Do you smoke?
Started by Richard Booth35 · · 👁 6 views · 177 replies
Participants
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#62 ·
👍 That’s right, Lisa Morales4 🙏
And look at the CONSEQUENCES of 🙄Marijuana
-dropping responsibilities,--
-losing motivation for commitments
-forgetfulness,
-an increased craving for partying,
-being rude when talking to parents,--
-dangers while driving,
-an increased risk of moving on to harder drugs
No joke, but it feels like quite a few people on this forum are under the influence of "weed"...👎
Neither the US nor any other country can make up for the consequences of #1 and #2...😲
And look at the CONSEQUENCES of 🙄Marijuana
-dropping responsibilities,--
-losing motivation for commitments
-forgetfulness,
-an increased craving for partying,
-being rude when talking to parents,--
-dangers while driving,
-an increased risk of moving on to harder drugs
No joke, but it feels like quite a few people on this forum are under the influence of "weed"...👎
Neither the US nor any other country can make up for the consequences of #1 and #2...😲
#63 ·
Richard Booth35 said:The New York Times reported on Friday that "as many as 40 percent of American fifteen-year-olds smoke."
I wasn't fifteen back then, and I don't smoke. I didn't even pick it up when I was a teenager. But I remember my old high school class—out of forty kids, only five of us stayed away from it.
Nowadays, Big Tobacco has it much easier selling to kids and people in developing nations, mostly because everyone who actually knows what's going on is already well aware of how dangerous it is.
#64 ·
Quote:
Lisa Morales4 says:
Well, legally they have every right to come knocking on my door. If I'm smoking behind those doors while there's a child in the house, I'm polluting their air and exposing them to passive smoking... so here comes the social worker at the door...
Jamie Newman40 says
And you're actually okay with that?
As a mother, you should be the one deciding what’s best for your kid. There shouldn't be any government interference in your family life or your child's wellbeing.
Unfortunately, Jamie Newman40 isn't every mother, nor is she necessarily the model mother we should expect...🙄 sadly...
Have you ever looked into the biography of Richard Pryor? I mentioned him because he's a household name, and it's just heartbreaking to think about how someone should have stepped in for a child back then who was being handed cigarettes and Marijuana at only six years old.
A mother who truly knows what is good for her child and raises them accordingly HAS NO REASON TO FEAR THE LAW KNOCKING ON HER DOOR...👍
I highly doubt the government is generous enough to take over a child's upbringing just for the sake of funding...
People earn a significant amount of money working as Foster Parents, and believe me, you would be stunned if you saw the kind of children some mothers produce—kids who are already addicted from their very first breath. The struggles those children face are indescribable. If I were in charge, I wouldn't just be knocking on doors, I'd be handing out much harsher sentences...😈
Lisa Morales4 says:
Well, legally they have every right to come knocking on my door. If I'm smoking behind those doors while there's a child in the house, I'm polluting their air and exposing them to passive smoking... so here comes the social worker at the door...
Jamie Newman40 says
And you're actually okay with that?
As a mother, you should be the one deciding what’s best for your kid. There shouldn't be any government interference in your family life or your child's wellbeing.
Unfortunately, Jamie Newman40 isn't every mother, nor is she necessarily the model mother we should expect...🙄 sadly...
Have you ever looked into the biography of Richard Pryor? I mentioned him because he's a household name, and it's just heartbreaking to think about how someone should have stepped in for a child back then who was being handed cigarettes and Marijuana at only six years old.
A mother who truly knows what is good for her child and raises them accordingly HAS NO REASON TO FEAR THE LAW KNOCKING ON HER DOOR...👍
I highly doubt the government is generous enough to take over a child's upbringing just for the sake of funding...
People earn a significant amount of money working as Foster Parents, and believe me, you would be stunned if you saw the kind of children some mothers produce—kids who are already addicted from their very first breath. The struggles those children face are indescribable. If I were in charge, I wouldn't just be knocking on doors, I'd be handing out much harsher sentences...😈
#65 ·
Jamie Newman40
The health risks associated with smoking aren't really up for debate; the real issue lies in how the laws regulating it are actually implemented. There you have it. 👍
It seems like everyone over there is getting pretty worked up about "government interference," but honestly, these anti-smoking regulations aren't actually rooted in US federal law. Just take a look. List of countriesThink about true democracies that actually prioritize social welfare for their citizens—places like Norway, Australia, or Canada. These are the types of nations that have already stepped up and implemented strict anti-smoking laws.
