Smoking is Bad.....

[coupekid]

OK, a quick rant to get this off my chest.

A comment was made on Ians picture, I am sure it wasnt meant to be deliberately provocotive, but it made me bite anyway!

Yes smoking is bad, but so what, if your old enough to smoke, then your old enough to make the decision to or not. Personally, I gave up in January, but if you want to smoke, you should be able to without people making a comment.

I just hate being told by others what I can and cant do, another example is being told I have to wear a seatbelt! yes I do wear one, but it should be my choice!

Poxy nanny state

Maybe extreme sports should be banned as well, because you might hurt yourself and drain the NHS of rescources!!

OK, its off my chest now.....

Ben....(a little bad tempered due to lack of sleep! )

[lumix]

Re: Smoking is Bad.....

OK, a quick rant to get this off my chest.

A comment was made on Ians picture, I am sure it wasnt meant to be deliberately provocotive, but it made me bite anyway!

Yes smoking is bad, but so what, if your old enough to smoke, then your old enough to make the decision to or not. Personally, I gave up in January, but if you want to smoke, you should be able to without people making a comment.

I just hate being told by others what I can and cant do, another example is being told I have to wear a seatbelt! yes I do wear one, but it should be my choice!

Poxy nanny state

Maybe extreme sports should be banned as well, because you might hurt yourself and drain the NHS of rescources!!

OK, its off my chest now.....

Ben....(a little bad tempered due to lack of sleep! )

I could not agree more Ben. How come you can smoke 20 fags and still drive home safely, not be sick, or end up in casualty cor's you wanted to fight the word. Can't say the same about drinkers. In fact the government have extended the drinking hours so you can really be a burden to all and sundry. Good to have a rant aint it.

[paul.r.w]

Re: Smoking is Bad.....

I think the issue over smoking is justified because of second hand smoke. It's the actions of drink that affect other people not the drink itself. I'm sure Princess Diana chose not to wear a seatbelt!

[coupekid]

Re: Smoking is Bad.....

I think the issue over smoking is justified because of second hand smoke. It's the actions of drink that affect other people not the drink itself. I'm sure Princess Diana chose not to wear a seatbelt!

So, would you legalise class A drugs then?

As for the seatbelt, I totally agree, but that doesnt mean its wrong not to wear one, it should be entirely up to the individual. Of course it is sad about Diana, but if she chose not to wear it, then she is old enough to make that decision. As am I.

[19ninety]

[paul.r.w]

Re: Smoking is Bad.....

So, would you legalise class A drugs then?

As for the seatbelt, I totally agree, but that doesnt mean its wrong not to wear one, it should be entirely up to the individual. Of course it is sad about Diana, but if she chose not to wear it, then she is old enough to make that decision. As am I.

No I would decriminalise drugs.

But baby coupekid would want his daddy to wear a seatbelt as daddy will want baby to be in a car seat.

[lumix]

Re: Smoking is Bad.....

This I feel is an argument to which there is no end. But I must point out that drinking dose affect those around you. Try telling someone that has lost a love one from the actions of a drunken driver that they are not directly affected. Ask the Police, fire or ambulance guys who they would rather deal with on a Friday night. I bet smokers get their vote. You are paying for the good work these guys do so you are also affected tax wise.

[Ian]

Re: Smoking is Bad.....

So, would you legalise class A drugs then?

As for the seatbelt, I totally agree, but that doesnt mean its wrong not to wear one, it should be entirely up to the individual. Of course it is sad about Diana, but if she chose not to wear it, then she is old enough to make that decision. As am I.

Hmmmm... seatbelts; how many people consciously think that by belting up in the back they minimise the risk of injuring themselves and the person sitting directly in front of them? By making seatbelts compulsory by law it helps reinforce common sense, of which there is far too little in day to day life!

Anyway, why wouldn't you choose to use your seatbelt?

Ian

[coupekid]

Re: Smoking is Bad.....

Anyway, why wouldn't you choose to use your seatbelt?

Ian

I just object to it being 'the law'. It should be choice.....if I know the risks...
Its more a principle thing.

I just dislike the way the country is going to be honest, like the business of putting red tape around apple trees because of the danger of falling fruit, kids having to wear safety glasses playing conkers.

