Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site decwrl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!mgnetp!ihnp4!houxm!houxz!vax135!floyd!whuxle!mit-eddie!genrad!decvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-xenon!rochester 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.