# Is anyone else sick of anti-tobacco PSAs 'cause they think we're morons? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 23, 2004, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-sick-of-anti-tobacco-psas-cause-they-think-were-morons/265704 "2004-09-23T16:33:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-sick-of-anti-tobacco-psas-cause-they-think-were-morons/265704/41 "2004-09-25T18:50:15Z")
As I mentioned earlier, nicotine weight for weight is extremely addictive(more so than just about any other substance), and very toxic too, but smokers do not take as much of it as a heroin user does of their drug of chioice. There are forms of synthetic opiates that are far more powerful than heroin, but there is not much use for them but they could also lay claim to being more addictive, if you define the strength of addiction as being related to the dosage taken. Here’s a site that asks that very question, is nicotine as addictive as heroin, click on the link highlighted. [http://whyfiles.org/024nicotine/addiction.html](http://whyfiles.org/024nicotine/addiction.html) I see way too many smokers use this as a justification for continuation of their habit, its as if they are trying to be martyrs, the sheer pain from heroin withdrawal is of orders of magnitude greater than that of nicotine addiction, and yet, despite going through this withdrawal hell, the heroin user will go back time and again. Yes the smoker will go back time and again, but the personal investment in trying to kick it is nothing like the commitment that heroin requires. Withdrawal from heroin is way more severe than tobacco, I have come across people who have given up smoking with virtually no noticeable effects desoite smoking for many years, try that with a heroin user. The compulsion to use heroin is so great that users will lose absolutely everything for a fix, they will murder, they will sell their bodies, they will starve if it means they can still spend their money on heroin, they will do anything, sell their children - literally to satisfy their craving. Now compare that to the smoker, apart from the distant threat of ill health, the smoker is hardly likely to put themselve sin anything like the same dire circumstances, if a smoker doesn’t have their fix, they are not very likely to kill, or rob banks, the compulsion of heroin addiction is just so much worse. Tobacco is insidious in its addictive nature, the risks to users are downgraded by the user, those risks are not as immediate, it seems on the face of it safer. We all tend to rationalise risk, smokers do this and its much easier to do when the risk seems distant, but heroin users will often have several acquaintances who have died, the risk is much more immediate and apparent and yet they still keep up the habit. I’d put it to anyone that if they smoked, and it was a regular occurance to watch a fellow user die in front of your eyes, someone in your peer group - not just an elderly aunt, they would soon quit because smoking would not have that strength of hold over them. One cigarette will not kill you, but next fix can, its something that every heroin addict knows and yet they are still compelled to continue. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-sick-of-anti-tobacco-psas-cause-they-think-were-morons/265704/42 "2004-09-25T20:27:36Z")
> [@lezlers](#): > > Again, no one has seriously blamed the ads for making them smoke more. In fact, one of the people who you could’ve misinterpreted as saying that has come in here and told you that was exactly _not_ what he is saying. > > See above comments and while you’re at it, refer to my comments about _choice_ in my earlier post. If someone doesn’t _want_ to quit, it’s not irrational that they _don’t_. Quite the opposite, actually. > > Seriously, how _old_ are you? > > And no shit every smoker _chose_ to start. Every alcoholic chose to start drinking. Every drug addict chose to get high that first time. Do you have a point? The only point I can get out of that statement is that smokers are to blame for their addiction. Well, _duh_. Has anyone here said otherwise? Yes, I believe that they have done just that, an the attempt to deny it is just another cruise down the denial river. He’s a drug addict, he’s not rational. No- be addicted to a dangerous is not a “choice” that _you_ are making. The addiction is making it for you. You don’t quit because you have made yourself believe otherwise. Next, you’ll be blaming those that want you to stop. Why no blame the drug and then try and quit? I’ll bet I am older than you- and wiser; as I am not addicted to a dangerous drug! Then _choose_ to stop. But I bet you won’t- the addiction is now controling even your conscious mind, and you’re stating to be incoherant in your anger & denial. You’re no longer the boss of even your own mind- nicotine is. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-sick-of-anti-tobacco-psas-cause-they-think-were-morons/265704/43 "2004-09-25T21:34:19Z")
> [@Yeticus Rex](#): > > Is it just me that made the connection that the executives were analogous to cancer cells growing and that the voiceover was the appropriate response to this rampant growth of executives? It’s been awhile since I’ve seen the commercial, but I thought there was a chest x-ray with a lung tumor in that same commercial towards the end. Can anyone verify? You are correct, sir-and/or-ma’am. As the executive clones spilled out on the street, the camera pulled up and up and up until the teeming mass of executives became the ominous smudge of a lung tumor in a chest X-ray. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-sick-of-anti-tobacco-psas-cause-they-think-were-morons/265704/44 "2004-09-25T22:14:43Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, I believe that they have done just that, an the attempt to deny it is just another cruise down the denial river. He’s a drug addict, he’s not rational. To accuse anyone who disagrees with you of being in denial does not make you right. It makes you appear foolish. > [@](#): > > No- be addicted to a dangerous is not a “choice” that _you_ are making. The addiction is making it for you. You don’t quit because you have made yourself believe otherwise. Next, you’ll be blaming those that want you to stop. Why no blame the drug and then try and quit? Your previous statement said that smokers chose to start. I agreed. Now you’re changing your statement? It’s kind of hard to argue with someone who keeps changing his previous statements. [quoteI’ll bet I am older than you- and wiser; as I am not addicted to a dangerous drug![/quote] Ah yes. When in doubt, go for the condecsending “I’m older than you so I _must_ know better” route. By the way, I’m not addicted to any dangerous drugs. And your arguments are still illogical and childish. And sadly, you probably _are_ older than me. > [@](#): > > Then _choose_ to stop. But I bet you won’t- the addiction is now controling even your conscious mind, and you’re stating to be incoherant in your anger & denial. You’re no longer the boss of even your own mind- nicotine is. Um, I’m not a regular smoker, so I’m not sure what I’m denying. Considering the crux of your argument seems to be “all smokers are evil, brainwashed pathetic humans in denial! I automatically win every argument with them no matter how illogical my position is because they are evil brainwashed pathetic humans in denial!” the fact that I’m _not_ a regular smoker ought to throw you for a loop. Your argument will actually have to stand on it’s _merits_ now, instead of who it’s directed at. That’s gotta hurt, man. And incoherent? Care to read back through the thread? I’ve stayed steady and consistant throughout. You’re the one changing your arguments, putting words in people’s mouths and just not making much sense in general. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-sick-of-anti-tobacco-psas-cause-they-think-were-morons/265704/45 "2004-09-25T23:42:53Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I’ll bet I am older than you- and wiser; as I am not addicted to a dangerous drug! Sorry, dude, but anyone who uses the line “Denial isn’t just a river in Egypt” with a straight face has given up any legitimate claim to being “wise.” ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2004, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-sick-of-anti-tobacco-psas-cause-they-think-were-morons/265704/46 "2004-09-26T00:45:02Z")
> [@lezlers](#): > > Are you assuming she _doesn’t already know that_? > > Honestly, save the damn lectures for people you at least _know_. Otherwise, you’re just coming across as a self-righteous busy body. Given how stupid this particular woman comes across, odds are that no, she doesn’t realize it. I don’t lecture her, anyway. In order to do that, I’d have to care about her well-being. I’d call 911 if she keeled over, but that’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2004, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-sick-of-anti-tobacco-psas-cause-they-think-were-morons/265704/47 "2004-09-26T08:14:29Z")
Insanely militant anti-tobacco industry zealots vs. tobacco industry: #2,452,614 in the “friggin’ impossible to support either side” file. Anyway, I see no redeeming qualities whatsoever in cigarettes, so I think it’s a good cause. I just wish they’d turn it down several notches and use a little damn common sense. There’s no need to put up a giant billboard of a cigarette embedded in a sno-cone (and thank you so much for that lovely image). As long as you educate in the schools and put up _discreet_ reminders here and there…say, a poster in the library…you’re doing your part. Personally, though, I find the anti-marijuana PSMs infinitely more insulting to my intelligence. ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2004, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-sick-of-anti-tobacco-psas-cause-they-think-were-morons/265704/48 "2004-09-26T09:09:39Z")
Here in Hawai`i, I think the “Stop Smoking Stupid” ads are done quite tasefully and target to the teen-pre-teen group who only smokes for stupid reasons anyway. They weigh heavily with things like: “Your life: Up in smoke.” “Poser: Dying to fit in.” and such, targeting the reasons teens start smoking and undermining the validity. No anti-marijuana ads, so far… ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2004, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-sick-of-anti-tobacco-psas-cause-they-think-were-morons/265704/49 "2004-09-26T17:01:19Z")
> [@DKW](#): > > Personally, though, I find the anti-marijuana PSMs infinitely more insulting to my intelligence. A-freakin’-_men_. I usually just roll my eyes at the smoking PSA’s. The marijuana PSA’s actually piss me off, though. Tobacco ad’s exaggerate. Marijuana ad’s outright lie (or at least exaggerate to the point where there’s hardly any truth left there). ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-sick-of-anti-tobacco-psas-cause-they-think-were-morons/265704/50 "2004-09-26T17:59:07Z")
