# For every cigarette you don't smoke, I'm going to smoke three. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 7, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-every-cigarette-you-dont-smoke-im-going-to-smoke-three/343441 "2006-02-07T19:54:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-every-cigarette-you-dont-smoke-im-going-to-smoke-three/343441/1 "2006-02-07T19:54:31Z")
“Truth” anti-smoking commercials. Holy shit! What’s this? Cigarettes are _bad_ for me? I had no fucking idea! Sure, advertising by tobacco companies insults the intelligence of consumers. Not because they are inherently evil, but because it’s _fucking advertising_. 97.9% of all advertising I’ve ever seen insults the intelligence of its target audience. And your stupid commercials are even worse! Oh, wow, the tobacco companies are so evil! Smoking causes 800,000 cases of illness a year, or somesuch statistic. Yes, smoking is bad. Yes, it’s a burden on society. But I’m sick of your fake indie-hip-stick-it-to-the-man righteous attitude. I don’t smoke much anymore, but just for that, every time I see one of your commercials, I’m going to light up out of spite. ---
**Author:** ![YaWanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bbce88/32.png) [@YaWanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaWanna)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-every-cigarette-you-dont-smoke-im-going-to-smoke-three/343441/2 "2006-02-07T19:59:11Z")
Lighten up, Francis. The ads are aimed at minors. Was this not apparent to you? (It’s hard to insult the intelligence of your average teen, at least when it comes to judgment calls like “should I take up smoking 'cause the kids will think I’m not cool if I don’t?”) ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-every-cigarette-you-dont-smoke-im-going-to-smoke-three/343441/3 "2006-02-07T19:59:56Z")
They are simply stupid, stupid, stupid commercials. Pointless, senseless, and idiotic. They are, believe it or not, even more inane and useless than the “war on drugs” commercials. If any of the tobacco settlement money is going to these, Brown & Williamson execs must be falling on the floor every time one of them shows. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-every-cigarette-you-dont-smoke-im-going-to-smoke-three/343441/4 "2006-02-07T20:05:43Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > They are simply stupid, stupid, stupid commercials. Pointless, senseless, and idiotic. Tell me about it. I find them so intensely grating, in fact, that despite having quit successfully nearly three years ago, I have a nearly overwhelming urge to go light up, just out of spite. I would almost seriously wager that these ads have _caused_ more teens to take up smoking than, than not. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-every-cigarette-you-dont-smoke-im-going-to-smoke-three/343441/5 "2006-02-07T20:11:03Z")
They are incredibly stupid, and look like they were put together by people who asked “Now, what’s the hip new attitude that the youngsters today have, and how can we include it?” Now, one of the anti-smoking PSA organizations I like can be found at [www.ydoyouthink.com](http://www.ydoyouthink.com) It’s paid for by the Virginia Tobacco Settlement fund, so I’d imagine the ads only run in Virginia. But the ads are actually funny, and make a point. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-every-cigarette-you-dont-smoke-im-going-to-smoke-three/343441/6 "2006-02-07T20:17:23Z")
> [@YaWanna](#): > > Lighten up, Francis. > > The ads are aimed at minors. Was this not apparent to you? (It’s hard to insult the intelligence of your average teen, at least when it comes to judgment calls like “should I take up smoking 'cause the kids will think I’m not cool if I don’t?”) While the average teen may not be the sharpest tool in the drawer they are not as dumb as you think. They recognize this sort of thing for what it is. Heavy handed propaganda from the man. Frank I think these ads are funded either by the tobacco companies as part of the settlement or with the settlement money. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-every-cigarette-you-dont-smoke-im-going-to-smoke-three/343441/7 "2006-02-07T20:22:09Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > I would almost seriously wager that these ads have _caused_ more teens to take up smoking than, than not. Tobacco company executive: “Holy crap, the game is up! They’ve figured us out! (beat) What the hell, they’re addicted anyway. Ain’t nothin’ they’re gonna do about it now. (evil cackle)” Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-every-cigarette-you-dont-smoke-im-going-to-smoke-three/343441/8 "2006-02-07T20:25:30Z")
> [@gazpacho](#): > > Frank I think these ads are funded either by the tobacco companies as part of the settlement or with the settlement money. They are, but in case anybody thinks this is some Machiavellian attempt to make deliberately bad anti-smoking PSAs so that everyone will ignore them, I’ll point out that the tobacco companies don’t have any control over the ads themselves. ---
