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Over the past 30 years or so, there has been a significant PR campaign from all angles against tobacco smoking in this country. It has went from something that was common to something that people look at in disgust.
Now I am well aware of all the supposed dangers of cigarette smoking. However, I am wondering if it really is as bad as they make it out to be. Also, what about the positives of smoking, such as it's anti-depressant effects, stress-reduction effects, and the increased alertness it provides? I am currently one month smoke free but felt much sharper and was overall happier as a smoker.
This isn't the first time our culture has demonized a vice. The temperance movement in the early 20th century turned public opinion rapidly against alcohol. Today, alcohol perception in America is trending the other direction. Same with marijuana. The fact is, when you over-emphasize the negatives of something and blow them out of proportion, you can spin anything into a killer that should be banned and should not be socially accepted.
We've heard the stories from anti-smoking campaigns of people who have died of lung cancer in the 30s. However, most of us know somebody that has lived to their 80s or 90s and had smoked their entire life.
Smoking account for 30% of ALL cancer deaths and 87% of lung cancer deaths
Half of all smokers will die from smoking and about half will die around age 50
Sure we all know someone who smoked and lived to a ripe old age (albeit with yellow teeth and bad breath), but anecdotal evidence is not what we should be looking at. Statistics and peer reviewed studies are.
Over the past 30 years or so, there has been a significant PR campaign from all angles against tobacco smoking in this country. It has went from something that was common to something that people look at in disgust.
Now I am well aware of all the supposed dangers of cigarette smoking. However, I am wondering if it really is as bad as they make it out to be. Also, what about the positives of smoking, such as it's anti-depressant effects, stress-reduction effects, and the increased alertness it provides? I am currently one month smoke free but felt much sharper and was overall happier as a smoker.
This isn't the first time our culture has demonized a vice. The temperance movement in the early 20th century turned public opinion rapidly against alcohol. Today, alcohol perception in America is trending the other direction. Same with marijuana. The fact is, when you over-emphasize the negatives of something and blow them out of proportion, you can spin anything into a killer that should be banned and should not be socially accepted.
We've heard the stories from anti-smoking campaigns of people who have died of lung cancer in the 30s. However, most of us know somebody that has lived to their 80s or 90s and had smoked their entire life.
I had a conductor who is a chain smoker. The train belong to him but the engine is mine and thus smoking was banned in my cab. He couldn't stand outside while rolling along at 70mph so he whined anc gasped trying to cough a lung out. Got fed up watching him struggle to catch a breath. Luckily there was a caboose in the consist that was being relocated. Ninety percent of the time we don't use them but we had one in the consist so I banned him there.
Not breathing his diseased air he was constantly gasping out.
"Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in both men and women in the U.S. In 1987, it surpassed breast cancer to become the leading cause of cancer deaths in women. An estimated 158,040 Americans are expected to die from lung cancer in 2015, accounting for approximately 27 percent of all cancer deaths.'
A very good way to sniff out the all bunk in all the marijuana propaganda is to listen to real accounts from real people. You can also tell whether or not the demonizing of tobacco is justified in the same manner.
My real story is this: A friend of mine, a very accomplished career musician, was a chain smoker. He promised his kids he would stop smoking on his 50th birthday. Well, he didn't. He didn't live to see his 60th birthday. Inoperable lung cancer.
Once you collect enough accounts like this from enough people, I think you'll see that the number of accounts similar to mine outweighs the number of 80 year old chain smokers by more than 10 to 1.
But he rode a cycle or walked to work. Even after retirement he would walk for miles to run errands. This was in India & its very easy to get around on foot or a cycle, unlike here where you need a car. He ate very little & very healthy (mostly vegetarian) foods. He smoked, gambled & drank alcohol. He was from a different generation so we cant really compare him to us. Luxuries made us unhealthy so we have food allergies. Any addiction's side effects are worse because of our unhealthy lifestyle.
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