Smoking and Pseudo-Science

[Hack McSlash]

http://www.forces.org/ A non-profit group dedicated to the debunking of the anti-smoking hysteria that has been going on latly. Just curious about how people see this, and if it changes anyones views (for good or bad). You'll especially want to check out the evidence part: http://www.forces.org/evidence/index.htm and a list of full studies on passive smoking: http://www.forces.org/evidence/financial-ties/index.htm

So, if you could, post if and how it changed views...vote...wait for online bickering to ensue (not suggested, but expected).

 

[Nak Nak the Merciless]

I'm firmly on the side of smokers, despite not smoking. I ****in' hate prissy non smokers.

 

[ArabArcher35]

Although I do think smoking tobacco is bad - my mother has smoked it for as long as I can remember, and that's probably why I have asthma - I don't think it's as evil as people show it to be. It's worse than marijuana, to be sure, but I don't have a problem spending time with people who smoke. I have to carry an inhaler everywhere I go, though.

 

[Raz]

Me too. You're not only killing yourself but the people around you as well.

 

[Nak Nak the Merciless]

Drinking is more dangerous to your health and the health of those around you. I'd rather be in a room of smokers than a room of obnoxious drunkards.

 

[ArabArcher35]

Drinking is more dangerous to your health and the health of those around you. I'd rather be in a room of smokers than a room of obnoxious drunkards.

You can drink in moderation. You can't smoke in moderation. Also, if someone drinks a bottle of beer, the other people in the room are unaffected.

 

[Archonsod]

Up until they get pissed and decide to start a fight

I think the whole anti smoking ban is hypocritical bull****. Car exhaust fumes are more lethal, contain more toxins and have a far stronger link between lung disease in the population than has ever been proven for passive smoking. Every hear about 'anti-car hysteria'? I wouldn't care - if someone lights up next to me I can go stand somewhere else. Can't get away from the car fumes without moving to an underground bunker in the middle of the artic, and even then it's not guaranteed

 

[Nak Nak the Merciless]

Up until they get pissed and decide to start a fight

I think the whole anti smoking ban is hypocritical bull****. Car exhaust fumes are more lethal, contain more toxins and have a far stronger link between lung disease in the population than has ever been proven for passive smoking. Every hear about 'anti-car hysteria'? I wouldn't care - if someone lights up next to me I can go stand somewhere else. Can't get away from the car fumes without moving to an underground bunker in the middle of the artic, and even then it's not guaranteed

People are more likely to try and ban something that they don't like/use rather than consider the effects of their own habits, I guess.

 

[Hack McSlash]

Me too. You're not only killing yourself but the people around you as well.

I'm guessing you didn't read any of it?

I want more of a response to the facts, and less of a response to smoking in general.

 

[Ilex]

People are hypocritical. Some people have no problem smoking next to other people but when someone draws out a knife and starts stabbing and slashing just a little bit everyone goes hysteric. I mean exhaust fumes cause more damage per year than my casual laceration sessions and no one raves about them. 

 

[mfberg]

We should require smoking everywhere, and require everyone carry loaded automatic weapons. Population reduction is important.

mfberg

 

[Archonsod]

There's not really many facts one could claim either way to be honest. The link between passive smoking and cancer is tenous at best (given the amount of carcinogenics society pumps out and consumes constantly, it's impossible to prove conclusively that any activity directly causes increased cancer rates without isolating individuals into controlled environments for their entire lifespan). Even ethically it's tricky (one could argue that by choosing to stand close to a smoker, you're choosing to inflict their smoking on yourself).

While I doubt there is a massive anti-smoking conspiracy being perpetrated by anyone, the site does have some valid points regarding these attitudes. (I'd rule out an institutionalised conspiracy though - the bans et al against smoking are more likely due to governments trying to play to the PC crowd than any organisation, but then I'm something of a cynic).

 

[Sir Saladin]

Smoking is, quite literally, for idiots.

non-sissy idiots who like to fool around. I hope that the living forever idea works out for you genius.

 

[Archonsod]

Or idiots who'd prefer to avoid Altzheimers and Parkinsons....

 

[Hack McSlash]

The link between passive smoking and cancer is tenous at best (given the amount of carcinogenics society pumps out and consumes constantly, it's impossible to prove conclusively that any activity directly causes increased cancer rates without isolating individuals into controlled environments for their entire lifespan).

I'm sure you could conclusivly prove a direct link. Though, I've yet to see a "real" experiment where they actually manipulate smoke-intake on humans. Not particularly sure about animals (more likely) but I've yet to see an experiment based upon that either. Even without isolating individuals in controlled environment for a lifespan, a simple control group would probably suffice (although they would probably need several varying groups of smoke intake).

The problem is that most smoking studies are quasi-experimental. Researchers don't actually have any control over smoke intake and outside variables. From the experiments I've researched, most are just surveys. Surveys are useful for some things...but not to show a direct correlation between smoking and most of the forcasted harmful effects.

Damned ethics....

 

[calandale]

... It's worse than marijuana, to be sure...

Uhm, I remember studies which showed the gunk in raw tobbacco was much less of a problem than what pot produced. Of course, one has to account for usage patterns as well: while most pot smokers don't partake as often as tobbacco users, the method of inhaling deeper probably is more damaging overall.

Nothing's going to change my view - smoking is one hell of a bad idea. It should be illegal in most confined spaces where people might have no choice as to where they are, BUT there is a tendency to go overboard recently - for example, if I own my own store, and no one works for me, I still can't light up in it - this is just wrong. Furthermore, workplaces ought to be able to offer accomodations for workers who smoke (not be required to mind you) - but again, it is simply made illegal to smoke in nearly any work environment - which really sucks for an addict like myself.

 

[ArabArcher35]

Keep in mind that there's a bunch of other **** in cigarettes, including a chemical found in rat poison.

 

[13 Spider Bloody Chain]

Ugh, I know one place where smoking should be banned, or at least limited; Las Vegas.

My family and I went there for a trip (I was, and still am, too young to gamble there) for some stupid reason. What did I get to do? STAND (not sit, stand) around for hours on end watching my family have fun while choking on the fumes of ciggaretes.

Seriously, every single building's 1st floor was FULL of smoke. And of course, I coulnd't choose to leave the place either, since I couldn't leave my parents. And of course, there were no slot machines in the hotel rooms or on the streets so...

 

[calandale]

Keep in mind that there's a bunch of other **** in cigarettes, including a chemical found in rat poison.

Not all cigarettes. And certainly not in my pipe tobbacco. Still, the law doesn't target 'enhanced' tobbacco, but all of it. I've often wondered if I could get away with smoking non-tobbacco products in public (camomile, catnip, colt's foot all come to mind).

 

[Hack McSlash]

Keep in mind that there's a bunch of other **** in cigarettes, including a chemical found in rat poison.

http://phys4.harvard.edu/%7Ewilson/arsenic/arsenic_project_good_uses.html

Arsenic is what is hyped as "Cigs contain rat poison". Funny thing, is arsenic is both a poison and a treatment. In the same way that most any drug will help at a certain level, and kill you at a certain level...arsenic can be benificial (although, this may just be in drink testing...not sure about smoke ingestion, maybe my rebuttel is bull).

Heightens chances of cancer, lowers chances of leukimia. Funny old world, ain't it?