Smoking

[ChainLegacy]

Originally Posted by WanderingKnight

Uuh... what? Did you even bother reading Vexx's post?

He said the methodology was wrong. You won't get anything out of warring the production and distribution of drugs and other illegal substances, and that is damn right. If you don't accept that, then you haven't been paying attention these past 50 years. Apathy has nothing to do with trying to find a better way to end with people's harmful (and ultimately useless) addictions.

If anything, there's huge profits involved in the illegality of certain substances. Just look at Colombia's cocaine mafia.

Which is why I've always thought we should stop heavy policing/punishment for hard drug addictions but instead utilize public knowledge campaigns (and not propaganda, actual science/statistics). I'm not entirely sure how well it would work, but it can't be much worse than what we currently have, which is a waste of money (and really hard on drug-users). A flat-out 'ban' through force will always be impossible, and if cigarettes are banned then expect taxes to increase for another useless struggle.

[Nightbat®]

Originally Posted by Vexx

The War on Drugs shows how simply making something popular but toxic illegitimate is a total failure (much like Prohibition was). It simply enriches the criminal class and provides a mechanism of unwarranted power to authoritarians.

Then again, legalising a forbidden substance makes organised crime look for another means to make money
the end of the prohibition made them go from dealing alcohol to cocaine and heroin

The Netherlands wouldn't have had the problem of XTC flooding the country if marihuana
had remained illegal

[Anh_Minh]

Originally Posted by ChainLegacy

Which is why I've always thought we should stop heavy policing/punishment for hard drug addictions but instead utilize public knowledge campaigns (and not propaganda, actual science/statistics). I'm not entirely sure how well it would work, but it can't be much worse than what we currently have, which is a waste of money (and really hard on drug-users).

Well, it could increase the consumer base, resulting in more overdoses, losses of productivity, and drug related crimes, since broke addicts will do anything for a fix - legalizing the drug won't change that.

[Wervy]

Originally Posted by Anh_Minh

Well, it could increase the consumer base, resulting in more overdoses, losses of productivity, and drug related crimes, since broke addicts will do anything for a fix - legalizing the drug won't change that.

It would cut down on the ammount of teens who get busted with a little pot and get their lives ruined for it. Seems like the legal system is filled with judges that have no qualms about throwing the book at some kid who make a mistake.

Personaly I dont think more education would be a bad thing. Do you honestly think someone knowing more about somthing that could kill them would lead to more deaths? Thats like saying birth control shouldnt be taught in schools because it would lead to more teen pregnancy. Ignorance in any form is dangerous.

[Anh_Minh]

He's discussing depenalising hard drugs, not pot.

And did I say anything against education?

Heck, I didn't even straight out speak against his point. I just pointed out it wasn't the clean cut "It can't be worse" case he claimed it to be.

[ChainLegacy]

Originally Posted by Anh_Minh

Well, it could increase the consumer base, resulting in more overdoses, losses of productivity, and drug related crimes, since broke addicts will do anything for a fix - legalizing the drug won't change that.

It could do that, but if an actual effort were put towards education and knowledge I'm not too sure the situation you described is very likely. I'm not averse to banning the use of addictive substances as additives to any product, as that has been pointed out to be a dishonest and misleading practice that traps people. Much like addictions trap people, but I don't think someone is going to be able to go to a drug store and buy some crack in the scenario I imagine. I would think that someone would have to be signed off and have a license, proving they have given the dangers at least some preponderance. The license must be easily attainable, but at the same time in order for one to possess one they must be willing to sign off on their understanding of the dangers.

As for weed, I complete agree with you, Wervy. Luckily, my state is making some steps in the right direction in terms of cannabis laws.

[lethal_lunacy77]

I really don't see what the big deal is....I smoke socially, and to relax. Im definitely not addicted though as I can go several months without a puff

[Ledgem]

Originally Posted by lethal_lunacy77

I really don't see what the big deal is....I smoke socially, and to relax. Im definitely not addicted though as I can go several months without a puff

It's wonderful that you are not addicted. I wish all smokers could say the same. That's what the big deal is.

[Jazzrat]

Nicotine, caffeine, MMORPGs, anime.

I think that's the list of stuff i m addicted to. Although I m slowly losing my dependance on MMORPG and anime

Unfortunately, I m not strong willed enough to quit my smoke n coffee habit. Most smokers i knew are aware of the risk involved but you know, that never really stop em. To me, there's 2 type of smokers, those who smoke cause it's cool and those who smoke because life sucks (especially at work). Imho, it's most important to be polite whenever you need a puff. It's your choice to poison yourself but think of those around you.

