Community Chat

[Noel7]

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@Juniper2 wrote:

@Moonchilde. Oh, but I have read the entire thread and the narrative has taken several turns.   Just keeping up with the many twists.  I don't condone cigarette smoking, but I defend the rights of smokers to do so, without being harassed by holier than thou people who believe they are superior to all others in their habits or their opinions.  I hate ISIS, but I don't hate smokers, if I must keep to the theme of the original post.  Also, I do happen to agree with others on this thread, just not you.

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If you actually did read the discussion, you certainly didn't understand it.  

[maestra]

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@QueenDanceALot wrote:

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@MaRina wrote:

I think thrown cigarette butts should be considered littering and that one should be fined. I've seen where someone has emptied their ashtray out on the ground with trash cans close. 

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I see this a lot.

Why don't smokers think their butts are trash?  Do they throw their Burger King bags out the car window too?

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yes, and so do non smokers. That also disgusts me.

[Irshgrl31201]

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@truffle wrote:

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@NycVixen wrote:

My mom has been a smoker almost all her life. I've tried so hard to convince her to stop to no avail. Not even breast cancer made her stop. Not even the idea of getting another type of cancer deters her.

She's spending a fortune to get dental implants since many fell out after radiation treatment. I suggested now would be a great time to stop so her mouth stays nice looking and she is undeterred. She said just bury me when the time comes.

If that's not addiction, I don't know what is. I had to ask a few times for her not to smoke in front of me while I was pregnant. It's like auto pilot. 

The silver lining is that her habit made me want to never smoke anything. I hardly drink. I don't want to be addicted to anything period except good habits.

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Usually a dentist will not do full mouth implants on a smoker as their habit causes bone loss.  

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Yes and smoking slows your bodies ability to heal. My great aunt who is not a smoker just got one implant. She was asked if she was a smoker because her dentist refuses to even do implants on smokers even if a waver is signed. 

[Irshgrl31201]

I have seen so many comments on here that people do not understand how smokers can know the risks of smoking and continue. I don't understand how they cannot understand. People know the risks of having a bad diet and eating too much sugar (which kills more people) yet they still do that. It seems that knowing the risks of smoking yet still doing it bothers more people than knowing the risks of eating poorly yet still doing it. Sugar of course is a cause for obesity and diabetes but a major cause of heart disease, different types of cancers and is now being linked to Alzheimer's. I don't see these same types of comments when people know the risks of eating too much sugar or other junk yet still do it. Just like I have seen people who experience COPD or lung cancer and still smoke I have seen people killing themselves with their diet and still continue.

[jeanlake]

I try to see all sides of this issue, knowing my focus/concern is health. My dad passed at age 76 of emphysema and my mom of cancer at age 38. Both heavy smokers. My sis has asthma from growing up at a time where you smoked everywhere and in front of everyone. I remember instructors/students smoking in college classrooms - 70s. People smoked in all restaurants and even in stores. In airplanes, on busses, etc. Healthy changes since the last century (ooo, that makes me feel ancient) That aside, it's an addiction and I admire those who have been able to shake it. Heart goes out to those who are trying to stop smoking. My siblings don't smoke, nor did we pair with people who smoked, however, one of my 3 children smokes and he's having an awful time trying to quit. Athlete in high school, but his 'group' smoked and so did he. His 8 year old son cries for him to quit. He's trying. Many can relate. Grace all around!  

[Group 5 minus 1]

I may be going off on a tangent but I think diabetes is more genetic than a weight issue.

[Moonchilde]

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@ncascade wrote:

I may be going off on a tangent but I think diabetes is more genetic than a weight issue.

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It is, @Group 5 minus 1, but you know...last remaining group one can bash & be PC.  

It can be both of course - but people also refuse to acknowledge that for a percentage of overweight people, genetics has a say in that as well. 

I know people skinny as sticks with diabetes, and I know very overweight people (far more than me) who don't have it, and have perfectly normal BG. 

There will always be those who refuse that reality because it doesn't match their prejudice.

[Noel7]

I know several overweight people who don't have diabetes 2.  My mother's best friend through life was an example.

My husband is 6'1", not overweight, exercises and eats the heart healthy menus I prepare... and has diabetes 2.  His maternal aunt was the same.

There has to be a genetic component.

[Moonchilde]

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@Irshgrl31201 wrote:

I have seen so many comments on here that people do not understand how smokers can know the risks of smoking and continue. I don't understand how they cannot understand. People know the risks of having a bad diet and eating too much sugar (which kills more people) yet they still do that. It seems that knowing the risks of smoking yet still doing it bothers more people than knowing the risks of eating poorly yet still doing it. Sugar of course is a cause for obesity and diabetes but a major cause of heart disease, different types of cancers and is now being linked to Alzheimer's. I don't see these same types of comments when people know the risks of eating too much sugar or other junk yet still do it. Just like I have seen people who experience COPD or lung cancer and still smoke I have seen people killing themselves with their diet and still continue.

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There are definitely people out there who "eat too much sugar." Quite a good percentage of them are normal weight - even on the thin side. They are lucky in their metabolism. They are the "unknown" sugar consumers because they don't "look like" they would be high sugar consumers.

But someone who is overweight is automatically pegged as (1) a glutton and over-eater, (2) a high sugar consumer, (3) diabetic solely because of #1 and #2 - whether it's true or not.

I once had a vegetarian friend who was stick-thin and always sick (her healthy immune system soooo wasn't). She often commented, when we went out to eat, that I ate less than half the amount she routinely did. She also had a sister who was overweight whom she also knew didn't eat much and was athletic as well, and she knew firsthand that being overweight was not "just" from over-eating.

But stereotypes persist. We need them. They fulfill our desire to feel superior.