I keep waiting to see when they’re going to lay off smokers and target the obese for a change. How about a “health impact fee” on the Whoppers and fries? Seems like their behavior is costing a ton of money for heart problems, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes. Why the emphasis on smoking when a WHOLE lot more people are obese than smoke???
Some say they do it to relax, but if smoking raises your blood pressure, isn’t that the opposite of feeling relaxed?
Some say it’s for the flavor. I tried smoking once when I was younger. I found the “flavor” aspect to be almost as unappealing as the choking and hacking it caused me to do. Maybe I did it wrong, but what flavor are cigarettes supposed to have?
What I’ve never had a chance to ask someone is – what are the benefits of smoking? Do smokers keep smoking simply because they’re addicted to it, or are there other reasons?
There are already actions being taken against obese people.
Some airlines charge large people for an additional seat, even though Southwest will not actually let the large person have an empty seat next to them if the flight is fully booked.
Some health benefit plans surcharge large people, regardless of whether they have obesity-related illnesses.
Unlike smoking, obesity is not always a “choice”. Some people are large due to genetic problems that affect their metabolism. Regardless of their attempts to control their weight, they will always be bigger than average.
There’s a possibility that not all smokers are in poor health. Likewise, not all large people are in poor health.
I’m larger than average, but I have normal cholesterol, normal to low blood pressure, no blood sugar problems. I work out at the YMCA doing water fitness 3 to 4 times a week. I enjoy a healthy diet, although it does include red meat and some carbs (only a masochist avoids all carbs). However I am probably always going to be big. Both of my parents are big. Two of my grandparents were big. Half of my relatives are big. That’s my genetic legacy, what more can I do other than what I do already? Should I be arbitrarily surcharged for health care benefits in spite of not having any health issues related to my weight?
There are a lot of thin people who have given themselves health problems due to wacko fad dieting. Examples – they can develop anorexia or bulemia which cause a plethora of health problems. We can’t look at them and say just because they’re not big means they’re more healthy than someone who is big.
I think forcing someone to quit smoking is wrong, frankly. If you want to enjoy cigarettes, by all means, you should be allowed to do so. Forcing someone to quit by raising cigarette taxes is a slippery slope as that method can be applied to just about anything else. Scary. (I also think forcing someone to quit eating carbs is torture!)
My only issue with smoking is the second-hand thing. But I still feel like smoking in public should not be banned across the board. If I go to a bar, I accept the fact that there will probably be smoke, therefore I won’t b!tch and moan about it. Some smoke-free policies are a little extreme, in my opinion, virtually forcing a smoker to stay within the confines of their home. Stupid policy. There are several public places where a person could smoke without causing a disturbance to non-smokers.
The over-legislation of our personal habits is annoying me and making me wonder if a return to prohibition (and a Quaker lifestyle) is in the near future.
Well stated Fluffy. I am in the same boat with you. I am heathlier than most people I know but an considered overweight. Again, a legacy given to me by my father’s side of the family.
Suprise – I am also a smoker too. Sometimes I enjoy it, othet times I don’t but still smoke because it is a HABIT and an ADDICTION.
Could I stop? Most likely the answer is yes. Will I? Eventually, when I am ready.
I am a curtious smoker though. I will not smoke around people that don’t without going outside and walking far away from the. Also, I do not smoke in my car if I have someone with me who doesn’t smoke. Family holidays – there is a designated “smoking area” on the front porch. My hous, my car, but I still do take other people into consideration.
I am a non-smoker. I think our society should watch how we handle “second hand” smoke. Our bodies produce “second hand” by-products. If I have a cold, go about in public, you walk by and develop a cold… Our society has developed a good system controlling two “second hand” products – we call them restrooms.
So, now we have politicians and lawyers sticking their nose in an area in which everybody’s individual freedoms can be severely limited. I suggest our politicians and lawyers keep their nose out of human “second hand” by-products.
