(any sbelling misdakes and bad gramma is intentionelly left in for entertainment purposes - and because English isn't my first or even my second
language)
It has been an interesting read this thread.
"let's blame those who benefit - first the government then the tobacco companies."
I agree that the goverment should earn huge amount of money on the sale of tobacco. It is - after all - the goverment you go to for help with the
concequences. In my country (Denmark) the health care system is entirely based on taxes.
"I started smoking knowing the risk. Now leave me alone".
I beg to differ. You may have started knowing the risk but your blasé way of ignoring the risk is based on the assumption that it won't happen to
you. When/if you lie there dying of cancer I bet your views will change somewhat.
"I smoke standing by the open window so it won't bother my children or my spouse."
Have you ever thought about what happens to the smoke when the wind blows through the window INTO your house? I have noticed a definite trend in my
family to always open the windows in the side of the house tat is in to the wind. Somehow it feels right to have fresh air coming in rather than
sucking bad air out.
"Third hand smoking isn't a problem."
My wife and I stopped smoking two years ago (we did a "cold turkey" - stopped from one minute to the next) and recently I began noticing the
nausiating whif of air around some smokers when I pass them in the shops or on the streets.
I have more than once thought about contacting old friends and family and apologize to them for having put them through such an experience.
"What about traffic pollution?"
Well, if I had my way the traffic in build up areas would be largely concisting of public transport. I know, that that is not likely to happen as long
as people reserve the right to drive their own car the two miles down to the mall in stead of going by bike.
Society MUST have transport of people and goods. It is a fact that socity doesn't HAVE to have people ill or dying of smoke related illnesses.
"My friends don't say anything and don't seem to be bothered about me smoking."
Said friends might have given up arguing their case because of your hostile or insisting way of pushing your case.
Has anyone tried the followong scenario: A smoker asks at the table "Do you mind if I smoke?". You object and several others say nothing. The smoker
happily ignores you because "majority rules".
Sometimes your friends might not even be aware of the ill effects of second hand smoking. After all - smokers and tobacco companies have been very
good at coming up with statistics proving no ill effects.
Non-smokers can easily find statistics supporting their views, but as in all other cases - we trust most in statistics that suport the views we
already have (true fact - can be substantiated in the relevant statistics

).
Sorry for writing anonymously - my account is apparently inactivated or I misremember my password. Either way the system won't send me a new
password.
I usually logon using HolgerTheDane.