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From: rochester@xenon.DEC
Newsgroups: net.general
Subject: WHY SMOKE?
Message-ID: <1441@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 13-Jun-84 11:17:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.1441
Posted: Wed Jun 13 11:17:23 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 22-Jun-84 09:29:00 EDT
Organization: DEC Engineering Network
Lines: 65

In response to Jerry's opinion on smoking, let me offer a glance from 
the smoker's point of view.



1st premise, "Smoking is dangerous to health."

	Yes, smoking is on the list of substances which, when 
	consumed in excess, bring about higher levels of health 
	problems.  What other substances appear on this list of 
	"no - no's?

		Eating:
			excessive sugar
			excessive salt
			fatty foods
			fried foods

			
		Drinking:
			coffee & tea (caffeine)
			alcohol
			soft drinks (caffeine, sugar)

	My viewpoint is that people tend to eat and drink what they 
	like, rather than what they *should* eat and drink.  Clearly, 
	there are substances that do Mr. Body harm, but which we enjoy
 	so much that we ingest them anyway. 

	The flaw is not in the substance itself, whether salty potato 
	chips, beer, or tobacco.  The flaw is the person who abuses, 
	these sustances.  

	As a smoker, I can see the value of enjoying a cigarette,  
	but only in moderation.  I smoke only after my evening meal.
	For me smoking is tied in to relaxation, the feeling of having 
	completed all the compulsary duties of the day.

	I rarely smoke more than 4 or 5 cigarettes each day;
	heavy smokers range from 40 - 60 cigarettes daily.  The heavy
	smoker's habit is need-oriented, and because he/she is smoking 
	all day long, the pleasure of smoking is diminished, in the 
	same way that our other pleasures are diminished when 
	done excessively. 

	When I was a child I hated brocolli, mushrooms, seafood,
	and many, many other things.  My first taste of alcohol
	(a sip of beer) also definitely turned me off.  In 
	typical boyish fashion I also refused to play with girls.
	It took time and many taste tests to begin to appreciate 
	all of these. Now they are among my favorites.  I suspect this
	is also why I smoke.  Initially it was to be cool with
	the guys.  Later, as my own tastes became refined, so
	did my appreciation of various tobaccos.  What so many
	never see is that smoking is not just a mechanical
	function.  When not abused, it becomes simply another
	pallet and pysch pleaser.  Like wine (which can be greatly 
	abused) smoking is a taste and texture study in 
	variey and quality.


	Smokers who are inconsiderate to others, who make others 
	breathe a cloudy environment ought to be severly scolded.
	Smokers who are not hurting anyone (but themselves) must
	be allowed the right to savour tobacco as they choose.