View Poll Results: Do you smoke?

Voters
55. You may not vote on this poll
  • Yes

    5 9.09%
  • No

    50 90.91%

Thread: Smoker?

  1. #31
    Much older and wiser Fountain's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Engeeeerland
    Posts
    1,158
    Is there 1 person here that would rather share a 10hr train ride with a non smoker than with a smoker....

    Yes, thats right its not a myth...it breaks the ice, the people talk more....In UK non smokers will move to smokers carriages to get a decent conversation..............

    At least the last post had half a brain, stating that he doesnt discriminate against smokers.

    But he wants his freedom from smoke....lalalalalal

    I WANT freedom from people that eat popcorn/drink pop in cinemas....I THINK THEY HAVE NOISY DISGUSTING habits. BUT I DO NOT JUDGE THEM....blah blah always different for smokers though..


    I do not judge the popcorn eating pillocks 'cos they are noisy bastards......Their actions do not stipulate their persona...

    They may annoy me, but at least I aint judged them...do the same for smokers
    Such is life.

  2. #32
    The Earth is not flat. Clyde's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Posts
    1,403
    I judge people who talk in cinemas, don't you?

    Popcorn eating doesn't bother me, in-fact smoking doesn't really bother me, but i can see why it does bother some people.

    Besides, wanting freedom from smoke is somewhat different than freedom from popcorn eaters; popcorn eaters do not increase your chances of lung cancer.
    Last edited by Clyde; 07-15-2002 at 06:33 PM.

  3. #33
    Much older and wiser Fountain's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Engeeeerland
    Posts
    1,158
    Originally posted by Clyde
    "Are you really under the impression that the MASSIVE tax on smokes is what the government pays to the NHS to pay for ANY illness, not just smoking??? "

    What they spend the money on is irrelevant the point is it goes into public spending, and out of public spending goes a large amount on funding for smoking related diseases.

    "The NHS therefore SHOULD pay for smoking related diseases as WE PAY FOR IT TEN FOLD!"

    I favour the NHS paying for smoking related diseases but the opposing argument is that smokers get what the had coming to them and public money should be put to better use for various diseases that are less dependant on an avoidable activity....... as i say i do NOT subscribe to that argument but i do feel that the tax on cigs is more than justified as a result.

    Do you know, I went to casualy the other day with my friend who busted her ankle.......

    Now, we had a 8 hour wait, then X-rays/blah blah....


    There were 75 people in the casualty queue..


    NONE had a smoking related illness.


    NOW, in the wards there is a VERY small % of ppl who were costing LOTS of money due to smoking.

    DO not believe the hype/media scaremongering etc.

    Smoking = BAD...i agree

    There may have been LOTS of ppl in the ward with smoking related issues, but only 1 in a 1000 will need (or get) expensive treatment.




    And I must say, that the tax on smokes was NEVER introduced as a NHS booster...read above...it makes BILLIONS for all the other services.

    And, I MEAN BILLIONS.

    So, Clyde, the point is that yes you agree that the NHS treat ALL its patients fairly (ohhh nice), and that you feel that justifies the tax on smokers....

    The point is Clyde, it doesnt...If ALL the smokers duty went to the NHS, we would only pay (roughly) £2.50 per pack, and not £4.30...........

    So.........maybe the REAL point is why not send all THAT cash to the NHS? It would make it the worlds #1, for smokers and NON smokers alike.
    Such is life.

  4. #34
    Much older and wiser Fountain's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Engeeeerland
    Posts
    1,158
    Originally posted by Clyde
    I judge people who talk in cinemas, don't you?

    Popcorn eating doesn't bother me, in-fact smoking doesn't really bother me, but i can see why it does bother some people.

    Besides, wanting freedom from smoke is somewhat different than freedom from popcorn eaters; popcorn eaters do not increase your chances of lung cancer.


    NO, but they will raise your stress levels and increase your chances of a coronary
    Such is life.

  5. #35
    The Earth is not flat. Clyde's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Posts
    1,403
    "So.........maybe the REAL point is why not send all THAT cash to the NHS? It would make it the worlds #1, for smokers and NON smokers alike."

    I don't think so, the NHS has a budget of 65 billion pounds at present and will be over 100 billion by 2008. It still won't be enough. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/hea...00/1935730.stm)

    Smoking tax revenue raises about 10 billion pounds, and to be fair smokers cost the NHS only 1.7 billion BUT, i still think high tax on cigs is a good idea, the rest of that money gets put into education, housing, etc. And as a result of the high price smoking is discouraged.

    This small article makes quite a convincing case IMO for high smoking taxes:

    http://www.ash.org.uk/html/smuggling/html/whytax99.html

  6. #36
    Much older and wiser Fountain's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Engeeeerland
    Posts
    1,158
    The people will smuggle because the taxes are high...If the taxes were fair there would be NO smuggling..Thats easy solved.


    So clyde, you think (even now) that high taxes on smoking are fair even though you agree only 10% of the taxes help the NHS?


    Hmm I suppose you think that ALL CAR TAX money pays for better roads and transport systems.

