Cruel World,
When you see us in the corner lighting up why do you give us that beaming stare. Have I wronged you in anyway? Then you have the nerve to give me one of those fake, crocodile coughs. Big deal. My lungs are filled with this shit, and I can still function.
Now I am not invincible and I know its bad for me, but please consider my experience. I grew up in a country with no laws on tobacco to minors. I smoked hookah when I was probably 12 in an establishment down the road from my modest 2 bedroom in Karama, Dubai. Oh I remember the days! Get on the terrace of the building, we used to bring cans of coke and quality tortilla chips. We strategically also bought with us some reserve deodorant. And for the creme-de-la-creme, a 20-pack of either Luckies (AED 4.50), Charms (AED 2.00), L&M (AED 4.50), Marlboro (AED 6.00), Gold Flake (AED 3.00), Peter Stuyvesant (AED 5.00) or Phillip Morris Menthols (AED 4.50). Oooooh the menthols...the first time was the best I've ever had.
Oh and it was convenient as well! Cafeteria's used to sell them for 50 fills (15 cents) a cigarette. I even had 'my special place' - it was my smoking alley, where no one could find me...no uncles, no aunties, no family. I even helped the watchman/doorman write the English address on a letter he was sending to India. And ever since, we've always met up when I go back to the alley. My friends have frequented the alley as well. It's a testament to my paranoia. In Hindi, it is my 'adha'!
Before I digress anymore, I'm pissed at paying $8.75 a pack. Little runts like me who smoke from an early age are fucking limited in numbers these days man. Increasing the price doesn't affect them because the U.S. has fucking tobacco laws.
I don't really mind the price increase, helps me cut down, but shit man... And for all you ladies out there that don't dig smokers...do you know what one of the reasons is that we took up smoking?? It's 'cool', yes...and you loved that shit. Not anymore apparently, you now like crooning hipsters with tight jeans and "figure me out..I'm deep but disturbed" little weed who has lived in the comfort of suburbia!! God damn it man, these punks spend more time on their hair than I spend on reading the 'Wealth of Nations' and the Bible.
Let me focus again. "Oh my god...that is so disgusting", "Quit or it will kill you" and "You stink" doesn't cut it man. I'm really really pissed. Please be sensitive, my situation is not that I'm a victim or a smoker by choice. i am a spectrum between the two. I didn't start in grad school or college....I started in the fucking 7th grade because I was a bored tool who didn't like video games. I'm hooked. When anyone asks a smoker whats that smell....we should reply.. "It's the fragrance of fucking death".
Oh and we do pay for it! It's tax dollars going to Medicare and Medicaid. And it is a multi billion dollar business. Where do I sue, and lawyers who read this, please advise? I need the sue both the public and private sector and make a shit ton.
When you see a smoker thank him...he/she is actually saving lives. We also keep folks employed in big tobacco American jobs - blue collar - raise taxes and they loose out, thanks to dead weight loss. You can't ship those jobs overseas man. You can ban smoking in the bars and I can take it....but if I'm outside the bar, please don't give me that look. I would much like to watch the scenery around me rather than waste my 5 minutes of reflection in accommodating you. I beg you...please don't judge me...I'm actually a good person. Smokers are a misunderstood bunch, they are either the villains or the anti-heroes in media. You must be thinking now...wow this mofo thinks he's really special. Yes I am, I'm like any non-smoker and I'm like any human being who despises type casting and discrimination. Dig yourself out of that one.
Phew! That felt good! I just justified my habit.
Big shout out to all the people who feel this way....wear a shirt saying "I fund your social welfare programs bitch". We don't need respect, we don't really need anything except an open air space. It isn't government property. And oh ya...fuck Heathrow...a real BIG HAZARD we were...fucking labor party socialists.
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9 comments:
"I started in the fucking 7th grade because I was a bored tool who didn't like video games"
Haha fantastic Gavin.. good work!
Stu
Well said...perhaps I will reconsider my look of judging disdain next time I see that smoker on the corner...
I think you also have to consider that most of those judgmental stares are really looks of concern, for your health...this is especially true when it's close friends/family who are doing it.
You know what you should do every time someone looks at you weirdly because you are smoking? If they are even slightly overweight, you can tell them more people die of complications from being obese in this country than of smoking so they should really consider losing some weight before commenting on your smoking habits.