I am reminded of a theory by Jeremy Clarkson, that if you were to do away completely with ABS, seat belts, air bags etc.......and enforce a rule whereby everyone had to drive with a six inch spike in the centre of the steering wheel, you would see some seriously safe driving by everyone. Tailgating would be eliminated over night!

Cheers,
Ben
Non smoker, non drinker, campaigner for freedom for all

[Guest]

Re: Smoking is Bad.....

How about this then - to help the finances of the NHS, should a charge be made for those that have caused themselves 'self-inflicted injury' by smoking, heavy drinking, or road accident injury due to drinking. To this list I would suggest adding those causing themselves injury due to late night binge - drinking and fighting and brawling in the streets..

[Ian]

Re: Smoking is Bad.....

[Patrick]

Re: Smoking is Bad.....

[Ian]

Re: Smoking is Bad.....

I just object to it being 'the law'. It should be choice.....if I know the risks...
Its more a principle thing.

I just dislike the way the country is going to be honest, like the business of putting red tape around apple trees because of the danger of falling fruit, kids having to wear safety glasses playing conkers.

I am reminded of a theory by Jeremy Clarkson, that if you were to do away completely with ABS, seat belts, air bags etc.......and enforce a rule whereby everyone had to drive with a six inch spike in the centre of the steering wheel, you would see some seriously safe driving by everyone. Tailgating would be eliminated over night!

Cheers,
Ben
Non smoker, non drinker, campaigner for freedom for all

Ah - now what you really mean is political correctness

I'm totally against PC. But I don't see the seat belt law as being PC - it's common sense. Tail-gating is just plain stupidity, as is people who go ballistic when they are made to realise that they are doing something stupid.

I like Jeremy Clarkson - he's very funny; he's really a philosphical comedian, but I don't take most of what he says seriously. I'm sure that's how he expects to be appreciated too.

How about driving while holding a phone to your head on a call? Of course that's a stupid thing to do, so stupid people keep on doing it despite that fact that it's really stupid and the law has underlined this. And when these stupid people are noticed being stupid, they get even more stupid...

It's got nothing to do with political correctness.

Your examples of apple trees and conker playing - now those are examples of PC

Ian

[Ian]

Re: Smoking is Bad.....

How about this then - to help the finances of the NHS, should a charge be made for those that have caused themselves 'self-inflicted injury' by smoking, heavy drinking, or road accident injury due to drinking. To this list I would suggest adding those causing themselves injury due to late night binge - drinking and fighting and brawling in the streets..

The moralistic side of me says - yes of course; but the sensible side of me says that both drink and tobacco are very heavily taxed already... and most of that tax revenue - at least here in the UK - arguably, doesn't go to the health service or the public agencies that you refer too, alas.

Ian

[Ian]

Re: Smoking is Bad.....

It’s the old debate again.
Leaving aside the issue and the rights of the individual smoker, drinker or drugs user.
It’s down purely to the effects on other people, in whatever way it effects them, heath, comfort, or putting others in danger by our actions.
Second hand smoke being one, the drunk causing a disturbance or being abusive or violent to others, the drug dependant that burgles and commits other crimes to pay for their habit. Drinking or drug taking and driving put others in danger and impact on other peoples lives, therefore controls should be in place.
Yes there are inconsistencies from our government, don’t drink but we will let the pubs stay open as long as they like. Another contradiction is if a new pub is built it must have its own car park, but we shouldn’t drink & drive, so what do we need a car park for a taxi rank is more appropriate.

As a matter of fact I think smoking and driving should be band, why you ask, well think if someone is driving trying to get a cigarette out of the packet and then lighting it, their attention to driving is just as diverted as someone making a phone call if not more, not to mention that for some time only one hand on the wheel and possibly briefly none at all.

Patrick

I agree with mosy of what you say, Patrick, though I'm in favour of the revised bar opening hours, for reasons I've already gone into elsewhere in this thread.

But you are so right; it's all very well jealously guarding the right to choose, but that right should only be sustained if it doesn't affect others and, realistically, many people will - through laziness, ignorance or stupidity - choose to exercise their 'right' at the cost of the health and well-being of others.

Therefore, you need laws.

Ian