Collegiate Times

My father passed away 2 years ago from lung cancer after smoking for 60 years. Instead of living to a ripe old age, he died an 82 year old youngster. He didn't make it six months after being diagnosed. It was sad to watch him lose all interest in everything and sit there waiting for his sentence to be carried out. The statistics should make you want to quit. Saving money should make you want to quit. Not giving yourself lung cancer should really make you want to quit. At least give Alice's suggestion a try.

I smoke because I would rather die in my 70's or 80's than live in a nursing home.

I think we're at a point where people who choose to smoke are well aware of the potential consequences. While I know that this letter is well-intentioned, it may be time to simply let people make their own choices and live (or die) with them.

Jason T, Just imagine if someone had your point of view over the past hundred years of "let’s just let everyone make their own decision blindly, we don’t need to continue to educate them on anything." Tell that to MLK. Tell that to any civil right leader over the past hundred years. Tell that to Barak Obama, our first black president. Where would we be today if people don’t step up to educate others on what is right. Smoking kills people, that is a fact not a suggestion. If people are too blind to see the proven detrimental effects of smoking, it us up to us to continue educating those around us. So we should let people make their own decisions about smoking because it only affects their lives? Well then what about second hand smoke that kills millions each year? What about the children in homes who grow up constantly sick from second hand smoke from their parents that smoke? Yes, it is their decision to smoke, but most people are oblivious to those around them that smoking also affects. This is why we need to continue to educate people on the effects of smoking.

Whoever said they would rather die in their 70’s or 80’s than live in a nursing home, when you find a lung cancer that is guaranteed to kill you in your 70’s or 80’s, let me know. What about the millions that die in their 30’s 40’s and 50’s? Where do you think you end up once you get diagnosed with a death sentence from cancer? You don’t spend it at home living you life as usual, you spend it in hospitals dealing with chemotherapy, drugs, nurses changing you, hair loss, and bedridden. What do you think your family is going through seeing you like that? Sounds a lot better than a nursing home, don’t you think? I don’t. Thank you to the people that volunteer their time attempting to educate others on the harmful effects of smoking. It is people like this that make the world a better place for everyone to enjoy.

As I said, I appreciate Ms. Wagner's intentions, and I sympathize with her story (my grandmother died after years of struggling with emphyzema), but for many smokers, if they ever decide to quit, it will most likely be when something happens to someone they know or love personally, because if they haven't quit already, with the massive amount of horror stories out there, I doubt anything less would do the trick. I just heard a man say today that smoking ought to be illegal in this country. It took every ounce of self-restraint for me to avoid getting into a debate with him. Smoking is a personal choice, albeit one with impacts to loved ones, but so is skydiving, skiing, whitewater kayaking, etc. All of these things are risky activities that could end up hurting not only ourselves, but our loved ones. At the end of the day, each individual must make the choice and assess risk in their own way. My mantra is "give me the information, and let me make my own decision."

Anonymous, the dangers of second hand smoke are debatable at best (see http://www.junkscience.com/feb01/perske.htm), and trying to compare smoking education to civil rights is absurd. Who are you to say that it is "right" for everyone to not smoke? Part of the joy of life is the ability to make decisions for oneself. I'm not suggesting that we stop educating people; I'm merely suggesting that the information about the dangers of smoking is not exactly hard to come by.

to the person that said "I smoke because I choose to live in my 70's and 80's. you are an idiot and should not attend college. make room for smarter people Darwin! RW

Dear Jason T - I'm so glad you are showing off your prestigious Virginia Tech education by finding ONE website from 2001 that debates the dangers of second hand smoke. Wow, way to use google! Man, I wish I could hit the search button like that. Can I be you?

I smoke because I love having REALLY yellow teeth, bad breath, and terrible smelling clothes. I also thoroughly enjoy wasting my money, being a slave to relentless addiction, and sucking on rat poison and tar. I smoke because it's really really cool. .... NOT

I wonder if this author has ever smoked. It is very easy for her to lecture, but realize that you have absolutely no idea what smokers deal with.

Anonymous. I don't understand why people get so upset at what other people do with there body. If I want to smoke, its my choice, and I am well aware of the harmful effects. If I am smoking outside my house, not bothering anyone why do you care so much? and whether its cool or not? I do it because I like it, because its nice after a good meal, or a long day and its up to me to deal with the consequences. So while, education is important, not understanding a smokers view, should be educated to use as well perhaps.

