# More proof the smoking NAZI's knowing what's best for you. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 14, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-the-smoking-nazis-knowing-whats-best-for-you/303772 "2005-05-14T00:14:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-the-smoking-nazis-knowing-whats-best-for-you/303772/21 "2005-05-14T01:48:32Z")
> [@Elysian](#): > > Hmm. Has anyone actually ever met someone who took up smoking as an adult? Everyone I have ever known started smoking as a teen, or even a very young teen. I started about age 19 or 20, while in college – would that count as an adult? And in the early experimental phase I smoked Gauloises. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-the-smoking-nazis-knowing-whats-best-for-you/303772/22 "2005-05-14T02:00:36Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > Would they be willing to take it outside? Not fight, smoke outside. Some of us smokers are willing to do that, if asked. Expecting you to clean up their mess is unacceptable. The vast majority of smokers I’ve known have been very courteous people and I would be delighted if my roommates actually listened to my pleas and took their cigarettes (and weed and whatever the hell substance goes into a hookah) outside. I would weep tears of joy actually. This year took a lot out of me is all. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-the-smoking-nazis-knowing-whats-best-for-you/303772/23 "2005-05-14T02:04:47Z")
> [@Elysian](#): > > Hmm. Has anyone actually ever met someone who took up smoking as an adult? Everyone I have ever known started smoking as a teen, or even a very young teen. So I guess the person quoted in the op had a point – adults wouldn’t be interested in _starting_ smoking with this particular product. Amazingly enough, I’ve known two. One at 25 and another at 30. Not saying that either one is known for making very wise decisions (usually for very poor reasons), but for all practical intents and purposes, they _are_ adults. So, they are out there, even if they’re extremely rare. Don’t know how that all completely fits into the topic at hand, but I wanted to share my limited experience. Also to say, the above description obviously wouldn’t fit everyone who followed the same path. YMMV. [aside] **Elysian** , I’m glad you got and liked your shirt. And I’ll even forgive you for such a heinous blasphemy as not being another Aerosmith devotee. We all have our faults. 😉😛😃 [/aside] ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-the-smoking-nazis-knowing-whats-best-for-you/303772/24 "2005-05-14T02:06:47Z")
If that substance in the hookah is a small brown or black piece of tarry feeling stuff, that smells a bit like pot, then it could be hashish. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-the-smoking-nazis-knowing-whats-best-for-you/303772/25 "2005-05-14T02:12:27Z")
It’s doubtful that anybody would have the money, or the lungs, to pack a hookah full of pot or hash. Most likely, they’re smoking shisha, mollases drenched flavored tobacco. Possibly, with some hash thrown in 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-the-smoking-nazis-knowing-whats-best-for-you/303772/26 "2005-05-14T02:33:33Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > And in the early experimental phase I smoked Gauloises. If I smoked one of those now, I bet I’d cough for six hours. For those keeping track, I started at 14, my first SO at 18, my ex at 40. I do agree that flavoured cigarettes are aimed at beginning smokers, whatever age they may be. Should they be banned? No. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-the-smoking-nazis-knowing-whats-best-for-you/303772/27 "2005-05-14T02:35:41Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > I agree that this flavered cigarette ban seems pretty idiotic. That said, general anti-smoking measures and your hypothetical ban on yogurt are completely apples-to-oranges. If, whenever you ate Yogurt, little bits of yogurt squirted out of your ears and down random passersby’s throats, and yogurt was carcinogenic, then you’d have an argument. Not unless you managed to prove that secondhand smoke was dangerous, and it’s important to distinguish different circumstances. There is no compelling evidence to suggest _any_ danger from casual exposure to cigarette smoke. The concept of secondhand smoke is not one that has science backing it. > [@Elysian](#): > > Hmm. Has anyone actually ever met someone who took up smoking as an adult? Does 19 years old count? Bad Excalibre, you were old enough to know better! > [@drm](#): > > I just spent about 2 days solid cleaning up after my roommates who all smoke (if you haven’t guessed I don’t smoke). There were cigarettes everywhere…coffee cups, beer bottles (don’t know what the rule is as I don’t drink either, but I removed them all from the bottles so they could be returned), bowls, on plates, on the floor, everywhere for christs sake. There had to have been a pile 8 inches in diameter and about 4 inches high in the sink when I was done. > > For this reason alone I’m against anything that makes cigarettes a more pleasurable experience for anyone. If it wasn’t for the tax money, I’d say ban them. You think your roommates’ misbehavior and whatever self-esteem problem you have that motivates you to clean up after them rather than making them do it themselves justifies restricting my access to cigarettes? > [@drm](#): > > The vast majority of smokers I’ve known have been very courteous people and I would be delighted if my roommates actually listened to my pleas and took their cigarettes (and weed and whatever the hell substance goes into a hookah) outside. I would weep tears of joy actually. This year took a lot out of me is all. Have you considered murdering them in their sleep? Or at least starting small, and making them deal with their own butts? ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-the-smoking-nazis-knowing-whats-best-for-you/303772/28 "2005-05-14T03:04:22Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > It’s doubtful that anybody would have the money, or the lungs, to pack a hookah full of pot or hash. Most likely, they’re smoking shisha, mollases drenched flavored tobacco. Possibly, with some hash thrown in 😃 _gentle weeping_ Oh, man, that sounds good! [sub]Pondering the fact my company does no chemical screening whatsoever. Kind of makes up for that websense bullshit[/sub] 😃 ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-the-smoking-nazis-knowing-whats-best-for-you/303772/29 "2005-05-14T03:09:32Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > You think your roommates’ misbehavior and whatever self-esteem problem you have that motivates you to clean up after them rather than making them do it themselves justifies restricting my access to cigarettes? My self esteem issues aside, I cleaned up after my roommates because they recently moved out while I happened to be away leaving me with quite a mess (we each signed our own lease and we didn’t know each other beforehand). I didn’t much feel like living in filth for four months. Do I think it justifies restricting your access to cigarettes? No, it doesn’t seem fair but if you can find a way to restrict their access to cigarettes without affecting anyone else I’d be fine with that. > [@](#): > > Have you considered murdering them in their sleep? > > Or at least starting small, and making them deal with their own butts? Long ago, I stopped trying to make them deal with any of their mess, butts included. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-the-smoking-nazis-knowing-whats-best-for-you/303772/30 "2005-05-14T05:02:57Z")
> [@Nametag](#): > > Gee, **Duffer** , I never thought of you as the “flavored cigarette” type. Anything else you’re not telling us? > > BTW, smoking in public is anti-social, like letting your dog crap on the sidewalk. Neither one does inarguable harm, but both are disgusting acts that others shouldn’t have to live with, and for more or less the same reason. > > So, gonna pit the “clean-sole nazis” next? I agree, but I’m with **Duffer** on this one (I never ever thought I’d be writing that). If a company wants to sell flavored cigarettes, they should be allowed to. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-the-smoking-nazis-knowing-whats-best-for-you/303772/31 "2005-05-14T06:13:49Z")
Why is it that every time somebody protests about their freedom to smoke being infringed, I think they might be right and just can’t bring myself to give a fraction of a damn? Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-the-smoking-nazis-knowing-whats-best-for-you/303772/32 "2005-05-14T07:20:27Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Why is it that every time somebody protests about their freedom to smoke being infringed, I think they might be right and just can’t bring myself to give a fraction of a damn? > > Oh well. Because your commitment to people’s freedom is selective and limited? 🙂 > [@drm](#): > > My self esteem issues aside, I cleaned up after my roommates because they recently moved out while I happened to be away leaving me with quite a mess (we each signed our own lease and we didn’t know each other beforehand). I didn’t much feel like living in filth for four months. > > Do I think it justifies restricting your access to cigarettes? No, it doesn’t seem fair but if you can find a way to restrict their access to cigarettes without affecting anyone else I’d be fine with that. They sound like absolute dicks. I’m glad you’re free of them. I still say feel free to poison them before they inflict themselves on the rest of humanity. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-the-smoking-nazis-knowing-whats-best-for-you/303772/33 "2005-05-14T10:04:53Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > They sound like absolute dicks. I’m glad you’re free of them. > > I still say feel free to poison them before they inflict themselves on the rest of humanity. If it wasn’t for the whole prison thing I would have done it months ago. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-the-smoking-nazis-knowing-whats-best-for-you/303772/34 "2005-05-14T10:29:10Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > Because your commitment to people’s freedom is selective and limited? 