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June 24, 2008
THANK YOU FOR SMOKING, WHOEVER YOU ARE!
I don't know whether there is such a thing as vicarious hedonism or whether I have what has been called a "freedom fetish," but something happened earlier which has been happening to me more and more. When I saw a pedestrian walking down the street smoking a cigarette, it made me very happy, and cheered me immensely. I swear it renews my faith in humanity to see people -- shrinking in numbers though they may be -- not doing as they are told. This is not to say that I'm unaware of the possible health consequences of smoking, and I derive no pleasure from the idea that he might get cancer and die. However, the fact that he's willing to run such a risk while he defies a society dominated more and more by anti-cigarette bigotry -- well, I can only take comfort and solace in that as a form of inspiration. When I say "THANK YOU FOR SMOKING," I mean it. I felt like pulling over and actually thanking the smoker, but most likely he would have thought I was a loony tune (or some asshole activist trying to upset him deliberately), so I didn't. Because of the persecution, cigarettes have become a symbol of freedom. A reminder of freedom that was. As I say this, I am well aware that the "other side" would accuse me of a lack of "compassion." They'd probably think the smoker suffers from an addiction, and needs help, whether he wants it or not. (That's compassion for you; they used to put homos in mental hospitals for similar reasons.) Oddly, my lack of compassion is grounded in what I see as compassion. If they can regulate the smoker out of compassion, I can oppose the same regulations out of compassion. Compassion is seen by individualists as leaving people alone, and by communitarians as not leaving people alone. You think this is bad, just wait till the compassionistas start helping people by forcing them to stop driving. posted by Eric on 06.24.08 at 04:46 PM
Comments
You are most welcome! jKlehe jKlehe · June 25, 2008 11:59 AM Depends on the circumstances, but often that's my reaction too--the cigarette is a reminder of a more relaxed time of greater personal freedom and openness to the simple pleasures of life. My relapse cravings are generally more related to the sense that a cigarette will help me recapture that time then for any real desire to draw smoke into my lungs. tim maguire · June 25, 2008 12:42 PM What they all said. I've been watching some of the NASA documentaries on HD channels lately and been noticing how many of these intelligent scientists and engineers smoked, and inside a building of all places! I still smoke (ultra-lights, but they still taste pretty good) and I'm beginning to feel more and more like a real rebel every day. Taste the Freedom! BackwardsBoy · June 25, 2008 12:56 PM Wow. I can't believe it. Someone who gets it. Thank YOU. Four or five years ago my doctor was giving me the annual speech and she emphasized that smoking would shorten my life. I told her I had no interest in living long enough to become warehoused. The doctor was stunned and changed the subject. cobolpoet · June 25, 2008 07:27 PM dam I'm trying to give them up to health reasons. When I want a smoke now i guess I'll have to compensate. maybe I'll just try to piss off a liberal by saying something politically incorrect instead of lighting up. Dan · June 25, 2008 10:02 PM Dan, just imagine the joy of saying something politically incorrect to a liberal while blowing smoke in his/her face. I have my fantasies... Donna B. · June 26, 2008 05:33 AM You're welcome. Dan, it is good to have a coping strategy when quitting, and you may have hit upon a great one. I think you should write a $19.95 paperback on your smoking cessation program and profit from it. It's a win-win. Assistant Village Idiot · June 26, 2008 11:33 AM Post a comment
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They'd probably think the smoker suffers from an addiction, and needs help, whether he wants it or not.
You might think so, but that mentality seems to apply most readily to drugs which have traditionally been (or still are) illegal.
Cigarette smokers, in my experience, are more likely to be seen as willfully defiant (which we generally are) and either callously disregarding or deliberately attacking the health and well-being of those around them (which we generally aren't).