Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihu1e.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!ihnp4!ihu1e!nowlin From: nowlin@ihu1e.UUCP (Jerry Nowlin) Newsgroups: net.general,net.misc,net.religion,net.med Subject: Why Smoke? Message-ID: <269@ihu1e.UUCP> Date: Mon, 11-Jun-84 13:28:21 EDT Article-I.D.: ihu1e.269 Posted: Mon Jun 11 13:28:21 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 12-Jun-84 00:47:08 EDT Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL Lines: 35 I've always been opposed to the practice of smoking. Whether a pipe, cigar, cigarette, or some other variation on the theme. I've heard and repeated various arguments against it. Personal health, public health, cost to taxpayers, sin to most religions, fire hazard, and on and on. If you work around computers you've probably heard a couple others like the real aversion some disk drives have for smoke particles. I have yet to hear a valid reason *for* smoking. I've read the arguments about the loss of income to individuals and tax revenue to governments, but maintaining the economic base that rests on the tobacco industry isn't a valid reason for an individual to start or continue to smoke. It's just an excuse used by legislators to justify getting their campaign contributions from Reynolds etal. I won't even give credence to the "I'll start to gain weight" type of response. That's just defending one lack of will power with another. This isn't tongue in cheek. I'm trying to solicit tangible reasons for smoking. I want to try and understand what motivates people to start or keep smoking in spite of the overwhelming evidence that they are seriously harming the health of themselves and the people they associate with. I've got 3 kids that are going to have to make the decision to smoke or not some day and I want to be able to understand both sides of the issue so I can explain it to them. Experience tells me that dad saying no isn't going to cut it, and I've got enough respect for my kids not to try it. If you smoke you must have a reason. Let me hear it. I'll be glad to hear from non-smokers too. I realize this is an issue akin to religion in that logic doesn't always prevail. I stayed of my soap box (as much as possible) so please don't get too carried away. If you know of a better group or other forum to carry on this discussion please let me know. Jerry Nowlin ihnp4!ihu1e!nowlin