The damning of a population segment.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

The smoker.

Let's fuck 'em while they're down. Let's imprison them. Let's demoralize them.

Make them quasi-illegal.

Let's accept thier money.

Tax them.

Fine them.

Let's accept thier support and imagination in furthering our causes.

Let's fuck 'em and screw 'em and turn them into social pariahs.

Let's tax 'em for everything and spend the money on everything but help for them.

Smokers are the cretins of the world who don't deserve to live and should serve us for thier choice to smoke.

Let's tell them how to live.

And if they don't listen...

Fuck the god damned bastards...

But keep the money rolling in, guys. Okay?

Hey. If you are so much better than we are...

Get on your Godmobiles and visit the IC and ask him to fix us.

If He doesn't, figure it out that he wants us the way we are.

[GoneOffShore]

1. Hmm

I don't smoke anymore.

I hate smoke in restaurants and the smell of it on my clothes.

I really don't like kissing someone who smokes.

And being intimate with a smoker is not an option.

:popcorn:

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

2. Okay.... We won't be intimate with each other.

:)

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

3. Well Hooray For You.

You're entitled to that. But there's a difference between personal dislikes and turning those personal dislikes into social vendettas that alienate, persecute and dehumanize.

[murielm99]

4. I don't smoke any more either.

I can remember when everyone smoked, and when it suddenly became socially unacceptable.

I remember all the people who said ugly things to me because I smoked. Some of them were fat, stupid or lazy. I did not tell them so, even though they criticized me for smoking. I had better manners.

I quit because it was time for me to quit. It was time to pay attention to the risks.

Smokers are still human beings. They are not criminals. So let's not get too smug. That is what repukes do.

[GoneOffShore]

10. It didn't just become socially unacceptable

the health risks became more publicised.

And some people are just rude about others' habits. Most especially in America, where everyones' behavior is their neighbors business.

It's that Puritan background.

As someone here just said, it's not smokers, it's the smoke.

:popcorn:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

5. Hear Hear To That! Hell With The Self-Righteous Fuckers, They're No

better than you or I. They are just control freaks that are every bit as bad as those that want to control a woman's right to choose. I say fuck em. If they actually gave a rats ass about the dangers of smoking they would be campaigning to help make sure rehabiliation for the addiction is well funded and would lobby for as much money to be put into finding cures to nicotine addiction as they do for say breast cancer. They would fight along side of us with good intent while recognizing some of us are victims to a severe addiction, rather than persecuting us as some lower form of life. They would also recognize that ultimately, though they would graciously help however they could, the decision is ultimately up to us whether we choose to accept that help. Choice. But they don't fight for us, they fight against us, because they are selfish, self-righteous, control freak jackasses. As I said... ...Fuck em.

[Balbus]

6. I have no problems with smokers whatsoever....

It's the smoke that bothers me.

[beyurslf]

9. I was just going to say that. Smokers are fine--if they aren't smoking at

my dinner or in my car or my house or my office.

[FatDave]

15. I understand that smoke bothers many people

Would you be OK with smoking sections in restaurants that are sealed off from the nonsmoking section? Or maybe if restaurants just installed some heavy-duty air purifiers? I realize cigarette smoke bothers a lot of people, and I respect your right not to be bothered by it, but aren't there other less draconian solutions that could keep everybody happy? For example, outlawing smoking in bars just seems silly to me. Maybe bars could have smoking nights and non-smoking nights? I dunno, banning smoking in all public places just seems like an overreaction.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

7. Tom...

will you marry me? :loveya:

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

18. LOL!!! I'm all yours, sweetheart!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

19. wear the mask...

it's sexy! LOL!!

[Horseradish]

8. Smoking Nicely

I went to lunch at a tavern with a couple friends recently, both of whom smoke (as do I). I was having one in a booth before our food arrived and two elderly couples came in and sat in the booths on either side of us. I put out my cigarette. My friend then lit one and I asked, "Doesn't it make you feel kinda weird to be smoking in the middle of these old folks who don't smoke when there's no non-smoking area?" He said, "No, If I can smoke, I'm going to smoke (pause) but, if any of them asked me nicely to put it out, I would ... no problem."

[newyawker99]

16. Hi Horseradish!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[incapsulated]

11. Yeah. What you said.

:smoke:

[sheelz]

12. Please add your thoughts here:

Cigarette Tax...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2532228

Thanks :-)

[bobbieinok]

13. I appreciate a smoke free environment BUT IMO the next on the list is

'go get them fatties!!!'

IOW, penalize people who are overweight

etc

(I know, I know, this is already being done to some extent.)

*******

Some years ago there was an article in Time or Newsweek about the culture of 'fitness' with quotes like 'they just don't care about themselves,' 'they're lazy,' 'I don't want anything to do with them,' etc.

I forget the specific quotes that set me off, but I remember a light bulb going off in my mind: 'this is the new puritanism.'

Considering smoking and the weight 'problems,' maybe it could be said......

.....secularists don't get puritanical about sex or religion BUT everyone seems to need some puritanism in their worldview....SO maybe anti-smoking and anti-weight are the secularists' puritanical views.....and NOTE it's not really smoke or weight that's attacked; it's THE SMOKER, it's THE FATTY that's attacked......the 'god' of the secularists is FITNESS; and always FITNESS AS I DEFINE IT.....a strong odor of sanctimonious self-righteousness, no????

[FatDave]

14. Well, as a fat, secular smoker...

I'd have to disagree with you :)

[Greyhound]

17. The left-wing fascists are just as bad as reich-wing fascists.

Why this is so difficult to see I'll never understand. This is the main area I agree with the Libertarians on. Just mind your own damn business and let others mind theirs. :smoke: