| Subject: Re: One can only guess at return to smoking statistics |
Author:
Paul McCarthy
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Date Posted: 01:10:40 03/01/02 Fri
In reply to:
Stan the Stat Man
's message, "One can only guess at return to smoking statistics" on 16:11:17 02/28/02 Thu
Hello Stan and PT,
Sometimes it just seems like, I don't know... depressing, perhaps. Like here in Connecticut I believe they just passed a cigarette tax increase of 61 cents a pack to balance the budget... nothing about health care costs, children smoking, or what not... they just needed cash. Well, actually, last I heard it passed in the Senate,... but it was expected to pass at the State House too. It probably will... Connecticut's about rich people.
I don't even bother to follow any of it much any more. Actually, I've had a cold the last few days and quit smoking a couple days ago... although it might be wise to find out when the tax increase will take effect so I can buy a carton or two of cigarettes before it takes effect.
Although, for me, it's not as bad as it is for many smokers. First of all, I've never smoked more than like a 1/2 pack a day for any period of time. Also, I live close to the Rhode Island border, so I can go over there to buy cigarettes. Although, even so, it might be time to look into buying through the Internet...
It's just... depressing... disheartening. Especially now here in Connecticut. I think everyone knew the truth all along... I guess we were just trying to avoid it. Some say the government's only interested in the money,... well, I think it's clear now that is allot of it. Others say that many don't want their children to smoke... that many want to eradicate smoking. But, either way, you kinda don't feel too wanted being a smoker today... and that's kinda impossible to avoid any more.
And... I think EVERYONE knows it now. Smokers and nonsmokers alike. It's kinda just sealed off a part of myself from the rest of the world 'cause, like I said, there's absolutely no way to avoid the fact that you're of little value to them. They really don't care... they're really not particularly sympathetic. Okay... but, now there are consequences of that realization that need to sink in... Like, if I quit smoking, is anyone like really going to care? No... you see, I've been there, I've done that... They don't really care one way or another about you or I...
It's kinda put up a wall between myself... and perhaps many smokers,... and the rest of the society. No one's even trying to pretend they care about one another any more... and, it's just so obvious now. You really need good protection for your self in a society such as ours...
Perhaps you could say the same thing about the tobacco industry too... don't seem to be too many cigarette ads any more either. Perhaps there's just been more time now for that to sink in... Maybe it's just the realization that people really are more concerned about themselves and their own much more than about people they don't even know... perhaps this should really be no surprise, but...
It's just a growing sense of being in a world that just seems oblivious to you... Perhaps it's better to know,... at least if one makes some adaptations that protects one from being hurt again in the future,... however... whereever I am today,... school, work, the stores,... about all I can think about is... when can I go home?
Take care,
>I've been lurker for a couple of years and came up
>with a rather dry statistic on smoking that was posted
>on Smoke Signals.
>
>You guys at least talk about smoking and activity is
>picking up. Here's a question. I'm sure no formal
>survey has been made on this. When someone starts
>smoking again after being quit, would you say they are
>more likely to spend a month bumming, bum one and buy
>a pack or just give up and buy a pack?
>
>Once they start back, do you think they are most
>likely to only smoke socially, return to regular
>smoking but not as heavy as before, return to just
>about the same amount as before or significantly
>increase their smoking?
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