[JTox001]

Just wanted to say that it's possible to quit even with a weak will.

I've been smoking for seven years, partly chain-smoking, and tried to quit about ... well, numerous times (so much I can't remember anymore ).
But the tries to give up became more frequent with the time and I finally stopped last year. But I need to add that I had to stay away from my friends for 2 weeks to finally manage because all of them are (still) smokers.

And now I can finally say that I'm not addicted anymore. Although I have been smoking one or two cigs while extremely gaming with my friends, I just don't have the urge to get cigarettes when I'm alone or not physically engaged.
And I'm veeery happy about that. I actually can't express how much better I feel.

[Mystique]

hmm
this news item just out today.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7635929.stm

And other tobacco products will be expected to follow suit by 2010.

The Department of Health said the written warnings had been a success with research showing more than 90,000 smokers had been motivated to call the NHS quit line because of them.

Text did work for a while, but then i assume all you smokers became desensitised to the warnings on our packet labels, so now the UK is going one better.
Question to the smokers board is, will it make a diff visually seeing the damage you're inflicing on yourself, or will you just end up desensitised and not really care?

[Solace]

will you just end up desensitised and not really care?

My sister is a nurse. She once described assisting doctors on a man who was having a heart attack. She told me they put him on the table, shaved him, and then started cutting him open while discussing what they were going to eat after the surgery was done and how things were going with the family.

The point? People get used to anything after they see it enough times. It'll scare some off, but there won't be any long term dents.

[Skullchukka]

Reply to OP with a quote from some person who just died of lung cancer;

Never.. Start.. Smoking. If you want to look back to the day you started smoking when you are 50, and regret it to hell, then go ahead.

[Mystique]

Originally Posted by Solace

My sister is a nurse. She once described assisting doctors on a man who was having a heart attack. She told me they put him on the table, shaved him, and then started cutting him open while discussing what they were going to eat after the surgery was done and how things were going with the family.

The point? People get used to anything after they see it enough times. It'll scare some off, but there won't be any long term dents.

Somehow someone undertaking a job to deal with seeing parts of the body in those conditions, to a regular smoker that has nothing to do with medicine or even has any interest with the body, is kinda quite diffrent no?
Generally people react in different ways (no, not all become used to it, people can become traumatised) - hence i posed this question directly to those smokers on the board for personal replies

[Cub-Sama]

I was thinking that putting a picture of a blackened lung on cigarette packets would decrease the amount of people smoking and increase the amount of people trying to quit cos obviously no one wants their lungs to look like that.

[Solace]

Originally Posted by Mystique

Somehow someone undertaking a job to deal with seeing parts of the body in those conditions, to a regular smoker that has nothing to do with medicine or even has any interest with the body, is kinda quite diffrent no?
Generally people react in different ways (no, not all become used to it, people can become traumatised) - hence i posed this question directly to those smokers on the board for personal replies

Not that different no. It's the nature of visual trauma that either carries on or you get desensitized to it. I know many people who thought they could handle taking blood, or becoming an emergency responder that just couldn't even think about it without mental issues.

On the other hand, your average person isn't cutting people open, or taking their blood, or other medical procedures. They're just looking at pictures, printed on millions of packs. There will be an initial "ewww, gross", and then they'll keep right on doing what they do. Very few will quit because they've seen a graphic image, and it's not something staring at you all the time. Just turn the pack over. There's even an audience that *likes* those graphic images - the gross out factor can generate lots of free advertising buzz.

I just really don't think it will have any type of long term effect.

http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost...5&postcount=42

^ Post made a few pages into this thread, which sums up my thoughts on the new labels.

[Drake]

I've never smoked a cigarette in my life.

And thanks to that i'm 6 foot 5.

[Hadeel]

no one likes smoking
my father smokes
i hope he stopped it

[Gemstar]

Smoking is bad, they should ban it. When people smoke they harm others around them. I do not support smoking.

[rile]

Originally Posted by Gemstar

Smoking is bad, they should ban it. When people smoke they harm others around them. I do not support smoking.

Thats statictic.All people who smoke dont hurt anyone.Infact most people who smoke are actually calmer than ussual.Statistics like that make smoking seem bad.Not that i smoke or anything,but yea i used to and hell i might start again soon to be compleatly honest.