I can only imagine the look on the faces of those folks who live by the whole "smoking gun" culture—people who feel they have the absolute freedom to carry a loaded firearm everywhere, yet suddenly find themselves unable to even light up a cigar. 😁 That's just a total nightmare!
It’s not really my own assessment—I don't claim to be that smart—I just read it on Wikipedia. Do you need the exact link to that paragraph? 🙂
"installing filters"??? I highly doubt
WHO thought of that when they were busy lobbying for those anti-smoking laws.
"freedom of choice"? In the US, "freedom" is just a fancy word for anarchy.
If the "government" hadn't stepped in to shape my life, I'd probably be working a machine in some factory right now instead of being an internationally recognized Bachelor of XYZ.
Sometimes I actually wish the (USA) government would step in a bit more regarding my child's upbringing. 🙂
Yeah, I know the USA has been lagging behind for decades—trailing other developed nations that regulate pollution at a national level, while here in the States, these efforts feel like little more than high school science projects.🙂
I can't help but wonder if you're actually reading my posts, because your replies don't seem to have anything to do with what I'm saying. The health risks of smoking aren't really up for debate; the real conversation should be about how we actually write and implement the laws that regulate it.Sure, you can regulate just about anything with the right legislation, but the real question is where we draw the line between protecting basic human freedoms and the government stepping in to micromanage our lives.
Nowadays, when everyone seems to have a grievance, the easiest way to handle things is to pass laws that isolate or restrict "the others." This approach ends up directly impacting freedoms, both for individuals and for groups. Take, for instance, when the government regulates smoking in restaurants and bars under the guise of health concerns. By granting non-smokers the right to breathe clean air, they automatically end up limiting and persecuting smokers. In my view, business owners should be the ones to decide. They should have the freedom to choose whether to allow smoking or not by simply labeling their establishment as a smoking or non-smoking venue, thereby leaving it up to the customers to decide if they want to walk through the door. Strict legal bans only serve to increase government interference in our daily lives. Ultimately, by targeting smokers, these laws indirectly restrict the freedoms of non-smokers as well.
The health risks associated with smoking aren't really up for debate; the real issue lies in how the laws regulating it are actually implemented. There you have it. 👍
It seems like everyone over there is getting pretty worked up about "government interference," but honestly, these anti-smoking regulations aren't actually rooted in US federal law. Just take a look. List of countriesThink about true democracies that actually prioritize social welfare for their citizens—places like Norway, Australia, or Canada. These are the types of nations that have already stepped up and implemented strict anti-smoking laws.
I can only imagine the look on the faces of those folks who live by the whole "smoking gun" culture—people who feel they have the absolute freedom to carry a loaded firearm everywhere, yet suddenly find themselves unable to even light up a cigar. 😁 That's just a total nightmare!
That’s just your subjective opinion. While you call it protecting the health rights of non-smokers—effectively stripping smokers of their freedoms—I prefer to see it as the freedom to decide what's best for myself. No one is asking non-smokers to "refuse" anything; they are simply being informed that a venue is a non-smoking establishment, and if they choose to walk through those doors, they do so at their own discretion. Similarly, if a restaurant owner decides to implement a No Smoking policy, they are simply letting smokers know that if they want to light up, they should find a different spot. It all comes down to freedom of choice.
It’s not really my own assessment—I don't claim to be that smart—I just read it on Wikipedia. Do you need the exact link to that paragraph? 🙂
Of course we need to protect workers. First off, when you're hiring someone, you should be upfront about whether it’s a smoking establishment. You could install high-end air purifiers and filtration systems, then simply leave the choice to them: do they want to work in an environment like that or not? On the flip side, if it's a No Smoking venue, make sure the staff knows from the jump that there's no smoking allowed on the premises. If they want to smoke, they can head outside, and if they aren't okay with that, they should probably just find a different place to work. It all comes down to freedom of choice.
"installing filters"??? I highly doubt
WHO thought of that when they were busy lobbying for those anti-smoking laws.
"freedom of choice"? In the US, "freedom" is just a fancy word for anarchy.
Are you actually okay with this?
As a mother, you should be the one deciding what’s best for your child. There shouldn't be the government sticking its nose into your life or your kid's business.
If the "government" hadn't stepped in to shape my life, I'd probably be working a machine in some factory right now instead of being an internationally recognized Bachelor of XYZ.
Sometimes I actually wish the (USA) government would step in a bit more regarding my child's upbringing. 🙂
I'm not saying the points above aren't valid, but it feels like people use this kind of data to hunt for a single scapegoat while the real culprits stay hidden behind the scenes. What about industrial pollution, car exhaust, everyday chemicals, or genetics?
