The 'butt' of the Joke

In my opinion i think smoking is a pointless exercise. I used to smoke occasionally back in my school days but did not pick up the habit. I'm not actually sure why i did not become addicted to smoking but i think it was a combination of things. I HATE the smell, the expense on my pocket money and the fact that i did not enjoy it much. I guess i was just young and nieve and follow the trend. I'm a very big supporter of the smoking ban because smoking causes alot of unnesscary health risks such as lung and heart disease and Bronchitis which cause immense suffering and discomfort. A large proportion of my family smoke and it worries me because i know that the risk of death is greater for them and for me as a passive recipitant of their habbit.

I had lecture on the topic of smoking which explain that from about the (1970's) smoking was more of an elitest which gave the connations of class so in affec smoking bacame classy. The media than ran with this idea and used it to advertise smoking in a glamourous way. You will now find smoking in movies where gangsters or protagonist would light a ciggerett as relief at the end of a dramactic scence that then gave smoking satus. It's cool to smoke. The desirability of smoking has over turned what it now means to socialise with others. Common places to smoke are in bars, resturants, coffee shops and even whilst driving. Every 10 second someone dies from smoke related illness but yet even figures like these don't fase smokers.What i would give to be able to go into a bar or club and leave not smelling of other people smoke. For those who can relate with me the discusting lingering smells that sits in our hair. I asked a friend why she smokes and this was her response:

“I don't think there is a cut explaination for the reason why i smoke but what I can say is that I enjoy it. I supose it can be pleasurable at times. I Think what I most enjoy about smoking is how I makes me feel. I feel more calm and relaxed when I am smoking. I wouldn’t say that I am addicted to smoking ciggrettes but I get ancious when I haven’t had one for a while. It’s just a comfort for me really”

What i can not understand is that ciggerett boxes are now clearly labelled with health warning an yet people still choose to smoke.
Why would any one want to increase the risk of death? It's CRAZY!
I think that somking is one of those addictions like drugs addiction and alcholism where the implications will not become real untill they are suffering from a life threatening diease or near death themselves.
http://www.stopsmokingcoach.ca/