2 Years Old.
I won't deny ever smoking. I've smoked on many occasions (not that I'm proud of it), but I haven't touched a cigarette in a long, long time. A number of my friends are smokers and that is fine with me to an extent. It's not like people are oblivious to the risks associated with it; their boxes contain graphic depictions of them. It's their problem. Of course, I would never want to see my friends suffer from lung cancer (heart disease etc...) but it's not my place to scare them out of smoking.
Regardless of the horrible things smoking can do to your body, cigarettes still have a 'cool' image. Cigarette companies are amongst the most recognizable brands in the world.
Many people find reasons to smoke or keep smoking. In this recession, the habit has actually increased because it gives people a sense of comfort and soothing.
This is where you're crossing my moral boundaries: when your smoking is intrusive and harmful to non-smokers. Take that horrid video as an example. I hope this doesn't happen very often. I am going to take the naive stance and say that this video depicts a rare instance of child abuse. If you're giving a vulnerable person a cigarette or blowing smoke in their face, no matter how old they are, it is the most insensitive, selfish, awful thing you could possibly do.
Here's another example: I was at the Kitchener (ON) bus terminal and I saw the usual teen mom wearing her Catholic School uniform (surprise, surprise). Here's the kicker--she was holding a cigarette, yelling at her toddler and blowing smoke into the poor thing's face. At this point I was ready to let her have it but I decided against it. I somewhat regret my decision.
Is this not as destructive as beating a child?
Perhaps that's a bold statement but I stand by it.
If you're going to smoke, keep it personal.
I won't deny ever smoking. I've smoked on many occasions (not that I'm proud of it), but I haven't touched a cigarette in a long, long time. A number of my friends are smokers and that is fine with me to an extent. It's not like people are oblivious to the risks associated with it; their boxes contain graphic depictions of them. It's their problem. Of course, I would never want to see my friends suffer from lung cancer (heart disease etc...) but it's not my place to scare them out of smoking.
Regardless of the horrible things smoking can do to your body, cigarettes still have a 'cool' image. Cigarette companies are amongst the most recognizable brands in the world.
Many people find reasons to smoke or keep smoking. In this recession, the habit has actually increased because it gives people a sense of comfort and soothing.
This is where you're crossing my moral boundaries: when your smoking is intrusive and harmful to non-smokers. Take that horrid video as an example. I hope this doesn't happen very often. I am going to take the naive stance and say that this video depicts a rare instance of child abuse. If you're giving a vulnerable person a cigarette or blowing smoke in their face, no matter how old they are, it is the most insensitive, selfish, awful thing you could possibly do.
Here's another example: I was at the Kitchener (ON) bus terminal and I saw the usual teen mom wearing her Catholic School uniform (surprise, surprise). Here's the kicker--she was holding a cigarette, yelling at her toddler and blowing smoke into the poor thing's face. At this point I was ready to let her have it but I decided against it. I somewhat regret my decision.
Is this not as destructive as beating a child?
Perhaps that's a bold statement but I stand by it.
If you're going to smoke, keep it personal.
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