people give me the same respect, I’m fine with it.
HOWEVER. I feel differently about smoking. For a bunch of reasons:
First, smoking in public places bothers other people. Even if smokers have to stand outside, those of us that don’t want to walk through a cloud of poison are being punished unfairly. Separating restaurants really doesn’t work — I still walk out of those places smelling like smoke.
Second, smokers smell. I can’t work with a smoker. I can’t date a smoker (well, an active one that is). It’s hard to be in rooms with people who smell like that. I actually had a situation recently on a four hour flight where I was sitting next to an obvious smoker and I was very very close to asking to change seats. It’s an unbearable smell.
Third, smokers with kids are really doing their whole family an incredible disservice. Sure, there are lots of things that can kill you (too many donuts, etc), but smoking is extremely direct. Smoke -> really high chance of lung cancer and early death. While heart disease is definitely a huge problem too, lots of things contribute to that beyond diet. Things like exercise habits, genetics, stress, etc. Smoking is a way more direct connection and if you smoke, you’re basically saying that you don’t mind taking a significant chunk of life expectancy equity away from yourself. Plus, dying with tubes down your throat and spending your last few years on earth coughing uncontrollably does NOT sound in the least bit pleasant. I’m sure it’s torture for a family and kids to watch a parent go through that.
Fourth, the healthcare costs of treating smokers are huge. At the very least, a lot of morbidly obese people just conk over at some point and die from a heart attack (I know lots of them get hospitalized too). Smokers, almost without exception, will spend significant time in a hospital as they go through the stages of getting lung cancer and then proceeding to die in a hospital. That’s a huge toll on the world’s health care systems and insurance companies. Everyone pays for that whether it be via their medical insurance/premiums or via things like Medicare. That isn’t fair.
Anyway, I could go on. Smoking is one thing that I just wish would go away. I know it won’t, but it affects other people way too significantly for it to be something that I could ever support in any way. Sorry if this offends smokers out there, but it’s just how I feel. You should stop.
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Comments
I completely agree with you. I was a heavy smoker, used to smoke a pack plus per day. About a week ago I was running some errands and forgot my smokes but I decided not to buy a pack since I had a few packs at home. Anyways, I was standing outside a Starbucks waiting for a friend and a person beside me started smoking. The smell honestly made me want to vomit, I’m not exaggerating. I then realized what people who don’t smoke feel when I even walk by them while I’m smoking. Also, I realized how much I stank of cigarettes even though I would shower myself in cologne.
Also, regarding your MMA post. If you want to know more about MMA, especially the history of the UFC read Brawl. Its a great book. And if you get a chance watch The Smashing Machine which is a documentary on Mark Kerr, I highly recommend it.
Nat- I read the blog alot–good stuff… I completely agree with you on the fact of cigarettes, but what do you think of cigars? and more importantly, Weed?
you talk about smoke affect to other people but for example(can be about 1000 examples):when you buy a NIKE shirt you can see many times(made in china).No need to say more,only think about that and about how many many many thinks affect to others but people in this times like to “chase” smokers and try influence us with photos slogans etc… but then you could see a photo of kids in the chinese factory working 12 hours a day for $1 hour to get a small prizes in nike shirts…………(it is a small example and bad explain but i want you get the idea)
nice blog and gl.
i agree 110% on smoking, but i got a really good lol. For all the possible examples of things that can kill you, you choose, “too many donuts” before etc.
lololloolol
best post i have ever read from you. i feel the exact same. smoking is not a personal habit. it affects the others around you. i have made the choice not to smoke, so why should I have to inhale your smoke?