Yeah, I know the USA has been lagging behind for decades—trailing other developed nations that regulate pollution at a national level, while here in the States, these efforts feel like little more than high school science projects.🙂
#67 ·
Richard Booth35 said:The New York Times ran a piece on Friday claiming that "up to 40 percent of American fifteen-year-olds smoke."
Look, obviously I don't smoke, and nobody hanging around me does either. It's not even that the smoke bothers me, per se, I just can't stand being around smokers. In my house, if anyone wants a fix, they head out to the balcony.😁
#68 ·
I was an active smoker for about 12 years, but I’ve been breathing in secondhand smoke since the day I was born.
I quit five and a half years ago and I don't think I'll ever pick it up again. It’s not just a health thing, either—everything in the house ends up smelling like smoke, all your clothes, and honestly, a smoker's skin just carries that scent.
Now, I'm not saying we should euthanize smokers or anything, but maybe they could just enjoy their hobby in spots where they aren't bothering non-smokers.
I actually support banning smoking in public places, though maybe not just because of the smoke itself. A big part of it for me is how messy some people are with their cigarette butts, just tossing them wherever, usually right on the ground.
But there is something else that really bugs me. Back when I used to smoke, I always made sure to ask if the smoke was bothering anyone or if it was okay to light up. Nowadays, it feels like 90% of the smokers I know just don't care. They just light up and put the cigarette in an ashtray, but the smoke drifts right toward the non-smoker. To them, it seems totally normal, even when you see someone visibly flinching or moving their head to avoid the cloud. I mean, a cigarette is supposed to stay in one place, right?
That’s why I don't visit certain friends anymore.
At my place, everyone sticks to the balcony; there's absolutely no mention of smoking inside the house.
I quit five and a half years ago and I don't think I'll ever pick it up again. It’s not just a health thing, either—everything in the house ends up smelling like smoke, all your clothes, and honestly, a smoker's skin just carries that scent.
Now, I'm not saying we should euthanize smokers or anything, but maybe they could just enjoy their hobby in spots where they aren't bothering non-smokers.
I actually support banning smoking in public places, though maybe not just because of the smoke itself. A big part of it for me is how messy some people are with their cigarette butts, just tossing them wherever, usually right on the ground.
But there is something else that really bugs me. Back when I used to smoke, I always made sure to ask if the smoke was bothering anyone or if it was okay to light up. Nowadays, it feels like 90% of the smokers I know just don't care. They just light up and put the cigarette in an ashtray, but the smoke drifts right toward the non-smoker. To them, it seems totally normal, even when you see someone visibly flinching or moving their head to avoid the cloud. I mean, a cigarette is supposed to stay in one place, right?
That’s why I don't visit certain friends anymore.
At my place, everyone sticks to the balcony; there's absolutely no mention of smoking inside the house.
#70 ·
Jeffrey Torres said:Back when I was a smoker, I always made sure to ask if anyone minded before lighting up. Nowadays, about 90% of the people I know couldn't care less. They just light up and immediately stub it out, sending all that nasty smoke right into a non-smoker's face. To them, it’s totally fine, even when they see someone visibly flinching to avoid the cloud... but hey, a cigarette still smokes where it stands.
That's why I don't visit certain friends anymore.
.
Can we finally agree on something here?👍
I honestly can't wrap my head around the logic of some smokers... it's like they either have something wrong with their brains or they think they own the air we breathe.😕 It makes no sense to me how mothers and daughters can smoke together without the mom ever stopping to think, "Wait, what kind of example am I setting by letting my child poison themselves?"🙄 😕
And another thing—has any single one of you smokers actually paused to wonder if the person standing next to you is a non-smoker who just hasn't had the chance to light up yet?😵
I suffer from allergic asthma, and I never really felt like I had my rights until the law finally stepped in and granted them to me.👍 At work, it wasn't just me struggling; there were people dealing with debilitating migraines and constant headaches because of the secondhand smoke. They practically had to live on Advil and whatever else they could find just to make it through the shift.😠 Now, gentlemen, JUSTICE is on our side.🙂
I can't wait for the day they tell you that if you want to smoke, you can go do it in 😂 Siberia.😉
#71 ·
Honestly, what you all are saying here is just appalling...
Is it just me, or did someone actually take a shot at my mother?🤔Stop judging others and acting like an expert on parenting. You never know when you'll find yourself looking at your own child and thinking, "What did I do wrong? I was a perfect parent." We all know that kind of rhetoric is utterly useless. Then they end up spiraling and blaming everyone else, even though they followed every rule in the book...
