I have noticed an unusual
amount of information floating around the office about smoking. Someone
was even kind enough to put a "Smoking's Cool, Yeah right" bumper
sticker on my desk.
I am very interested in all this information. However, I would be more
interested in finding something that will help me quit smoking. Scare tactics
don't work. Studies have verified this. When I was a teenager, smoking was
cool. We were not told of the dangers of tobacco or how addictive it is.
The "big tobacco" successfully made these facts secret.
As an athlete in high school, I didn't like the way smoking made me feel.
I didn't smoke regularly until after high school. There were no warnings
on the package and the surgeon general's findings on the dangers of smoking
were not yet accepted. We live in a very addictive society and I bought
into it. Now, years later, I realize all of the ramifications of being a
smoker.
I am not like other smokers. I want more non-smoking areas so it is harder
for me to smoke. I refuse to smoke around non-smokers because I respect
their right to clean air. And I am honest about my habit, there are a lot
of people who lie about whether they smoke or not. Many of us smokers are
ashamed, we are disgusted that we bought into the "big tobacco"
deception.
I would not trust any survey with questions about whether one smokes
or not. I am against billboards advertising tobacco because it glorifies
a deadly addiction. The advertising does not affect me, but perhaps not
advertising will benefit a new generation. I hope that someday we can get
past ineffective complaining and pointless propaganda and spend that energy
on trying to find a safe and effective way for us smokers to quit. Until
then, "big tobacco" wins.
