Why people smoke (was Re: The Gimmes)
[email protected]
In a message dated 8/16/04 9:20:50 AM, litlrooh@... writes:
<< I would say this is an accurate description of cigarette companies though.
They ARE marketing to the younger crowd and taking advantage of the peer
pressure that goes on there. >>
My kids have three friends who smoke, each in a totally different social
group, each the only one in that group (at least to my own kids' interface) who
smokes.
One is 25, tattooed, rough-appearing and very mannerly and interesting. The
others he knows all razz him. He started smoking when he was in high school
and is an addict, but very considerate, considering.
One is 15, has been in and out of homeschooling, has always been desperate to
be grown soon, now, since he was nine and we met him (so probably before
then). Last year he went back to school, was put on Ritalin, and started
smoking. Not because of advertising, because of trying to impress kids at school.
The other is 18, started smoking because friends at school did (she always
went to school, her mom is a teacher), and has been smoking for three years
already. Not because of advertising.
My mom died last year, of lung and other organ problems blamed officially on
a lifetime of drinking and smoking. She started smoking because a marriage
counsellor recommended it. My parents were married almost four years before I
was born (I'm oldest). They had gone to a marriage counsellor and when she
complained that my dad would light a cigarette after dinner even before she
was through eating and the smoke kept her from enjoying the rest of her food.
This professional they had paid money to told her that if she were to just
start smoking too, that cigarettes wouldn't bother her anymore, and that she
would have something else in common with her husband.
Tobacco companies are competing for brand switchers. Kids smoke because
other people smoke, not because of advertising.
Sandra
<< I would say this is an accurate description of cigarette companies though.
They ARE marketing to the younger crowd and taking advantage of the peer
pressure that goes on there. >>
My kids have three friends who smoke, each in a totally different social
group, each the only one in that group (at least to my own kids' interface) who
smokes.
One is 25, tattooed, rough-appearing and very mannerly and interesting. The
others he knows all razz him. He started smoking when he was in high school
and is an addict, but very considerate, considering.
One is 15, has been in and out of homeschooling, has always been desperate to
be grown soon, now, since he was nine and we met him (so probably before
then). Last year he went back to school, was put on Ritalin, and started
smoking. Not because of advertising, because of trying to impress kids at school.
The other is 18, started smoking because friends at school did (she always
went to school, her mom is a teacher), and has been smoking for three years
already. Not because of advertising.
My mom died last year, of lung and other organ problems blamed officially on
a lifetime of drinking and smoking. She started smoking because a marriage
counsellor recommended it. My parents were married almost four years before I
was born (I'm oldest). They had gone to a marriage counsellor and when she
complained that my dad would light a cigarette after dinner even before she
was through eating and the smoke kept her from enjoying the rest of her food.
This professional they had paid money to told her that if she were to just
start smoking too, that cigarettes wouldn't bother her anymore, and that she
would have something else in common with her husband.
Tobacco companies are competing for brand switchers. Kids smoke because
other people smoke, not because of advertising.
Sandra
marji
At 14:31 8/16/04, Sandra wrote:
was in the fourth grade. I told Ellen that I would definitely be a smoker
when I got to be old enough because my parents both smoked and they were
very cool. I was really impressed by my parents, smoking their Pall Mall
cigarettes. I loved the way my mom's hand looked so graceful holding the
cigarette, and when she and my dad would rest their cigarettes in the
ashtray, the smoke looked so calm and pretty rising up from the burning
cigarette. They were artsy folks, and they made these really cool ashtrays
and stuff like that. I was completely sold!
I started smoking when I was 13 years old because everyone else in my
circle at school did and I desperately wanted to be cool and fit in with
these folks, especially since I was convinced I was not all that cool and
smoking cigarettes would definitely help me become more cool. I loved the
cigarette pack holders and the lighters and all that paraphernalia
stuff. That's another reason why I smoked.
The only reason I quit was because I perceived (don't know if it was really
true or not) that my vocal range was a little diminished, and messing up my
voice was one thing I could not and would not tolerate. So, I quit "cold
turkey" and gave a brand-new carton of cigarettes to my friend when I was
20 years old. Although I had tried and failed at quitting many times
before that, quitting then was the easiest thing for me because I was
really freaked out about my voice. I never smoked again.
Even though I enjoyed the cigarette (the jingles and stuff) advertisements,
they had absolutely nothing to do with me starting to smoke or continuing
to smoke (in fact, I really never got that business in the ads about
"taste"!). To start smoking was entirely a decision I made because of the
people I admired.
Marji
>Kids smoke because other people smoke, not because of advertising.I remember walking to school with my best friend at the time, Ellen, when I
was in the fourth grade. I told Ellen that I would definitely be a smoker
when I got to be old enough because my parents both smoked and they were
very cool. I was really impressed by my parents, smoking their Pall Mall
cigarettes. I loved the way my mom's hand looked so graceful holding the
cigarette, and when she and my dad would rest their cigarettes in the
ashtray, the smoke looked so calm and pretty rising up from the burning
cigarette. They were artsy folks, and they made these really cool ashtrays
and stuff like that. I was completely sold!
I started smoking when I was 13 years old because everyone else in my
circle at school did and I desperately wanted to be cool and fit in with
these folks, especially since I was convinced I was not all that cool and
smoking cigarettes would definitely help me become more cool. I loved the
cigarette pack holders and the lighters and all that paraphernalia
stuff. That's another reason why I smoked.
The only reason I quit was because I perceived (don't know if it was really
true or not) that my vocal range was a little diminished, and messing up my
voice was one thing I could not and would not tolerate. So, I quit "cold
turkey" and gave a brand-new carton of cigarettes to my friend when I was
20 years old. Although I had tried and failed at quitting many times
before that, quitting then was the easiest thing for me because I was
really freaked out about my voice. I never smoked again.
Even though I enjoyed the cigarette (the jingles and stuff) advertisements,
they had absolutely nothing to do with me starting to smoke or continuing
to smoke (in fact, I really never got that business in the ads about
"taste"!). To start smoking was entirely a decision I made because of the
people I admired.
Marji
Elizabeth Hill
** One is 15, has been in and out of homeschooling, has always been
desperate to
be grown soon, now, since he was nine and we met him (so probably before
then). Last year he went back to school, was put on Ritalin, and started
smoking. Not because of advertising, because of trying to impress kids
at school.**
I was wondering how well does advertising work on homeschooled kids who
are subject to waaaay less peer-pressure than schooled kids? (typically)
Betsy
PS (different topic)
**Like how come sometimes they left the turn signal
on after they'd already made the turn?**
I heard on Car Talk this weekend that in Germany people keep the left
turn signal on the whole time they are passing in the passing lane. The
car hosts were suggesting that this is a good way to communicate with
the car behind us that tailgates and flashes its lights. (If we adopted
the convention here.)
desperate to
be grown soon, now, since he was nine and we met him (so probably before
then). Last year he went back to school, was put on Ritalin, and started
smoking. Not because of advertising, because of trying to impress kids
at school.**
I was wondering how well does advertising work on homeschooled kids who
are subject to waaaay less peer-pressure than schooled kids? (typically)
Betsy
PS (different topic)
**Like how come sometimes they left the turn signal
on after they'd already made the turn?**
I heard on Car Talk this weekend that in Germany people keep the left
turn signal on the whole time they are passing in the passing lane. The
car hosts were suggesting that this is a good way to communicate with
the car behind us that tailgates and flashes its lights. (If we adopted
the convention here.)