Freethought & Rationalism Archive

NialScorva · 04-11-2003, 12:15 PM

Speaking of pot, I think the most effective anti-marijuana ad I've seen was the night I spent in a basement watching 5 guys stare at an ottoman for 2 hours. Alcohol makes me confused, but that's ok. I refuse to do anything that makes me stupid, even temporarily.

Graeme · 04-11-2003, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LadyShea
Thats a hookah smoking hashish...they are used for smoking opium as well.

Actually I believe their main use is to smoke flavoured tobacco - it comes in jars and is very wet and thick coming out of the container, often smelling strongly of strawberries or other fruit.

Given the islamic prohibitions against intoxicants I would assume that the majority of hookah-smoking in the middle east would be of the tobacco variety.

Kinross · 04-11-2003, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Godless Dave
I'm not sure that's true, but for the record I am not an anti-smoker, partly for that very reason - I'd be a hypocrite.

I'm only speaking from experience. I don't know how big a subset it is but there are some pot smokers that are anti-tobacco.

Kvalhion · 04-11-2003, 12:38 PM

Quote:

As for restaurants. A business owner can set up his eatery anyway he chooses. If you do not like cigarette smoke and the place is not smoke free then don't eat there. There are many places that are smoke free, why not give them your business. As I stated before I'm a non smoker. When I go out to eat I ask for the non-smoking section. If when I sit down I smell cigarette smoke I get up and leave and tell the manager why. I have no right to tell another how to run their establishment but I am free to take my money elsewhere.

I agree with you to an extent. I do try to frequent the restaurants that are completely non-smoking as much as possible, but the reality is (at least here in MN) that most restaurants do allow smoking.

A restaurant is a private business. However, it is also considered a palce where the public congregate and is subject to certain rules and regulations. Simply because it is a private business doesn't give a restaurant owner the right to put his customers at risk. Nor does it give the owners the right to put employees at risk. Thus, the legislation applies to 'public places' such as restaurants, workplaces, movie theaters, etc.

Sure, we can begin to say "If you don't like it, don't go. If you don't like it, don't work there. If you don't like it, don't breathe." Personally I think there is no good reason to force those who simply wish to be smoke free to go out of their way to avoid smokers who spread their smoke to others.

Why would smoke that is filtered through the cigarette be harmful to the person smoking it but the smoke that is not filtered not be harmless? That makes no sense. The reality is that smoke does make people sick. Personally, it permeates my clothes, my hair, my skin. It makes my nose run and it gives me a headache. It makes my eyes water. Just because I don't subject myself to enough smoke to give me cancer doesn't mean it doesn't harm me.

If people want to smoke themselves to death, fine. If people want to eat themselves to death, fine. If people want to drink themselves to death, fine. If people want to stone themselves to death, fine. Is it really too much to ask to leave me out of it?

Viti · 04-11-2003, 07:25 PM

Hey all! Anyone who has posted links or comments in regards to actual studies, please repost here

I have opened a new thread specifically on the actual dangers of second hand smoke versus the reported dangers

Thanks!

FoE · 04-11-2003, 10:51 PM

I must say that when Health Canadian started putting those gross ads on the packs it finally gave me the kick in the ass i needed to quit. Have a look at them here. Seeing that shit on my pack every time i lit up was disturbing.

Unfortunately, i only quit for about 6 months. Now i wish we'd spend more money on effective quitting smoking programs.

Loren Pechtel · 04-12-2003, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Godless Dave
I like some of the Target Market ads because they focus more on how the tobacco companies targeted teens. Instead of a "don't smoke" message it's more of a "don't be played by the man" message. I think many teenagers smoke to be rebellious (I know I did). Knowing that old white guys in three-piece suits are encouraging and profiting from your "rebellion" puts it in a little different perspective. I don't know any teens though, so I don't know how they are received.

Also unlike the anti-pot ads the anti-nicotine ads seem to contain actual facts instead of scare tactics and lies.

I remember seeing the body-bag ad a bunch of times. They must have pulled it recently.

One comes to mind, a billboard in California some years ago. I don't remember it exactly but it was something to the effect of every time you light up so do the eyes of the tobacco executives.

Loren Pechtel · 04-12-2003, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NialScorva
Correct me if I'm wrong, I seem to recall hearing that the heath effects of second hand smoke are largely not borne out by the research.

edit: After a quick dive with google, the only things I'm coming up with are from the Washington Times (which can be thrown away on without further viewing), and from tobacco lobbies. I seem to recall hearing that the testimony in front of congress was a metastudy, and when directly asked the person testifying said "yes, the research may not indicate what we claim it does, but we have the word out and that's all that matters." or something to that effect. Anyone have anything on this?

IIRC the data shows a trend but only to the 90% confidence level and they normally use 95% as the threshold. This is from a metastudy.

It looks to me like there's an effect but it's hard to pick out from the noise.

Loren Pechtel · 04-12-2003, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NialScorva
Speaking of pot, I think the most effective anti-marijuana ad I've seen was the night I spent in a basement watching 5 guys stare at an ottoman for 2 hours. Alcohol makes me confused, but that's ok. I refuse to do anything that makes me stupid, even temporarily.

Agreed. I don't even touch alcohol--what's the value in being stupid?

Lasher · 04-12-2003, 08:26 PM

I hate the one with the body bags, I think it is horrible, and terribly offensice to anyone who has ever had a loved-one die of lung cancer.

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04-11-2003, 12:15 PM	#41
NialScorva Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Median strip of DC beltway Posts: 1,888	Speaking of pot, I think the most effective anti-marijuana ad I've seen was the night I spent in a basement watching 5 guys stare at an ottoman for 2 hours. Alcohol makes me confused, but that's ok. I refuse to do anything that makes me stupid, even temporarily.

04-11-2003, 07:25 PM	#45
Viti Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Down South Posts: 12,879	Hey all! Anyone who has posted links or comments in regards to actual studies, please repost here I have opened a new thread specifically on the actual dangers of second hand smoke versus the reported dangers Thanks!

04-11-2003, 10:51 PM	#46
FoE Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 1,168	I must say that when Health Canadian started putting those gross ads on the packs it finally gave me the kick in the ass i needed to quit. Have a look at them here. Seeing that shit on my pack every time i lit up was disturbing. Unfortunately, i only quit for about 6 months. Now i wish we'd spend more money on effective quitting smoking programs.

04-12-2003, 08:26 PM	#50
Lasher Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: some parellel unviverse Posts: 303	I hate the one with the body bags, I think it is horrible, and terribly offensice to anyone who has ever had a loved-one die of lung cancer.

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