However, having said that, I completely disagree with the fact that it is not harming other people . The fact that your lungs that are filled with this stuff is your choice. With your philosophy, we should also be able to carry guns and shoot them in public as long as the bullets don't hit anyone else. Smoking, carrying guns, whatever are only human rights until you affect the well being of the people around you and at that point the right goes away. If you have such lack of decency to sit there and smoke in public where people are walking the streets(children even), then why the hell do I not have the right to look at you and fake cough, or real cough, or actually straight up tell you that you smell like shit. I mean, I can't just take a shit in the middle of the road and not expect people not to look at me. I know people did that back in the day in India, why don't I see people doing that anymore here? After all, didn't they grow up with that, or did they learn to adapt to their new environment.
I think the primary reason people scoff now a days is due to the awareness to the dangers of cigarettes. Not because they are dangerous to yourself and to them, but more of the, how can you STILL not make an attempt to stop. You've got the gum, the patch, the pill and many other options, yet you blindly turn the eye and think to yourself, I can not quit. Give it a try, you will be amazed at the results, or you can sit on your ass and just write a blog about how tough it was growing up.
Also, YOU ARE A SMOKER BY CHOICE. There is no one holding a gun to your head. Nicotine is a chemical, not something to hold you hostage. If you are too weak to control that, then admit it, but don't tell me to be more sensitive.
You want to smoke in your house, no one will complain. You want to smoke in public, live with the consequences and don't whine. You're pissed?
As for you helping the rest of us. I'm sure the government can find other ways to fund the programs you think you have a dent in. We spent billions in Iraq, you really think your cigarette tax means anything?
Anyway, I think this is enough material to start a conversation. BEGIN! Again wasn't meant to get you more angry which it probably will, but if you have the right to give me cancer in public, I have the right to piss you off with WORDS? Or will these words also take over your life just like that chemical. Either way, stop pitying yourself because everyone looks at you and you started in the 7th grade. Feel sorry for the kids who will grow up without their father.
-(you know who this is)
Reply to Anon @ 6:35PM
I guess this opens it up for some spirited discussion.
I am intrigued by how you formulate your arguments. You are a very stark logical thinker. Very black and white. You take examples of obesity, guns, bring in children (i usually hold my breath, or hold my urge around them...I think most smokers have half a brain to do this). You make it seem as though we willingly blow smoke directly in people's faces, while most of the time we try to keep it away from you as best we can. I guess it just goes to show the typecasting of smokers today. Well, Rome wasn't built or broken in a day. And this view it seems will remain ingrained in certain people for a long time.
Mr. Anonymous, it really takes some courage to post my views and I respect your view points. But my name is not Anonymous. My name is Gavin Fernandes.
With that said let me look at your comment and give you my view.
Let us start with your comment on obesity. Obesity is considered by some to be a psychological and physical illness. It is a gray area. It maybe due to chemical imbalances and uncontrollable urges to eat. This is coming for someone who was exactly going down that path, and I can assure you it is not very easy. I don't know what you are implying in your first paragraph, but it seems you are telling me to tell an obese person off. Due to my limited intellectual capacity, I can't for the life of me figure that one out! You got to help me out on that one.
Second hand smoke does harm other people. In closed settings such as bars and homes, it's quite likely that this is the case. However we got rid of one leg of the problem which I am very happy about and it needed to be done. Other States have to follow suit. I think I also mentioned that I agree with this decision.
I think that encouraging smokers to take a hike and smoke at home will harm their roommates and kids (because of closed spaces without ventilation).
Again you try and derail me with your 'one size fits all' argument. And you take it too extremes. Mr. Anonymous, I know you feel strongly about you're opinion but there is a certain thing called a gray area - a compromise. It is something that gains maximum utility for those stakeholders involved. I think banning smoking in bars is a good thing, but it is a one sided long trade on the smokers part, who consist of 1/6th the worlds population.
Let me turn you're own logic against you for the sake of an example. Cars harm our health. It contributes to cases of severe lung disease and emphysema. Especially in the developing countries. Going by your logic, we might as well ban cars.
However, you might say that cars bring benefit to the entire world. What a marvelous invention. So is Wall Street my friend. I've seen them, droves of traders lighting em up - building your 401k as people demonize them. That moment of clarity will probably pay for your retirement.
