More smoking questions

[Loosehead]

I just saw a lunch time news report that 74% of smokers with children smoke with them in the room, 34% with them in the car and 18% when they're in bed with them, small babies obviously! If you're not covered in any of those percentages I don't mean you ok but why do smokers think so little of their children? I mean my parents did it when I was young and I absolutely hated it so I know the kids must notice.

[OBonio]

My sister-in-law's husband is in the 74% and 34%. His reasoning is thus : we live in a democracy, and I'm not going to be told where I can smoke in my own home. As Andy pointed out, it's a case of thinking little full stop.

[Loosehead]

So gassing his kids is ok as long as he is exercising his "democracy" what about the kid's right to breath clean air, sounds like an inconsiderate A*&^%$e

[thikasabrik]

Sorry but I have to disagree with Andy Hughes about smokers not thinking about themselves or those around them. I've been a smoker for over 30 years and I'm not proud of it - I wish I had never started and I wish I could stop. I have two primary school children and I never smoke in my house as it wouldn't be fair on them and I don't want my house to smell. If I feel the urge I nip out into the back yard. I never smoke in restaurants, even when smoking is allowed, out of consideration for others. Please don't class all smokers as selfish, because some of us try not to be.

[OBonio]

Loosehead, I agree 100%. Selfish git I'd say though.

[ALLO]

i just recently quit smoking. i smoked for about 12 years. anyway i smoked through both my pregnancy's in the car with my son, in the same room, when he would get up for a bottle, i would prop his bottle with a blanket and go smoke. then burp him and go back to sleep. i'm very discusted with myself for doing that. i finally quit when i was 8 months pregnant with my lil girl. the thought of putting my cigs before my child gags me. it's not like i said f-u to my kids, it's an addiction just like crack to a crack attict. you really don't beleive your doing wrong. i know now that i was. i thank god i was able to see what i was doing wrong! and that my children are healthy!.

[ALLO]

to andy i disagree, my in laws smoke, they smoked around there kids(they have 5) and out of 5 only 2 smoke. 2 quit, and the other never tryed it! so the circle doesn't go round. smoking is your own choice. i loved my cigs. i loved everything about them. the flick of the lighter, the first inhail. flicking the ashes, holding them, the name marlboro lights menthol. the color of the box, the filter. every drag was joy to me. they were my friend . they were always there when i needed them! i don't look down on any smoker. yes i think it's wrong to smoke around your kids. second hand smoke is worse for you than first hand. and in the usa in delawear smoking is banned in any public place. i think thats great! i don't want anyone smoking around my kids when we're out. so i see the good and the bad to smoking cigs!

[newtron]

Before I stir up some trouble, I want to say that I am not a smoker.  ALLO, you made the statement that "second hand smoke is worse for you than first hand".  Do you have any references to support this statement?  I've heard all the statistics and numbers that the media have reported, and to tell you the truth, I don't trust any statistical results and conclusions reported by the media.  I admit that until just now, I never bothered to look up any actual studies on second hand smoke.  Check out this site: http://www.davehitt.com/facts/index.html

It explains some of the finer points of statistical analyses and analyzes two of the main studies that most of the figures we hear are based on.  As I said, I have not done much research yet, but so far, I am not convinced that second hand smoke is so dangerous.  If anybody can point me to more recent studies that have more convincing results, please do so.  I am trying to be open minded.

Also, andy hughes, what do you mean by "it makes you... eventually be bad"?  I know many good people who smoke.  Were you talking about being physically sick?   

[Gevs1966]

Andy Hughes, your answers are normally well thought out, well reasoned, unbiased and of no prejudice opinion. However your answer on this matter is the opposite and it is factually inaccurate. You discriminate againt ALL smokers and describe them as basically being ignorant to them and everyone around them This simply isn't true and is prejudiced to the extreme, you may as well say that all young black men are on drugs! You say kids of smokers often end up smoking themselves, ok but kids of non smokers often end up smoking too. I've read a study which shows that kids living with an anti smoker (different to non smoker) are more likely to smoke regularly in their teen years than those kids of smokers. You say that smoking is expensive, does that affect you if you don't smoke?? You say it has absolutely no redeeming qualities, again this is factually untrue. It has been proven that it can aid in the prevention of Parkinsons disease & Aultsheimers (sp?)disease. Smokers are at lower risk from gum disease, allergic asthma, atopic eczema and food allergy in fact children of smokers have lower asthma contradicting the misconception that it causes it. Smoking reduces the risk of breast cancer and rare skin cancer and has a theraputic effect on ulcerative colitis. Smoking also increases cognitive performance and ability to retain information it can even help with tourettes and scizophrenia. Now I'm not trying to advertise or advocate smoking as we all know the damage it can do to a person but please get your facts straight before you go off on one based on personal ideas. The smokers I know are considerate not to smoke where it would be considered anti social by the majority. Do you enjoy the benefits of a free health service? There wouldn't be one without the revenue generated by the tax on fags. The worst kind of smoker is an anti smoker! I don't smoke!

[delilahcat]

Ges1966, Andy Hughes was answering the original question, which was how can 74% of of smokers with children smoke while their children are in the room with them? I think he answered it very well - these people obviously don't think at all!

You say that the smokers you know are considerate enough not to smoke when it would be considered anti-social by the majority. I'm really pleased for you, but how come when I'm in a restaurant I so often seem to be surrounded by smokers who obviously couldn't care less that I'm trying to have a pleasant meal and don't want to inhale their horrible fumes?

As far as the statistics regarding all those beneficial effects that smoking has, who do you think commissions and funds those studies? It's invariably the tobacco companies who spend millions of their profits trying to justify their foul products. The leading manufacturers have consistently lied over more than 50 years about everything, including passive smoking, cancer, addiction, advertising and targeting of minors. The World Health Organisation has produced a document which states that smuggling of tobacco has only been possible with the direct collusion of the industry itself. The EU has filed a RICO (Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organisations) action against Philip Morris and RJ Reynolds in the US. The response from Philip Morris was an offer to pay one billion dollars to the EU over the next 12 years. Does that seem like the act of an innocent company whose products are wholesome and good for you?

Rant over!

[Gef]

delilahcat, why not just go to one of the many non-smoking restaurants rather than one which allows smoking?

[delilahcat]

Where are these many restaurants that don't allow smoking?

[Gef]

Exactly delilahcat. It's called supply and demand and there isn't much demand apparently.

[delilahcat]

Gef, 27% of adults in the UK smoke. That means that 73% don't. I think it's unlikely that many of the 73% would choose to eat in an atmosphere which is disagreeable at best and damaging at worst. My best friend suffers from asthma which is made considerably worse if the surrounding air is polluted by smoke. Should she have to stay at home because the selfish minority don't care what harm they do to other people?

Far from there being no demand, the majority of people would support a ban on smoking in public places. Fortunately, a ban will eventually be enforced and then the 73% can enjoy themselves without being poisoned by the 27%.

[Gef]

delilahcat, I think you have missed the point. If restaurant (and pub) owners thought that they could increase their trade by banning smoking then I am sure they would. I live in Glasgow and three of my favourite restaurants are non-smoking and even though I smoke cigars I am quite happy to wait until I am outside.

[FP]

Gevs, I am really interested to know where you got your statistics from on the health benefits of cigarettes.  I would really like to read them.