# I've been thinking about quiting smoking but these "Truth" ads aren't helping. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 6, 2003, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-thinking-about-quiting-smoking-but-these-truth-ads-arent-helping/217413 "2003-12-06T18:30:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-thinking-about-quiting-smoking-but-these-truth-ads-arent-helping/217413/21 "2003-12-06T22:19:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CanvasShoes \* > > I think **luc** is on to something, only, show unattractive people who are unattractive because of smoking. The wrinkles, the ill health, the lingering death that is lung cancer. Show the actual results of lung disease, the cross sections of diseased lungs and so on. Yeah. After all, I’m fugly, wrinkled and sickly… :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-thinking-about-quiting-smoking-but-these-truth-ads-arent-helping/217413/22 "2003-12-06T22:22:30Z")
Guess you showed them, uh! ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-thinking-about-quiting-smoking-but-these-truth-ads-arent-helping/217413/23 "2003-12-06T22:37:17Z")
I don’t think **Canvas** meant that all smokers are fugly, wrinkled and sickly, did you **Canvas**? Because _that_ 'ol dog has been drug out and beaten more times than I care to remember. I just think the ads should be realistic and target to kids. They should show the results of smoking while they’re at an age they can see themselves at (none of this “this is you 30 years down the road” shit. That’s easily lost in the “yeah, that’s _30 years down the road_, I would’ve _so_ quit by then” mindset). Show someone getting in trouble for stealing cigs (since they’re being targeted at those under 18, right?) getting caught smoking. Their friends thinking it’s lame. Feening for a cig, that kinda stuff. It is frighteningly (or humurously, depending on your viewpoint) obvious that those in charge of anti-tobacco and anti-drug campaigns are those who have never actually touched the stuff. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-thinking-about-quiting-smoking-but-these-truth-ads-arent-helping/217413/24 "2003-12-06T22:47:21Z")
## quote: Originally posted by CanvasShoes ## I think luc is on to something, only, show unattractive people who are unattractive because of smoking. The wrinkles, the ill health, the lingering death that is lung cancer. Show the actual results of lung disease, the cross sections of diseased lungs and so on. > [@](#): > > Yeah. After all, I’m fugly, wrinkled and sickly… Hey don’t shoot the messenger. [http://www.mercola.com/2000/apr/16/cigarettes\_and\_skin.htm](http://www.mercola.com/2000/apr/16/cigarettes_and_skin.htm) [http://www.e-hospi.com/Beware/Smoking/SmokWrink.asp](http://www.e-hospi.com/Beware/Smoking/SmokWrink.asp) [http://www.lifeworks.uk.com/Smokers%20Face.htm](http://www.lifeworks.uk.com/Smokers%20Face.htm) ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-thinking-about-quiting-smoking-but-these-truth-ads-arent-helping/217413/25 "2003-12-06T22:55:12Z")
_Sigh_ Oh, **Canvas** , lets not do this again… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-thinking-about-quiting-smoking-but-these-truth-ads-arent-helping/217413/26 "2003-12-06T22:57:35Z")
I’d never shoot you, my dear. That’s why I included the dubious face! I was just poking fun at the idea of showing ugliness to kiddies. For every geezer hacking up a lung, there are a dozen pretty bastards like me merrily puffing away… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-thinking-about-quiting-smoking-but-these-truth-ads-arent-helping/217413/27 "2003-12-06T22:59:06Z")
**lezlers** , I know it’s a dead horse. I’m not a _total_ bastard. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-thinking-about-quiting-smoking-but-these-truth-ads-arent-helping/217413/28 "2003-12-06T23:01:25Z")
It’s because I haven’t had my nic fix yet today. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-thinking-about-quiting-smoking-but-these-truth-ads-arent-helping/217413/29 "2003-12-06T23:08:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lezlers \* > \*\*_Sigh_ > > Oh, **Canvas** , lets not do this again… > > ☹ \*\* Huh? Did I do this before? Or do you just mean smoking debates in general? FTR Mr. B, I was really meaning the 'black lung" type pics, more than smoker’s face. I’m sure you’re a very handsome and nice man 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-thinking-about-quiting-smoking-but-these-truth-ads-arent-helping/217413/30 "2003-12-06T23:31:53Z")
Not you in particular, just the whole smoking debate thing. If we don’t keep this quiet you’ll get the “oh I can _tell_ if you’re a smoker, even if you just smoke one or two cigs a day because you _stink_! And you’re _ugly_! And you’re gonna _ **DIE!!!** _” brigade in here in no time. I believe there’s a few of 'em who still think i’m just a bold faced liar when I tell them people are shocked when they find out I smoke. After all, _they’d_ be able to tell, hell, they’d be able to smell me coming from a mile away! :rolleyes" Those studies usually involve subjects that smoke a pack or two a day for a number of years, btw. Not really going to do much to stop a teenager from having a cig at the next party, really. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-thinking-about-quiting-smoking-but-these-truth-ads-arent-helping/217413/31 "2003-12-06T23:50:58Z")