In terms of the harm caused to other people. I do not believe smoking in open spaces is really harming people to the extent of a home or a bar. Imagine the volume of smoke it takes over several decades till it actually affects you. A whiff here and a whiff there on the open public property is not going to harm you. I refuse to believe this. I think it's the smell frankly. If it smelt of bananas and oranges, we wouldn't be having this conversation. And I wouldn't be getting stares, I would be getting smiles and flying kisses.
Just as a note, people still do defecate on the roads in India, especially in the slums of Mumbai. This is because there are no sanitary accommodations.
In the United States, sanitary accommodations are usually a requirement in project housing. Also i don't think you know the lifestyles of bums in America very well.
To bring this into the argument is quite appalling, graphic and unnecessary.
I live in NY and dogs are allowed to piss on the roads...I often joke they have more rights then us. From you're reasoning looks like that is probably true. There is a reason people as privileged as us do not have to do anything of the sort on the roads. It's because we have bathrooms.
If you've ever researched the prices on the patch, gum and pill. They are quite expensive in the short run and are not enough justification for us. Health insurance does not pay for them, and justifiably so. It's because we are in between a spectrum...we are in between victims of circumstance and smokers my choice.
And Mr. Anonymous, if I do use a patch, doesn't that mean I am somehow being affected by the chemical nicotine, if I need something of that nature for my fix? This brings me to my next point. What is a chemical. What is a mind altering chemical. Cocaine, Crack and Heroin. These are mind altering substances used specifically to target the population at large and reap massive black market profits which are then used by militias such as the FARC, Taliban and many many other to fund war. You should research the 'food chain' in drugs. They run like OPEC.
Now Nicotine is different. It is a mass produced food/drug, government approved. Much like caffeine. A mind altering substance nonetheless. Especially if smokers get hooked at a young age.
I am not feeling pity on myself and my life was not hard. It was cushy at best. Life was actually pretty sweet. Smoking is what we do as young boys back home to experiment. I'm sure you have experimented or rebelled against something Mr. Anonymous.
My point is the relative ease of getting cigarettes in other countries. This digs a trench into THE HUUUGE mind blowing issue Mr. Anonymous.
How is big tobacco running? America's smokers are on the decline. Very true and I commend the Federal government in establishing a smoking age. Aren't tobacco stocks supposed to be getting hammered.
Well Mr. Anonymous, there is a new sun on the horizon for big tobacco. A young bustling population out for a quick fix after a hard day on manual labor, or fucking around in their big mansions, or in their modest middle class abodes, or fighting wars in Africa. Big tobacco doesn't distinguish between class Mr. Anonymous.
A young vibrant population of smokers is essential to keep big tobacco going. And the developing world provides a steady flow of profits to the mothership brand in America. You should really take a good look into your 401k and check out what securities they contain, especially in this market. Big tobacco are stable businesses and in a rescission, people hedge their bets with big tobacco stocks. So a Vanguard fund might be investing in something you clearly despise. I challenge you! Pull them off your fund. Call your 401k plan and pull them off today. If they don't then quit that fund.
My friend we are the alpha and the omega. The lazy turds in the government looks to us to balance their books. They look to us to support health programs.
I guess you brought up the Iraq war to display the magnitude of how significant the Iraq war funds are. Where are these funds coming from Mr. Anonymous? They are coming from China, not current taxpayers. We and our children are going to be paying China for a long time.
You clearly do not know how the checks and balances system has failed over the past four years and how the executive branch can fund a war on their own without all the help coming from the dingbats in congress. Before this conversation goes political I will say this...
Smokers fund Medicare and Medicaid. Life feeds on life. We light up and don't say a word. Please appreciate that this was a severely edited brain dump on my part and not a testament to the world on how pitiful my life was and my self-pity and inner brooding that led me to tobacco. It didn't and I was stupid.
I do not see myself as a victim, nor a smoker by choice. Nicotine affected me in a very deep way. That is why a huge percentage of us, who grew up in countries where cigarettes were available freely, never quit.
This is not a statistic outlier. It is basic socio-economics, Mr. Anonymous
I hope I addressed all your concerns.
Much love
First of all, I appreciate the candid comments and said some of the appalling comments because I was equally appalled by yours. I can tell for your sure I do not see things in black and white, but primarily started to play devil's advocate a little to see more of your logic. Also as a previous commenter stated, I know the first thing I think when I see a smoker is, why are they doing that too themselves? So it's not so much that is disgusting, but actually feeling sorry for not being able to kick the habit.
