Smoker's Point of View
This isn’t in response to, but was influenced by seeing the currently circulating smoking lounge ceiling mural. Okay, it’s clever. Lots of these new anti smoking campaigns are, but I think this is actually borderline offensive. You wouldn’t see any such thing in a bar, would you?
As a smoker, I am constantly accosted by peers, professors and colleagues about my habit. I take it all with a grain of salt, but what do these people think they are telling me that I don’t already know? I know the risks, I know what it could do to my body. If you ask me why I smoke, the only answer that I can give you is ‘because I like it”.
Thanks for reminding me that I may possibly die of lung cancer. No one reminds me that I may possibly die of murder, crossing the street at the wrong time, or eating poorly. To be honest, my death will probably result from my poor eating habits. I could use a little motivation to eat better, but it’s always about the smoking.
Sometimes I wish that just some of the awesome effort put into these anti-smoking campaigns went to harassing people about more important things that we all forget to do sometimes. Don’t be an asshole. Treat other people with respect. Try on a different perspective before you get angry at someone. Stop being so goddamn angry. Be better.
I like your philosophy, “don’t be an asshole.” People that smoke drive up health insurance premiums, pollute others lungs without consent, ruin my clothes, suck more cash out of medicare than they should, and provide NEGATIVE benefit to the communities that they’re a part of.
Pardon me, but pull your head out because: It’s not about you, it’s about me.
Don’t be an asshole a smoker.