Right now, I am ready to head straight to Siberia😬...and I suspect I’ll be staying there for a while.
I just hope I never reach a point where, after finally quitting, I turn into some radical crusader against the habit itself...
Cheers,🙂
Is it just me, or did someone actually take a shot at my mother?🤔Stop judging others and acting like an expert on parenting. You never know when you'll find yourself looking at your own child and thinking, "What did I do wrong? I was a perfect parent." We all know that kind of rhetoric is utterly useless. Then they end up spiraling and blaming everyone else, even though they followed every rule in the book...
Right now, I am ready to head straight to Siberia😬...and I suspect I’ll be staying there for a while.
I just hope I never reach a point where, after finally quitting, I turn into some radical crusader against the habit itself...
Cheers,🙂
#72 ·
Major props to everyone out there who finally kicked the habit.
I gotta be honest, quitting wasn't some walk in the park for me. I spent forever lying to myself and everyone else about it, until that one pivotal moment when I just snapped. I took my packs and my lighters, dumped them right next to the ashtray, and told myself, "That's it, I'm done." And I meant it. It all went down on October 10, 1972. I actually headed out to go vote that afternoon, and from that point on, I haven't taken a single puff.
I gotta be honest, quitting wasn't some walk in the park for me. I spent forever lying to myself and everyone else about it, until that one pivotal moment when I just snapped. I took my packs and my lighters, dumped them right next to the ashtray, and told myself, "That's it, I'm done." And I meant it. It all went down on October 10, 1972. I actually headed out to go vote that afternoon, and from that point on, I haven't taken a single puff.
#73 ·
northernsailor said:well, what you guys are saying here is just terrible...
is it just me, or did someone actually insult my mother?🤔 ...don't judge others or lecture people on parenting, because you never know when you'll find yourself saying, "I was a perfect parent to my kid"... we all know that kind of talk is useless... and then they end up in crisis, blaming everyone else even though they followed every rule in the book...
right now, I'd be willing to go all the way to Siberia😬 ...and I suspect I'll feel the same way later...
and I truly hope that once I finally quit, I don't turn into some radical activist against it...
bye🙂
Lilly, please don't take this personally; I have no intention of insulting anyone's mother, as I believe they all just do their best...👍
It feels strange to me, because ever since I was a child, I've been choking on the smoke that you all seem to enjoy😕 so I wonder what kind of lungs God gave you, and why He gave me mine😕
ps. I'm not discriminating against smokers; feel free to go through twenty packs a day, just not where it affects those who can't stand it👍
#74 ·
Richard Booth35 said:My sincere congratulations to everyone who has successfully quit smoking.
I have to admit, quitting wasn't easy for me. I spent a lot of time lying to myself and everyone else until that one decisive day when I took my pack and lighters, set them by the ashtray in two different places, and told myself that from this moment on, I was done. That happened on October 10, 1972. I went out to vote that afternoon, and I haven't taken a single puff since...
as if you knew I would be born the following year 🙂 and who wouldn't want someone like that... 😘
#75 ·
jadetiger10 said:It’s like you freaking knew I was gonna be born next year or something. 🙂 Honestly, who wouldn't be head over heels for someone like that? Seriously, who wouldn't? 😘
You didn't mention which day or month you were born, so we won't know when to drop the birthday wishes for you—assuming it hasn't already passed, of course. Mine was back on May 29th.
Hey there! Hope everyone's doing alright out there.
😘 😘
#76 ·
Lisa Morales4 As I was saying:
I see everyone over there is completely obsessed with the whole idea of "government overreach"...
I wouldn't necessarily label it an "overburden." It’s more that I simply believe the government shouldn't be poking its nose into my private business. Once you pass one law, it inevitably triggers the next, creating this endless domino effect. Every single new regulation that invades my privacy is just another step toward losing our freedom.
As much as I tend to push back against restrictive laws—which, if you ask me, mostly just serve as a sort of "Life for Dummies" guidebook—I still find myself... za Educating people is key here. Just to be clear—and I’ve touched on what I consider "public spaces" before—I am absolutely not in favor of smoking in public areas. However, I stand firmly against discrimination and those modern-day "witch hunts."
Lisa Morales4 As I was saying:
"Install filters"??? I honestly find it hard to believe that those people didn't think of that little solution while they were busy lobbying for those anti-smoking laws.
You really need to look at the bigger picture here. If we were able to install filtration systems on industrial smokestacks—which, let's face it, were the massive primary polluters coming out of power plants back in the day—then we can certainly find ways to manage smoking. It’s a matter of scale and approach. Think about it: lawmakers didn't pass legislation to shut down factories entirely, even though those plants still contribute to air pollution, albeit much less than they used to. Instead, they focused on regulating smoking in public spaces. It's about finding that balance between managing emissions and setting sensible boundaries for public life.
That’s exactly why I maintain that these laws are being targeted at specific groups—they are fundamentally discriminatory. And honestly, I’m not just shouting into the void here; there have already been serious questions raised regarding the constitutionality of such legislation. We’ll just have to wait and see how it all unfolds.
Lisa Morales4 said:"Freedom of choice"? It seems like when people in the States talk about freedom, they often mistake it for pure anarchy.
Is anarchy really just a precursor to communism? Not quite. It isn't some kind of inevitable stepping stone toward a communist state, but rather... Individual anarchy.I stand firmly in favor of equality and freedom—specifically, the freedom of the individual, or perhaps more accurately, the freedom of consciousness.
Honestly, you’re the one pushing for more regulations, more laws, and more government interference in our private lives. In my view, you're actually advocating for anarchy. If we keep moving at this current pace, we're inevitably heading straight toward total chaos. Haven't you ever read any Engels?
Lisa Morales4 said:Sometimes I find myself wishing the government here in the USA would step in and take a bit more of an active role in my child's life. 🙂
sorry, but I have to say, this feels a bit like you're looking for everything to be handed to you on a silver platter. High maintenance, eh? 😁
#77 ·
jadetiger10;8876717 said:Lilly, please don't take this the wrong way; I have no intention of upsetting anyone's mother, as I truly believe they all act with the best intentions in mind.👍QUOTE]
I know you don't...
Naturally, my mother isn't thrilled about my habit, especially seeing how much of a dedicated smoker I actually am. She knows I haven't even attempted to quit and likely won't for quite some time (God, she’s probably reading this right now, and I've clearly crushed any hope she had of me quitting anytime soon—sorry, Mom, but definitely not yet hahahaha)... thank God she hasn't found out yet.😬 She'd kill me via the internet...
I am fully aware of how much modeling behavior influences children and adults, but I would never dream of blaming my dear mother for it. When it comes to my smoking and its consequences, the responsibility lies solely with me, and I will bear them. A stoic approach.🙂 Hahahaha
Hey there.🙂
#78 ·
Lilly, I always looked up to my aunt and grandmother. They were true ladies, and they smoked. Of course, their lifestyle wasn't quite like ours today—life was less stressful back then, and tobacco production and processing were cleaner without all the additives they use now. Still, it caught up with them both in different ways: one was a passionate smoker until her very last breath and ended up needing an amputation for her leg and a finger, while the other was actually a nurse who quit... though by then, it was already too late, 😲 lung cancer, vascular issues, and heart disease.
Back then, the tobacco felt purer than this capitalist stuff where you can't find a single trace of actual tobacco leaf 😈 hehe; I wonder if it was Philip Morris or whoever else lost that case against smokers who were supposedly POISONED (really?!) by their own damn cigarettes??!! (check out the link! man, listen to how they talk about those millions of dollars in damages!)
Anyway, don't stress about when you'll finally quit; that day will come when it's meant to 😘
Maybe you just haven't truly sat down and realized how much you actually smoke yet. Once you do quit, you'll be a much better witness to the fact that people really can change, and a better example than someone who never even picked up a cigarette to begin with.
BE SMARTER THAN SMOKING!
Back then, the tobacco felt purer than this capitalist stuff where you can't find a single trace of actual tobacco leaf 😈 hehe; I wonder if it was Philip Morris or whoever else lost that case against smokers who were supposedly POISONED (really?!) by their own damn cigarettes??!! (check out the link! man, listen to how they talk about those millions of dollars in damages!)
Anyway, don't stress about when you'll finally quit; that day will come when it's meant to 😘
Maybe you just haven't truly sat down and realized how much you actually smoke yet. Once you do quit, you'll be a much better witness to the fact that people really can change, and a better example than someone who never even picked up a cigarette to begin with.
BE SMARTER THAN SMOKING!
#79 ·
Sarah James4 said:I think besides my dad and me, everyone else smokes... but they know the rules when I'm home... I quit when I got pregnant.. and he quit when his health started going downhill...
I honestly have zero issues telling someone to stop smoking near me or my kid, especially indoors, and I'll gladly get into an argument about it😈 , because they're gonna get what's coming to them😬 😍
Hold up, where do you get the right to tell people they can't smoke in a cafe or a public spot near you and your kid? If it really bothers you that much, why go to places where smoking is allowed?
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