    Or all ALCOHOL taxes pay for NEW PUBS and rehabilitation for alcoholics....sure they do..........

    AND...FINALLY........the high taxes only DISCOURAGE the old and wise............NEW smokers(the cigarrette companies targets) are youngsters. They STILL think it is cool etc etc. They do not know about taxes etc and a good % of them still start.
    Such is life.

  7. #37
    Much older and wiser Fountain's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Engeeeerland
    Posts
    1,158
    Originally posted by Clyde
    "So.........maybe the REAL point is why not send all THAT cash to the NHS? It would make it the worlds #1, for smokers and NON smokers alike."

    I don't think so, the NHS has a budget of 65 billion pounds at present and will be over 100 billion by 2008. It still won't be enough. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/hea...00/1935730.stm)

    Smoking tax revenue raises about 10 billion pounds, and to be fair smokers cost the NHS only 1.7 billion BUT, i still think high tax on cigs is a good idea, the rest of that money gets put into education, housing, etc. And as a result of the high price smoking is discouraged.

    This small article makes quite a convincing case IMO for high smoking taxes:

    http://www.ash.org.uk/html/smuggling/html/whytax99.html


    Oh yes did you see the chancellors SWEEPING new cash reforms for schools etc today......He gave AWAY more than the TOTAL NHS budget for the year on various public services........


    SO? So the point is that what he gave away equates to ONLY 4% of the total annual economy(budget)...........

    4%? so we cant afford to give more to the NHS then? hmmm i believe we can....Politics eh?
    Such is life.

  8. #38
    Much older and wiser Fountain's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Engeeeerland
    Posts
    1,158
    oh and STOP looking at anti smoking sites for 1 sided views...like ASH........


    EVER looked at FOREST web sites?


    Thought not, but then again why should you? You dont smoke
    Such is life.

  9. #39
    The Earth is not flat. Clyde's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Posts
    1,403
    "So clyde, you think (even now) that high taxes on smoking are fair even though you agree only 10% of the taxes help the NHS? "

    I think taxes need to be raised somehow that article makes a good point when it says:

    "The high level of tax on tobacco in Britain has two purposes: to reduce smoking through the price incentive, and to raise taxes from a source that has least impact on the economy. The alternative would be to raise taxes on work, investment or general spending"

    High smoking tax, generates income that can be spent on health, education, roads, and all the other stuff that public money gets spent on, as well as discouraging smoking, that's why i think its a good thing.

    "Hmm I suppose you think that ALL CAR TAX money pays for better roads and transport systems."

    Car tax goes into public spending, what it actually gets spent on doesn't matter, whether they spend it on roads, education, health/whatever its all neccessary spending.

    "the high taxes only DISCOURAGE the old and wise............NEW smokers(the cigarrette companies targets) are youngsters. They STILL think it is cool etc etc. They do not know about taxes etc and a good % of them still start."

    I'm not so sure, youngsters don't neccesarily have access to infinite amounts of money. Though you may be right in that it has more effect on the older population, the point is though that it decreases the number of smokers, that is a good thing.

    "%? so we cant afford to give more to the NHS then? hmmm i believe we can....Politics eh?"

    I don't think they "waste" any of the money, the budget gets publicly announced so anyone can see it, if they were chucking large quantities away people would know about it.

    Anyway i'll have to ocntinue this debate tommorow, i need some sleep!

  10. #40
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Posts
    45
    ooops..! i am in minority…… I smoke 2/3 cigarettes a day .

  11. #41
    train spotter
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    near a computer
    Posts
    3,868
    I am a smoker, 12 - 15 per day.

    I have my packet of Zyban to give up. Have tried patches, aversion(sp?) therapy and cold turkey.

    Started when I was 16. So hooked it is the first and last thing I do each day.
    Is a very good drug, except the delivery system.

    It is a terrible habit I have spent over US$30,000 on since I started. I smoked a whole Porsche or one quater of my house!!!!!

    I agree with the indoor ban, you try being at a Blackjack table with everybody puffing smoke at you. I agree with the high tax to provide for my illness later and pay for anti smoking adverts.

    Will give up if it kills me (hopefully before it does).

    When my sister came to my home to have a baby I did not smoke in my own home until they left.

    Did you read the 'Malbrough Man' is suing the tabacco company for loss of health and 'reputation'?

    Now I'll go outside for a quick ciggy.....
    "Man alone suffers so excruciatingly in the world that he was compelled to invent laughter."
    Friedrich Nietzsche

    "I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars......the rest I squandered."
    George Best

    "If you are going through hell....keep going."
    Winston Churchill

  12. #42
    Code Monkey Davros's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Posts
    812
    I am a smoker. Started at 24 when I was couped up on a base in the Antarctic with a load a Russians.

    Smoking is bad for me. I used to be able to run 5 miles in just over 28 minutes. Can't do that now.

    However, I agree with Fountain. Much of what we hear from anti-smoking campaigners is simple propaganda. I have a right to smoke, it's bad for me, but its my choice. I am not a second class citizen because I do.