As for the obesity part of it, it was just from a recent lecture I saw and I'm not saying to insult someone who is over weight, but just mentioning smoking is not the number one issue for death anymore, obesity related complications are on the rise largely so although it would be fopaux(for now), scoffing at an obese person in a fast food restaurant should be just a valid as scoffing at the corner smoker. (Both being uncontrollable forces for people - This was for those who do scoff at smokers to realize what they are doing)
Now for the devil's argument portion to get you riled up a bit and begin this discussion. The only reason I wrote what I did, some of which I believe, some of which to start a discussion is...WHO CARES! I do things all the time that people don't like. They have to deal with it. You smoke, you enjoy it, so continue on with it. Let people scoff, tell you to stop, give you weird looks, why does it bother you so much that random strangers are looking at you weird? Be happy with who you are, how you've been brought up and screw everyone else. (Or is it that you aren't getting any girls ;) . We can work on that part Gavin! )
Car argument - You are correct, cars do harm people and yes they are necessary. Where I will counter your argument is this. IF there was another logical solution, I'd use it. Hybrids are not to the point yet where they are truly reliable but it is a step in the right direction. Choosing what to do with my life or my actions are in MY control. Getting to work that is 15,20, 100 miles away is NOT in my control. I could bike it, sure, but again realistically biking 25 miles to work, I would not make it. So as much as it is harming people, the environment, whatever, the day someone finds an alternative that costs the same, come tell me people are stuck in their ways because I bet you people will switch over to the new "clean" technology.
Next topic, you don't need to smoke at home INSIDE. But at your property is fine, do as you wish in your premises. Your ally is perfectly acceptable. On the streets of Chicago where hundreds of people are walking by you, you can't hold your breath for the kid that is walking behind you that you don't see. So you might "TRY" to hold your breath if you SEE them, but what about all the kids you don't see? Smoke won't harm me? A whiff here and a whiff there is what starts people to begin smoking in the first place. I also agree it is the smell that turns people away, BUT as you said earlier, why do you hold your breath if you are around a kid? If it isn't going to matter since it is open air, might as well just blow it out there no? So you agree there is an impact, but have now set an age limit to that impact. What is that age limit?
As for the defecating in India, I know they do in India. I'm saying what if I can't kick the habit and start here, I guarantee you people will scoff at me. You are telling me it is appalling for you to hear that. That's the reason I mentioned it in the first place. Because for the sake of this argument, why can't smoking be just as appalling or graphic as defecating on the streets? If that's how I was born and raised in India, how come I can't continue doing it without people looking at me? (I hope you see the point I'm trying to make as it has nothing to do with defecating) You said it yourself that it goes on in India but "us privileged people don't have to do that" Well I say to you, you use to smoke with your buddies back in the day because it was the thing to do, but us privileged people don't have to do that here. There are other alternatives. There are only other alternatives IF YOU WANT the alternatives. If you want to continue smoking, then yes my comment is appalling, but then I want to continue defecating on the streets even though there are bathrooms.
Next, price of the patch. So you say it is not worth it to you in the short term to pay for the patch or pill or even therapy. Well, I think you already know that if you continue smoking(i don't know how much you do, but in general) all you will have is a short term. Now granted we there is the we all die sometime theory, so toss that argument out. Lets just say, the price of the patch is double or triple cigarettes, and I checked at Walgreen's, and it is probably around there. Now the gum is supposed to have a 12 week cycle before you begin to quit smoking. Consider that, in just 3 months you could take a step in the direction of quiting. You spent 3 times the amount of money in 3 months, and then you stop, OR you continue smoking the same amount of money over the course of 9 months and still continue? So the cost argument is not valid AT ALL! As for you trading one habit for the other, 1. the other remedies are much safer for the same level of nicotine. You get the fix without the other chemicals. 2. The point of the patch and gum and all that is TO STOP smoking, not to pick up another habit. I understand where you are coming from and the thought of stopping is against what your brain is telling you to continue, but again these remedies only work if you are truly willing to ATTEMPT to stop. I understand chemicals and chemical imbalances, and how drugs impact your mind, I'm saying AGAIN if you want to kick the habit, there are just as many counter chemicals you can use to get that imbalance back regardless of when you started. Sure it may take longer than the casual smoker, 7th grade was a long time ago, but with insurance or no insurance, you can find ways to reverse the chemical imbalance if YOU want to.