Oh, okay, yeah that makes sense **lezlers**. We could always start a hijack on fashion to head off the stampede! 😃 And I agree with your point that old wrinkled people wouldn’t likely sway a teen. Now that I’ve rethought it, I don’t think much does. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-thinking-about-quiting-smoking-but-these-truth-ads-arent-helping/217413/32 "2003-12-06T23:59:10Z")
A son of Robert the Bruce is going to use Truth ads as an excuse? Shame on ye lad! If ye want to quit, then do. If not, don’t. Then lay ye doon and dee. ~McZoe~ ---
**Author:** ![Blackdragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Blackdragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackdragon)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-thinking-about-quiting-smoking-but-these-truth-ads-arent-helping/217413/33 "2003-12-07T00:08:50Z")
A couple of years ago I was at one of their filming sites. The commercial involved hundreds of bodybags. The problem was that many people, including myself, stubbled upon their brilliance after they were done shooting but before they removed the bodybags. It caused quite a scene. Not that seeing bodybags in Washington, D.C. is that unusual mind you. ---
**Author:** ![Azure\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@Azure\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azure_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-thinking-about-quiting-smoking-but-these-truth-ads-arent-helping/217413/34 "2003-12-07T02:05:32Z")
They have something worse at our school. Apparently they did a survey and found out that 20% of the students in the school system admitted to smoking marijuana (keep in mind that this includes middle and presumably elementary school kids, so the numbers for high schoolers are probably much higher). This is obviously not a very encouraging statistic. So, having this information in your hands, what would _you_ do? Well, the idiots at my school decided to _broadcast_ it as a wonderful finding - they’ve put up obnoxious posters all over our school that say “Reality check: 80% of [school system] students _don’t_ smoke marijuana”. :rolleyes: :smack: Thanks, school administration. I thought the number of users was less than ten percent, but your ingenious idea has set me straight. From now on, I’ll keep in mind that one of every five kids I see in the hallway is using marijauna. I would never do drugs anyway, but if I were wavering about it, these dumbass ads wouldn’t help at all. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-thinking-about-quiting-smoking-but-these-truth-ads-arent-helping/217413/35 "2003-12-07T04:17:14Z")
\*\* Bruce\*\* - I haven’t seen the ads (I’m in Canada) so I can’t comment on that. I would like to say; however, that quitting smoking is the best Christmas gift you can give yourself. Good for you, drink lots of water and have carrot sticks on hand. They’ll help. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-thinking-about-quiting-smoking-but-these-truth-ads-arent-helping/217413/36 "2003-12-07T04:31:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bruce\_Daddy \* > \*\*And I actually am going to quit on New Year’s, so **NO PREACHING!** \*\* Several times I’ve mentioned the book I used to give up smoking - Gillian Riley’s _How To Stop Smoking And Stay Stopped For Good_, because her approach is different to any other I’ve seen. She advocates carrying around cigarettes, continuing to go drinking, taking smoke breaks at work (but not smoking) and bringing on cravings to deny them. The psychology is really clever - it’s just a choice you’re making not something you are being denied. In relation to your point in the OP she suggests that you don’t tell people that you are quitting because they will encourage you and your natural reaction to that will be “Bugger you, it’s not your place to approve.” and you may smoke again out of spite. Interesting. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-thinking-about-quiting-smoking-but-these-truth-ads-arent-helping/217413/37 "2003-12-07T04:44:58Z")
Well, I’ll just say “good luck to you” and leave it at that. If you want to do it, you shall succeed. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-thinking-about-quiting-smoking-but-these-truth-ads-arent-helping/217413/38 "2003-12-07T16:20:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zoe \* > \*\*A son of Robert the Bruce is going to use Truth ads as an excuse? > ~McZoe~ \*\* I’ve mentioned this on the boards before? And you remember? 🆒 And **alice\_in\_wonderland** and **don’t ask** , thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-thinking-about-quiting-smoking-but-these-truth-ads-arent-helping/217413/39 "2003-12-07T16:21:16Z")
That’s lovely. ---
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-thinking-about-quiting-smoking-but-these-truth-ads-arent-helping/217413/40 "2003-12-08T02:25:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CanvasShoes \* > \*\*Show actual accident victims, show the drunk drivers after 5 years in jail. Show all the hoops drunk drivers have to jump through to get their licenses back and to get to and from work etc. JMHO \*\* There’s been at least one commercial featuring a disfigured accident victim. It premiered last year, and showed a woman holding up a photo of herself before she was hit by a drunk driver and her car caught fire, then lowering it to reveal the way she looks now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-thinking-about-quiting-smoking-but-these-truth-ads-arent-helping/217413.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-thinking-about-quiting-smoking-but-these-truth-ads-arent-helping/217413.md?page=3)