Assignment America: Smoke screens/One of the best articles I have read!

United Press International ^ | 22 August 2002 | John Bloom

[Just another Joe]

I probalby should only smoke outdoors but life without cigars is not really life.

Macanudo Maduros. They're not bad for a cigar under $10.

[metesky]

Here lies Les Moore,
Four shots from a .44
No Les,
No more

Epitaph, Boot Hill Cemetary
Tombstone, Arizona

[fellowpatriot]

Do you think the emotional/mental changes that occurred with nicotin deprivation indicated an addiction to nicotin?

No, I think it was the pregnancy. LOL

[mercy]

Counting down to your expulsion newbie 10 .....9 .....8 ...

Don't worry it will only be for a day or two but I fully expect you to earn a permanent excommunication very soon.

[Max McGarrity]

Anybody who believes that cigarette smoke is not dangerous (especially when it comes off the end of cig and not through the filter) is a total dumbass.

Speaking of total dumbasses, have you ever stopped to think that smokers get every bit as much shs as anyone else in the room in addition to that coming through the filter? Are we just a super race or what? Why aren't we all keeling over from the effects of that double deadly smoke?

Tell me, why is it that anti-smokers are such a nasty bunch?

[Just another Joe]

Counting down to your expulsion newbie 10 .....9 .....8

Did you use the abuse button?
I hate to use that thing until I've gotten my shots in.

[metesky]

I wasn't mocking the death of your anecdotal two year old.

I was mocking you.

[mercy]

LOL

[Teacher317]

The burden of smokers longterm healthcare costs on our social safety nets is costing me money. That makes it my business.

Bzzzzzzt. Nice try, here are your parting prizes. Since smokers do not live as long, they have smaller healthcare bills than non-smokers. We all die of something, and we all spend thousands fighting for those last few months or years. The major difference? Smokers tend to fail more quickly, and at an earlier age.

(Personally, as an 8-year old, I watched my favorite grandmother hack her cancer-ridden lungs up until she died... and that was enough to keep me from ever trying the habit, despite the fact that both parents smoked.)

Now that I've checked, you've apparently gotten well-flamed for your post, so I think I'll defend at least one part of your response... the social safety nets DO make private health issues into public ones. For this reason, among many others, those "social safety nets" should be eliminated. If this is what you are implying with your post (although I honestly doubt it), then you'll probably find quite a bit of FReeper support. Otherwise, you'll want to keep the flame-resistant suit near-by. ;^)

[Just another Joe]

Tell me, why is it that anti-smokers are such a nasty bunch?

You know, Max, I'm almost convinced that it's a genetic mutation in their nasal cavities. It must override their conservatism.
I can't think of any other reason why a conservative would do things like they do.

[Teacher317]

I grew up with my dad smoking and I couldn't stand it. Nothing like good clean air.

LOL, reminds me of the comedian who was decrying the rules against smokers. He noticed that the only people who go outside during the work day are the smokers, then said, "Isn't it ironic that smokers are the only ones getting any fresh air?"

[Max McGarrity]

You are in denial. Your responses sound like the typical BS of a heroin junkie. But you just keep on puffing. You'll show us all won't you. What an idiot you are.

Well, there's the "d" word; can scatological references be far behind? When you control freaks don't get your way, you sure get mean as a junkyard dog, doncha?

[Just another Joe]

I've an early morning tomorrow so I'll have to decline to debate any more tonight.
Since I haven't had many replys to my posts so far I don't think I'm going to miss much.

[mercy]

If you promise not to tell anybody else I'll let you in on a little secret. They're hard to find outside of Texas but we have a little cigar company in San Antonio called the Finke Cigar Co. They put out a celo wrapped five pack in four or five sizes. The biggest one is called a Senator. 50 gauge by 5 !/2". They run about 85 cents and are as good as most six dollar cigars. Better than many actually. They're on the web.

I am also a customer of the Thompson Cigar Co and they ship me a box of La Paloma cigars from the Sello De Garantia producers every month. They are 52 X 7" and cost me a whole 2 bucks each. They are as good as most $10 cigars. They are also on the web.

[fellowpatriot]

I asked you earlier to show me hard evidence that smoking causes lung cancer. Can you?

[fellowpatriot]

Tell me, why is it that anti-smokers are such a nasty bunch?

Because they don't smoke. They should try it - it tends to calm the nerves. LOL

[Gabz]

You leave or you put it out. MY VOTE! BAN SMOKING!!!!!

Typical emotional reaction of an anti-smoker who has no basis in facts - but "just doesn't like something."

I have yet to see a smoker on FR or anywhere for that matter, who claims their are no risks related to smoking - so that one doesn't cut it.

As to banning smoking because you're somewhere with you kids, how often do you bring your kids to bars????

What about the rights of the bar owner that smokes - because you don't like it you think you should have the right to tell them how tey may conduct themselves on their private property???

As to "public" places - smokers are also taxpayers and therefore remain members of the public.

[Jaidyn]

Maybe they are only nasty when the Valium wears off! They sure are a hyper lot! At one time, smokers were considered the most productive employee. Since the smoking bans in offices and factories, the tide has changed. Maybe corporations should look into this to aid in productivity.

[Jaidyn]

The government wants us to smoke because we are revenue to them. The monies collected off cigarettes more than makes up for the so-called healthcare involved. We have a bar. If we allowed only non-smokers in, we would go broke. They don't spend as much money and would find something else to complain about.

[Taxman]

ping