Who's responsible for tobacco-related deaths?

[Gab]

It seems that I'm one of the few people on Ironworks who has never somked a ciggerette in his life. Am I right?

Anyways, I'd say it's mostly the smoker who is responsible. That wasn't the case in the 40s, 50s and 60s where almost everyone smoked. They didn't know of the terrible things smoking causes.

It's different in todays world. We know that smoking causes lung cancer, heart attacks, strokes, throat cancer,etc. Yet plenty of people still do it. Weither it be that they think it's cool, don't care, or addicted and unable to stop.
No one's forcing you to smoke,it's by choice.

Of corouse, I hate the tobacco companies who don't care about people's health and just want to make money.

[ 01-20-2004, 06:48 PM: Message edited by: Gab ]

[Cerek the Barbaric]

I've also never smoked a cigarette, Gab. In fact, I've never even taken so much as a single puff off of one. I'm an exception to the rule since both of my parents are smokers.

You summed up my own feelings very well. People who grew up in the 40's - 60's didn't know of the health risks. In fact, (as Aelia pointed out, some doctors even said smoking was good for you). Since the tobacco companies were actively researching ways to make their product addictive, they DO bear some of the responsibility for the health problems suffered by that generation...although there were still some during that time who chose NOT to smoke, despite the pressure from peers and society.

However, NOBODY who started smoking after 1980 can claim to be ignorant of the health risks involved. Therefore, I feel they bear the FULL responsibility of their decision and the tobacco companies are not responsible for their health problems.

As for the tobacco companies themselves....let's face it..as long as their is a demand for their product, they will continue to make them. And that's kind of my whole point in this thread...is that DESPITE the widespread knowledge of how dangerous cigarette smoking is, thousands of people START the habit every single day!

There is a constant demand for the product produced by the tobacco companies, so there is no reason for them to stop manufacturing them. After all, if the current companies quit making cigarettes, other companies would start because the demand is still there.

[Aelia Jusa]

I've never smoked even one cigarette either. And don't intend to . My parents were both like you too, Cerek, at least one of their parents smoked but they never even tried it.

A sad fact about smoking rates today is, while every other demographic is smoking less and less every year, the rate for young women (18-30) starting smoking is increasing.

I do sympathise with people who have started smoking within the last twenty years who are trying to quit, because I recognise how hard it is. What really baffles me is why they ever start in the first place though. Even ignoring the health risks, because young people often either think they're invulnerable or think that they'll only have negative consequences when they're 'really old' (ie 45 ), why would anyone want to smell so gross?

[Faceman]

Anyone seen the South Park episode about Smoking? (7-13 IIRC)
It's a bit overdone, but holds some truth.

[Timber Loftis]

I'm smoking right now.

[Faceman]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: I'm smoking right now.

Good for you
I know it's utterly stupid but I'm in a phase of juvenile defiance so every time I visit my best friend I pick up this book of Allen Carr (some nonsmoker guru) from the shelf, start reading why I'm entrapped by nicotine and light me a cig.

[Donut]

I've never smoked a cigarette.

Both of my parents smoked from their teenage years.

I have watched both of them die from cancer.

[Donut]

Killafriendforchristmas!

http://www.outlawforpeace.com/trade/...t-misc013.html

[Cerek the Barbaric]

Originally posted by Donut: Killafriendforchristmas! http://www.outlawforpeace.com/trade/...t-misc013.html

A perfect example of how "socially acceptable" smoking was back in the 1950's. Thanks for digging that up Donut. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[Azred]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: Wrong on the facts. When Ford made pintos with the defect that they would tend to blow up during rear-end collisions, there was a large class action. In fact, Ford memos and documents comparing the likely number of deaths to result from the event with the likely recoveries in tort actions (and determining not to do a recall) were put before the jury. It was one of the famous early auto class actions, and a famously large punitive damage award. So, though you claim you don't see Ford getting sued, it's just because you didn't look. [img]graemlins/noevil.gif[/img] True, there have been class-action suits against auto manufacturers in the past, but there are none of which I am aware right now. However, autos are still dangerous, causing more deaths per year than either smoking or guns. Or smoking guns. [img]graemlins/beigesmilewinkgrin.gif[/img] So people continue to use potentially dangerous products despite knowing the risk, thus they should not be allowed to sue anyone. As for the theory, I think you're wrong there too. If a product has a danger, the manufacturer has a duty to correct the danger or warn consumers of the danger. We cannot claim someone "knew it was bad for them" if they didn't actually know it was bad for them. With cigarettes, this translates into know exactly *how* bad it was. And, the cigarette companies covered up this kind of information. Why should we not hold companies to at least the same standard when it comes to health (cigs, for instance) that we do when it comes to business (Enron/Arthur Anderson). Businesses lied about money and they no longer exist. They lie about health dangers, and we don't care? That's absurd. Only an illiterate moron couldn't know what products are dangerous or how they are dangerous. Yes, make businesses own up to mistakes or cover-ups, but why not also make individuals make informed decisions? Oh, that would require making people think. My mistake.

It seems that I function in a world of reality and personal responsibility and I sometimes forget that--no offense--Law has little to do with reality or personal responsibility. [img]graemlins/petard.gif[/img]

[ 01-22-2004, 12:46 AM: Message edited by: Azred ]