ok, how about this one. Japan is probably one of the largest smoking nations in the world. there are very little restrictions, although a lot are starting to be introduced, on smoking in public. Yet, Japanese people have one of the longest life expectancies in the world

smoking is just crazy.. i don't think that people should be allowed to smoke at all..!
i mean.. they're just wasting their money, polluting the air, and killing people..! including themselves!!!!!!

polluting the air.. lol that's the first time I've heard of that one!

Did you ever realize that they eat a lot healthier than us? You have to factor that into it if you're going to take that point.

ppl should not smoke period! I dond't see what ppl like about it, it can kill you, makes you smell, and makes your teeth black!

well exactly. so according to your argument, surely fast food should be banned in america if obesity is killing people

i never realli thot of the legal age..i figure no matter what the legal age is..ppl of all ages are gonna do it ne waise..its gross tho..i've tried it before..and i know ppl from ages 9-92 to smoke sOoOoOoo..the law doesnt realli help much with anything these days...

I use to smoke in 4th grade.. biggest mistake of my life.. I would share the story but I'd rather not.. But I stopped! yay for me..

Well good for you about being honest with your kids. I never questioned you as a parent. I was just wondering how you could tell your kids not to smoke and then turn around and light one up, is all . Don't go all ballistic. I never said that I would make a better parent, either. Seriously, you need not jump to conclusions like that. And I seriously have no idea what you mean about me choosing the "peer pressure way out". Makes no sense to me? Maybe it's because I'm so "young" *scoff*......nah.



I never said smokers were unintelligent and insecure.





Actually if one of my friends lights up around me, then I ask them not to smoke around me, or leave the room/area. Don't be getting sarcastic on me here. Your points are meaningless. The sun thing is seriously the stupidest thing I've ever heard in my life. That smoking/secondhand smoking causes cancer wasn't my only point. It also stinks and makes the smoker stink, even when they haven't smoked all day. It's as if it seeps from thier pores.



You know what? I never questioned your skills as a parent whatsoever. Get over yourself. I don't care how old you are there's no need to diss me because I am 16. And how would you know how wise I am? You don't know me...I know plenty of teenagers much wiser than even some SEVENTY year olds, so wisdom has nothing to do with age. I never blew smoke up your ass, I just expressed to you what my opinion is, threw a question your way, and ended up with a rather pricky answer. Thanks so much.

You need food to survive...you don't need smoking to. Besides, there are a heck of a lot more people that die from smoking than there are from obesity.

yes you did question me as a parent by saying that I am a bad example for them!

I also didnt say that YOU were the one that said smokers were unintelligent and insecure, it was merely my point from earlier posts

I don't need to "get over myself", I took your comment as it was written, I didn't read anything "into it" other than what it said.

Oh yeah, not planning to get into the debat, but I don't think there should be any smoking all together.
Mainly because I can't smoke. So I'm doing this out of spite.

- Chinkieeyedpnoi

you should be able to smoke whenever u want its a free country even though ime totally an anti-smoker people should have tha right to do waht they want

smokin should be illegal at any age, its considered as drugs and its bad for you

Yeah, but then...our economy would plummet and all hell would break loose, seeing as how many people are addicted already...ever heard of a little thing called prohibition?

damn.. i dont think it matters anymore.. kids dont listen to the legal smoking age.. if they wanna smoke theyll get it.. no matter where they are.. at my school theres fricken 12 year olds smoking.. its sad.. theres guys always selling cigs/drugs... so whatever the legal age it is... they wouldnt care. .theyll still find it

I don't think smoking should be banned because people are always going to do what they want to do no matter what. It's their choice. If they want to fill their lungs with goopy tar and die then... let them do it. I for one choose not to because I personally think smoking is disgusting. But you can't take away the freedom from other people that want to do it. Why people want to smoke.. i have no idea, but whatever, it's their choice.

