And yet the rate of smoking has declined as it has become less acceptable. Hoothefuckray for social pressure.
As of March 2006, cigarette sales were at a 54-year low.
“No spell, señor. Dreenk.”
Or as it has become three times as expensive. Why do you think anyone gives a shit what you accept? Besides, worldwide, smoking is on the increase. From Oxford University’s Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies Unit
Unfortunately, however, although there have been substantial decreases in the prevalence of cigarette smoking in some developed populations, there have been large increases elsewhere, particularly in Chinese males, over the past decade or two, and it is difficult to see how worldwide cigarette consumption can be halved over the next decade or two. Hence, the 100 million tobacco deaths in the 20th century are likely to be followed in the 21st century and, if present smoking patterns persist, by about 1 billion tobacco deaths.
They are three times as expensive because societally we view smoking as a target for punitive taxation. Societally, we view smokers as a class that has no cause to complain. Taxes go up. Places to smoke disappear. Laws get passed. Smoking declines. All of these things are interrelated.
And they’re right, goddamit! I hate it, but they’re right! Here in the People’s Republic of Minnesota, you can’t smoke in a bar! In a fucking BAR! I’m a smoker, I know its stupid, I know they’re right, but goddamit! In a fucking bar?
I don’t know if you were thinking what I was thinking, but, at first glance, this made me go 
.
I was thinking that I accept this only under *very narrow circumstances * from other Blacks, and much less so from other people of color.
Like I said, though, at first glance, because what I think **OtakuLoki ** is referring to is this…this…this thing where groups of Hispanics and Blacks toss that word around as casually as…well, any other word that they toss around. Makes me want to bang some heads together, it does.
Anyway, **OtakuLoki ** can correct me if I’m wrong. (And I haven’t read the rest of the thread yet, so I hope I haven’t responded out of turn. I know some people don’t dig that, but I didn’t want to forget my thought–the mind’s like a sieve these days.)
You’re on! Sweet tea SUCKS.
Aaaah, now that I’ve read **OtakuLoki’s ** response to **pizzabrat’s ** question, I see what she (dammit, I think it’s “she”–my apologies if I got it wrong) was saying.
My view on the usage of the word by Blacks tends to be somewhat nuanced (though I’ll say that it should NEVER be used by Blacks as a term of endearment), but I’ll say this much: The fact that Blacks used that word in your presence, OtakuLoki, and in the manner that they used it, is just…well, I don’t have words.
Fuckin’ idiots.
I’ll end my hijack, now, with apologies to the OP et al.
No worries. Though, for a point of information - I’m male. I’m certainly not offended by your assumption, I just don’t want to let the error go uncorrected. 
At least we agree on the fact that it was the smokers who were punished, and not the tycoons who deceived them. Which means that society is an idiot.
No one is being deceived by tobacco companies.
Not sure I agree. If we look at the people who actually are screamingly racist, there’s clearly more going on with them than mere ignorance. They’re basically jerks almost by definition, and as such, have no place in our little ecosystem.
If you could be polite about your racism (and if you don’t punctuate to offend), the Mods would probably let you stick around. But how many people like that are there?
Oh right, like I’m gonna trust a Black person 
Yeah, it’s very very wrong for people who actually take the action to suffer the consequences.
Did you know that it’s possible to be a society of one, so you’re not completely wrong?
They lied to Congress. They lied to the press. They lied to everybody from smokers to doctors. I really don’t know what to say to someone who believes the tobacco companies were honest and forthright to everyone. What’s more, they’re still doing it.
I really can’t decipher what you’re saying, because it surely isn’t that addicts should pay for their pushers’ crimes.
I don’t think the law recognizes your position on this matter.
I’m not saying the companies are blameless, but do you really believe that the tobacco companies are more responsible then the people who spent years smoking ?
How long has have the ‘facts’ about smoking been known? How long have there been warnings on the packets ?
Are we talking about current taxation laws or the actions of companies 50 or 100 years ago ?
Them’s fightin’ words !
I’d prefer the racism be out in the open , but fortunately or unfortunately, it is much more subtle for the most part, these days .
FWIW, I just recently found out that the nuts were actually called Brazil Nuts. I don’t think I ever in my childhood at least, heard them referred to as that .
Yes , I am punctuating this way on purpose .
Dude, do you want this thread to be about racists or smokers? I thought you mellowed out on the mid-thread switcharoo bullshit.
Or are you trying to lay a foundation for a pronouncement along the lines of “Racist tobacco companies spend a disparate amount of marketing capital targeting blacks.”
Hell, that might very well be true, but keep it focused, Lib. 
I was addicted to cigarettes before I knew how bad they were for me. I didn’t know that the tobacco companies intentionally made them more addicting – even after they knew how bad they were for me. And I didn’t know just how addicting they are.
I also didn’t know that they were going to buy off Congress.
None of that was an issue that I knew anything about in 1960.
My name is Zoe Chloe. It’s been 113 days since my last cigarette.