As for rebelling, I'm sure I have as well. As for the pity please, could you get on your knees any further to beg for some girl to date you ;). (I'm just kidding on that one) I thought girls dug star trek and robots but guess what, I was wrong too! So I don't think that one has anything to do with smoking ;)
Iraq was just what you said. I don't have all the number in front of me, but all our debt is NOT owed to China. Largely it is, I understand this topic/your point don't argue with this, but a lot of the debt is also owed back to Americans who are buying the bonds.
By all means continue smoking and fill the medicare/caid bucket. It is a double whammy for me. Not only will you not be using those 2 services, but I will get to instead so thank you!
As for you specifically smoking, again don't take this personal, I just enjoy getting into discussions with you. I understand the difficulties you go through but just remember, those who scoff at you don't matter and your friends who "comment on the habit" only do it because they care. Not sure if you know who Randy Pausch is, I recommend watching his "Last Lecture" on you tube if you have not, but he said something along the lines of, (changing the words to fit this topic and I don't know it exactly), "You should be happy when people are commenting on your flaws or riding you hard, because it's when they don't that you know people have given up on you." So when your friends are commenting, it isn't because they are judging you, but because they want you to be healthy. I don't smoke, I don't drink, hell I don't even eat meat, but I'm not healthy or fit. Difference is, I know I am not, and trying to do something about it. It's not easy, but at least I can say I truly tried.
I started smoking herbal cigarettes to kick the habit, they have no nicotine and no tar. I'm trying the kick the habit Mr. Anonymous.
I hope it works. I appreciate your concern. Thanks for the comments. I always enjoy a good jousting match!
Much love
Gavin,
This is by far one of the best articles I have ever read about a smoker justifying his/her habit. Well done..
And as a fellow smoker myself, I shall now be using some of your arguments in the near future to justify my habit. And fear not, I shall definitely quote you.
I look forward to reading more of your articles. It's fun, as well as saying the obvious blatant truth which a few idiots out there today need to be told. So good job.
Keep the posts coming.
Cheers!
Cherian
Hey Cherian,
Long time...I hope things are going well.
Just a clarification, I am not justifying my habit. At the end of the article I was being sarcastic.
None of us can justify smoking, I was just trying to give people perspective.
With that said, we all should quit asap. I want to let people know that it is not easy, especially if you have been smoking since an early age.
And most people aren't really idiots, they do care about us. And we are kind of nbeing selfish, because when we are gone, they are the ones who have to suffer and deal with it.
Those who are idiots are those who refuse to hang out with us because we smoke, and who fail to recognize the geay area I was talking about.
Thanks for the comment...
Gavin- great post.
I've never had much of an opinion on people smoking around me. I just dealt with it without thinking. Having it banned in the bars was great tho because I don't have to come home smelling like smoke all the time. Some new laws that require a 15 foot distance from building openings is ridiculous though. A person should be able to smoke and walk as long as there is open air and the person isn't rude enough to blow it towards people.
I was just thinking. Those looks that you get and the fake coughs...they are really just ways for people to exhibit how they are better than you. Non-smokers can be all high and mighty because they have such a better judgment than you...in their minds, when really they could never really understand. I never minded you smoking much especially when you were always so kind to bum me one...or 5...or, well you know what I mean.
The only thing I have to say is that I do get concerned for all of my friends that smoke. I would hope that at some point in their lives they would quit and be healthier. But that's not really my place to give advice, once again because I can't possibly understand, and because it has to be a personal choice.
When it comes to laws tho. Like I said, the bars thing was nice because I just want to go to a bar to have a good time, not to smell afterwards. And also, it isn't that hard for smokers to step outside. Other than that, the laws should know where to stop. Forcing people to go 15 feet from an entrance to smoke is ridiculous. The open air is free and those that don't smoke can just cross the street or hold their breath for a few seconds...no big deal.
Most of all, with the amount of bullshit that we have to deal with from so many people in this country being relentlessly rude and careless towards other people, let the smokers smoke. And if you run into an especially rude person, I see nothing wrong with "accidentally" blowing some smoke in their face. Just for fun.
Jim
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