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smoking
This has been and is an interesting thread so I’ll add a couple of observations.
I smoked from a very early age up to the age of fifty. At first I didn’t smoke heavily but as usual the number per day crept up and when I went into Sales I carried them around to pass out to the Buyers, Purchasing Managers etc.
When I got to twenty to thirty a day - wow, so many! - I decided to stop. So I stopped. Like that. It’s called will power. The habit is the hardest part to kick.
I once read an article which said when you feel like a smoke take out a cigarette, put it into your mouth, take out your lighter or matches and then put them all away without lighting the fag. You will have satisfied the habit but ’will not feel you need to carry on the rest of the ritual’. It works. It is also cheaper.
Statistics were cited by Winston Churchill in his famous quote - There are lies, damned lies and statistics.
We all know someone who has smoked for ’X’ number of years and is still alive and well at some advanced age, or we know of someone who popped off from some other cause in his or her nineties or whatever.
Individuals cannot be used to justify any argument but the facts are that many people who smoke die of lung cancer and equally there are many who don’t. My Mother-in-law died at 89 from lung cancer having never touched a fag in her life although she sometimes went to clubs which were thick with smoke.
On balance I feel that with the evidence available smokers are more likely to suffer from lung cancer or emphysemia than non- smokers. That in itself is a good reason to give it up but it is up to the individual and I would never interfere with their choice.
I dissuaded my children from the habit by pointing out the dangers. The obvious happened as I was questioned as to why I didn’t stop but when they were young they had not the force of argument as needed to influence me.
I feel healthier since I stopped and can save the money I would otherwise have allocated to smoking. I can still run for a bus if needed - provided it is no more than twenty yards away but hey, at my age that’s pretty good and after that distance my left knee is knackered anyway.
Ah well, enough for now I think.
Regards to all - smokers, non-smokers, zealots, reprobates and holier than thou types who have given up and want to preach and those who say if it suits you then fine.
Terry.
Thanks Pamela, I appreciate you keeping the rolling pin in your kitchen - I thought I’d be safe but I wondered if you’d think I meant you lived in the outback.
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Quoting: Arthur(Roly) Rowsell
I gave up smoking over 20 years ago and never had mouth cancers. Now you spoil my satisfaction of this achievement and tell me I have to give up drinking now????? Scouse, go away and leave me alone..... I will blame you for the mouth cancers now! Or do I blame your politics?
Alright Roly, It wern’t me Mistah onust, our kid made me say it.
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Quoting: John (scouse) Hirons The main problem with the anti-smoking lobby is it’s under researched. The main basis is a limited survey carried out in the early 60’s using the limited science of that time, in fact there’s more evidence that witches cause all the damage (using the science of that time).
The lobby then started inventing science to cover the short fall in their proof the latest being that 80% of cigarette smoke is invisible & defies the laws of physics by, amongst other miraculous things, traveling great distances against the prevailing wind direction.
The question I would like the the scientist to answer is -- if a passive smoker gets a large enough share of a smokers smoke containing nicotine & all the poisons known to man to cause them harm how come they don’t get the addiction? it may just be me but I’ve never heard anyone say "I’m gasping for a passive, will someone light up".
In my area of north Liverpool we have a grain terminal, a coal terminal, a metal shredder & two main arterial roads feeding the docks. My area also has the highest incidence of chest & heart disease in the North West which in turn has the highest incidence of chest & heart disease in England. I wonder what could cause that? it must be all the passive, but invisible, smoke coming across the Irish sea against the prevailing wind.
Last edited by John (scouse) Hirons
Surely Scouse you are using exactly the same argument as the scientists, but in a non-scientific way?
You are a heavy smoker, so you’re never going to accept proof that it will do you harm, no matter who proves it, and there are screeds of research available from much more recent research than "the early 60s" in your quote.
The facts aren’t invented, they just don’t fit your opinion! If you look more closely at how passive smoking occurs,and what is meant by that description, I guarantee none of the research has been in the circumstance you have suggested.
There is a prevailing wind, for sure, and it’s coming from just north of Liverpool!
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Quoting John (scouse) Hirons
In my area of north Liverpool we have a grain terminal, a coal terminal, a metal shredder & two main arterial roads feeding the docks. My area also has the highest incidence of chest & heart disease in the North West which in turn has the highest incidence of chest & heart disease in England. I wonder what could cause that? it must be all the passive, but invisible, smoke coming across the Irish sea against the prevailing wind.
................................
I feel that the above situation would be an excellent motive for people to up-sticks and emigrate to healthier climes, if only to avoid the mysterious invisible smoke that is enveloping the northern parts of Liverpool, which, if as stated, must arrive against the prevailing wind, from the land of the Leprechauns and tatti (as in spud) mashers.
There may be a good case for "Lawyers are Us" to start a compensation gold rush.
Just an opinion, simple as it may be.
Regards Simon.
Never say a humorous thing to a man who does not possess humour. He will always use it in evidence against you.
Alright Michael, there’s is a flaw in your argument....the left wing liberals that brought in the hide the fag regulation are the current government & unless there’s been a bloodless coup the last time I looked they are predominantly Tory.
Come now Scouse, you are not seriously telling me that this current bunch of Liberals led by Boy Dave are Tories, in the true sense, although they may refer to themselves as such.
Yes you are right they brought in the legislation, based on the proposals made by the Labour government in Oct 2009.
My apologies Maurice for assuming you were, dare I say it, a smoker!!
