Praxius... informing the public that something is bad for them, and making it illegal, do not go hand in hand. There is a laundry list a mile long of stuff that medical research has proven is bad for us. But medical researchers (the people we count on to tell us the truth about health issues) aren't the same people who decide if we need nanny laws banning the stuff or not.
And yet it always starts this way. They present some sort of concept that has some evidence pointing in one direction, they run off to the media to tell all about it, and like they did last night on The National, they spent a good 10-15 mins freaking out about how dangerous it is, how much it affects the growth of reading in children, how soon most will have to consider if they're going to continue smoking in their homes, or anywhere for that matter........
.......
Maybe.
Once again.... in yet another one of these reports they blanket the population with, they continually sneak in that
"It Could have an effect." because some evidence is leaning that way..... but it is not absolute fact in one way or another.
So instead of telling everybody this is the problem, this is why, and this is the true effect that occurs from it...... they spent 10-15 mins going on about what they suspect 3rd hand smoke can do, what common trends they have found in a small group study where only 18% or so of those who participated were actually smokers...... fearmonger everybody in thinking that the guy standing in the elevator beside you smelling like nicotine is slowly killing you.......
...... Oh, but then at the end of it all they claim further study is required to confirm any of this.
So wtf was the point in spending 10-15 mins of broadcast time scaring the living sh*t out of everybody based on stuff that hasn't been completely proven one way or another?
I turn back to the Global Warming Mentality....... they don't have all the information, they don't have all the evidence, they have a few common factors based on a crummy study, yet the entire media society spent the entire day yesterday bombarding people into suggesting that it is indeed fact...... when in the end of their reports, they quickly claim further study is required to confirm most of these affects.
But the damage is done.
And the thing I have a real problem with isn't about them making smoking illegal..... it's where this is all going to lead, which is more smokers being cast outs from society more then they are now.
• First they couldn't smoke inside most places
• then they couldn't smoke in bars
• then they couldn't smoke at Tim's and be put in a little booth like some side-show
• then they couldn't even do that and then everybody had to go outside all the time to smoke.
• Then they couldn't even smoke near their work and had to be pushed even further away by 10 ft from all entrances.
• Then they couldn't even smoke on a patio/deck at a food establishment, even though most of those people on the deck eating are 3 feet away from the street with cars pumping out even worse toxins into their lungs.
• Then they couldn't smoke inside their own vehicles if they have people in there who are younger then 19 years of age... even with the windows down.
• And in Bridgewater, NS. You can't even fk'n smoke anywhere outside in town limits other then the bridge in the town because it's provinicially owned.
^ So people there can't smoke anywhere outside, and obviously they sure as hell can't smoke inside..... and you sure as hell can't smoke in your car there either......
And now we got this crap about 3rd hand smoke.
Now amongst all the bullsh*t above thrown on people who are technically doing nothing illegal in the first place and are already jumping through enough hoops for fearmongering goodie goodies who have taken media-hype as fact..... now they're going to have even more harrassment from everybody no matter where they go.
As soon as they enter a building, as soon as they jump in an elevator, as soon as they get in a lineup at the Tim's they used to be able to smoke in not so long ago, now there's going to be more righteous finger pointers telling them to leave or stand out of line away from them because they smell like nicotine and are a danger to their health..... blah blah blah.....
^ That's the problem I have..... if our government, media and our scientists are going to continually screw over and alienate a paticular portion of our population based on something that is still legal to do, I would much rather they make the damn thing illegal, rather then out-casting these people from the mob of ignorance.
And I call it the mob of ignorance, because countless times in the past
(And it will happen with this too) people will take these speculative/flawed reports
(Which they themselves admitted needed further study to determine what exactly happens and how much of a risk it is) and hold them like the bible as being fact.
They report there is a chance these health concerns could be concerns, but need more study.... but all everybody else hears is that it's a possibility, therefore it's a problem...... therefore it's time to alienate and blame all our problems back on smokers yet again..... more restrictions and laws will be put into place, more hoops for people to go through.
If people want to quit, then they can quit on their own accord when they are ready..... they don't need the government and other ignorant people in the public forcing them to make the decision through all these stupid ploys, these stupid rules and laws......
10 feet away from the entrance please.... right now you're about 8 feet..... no you can't stand there, because now you're 6 feet away from the ventilation....... you're going to have to crawl into those bushes over there in the woods...... oh and stand on your head while you smoke too, because there's a chance that it'll reduce the amount of tobacco getting lodged into your lungs due to gravity........
If people want to force people to quit smoking, then make it illegal.
This whole current situation is a pathetic joke if you ask me.
