One opinion I hold that even my simpaticos find a bit controversial is that smoking laws presaged covid laws. As with covid, South Africa was a pioneer in this regard, ratifying World Health Organisation frameworks in the legislature, verbatim. (Sound familiar?)
Good musings Chris thank you. I will be in Simons Town next Monday leaving these dismal isles at last and looking forward to some sailing at FBYC. You reminded me of that classic cigarette advert in the 1960s for 'Strand cigarettes - "Your never alone with a Strand" - didn't sell the ciggies but it sold lots of white 3/4 macs - a classic fail:
I hate cigarette smoke, but totally agree that laws to prohibit it seem to go to far.
I noticed at work that those few people who smoked formed a social group when they went outside to smoke, and it was a group I could not be in because I can't stand smoke as I have bad lungs. I think they were more cohesive socially than those who did not smoke, as they looked down on the smokers.
I think that smokers can be very insensitive too, but to turn them into social outcasts is also problematic.
I doubt we could have won any of the World Wars without people using cigarettes to settle their shattered nerves, and it was often given as a ration to all soldiers, for those who didn't smoke it was something they could barter with other for.
Lots of contradictions in this issue, maybe we should just tell people to "do unto the other as they would have done to them"- a good old Christian teaching?
Dec 6, 2023·edited Dec 7, 2023Liked by Chris Waldburger
Great article..
There was a lot of controversy about smoking laws. Most anti-smoking advocacy are driven by health insurance companies and state run public health systems. Decisions are not about public health, but focus on controlling costs and adjusting (increasing) premiums to compensate for smoking related illnesses.
In my youth, I smoked cigarettes for a short while... Camels, Pall Malls (no filters) and Djarums (animal dung mixed with cloves and now outlawed in several countries). I almost died of pneumonia overdoing djarums , about a pack/day. Conversely, my grandfather smoked one cigarette/day until he passed from silicosis (hard rock mining) at the age of 92.
As usual, to find the two (2) real reasons behind any action: follow the money and desire for power. Bad stuff happens when overdoing anything.
Lovely story. I would rather have smoking than child mutilation, thought control, forced injections etc in society. I would smoke a pipe if it wasn't bad for me.
I'm confused. I was delighted when our government here in the UK banned fags in bars, as I used to get home in the small hours after working in my pub feeling hung over from other people's smoke. The ban did the pub no harm, perhaps some good. That's true. It's also true that life here is one ongoing bureaucratic/taxation control-everything-we-do nightmare now. And a lot of it is deeply unfair and most of the checks and balances that I previously thought existed, have gone. I long for them to sod off and leave us alone. I've travelled in Africa, and other places, and appreciated the freedom. In a lot of ways, you can do what you want, and what happens is your problem. And I've hated that I had to be on guard against violence and theft almost all the time. That's a tax of a kind. And hated the pervasive corruption. Here, I don't bother to lock my car half the time. Someone tell me, how can I have my cake and eat it?
Good musings Chris thank you. I will be in Simons Town next Monday leaving these dismal isles at last and looking forward to some sailing at FBYC. You reminded me of that classic cigarette advert in the 1960s for 'Strand cigarettes - "Your never alone with a Strand" - didn't sell the ciggies but it sold lots of white 3/4 macs - a classic fail:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjBHUQEiTPw
And for an SA laugh - you will appreciate this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYOIbXJTVIc
Happy days are here again!
Blessings
AP
Great post
I hate cigarette smoke, but totally agree that laws to prohibit it seem to go to far.
I noticed at work that those few people who smoked formed a social group when they went outside to smoke, and it was a group I could not be in because I can't stand smoke as I have bad lungs. I think they were more cohesive socially than those who did not smoke, as they looked down on the smokers.
I think that smokers can be very insensitive too, but to turn them into social outcasts is also problematic.
I doubt we could have won any of the World Wars without people using cigarettes to settle their shattered nerves, and it was often given as a ration to all soldiers, for those who didn't smoke it was something they could barter with other for.
Lots of contradictions in this issue, maybe we should just tell people to "do unto the other as they would have done to them"- a good old Christian teaching?
Great article..
There was a lot of controversy about smoking laws. Most anti-smoking advocacy are driven by health insurance companies and state run public health systems. Decisions are not about public health, but focus on controlling costs and adjusting (increasing) premiums to compensate for smoking related illnesses.
In my youth, I smoked cigarettes for a short while... Camels, Pall Malls (no filters) and Djarums (animal dung mixed with cloves and now outlawed in several countries). I almost died of pneumonia overdoing djarums , about a pack/day. Conversely, my grandfather smoked one cigarette/day until he passed from silicosis (hard rock mining) at the age of 92.
As usual, to find the two (2) real reasons behind any action: follow the money and desire for power. Bad stuff happens when overdoing anything.
Loved this, thank you Chris x
Lovely story. I would rather have smoking than child mutilation, thought control, forced injections etc in society. I would smoke a pipe if it wasn't bad for me.
I'm confused. I was delighted when our government here in the UK banned fags in bars, as I used to get home in the small hours after working in my pub feeling hung over from other people's smoke. The ban did the pub no harm, perhaps some good. That's true. It's also true that life here is one ongoing bureaucratic/taxation control-everything-we-do nightmare now. And a lot of it is deeply unfair and most of the checks and balances that I previously thought existed, have gone. I long for them to sod off and leave us alone. I've travelled in Africa, and other places, and appreciated the freedom. In a lot of ways, you can do what you want, and what happens is your problem. And I've hated that I had to be on guard against violence and theft almost all the time. That's a tax of a kind. And hated the pervasive corruption. Here, I don't bother to lock my car half the time. Someone tell me, how can I have my cake and eat it?
There are places in Africa that are quite safe...