🙂 No, it’s not. I just like being able to see a concert without paying the price of breathing trouble, occasional nausea, and the burned crap smell for my few hours of enjoyment. I don’t care what people do to their lungs and clothes as long as they don’t do it to _my_ lungs and clothes. Which I guess brings us back to the topic at hand: flavored cigarettes shouldn’t be banned. My father smokes them very rarely and I can at least say they smell better than the regular article. Even if they didn’t, people have the right to smoke them. I guess the reason I don’t care, especially enough to start flinging the “NAZI” word around, is that at some show or trivia night, they’ll be smoking them around me and between the smell and the irritation, I won’t care about their right to burn dried weeds in my immediate vicinity. But they’ll do that anyway with the regular ones, I suppose, and I’ll choke just as much on those. Which is why I said what I said: my agreement is there, but my enthusiasm is low. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-the-smoking-nazis-knowing-whats-best-for-you/303772/35 "2005-05-14T11:18:15Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > They sound like absolute dicks. I’m glad you’re free of them. > > I still say feel free to poison them before they inflict themselves on the rest of humanity. Sounds like they’re well on their way to poisoning themselves, actually. And for the satisticians in the audience, I started smoking in earnest at 20, stopped at 29. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-the-smoking-nazis-knowing-whats-best-for-you/303772/36 "2005-05-14T14:01:38Z")
If only someone would invent a cigarette alternative that just directs 100% of the stinky, carcinogenic by-product directly inside the smoker so that 0% of it leaks out onto other people. I would wholeheartedly support that. Even if it were 20 times more carcinogenic than today’s cigarettes. I don’t want to impinge on your freedoms at all. Have at it. ---
**Author:** ![Elysian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c77e96/32.png) [@Elysian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elysian)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-the-smoking-nazis-knowing-whats-best-for-you/303772/37 "2005-05-14T14:06:15Z")
I don’t know if nineteen counts, everyone. That’s still a teen year, even though you should know better. (I’m looking at _you_, **Excalibre**!) > [@faithfool](#): > > [aside] **Elysian** , I’m glad you got and liked your shirt. And I’ll even forgive you for such a heinous blasphemy as not being another Aerosmith devotee. We all have our faults. 😉😛😃 [/aside] Hey, my first concert was Aerosmith. I’m just not a big fan. However, I really love KISS even though I don’t particularly like their music. Must have something to do with the face paint. _swoon_ ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-the-smoking-nazis-knowing-whats-best-for-you/303772/38 "2005-05-14T14:41:38Z")
Well, it is well known in marketing circles that cigarettes enjoy possibly the strongest brand loyalty of any consumer product on the market. I don’t know of anything that induces anywhere near the loyalty. Possibly feminine hygiene products? Fiercely brand-loyal beer drinkers can usually find another brand that is amenable to them if their preferred brand isn’t available for whatever reason. Smokers will often drive to another store if their brand is out of stock. There are no occasional “mix it up” packs of different brands going on with the average smoker. With this in mind, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it’s _common sense_ that these are targeted to _minors_, but rather that it’s clearly targeted to _non-smokers_. The question becomes “What non-smoker is likely to start smokling?” I would grudgingly admit that the most likely answer to that question is _minors_. And you “smoking smells bad” people can go fuck yourselves. I don’t like the smell of perfume. Can I start banning perfume and cologne? “By the time they came for me, there was nobody left to help.” ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-the-smoking-nazis-knowing-whats-best-for-you/303772/39 "2005-05-14T14:58:10Z")
> [@drm](#): > > My self esteem issues aside, I cleaned up after my roommates because they recently moved out Long ago, I stopped trying to make them deal with any of their mess, butts included. If they moved out, I’d say cleaning up is a relatively small price to pay. I would have been singing and dancing, over the fact that they were finally gone. Next time, if you consider room mates, make it an Immutable Doctrine that yours is a no-smoking home. Make it a Prime Directive. Anyone who won’t comply, is welcome to look elsewhere. It’s your home, it’s your rules. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-the-smoking-nazis-knowing-whats-best-for-you/303772/40 "2005-05-14T15:07:50Z")
> [@drm](#): > > Long ago, I stopped trying to make them deal with any of their mess, butts included. You wiped their butts for them, too? 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-the-smoking-nazis-knowing-whats-best-for-you/303772.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-the-smoking-nazis-knowing-whats-best-for-you/303772.md?page=3)