> [@lezlers](#): > > I usually just roll my eyes at the smoking PSA’s. The marijuana PSA’s actually piss me off, though. Tobacco ad’s exaggerate. Marijuana ad’s outright lie (or at least exaggerate to the point where there’s hardly any truth left there). B-b-but, little Jimmy gives money to _terrorists_ when he buys that dime bag! HE DOES! > [@DrDeth](#): > > Then choose to stop. But I bet you won’t- the addiction is now controling even your conscious mind, and you’re stating to be incoherant in your anger & denial. You’re no longer the boss of even your own mind- nicotine is. **DrDeth** , I just have to ask: What are _you_ smoking, and did you bring enough for the whole class? ---
**Author:** ![START](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@START](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/START)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2004, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-sick-of-anti-tobacco-psas-cause-they-think-were-morons/265704/51 "2004-09-27T07:29:48Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > For the record, I’m mostly a nonsmoker. Maybe a cigar once every six months, and very rarely a couple of cigarettes. I’m well aware that smoking bothers many, many people, and I’m sympathetic to them. I’ve had no problem adjusting to the ban on public smoking (well, natch, seeing as I was only smoking about one pack every three years). > > But these PSAs, they’ve got to go. I offer for your consideration the latest one here in California. We see a group of Big Tobacco executives having a board meeting. The CEO starts talking about their growth, and suddenly, a clone of the CEO pops out of his very chest, right around the third shirt button. The other men around the table (and they always are men, in these ads) also start spewing out clones. The clones themselves start having clones, and before you know it the room is jammed to the rafters with tobacco executives. At the end of the commercial they’re spilling out into the street, continuing to clone. The voiceover intones, “As they continue to grow, we continue to die”. > > My problem with that is that it makes tobacco use sound like a random hazard that can strike anyone, anywhere, completely unpredictably. Like an earthquake, or a tidal wave. But no. _We_ do not continue to die. The people who choose to smoke, many of them, are the ones who continue to die, not _we_ as in the general population of California. I’ll concede that nonsmokers who live with smokers, who smoke in their presence, are at risk, but _by and large_ with the end of even outdoor public smoking in most places, nonsmokers have little to worry about. > > And what’s all this tobacco company growth the ad is talking about? Smoking is so marginalized in California–last I heard it was about 16% of adults–that I wouldn’t be surprised if a smaller proportion now smoke tobacco than smoked pot in the 1970s. Tobacco companies are hardly allowed to advertise or market to anyone these days. I don’t mean to defend tobacco companies, but if government wants to have PSAs, they should just give the facts…this is what smoking does and why it’s bad for you. Putting on surrealistic, Dali-esque silliness like that PSA I described is just stupid. I love that commercial, it’s so creepy 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2004, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-sick-of-anti-tobacco-psas-cause-they-think-were-morons/265704/52 "2004-09-27T22:16:25Z")
> [@SnakeSpirit](#): > > Here in Hawai`i, I think the “Stop Smoking Stupid” ads are done quite tasefully and target to the teen-pre-teen group who only smokes for stupid reasons anyway. They weigh heavily with things like: “Your life: Up in smoke.” “Poser: Dying to fit in.” and such, targeting the reasons teens start smoking and undermining the validity. > > No anti-marijuana ads, so far… I saw that “Poser: Dying to fit in.” poster when we were in Maui two weeks ago. That poster, I liked. It was focused on the group you described quite well. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-sick-of-anti-tobacco-psas-cause-they-think-were-morons/265704/53 "2004-09-28T11:17:07Z")
> [@SnakeSpirit](#): > > Here in Hawai`i, I think the “Stop Smoking Stupid” ads are done quite tasefully and target to the teen-pre-teen group who only smokes for stupid reasons anyway. They weigh heavily with things like: “Your life: Up in smoke.” “Poser: Dying to fit in.” and such, targeting the reasons teens start smoking and undermining the validity. > > No anti-marijuana ads, so far… Do they also have; Listening to loud music will make you deaf, wagging school (skipping?) will get you in BIG trouble, bearing your belly button will make you catch cold, wearing your pants so low your undies show will make adults tsk tsk at you, cool kids are cool cause they do naughty things if you copy them you will end up naughty ads? No? Oh yeah because pointing out the obvious is stupid. 🙂 (besides teenagers are programmed to ignore that kind of shit) ---
**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:** [September 28, 2004, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-sick-of-anti-tobacco-psas-cause-they-think-were-morons/265704/54 "2004-09-28T14:56:41Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > … bearing your belly button will make you catch cold… Well, probably not in Hawaii, anyway… ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-sick-of-anti-tobacco-psas-cause-they-think-were-morons/265704/55 "2004-09-28T15:57:16Z")
> [@lezlers](#): > > To accuse anyone who disagrees with you of being in denial does not make you right. It makes you appear foolish. That’s **just** what somebody who’s in denial would say! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-sick-of-anti-tobacco-psas-cause-they-think-were-morons/265704.md?page=2)