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I keep waiting to see when they’re going to lay off smokers and target the obese for a change. How about a “health impact fee” on the Whoppers and fries? Seems like their behavior is costing a ton of money for heart problems, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes. Why the emphasis on smoking when a WHOLE lot more people are obese than smoke???
Why do people smoke? Just curious.
Some say they do it to relax, but if smoking raises your blood pressure, isn’t that the opposite of feeling relaxed?
Some say it’s for the flavor. I tried smoking once when I was younger. I found the “flavor” aspect to be almost as unappealing as the choking and hacking it caused me to do. Maybe I did it wrong, but what flavor are cigarettes supposed to have?
What I’ve never had a chance to ask someone is – what are the benefits of smoking? Do smokers keep smoking simply because they’re addicted to it, or are there other reasons?
There are already actions being taken against obese people.
Some airlines charge large people for an additional seat, even though Southwest will not actually let the large person have an empty seat next to them if the flight is fully booked.
Some health benefit plans surcharge large people, regardless of whether they have obesity-related illnesses.
Unlike smoking, obesity is not always a “choice”. Some people are large due to genetic problems that affect their metabolism. Regardless of their attempts to control their weight, they will always be bigger than average.
There’s a possibility that not all smokers are in poor health. Likewise, not all large people are in poor health.
I’m larger than average, but I have normal cholesterol, normal to low blood pressure, no blood sugar problems. I work out at the YMCA doing water fitness 3 to 4 times a week. I enjoy a healthy diet, although it does include red meat and some carbs (only a masochist avoids all carbs). However I am probably always going to be big. Both of my parents are big. Two of my grandparents were big. Half of my relatives are big. That’s my genetic legacy, what more can I do other than what I do already? Should I be arbitrarily surcharged for health care benefits in spite of not having any health issues related to my weight?
There are a lot of thin people who have given themselves health problems due to wacko fad dieting. Examples – they can develop anorexia or bulemia which cause a plethora of health problems. We can’t look at them and say just because they’re not big means they’re more healthy than someone who is big.
I think forcing someone to quit smoking is wrong, frankly. If you want to enjoy cigarettes, by all means, you should be allowed to do so. Forcing someone to quit by raising cigarette taxes is a slippery slope as that method can be applied to just about anything else. Scary. (I also think forcing someone to quit eating carbs is torture!)
My only issue with smoking is the second-hand thing. But I still feel like smoking in public should not be banned across the board. If I go to a bar, I accept the fact that there will probably be smoke, therefore I won’t b!tch and moan about it. Some smoke-free policies are a little extreme, in my opinion, virtually forcing a smoker to stay within the confines of their home. Stupid policy. There are several public places where a person could smoke without causing a disturbance to non-smokers.
The over-legislation of our personal habits is annoying me and making me wonder if a return to prohibition (and a Quaker lifestyle) is in the near future.
Well stated Fluffy. I am in the same boat with you. I am heathlier than most people I know but an considered overweight. Again, a legacy given to me by my father’s side of the family.
Suprise – I am also a smoker too. Sometimes I enjoy it, othet times I don’t but still smoke because it is a HABIT and an ADDICTION.
Could I stop? Most likely the answer is yes. Will I? Eventually, when I am ready.
I am a curtious smoker though. I will not smoke around people that don’t without going outside and walking far away from the. Also, I do not smoke in my car if I have someone with me who doesn’t smoke. Family holidays – there is a designated “smoking area” on the front porch. My hous, my car, but I still do take other people into consideration.
Just to show you us smokers aren’t all jerks.
I am a non-smoker. I think our society should watch how we handle “second hand” smoke. Our bodies produce “second hand” by-products. If I have a cold, go about in public, you walk by and develop a cold… Our society has developed a good system controlling two “second hand” products – we call them restrooms.
So, now we have politicians and lawyers sticking their nose in an area in which everybody’s individual freedoms can be severely limited. I suggest our politicians and lawyers keep their nose out of human “second hand” by-products.