    I don't think young people should be encouraged to smoke. However, I believe the over whelming anti-smoking propaganda makes it seems rebellious to young people, hence attractive. Smoking in the UK by young people is on the rise, despite crippling taxes.

    Furthermore, many more people smoke but don't admit to it. This is because they are frightened of becoming the victim of anti-smoking hate campaigners.

    Ever been in a traffic jam? Look around to see how many people are smoking in there cars!
    OS: Windows XP
    Compilers: MinGW (Code::Blocks), BCB 5

    BigAngryDog.com

  13. #43
    the hat of redundancy hat nvoigt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    Hannover, Germany
    Posts
    3,130
    >There were 75 people in the casualty queue..
    >NONE had a smoking related illness.

    That's probably because smoking related illness is nothing you get to stand in a queue with. If something smoking related strikes you, you will get into surgery and/or intensive care.
    I bet your ankle gets better. A smoking related illness won't.

    I believe in freedom. To each his own, if you want to smoke, do so if you are alone or with people who don't care. But don't wonder if I don't visit you in your home, not to mention kiss a smoker. It's disgusting.

    I believe in Darwin. Cancer cures smoking.
    hth
    -nv

    She was so Blonde, she spent 20 minutes looking at the orange juice can because it said "Concentrate."

    When in doubt, read the FAQ.
    Then ask a smart question.

  14. #44
    Much older and wiser Fountain's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Engeeeerland
    Posts
    1,158
    Originally posted by nvoigt
    >There were 75 people in the casualty queue..
    >NONE had a smoking related illness.

    That's probably because smoking related illness is nothing you get to stand in a queue with. If something smoking related strikes you, you will get into surgery and/or intensive care.
    I bet your ankle gets better. A smoking related illness won't.

    I believe in freedom. To each his own, if you want to smoke, do so if you are alone or with people who don't care. But don't wonder if I don't visit you in your home, not to mention kiss a smoker. It's disgusting.

    I believe in Darwin. Cancer cures smoking.



    WHAT a load of tat!

    Tje point was my TAX money from SMOKING pays for casualty departments as well....and IF YOU LOOKED CLOSELY it was my friend who BUSTED HER leg, not me..............


    And smoking related illnessess wont get better???????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????like what?????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????? we can cure lung cancer etc, its just a lottery as to who is strong enough.



    I believe in freedom. To each his own, if you want to smoke, do so if you are alone or with people who don't care. But don't wonder if I don't visit you in your home, not to mention kiss a smoker. It's disgusting.


    Arsehole. If a blond stunner who smokes came up to you and gave it plenty-you would not find it disgusting.

    Now, moderator, stop confusing yourself....each to their own you say, but you dont want to have intimate relations with some1 who smokes? Each to their own.....yeh right.


    And smoke alone? hmmm is outside ok now? In the pubs in my city centre, nearly every1 smokes....dont you realise??
    Such is life.

  15. #45
    _B-L-U-E_ Betazep's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Posts
    1,412
    Man, Fountain, you are difficult to understand sometimes.


    Anyway... I have dated (before I was married of course) women that smoked. One such woman was very good with hygene. She used smoker's toothpastes and mouthwashes, quality breath mints, washed her hands afterward, and used nice smelling perfume.

    She rarely smelled like cigarette smoke and had better breath than some of the other non smokers that I went out with.

    When she smoked, she went outside and stood away from people and the house.

    Sometimes I would drink a few beers and join her in a smoke.

    She didn't inconvenience anyone, but herself. She will probably die from lung cancer some day (or quit). But that is ok. People kill themselves every day. People take risks every day. The guy that races around in traffic in his new porche. The woman that puts make-up on while driving after getting sloshing drunk the night before. Skydivers, mountain climbers, etc. Anyone who sets foot out of their door risks death.

    Smoking can be an almost guarantee of death, though. But... there is only one thing certain in life is that death is guaranteed. We try to live longer and longer and longer. We are saddened when a guy dies from lung cancer or a heart attack at 55 when that is the above the life expectancy for nearly all developing countries (as it used to be our life expectancy at one time). So nowadays you get to tack on a few years, if you are lucky, by not smoking... drinking... doing drugs... living in a city... driving a car. That is great, but you will still die.

    oh...lol... and popcorn eaters don't bother me at all.... it is those damn candy wrapper rustlers. I could just make them smoke (aka kill them).

    To each their own.
    Blue

Popular pages Recent additions subscribe to a feed

Similar Threads

  1. smoker? drinker?
    By major_small in forum A Brief History of Cprogramming.com
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 11-26-2003, 09:23 AM
  2. creating class, and linking files
    By JCK in forum C++ Programming
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 12-08-2002, 02:45 PM
  3. frustrated beginner
    By JCK in forum C++ Programming
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 11-11-2002, 09:38 PM
  4. confused........
    By JCK in forum C++ Programming
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 11-11-2002, 06:43 AM
  5. Cigarette Smoker problem!!!!
    By langdoy in forum C Programming
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 05-03-2002, 12:27 PM