**Author:** ![shelbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@shelbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shelbo)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-every-cigarette-you-dont-smoke-im-going-to-smoke-three/343441/9 "2006-02-07T20:27:50Z")
I think you are all overestimating the intelligence of the average teenager. Have you seen the crap they buy? Advertising, even bad advertising, works. All too well. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-every-cigarette-you-dont-smoke-im-going-to-smoke-three/343441/10 "2006-02-07T20:29:11Z")
What I find funny about most of these commercials is that they aren’t really attacking cigarettes at all. They’re pointing out how eeeeeeeevil the tobacco companiees are. Case in point: the most recent commercial that I remember seeing talks about how some tobacco company donated $125K to charity, then spent $20 million telling people about it. How is this supposed to affect teens who are smoking because it’s “cool” or because they want to look older? Answer: it’s not. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-every-cigarette-you-dont-smoke-im-going-to-smoke-three/343441/11 "2006-02-07T20:31:56Z")
> [@gazpacho](#): > > While the average teen may not be the sharpest tool in the drawer they are not as dumb as you think. They recognize this sort of thing for what it is. Heavy handed propaganda from the man. Exactly. Kids make a lot of bad choices, but they know when they’re being condescended to. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-every-cigarette-you-dont-smoke-im-going-to-smoke-three/343441/12 "2006-02-07T20:37:18Z")
> [@gazpacho](#): > > While the average teen may not be the sharpest tool in the drawer they are not as dumb as you think. I disagree. I’m pretty certain that the average teen is probably even dumber than I give them credit for. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-every-cigarette-you-dont-smoke-im-going-to-smoke-three/343441/13 "2006-02-07T20:40:33Z")
I remember an anti-smoking ad that showed a rolled up dollar bill being lit & dragged like it was a cigarette. Instead of realizing I spent a few bucks a day on Camels (as was intended), I went to my porch because the ad gave me the hankering. Anyway, **Gabe** , I’m there with you. We should find their headquarters and stage a smoke-near. It’d be hilariously enjoyable…that is, if I wanted pointy things thrown at my head. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-every-cigarette-you-dont-smoke-im-going-to-smoke-three/343441/14 "2006-02-07T20:41:45Z")
> [@shelbo](#): > > I think you are all overestimating the intelligence of the average teenager. Have you seen the crap they buy? Advertising, even bad advertising, works. All too well. I think you are underestimating the average teens ability to tell the difference between cool and an authority figure trying to be cool to convince them do something that is good for them. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-every-cigarette-you-dont-smoke-im-going-to-smoke-three/343441/15 "2006-02-07T20:41:58Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > I disagree. I’m pretty certain that the average teen is probably even dumber than I give them credit for. Jeez, you’re cynical. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-every-cigarette-you-dont-smoke-im-going-to-smoke-three/343441/16 "2006-02-07T20:48:51Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > I disagree. I’m pretty certain that the average teen is probably even dumber than I give them credit for. May I quote? Benjamin: If I may, speaking from a producer-director standpoint, kids can relate to these guys, they’re not phonies. Kids can spot phonies, they’re very smart. Noah: Kids know dick. I watch 'em in my arcades. They stand like lab rats hitting the feeder bar to get food pellets. As long as they pump in quarters, who gives a shit? ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-every-cigarette-you-dont-smoke-im-going-to-smoke-three/343441/17 "2006-02-07T20:49:54Z")
(for the record, I agree with **gazpacho** as a poster, but not as a soup) ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-every-cigarette-you-dont-smoke-im-going-to-smoke-three/343441/18 "2006-02-07T21:31:51Z")
> [@gazpacho](#): > > I think you are underestimating the average teens ability to tell the difference between cool and an authority figure trying to be cool to convince them do something that is good for them. Are you serious? If that were the case, no kids would ever want cell phones or iPods. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-every-cigarette-you-dont-smoke-im-going-to-smoke-three/343441/19 "2006-02-07T21:34:07Z")
> [@Birdmonster](#): > > (for the record, I agree with **gazpacho** as a poster, but not as a soup) Agreed - As a soup, he leaves me cold. I hate these “Truth” ads. I, too, want to start back smoking every time I see one. Wait a sec, if I _were_ to start back smoking after seeing an ad, could I sue them? ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-every-cigarette-you-dont-smoke-im-going-to-smoke-three/343441/20 "2006-02-07T21:36:35Z")
But Ipods and cell phones are cool. The fact you don’t think they are just shows how out of touch you are. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-every-cigarette-you-dont-smoke-im-going-to-smoke-three/343441.md?page=2)