To "Rather Eat Bugs than do Drugs," I'm simply pointing out that the second-hand smoke argument is open for debate. This is a short comment forum, and I am not doing a dissertation on the topic. The fact that I only listed one site doesn't mean it's the only reference, and in fact it cites several studies, but judging by how often people on these forums even read other posts before posting their own, I doubt a laundry list would be of use anyway. My point is only that, much like a parent who tells you that you'll catch pneumonia and die if you don't wear your hat and gloves, concerned friends and relatives have a vested interest in getting loved ones to stop smoking, no matter what tactics it involves. I'm not suggesting that it's a conspiracy, just that people on both sides of an issue tend to use hyperbole to make their case. I'm glad to see you using your education to bring a perspective on the argument to the table, rather than just sniping the comments of others without adding substance to the discussion.

I could go the tongue-in-cheek route and make the observation that "100% of smokers die . . ." or I could take the more serious route. People do self-destructive things all the time - some legal, some not. In this very paper the other day there was an article advocating marijuana legalization. But Jason points out a whole plethora of other stuff which is common and potentially life-endangering. The point is, you can't legislate safety because it isn't within the government's purview to require everyone to meet his maximum possible lifespan. To advocate as such implies a belief that everyone inherently wants to live as long as one possibly can, and such an assumption is not always true. Some people, to paraphrase a host of cliches, would prefer to live as much as possible rather than as long as possible. It isn't like the risks of smoking are a big secret anymore, anyway - and given that, quite honestly, it's just plain selfish to browbeat smokers simply because you personally want them to live longer. Let people make their own decisions.

There's a warning on every pack. It takes up the whole side of the box. Have you read it? It says smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, etc. Not smoking may cause, smoking causes. Try and find me someone who smokes and doesn't know the consequences. Everybody knows it's deadly, especially those who smoke. If someone is concerned enough they will quit, but it's a choice. Just as you have the choice to hang around those people or not. Nobody forces people to smoke just as nobody forces people to inhale second hand smoke. They do it because they want to. Live and let die

Of course, if I want to get out of my building at work, I have to go through a cloud of smoke at the door, because everyone takes smoke breaks right there. It's annoying... but I'm not going to lecture them to quit. I'll tell them to get the heck out of the doorway!

If smoking is so bad why is it legal?

It is legal because of the Tobacco Lobby.

here is the point... it is not about harming your body, but harming others down the road. So you become a mother or father and your kids suffer your early demise. Or your kids take you to your chemo treatments because you are too weak to drive home. So harm yourself but eventually it does harm others. You should quit, rid yourself of the addiction. The author, I hope has not smoked, but I have dipped so I do know the great taste of tobacco. I completely understand. Quit now save yourself the trouble. The cool thing is you obviously read the article, you obviously made a post, so you obviously want to quit. Try... you can do it. Oh and do not bring up mary jane in this... that sweet sheba can do no harm!

While smoking is a choice that we may make, I do not believe it is right to inflict my addiction onto others. This is why I do not smoke in bars or restaurants. I do not believe that it is right for us to force others to breathe our smoke. Actually I wish more bars would follow the example of Hokie House downstairs - a smoke free environment. If I want to smoke (my choice) I simply go outside for a minute and leave my friends in smoke free peace.

Smoker, that's considerate of you, but as a non-smoker, the only "right" I should have is to choose to not walk into places that allow smoking if I don't want to deal with that sort of environment. While I applaud your courtesy, and perhaps it would be nice if other bars chose a no smoking policy, there is clearly a demand for smoking venues. A quick look around almost any downtown bar will tell you that.

smoke weed everyday.

A woman is only a woman but a good cigar is a smoke!

I understand what you are saying, but seriously, if a person wants to smoke, let them. I understand that smoking causes cancer, whatever, as humans, if we want to do something that is legal, we will. For Thanksgiving, I'm more concerned about the risk of a tryptophan-induced coma.

I live above the influence.

There are a lot of problems associated with smoking which people face like problem with respiratory system, heart and many more. Chantix helps you to get over this smoking habit and before you can make up your mind about using it, you can check the information related on http://www.chantixhome.com/ Along with having this medicine, you should also have will power and feeling that you want to get over this habit.

People deserve good life and <a href="http://goodfinance-blog.com/topics/credit-loans">credit loans</a> or short term loan will make it much better. Just because freedom depends on money state.