Yes, but it affects others, as well. It affects those that care for him or her as well as the people surround him or her because they could die from second-hand smoking.

smoking is bad for you...detrimental to your health.



hahahh, big word there.



and besides...



who would want to kiss you then if you smoked, eh? lol...

other smokers that dont mind

Anyways.. my two cents..
Personally, I believe that smoking should be banned for the wellbeing of the general population, but realistically, we all know that that can never happen.. there's too many ppl that smoke already.. too much money in the tobacco industry.. banning it.. simply wont happen.. I say we.. follow Canada's example (::gasp:: ) and take advantage of it, by placing high taxes them; hey, it helps our economy, AND it dissuades potential smokers and it renders smokers broke after a while

if is so bad for peole why is legal at all??

well let me tell you that governments care more about their economies than their people.

it should be illegal at any age.

So your argument is that if something is bad for people, we should abolish it.

It is unquestionable that sitting at a computer typing on an Internet message board is bad for your health. Should we abolish that.

Fast food?
French fries?
Cell phones?
TVs?

If you actually did care about people, you'd care about their right to do whatever the hell they want.

I think somoking is a complete waste of money. They are soo expensive and a lot of people go through a lot. It also makes them smell horrible. There should be more preventative measures to stop it, but it's kind aimpossible. Some people just dont care

i don't think anyone should smoke, i don't know why anyone does want to smoke. i mean if you wanna be cool stop being such an a******, if you wanna die use a gun, and if you need reliefe from stress do somthing about it.

what i don't get is why it's illegal to not wear a seatbelt. i mean if you crash in your car won't you pretty much die anyway? and if you lived, would you really want to? i mean, you were just in a car accident. you probly don't have legs that work anymore.

why would smoking be legal?? .. i mean seriously... the cigarette companys are literally KILLING you... so your willing to risk your life just inhaling burning tobacco smoke into your lungs and damage your system just for a minute of smoking? .. blahhhhhhhhh

i agree. well i voted >21.

smoking at any age should be illegal.... i mean its horrible for u as it is.... especially second hand smoking

A lot of things hurt your health. Doesn't mean they should be illegal.

People need to learn to take responsibility for themselves. The more we entrust to government, the more it will turn on us.

BUT if it merely hurt the individual, then sure.. its alright.. the problem with smoking is that it hurts those around them.. second hand smoke kills

if theyre gonna ban all the stuff to do with what I like in life: steroids, pro-hormones, andro, ehpedrine, creatine(its next, guaranteed), etc etc...if theyre gonna ban all that stuff(thats ahwole nother debate i can go for hours on) then ban smoking

smoking IS dangerous to you and others
everything above is at MOST dangerous to yourself, and in most cases not even that if used properly

heres when people are legal to smoke how bout never its so stupid











.:tony:.

That's a stretch.

Should we ban computers, because the radiation and electromagnetic fields they generate can cause brain cancer in people nearby?

By having a barbeque, I'm releasing nitrates into the air that could potentially cause lung cancer down the line. Certainly, we shouldn't abolish that?

Something should only be illegal if it is a clear and direct harm to others. Banning something that is indirectly harmful does more harm to the individual than whatever product is banned. You can strecth that as far as you want.

The examples you provided are far less harmful than secondhand smoke.. secondhand smoke is a direct harm to others

So is enforcing smoking laws.

Smoking is a victimless crime... the only way to enforce laws against it is to violate people's privacy.

I can understand you arguing that we should abolish smoking IN PUBLIC... buit if you want to abolish smoking entirely, that means that you are passing laws against a victimless private action... the only way to do that is to violate people's constitutional rights.

Violating individual rights is MUCH worse than secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke MIGHT increase your chances of cancer by 1% 25 years down the line, but enforcing smoking laws could RUIN your life by putting you in jail and seizing all of your money -- just like the War on Drugs does.

10 seems reasonable. AFter-all, all it does is kill you off slowly.

Oh right, we shouldnt invade peoples privacy and make sure they dont smoke at home, its their life, their home.. but in public it affects all those around them..

If you follow a strict definition of "public" I can live with that.

Restaurants, office buildings, stores, malls, hotels, etc. are NOT public... they are private facilities owned by the owner. The individual owner should be able to set their own guidelines for smoking.

I suppose you're right.. but they should have areas set aside for smoking, or signs notifying nonsmoking/smoking.. I just realli get annoyed at breathing in second hand smoke while walking down the street.. that should not be allowed