ryborg

Let's imagine that tomorrow a medicine is created that makes cancer no more threatening than a mild cold. Would you would drop what you were doing and go buy a pack of cigarettes, or some other enjoyable tobacco product? If cures to common smoking ailments are discovered, will the stigma against smokers lift, or will it remain embedded into our society? If you do not smoke, is it because you value your health, or because you simply do not like the culture? If you presently do smoke, why have you chosen to continue, despite the health ramification?

Having smoked in the past, I can attest to how much fun it is. I've enjoyed cigarettes, cigars, and even hookahs. I just love the culture that surrounds smoking, similar to the way I enjoy the culture that surrounds coffee (cigarettes and coffee anyone?). Sadly, there is a small conflict of interests between tobacco and myself–that whole “it'll kill you” thing. I've been cold turkey for several months now, but damn I miss it! I have a feeling that even if the health impact of smoking was somehow [magically] lessened the stigma against it would remain in place. If I didn't have to worry about my lungs turning into black, leather windbags of cancerous death, I would definitely be smoking a cigarette right now. What do the rest of you make of it?

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