The Smoker: A Dying Breed

Greetings,

The following is something that I wrote after having an experience and a chat with some people while in the centre of Brisbane, Queensland. I am not advocating anyone taking up smoking at all, just asking you to have a look at the situation from a different perspective. I have tried to be as objective as possible with regard to this post, but it is a little difficult.

A further note, I sent this to the editor of the Courier Mail for one of the Letters to the Editor not long after I wrote it with no response. Obviously policy does not allow an even-handed or even counter-argument view on a subject as divisive as smoking.

The Smoker: A Dying Breed

The smoker is a breed of human which is dying out, in both senses of the word. They are subject to the threats of cancer, emphysema and other life-threatening diseases and infections. But they are also subject to other hazards, social disgust, legal ramification, and taxation. Likely, while the former are good reasons to “kick the habit”, as has been coined in modern speech; the latter are also likely to force the smoker out of his ever-dwindling breed.

While quitting smoking has been seen, and is, the healthiest alternative, a new breed of smoker has emerged, “the vaper”. These individuals suck on vapours produced from different flavoured fluids. The studies show that this is a healthier alternative, but is it only time until society turns against these individuals as well?

Amongst the smoking breed there are those who take their habit as some sort of stand, often against some authority. Like a quiet form of protest they smoke as a stand for their habit, forgetting the original reason they started. These are what could be called the “hard-core” smokers who will defend their habit as any other might theirs.

The considerate smoker is one who will ensure that they are away from non-smokers, or are in the company of other smokers. They will do their best to ensure that their habit has the least effect on those around them. If in mixed company, they will do their best to ensure their smoke is blown away from non-smokers. They will always ensure that their butts are extinguished properly and also disposed of properly. Yet they are lumped in with those with no consideration.

The inconsiderate smoker lights up where they feel like regardless of the company and regardless of the feelings of others. They have no consideration for the effect their smoke may have on others. They may even be offended if their inconsiderate smoking is pointed out to them and thus will react angrily and with no remorse.

Smokers have been banned from playgrounds, which is sensible so they do not have an effect on the young lungs of children. Smokers have also been banned from bus stops, public transport, public buildings and most covered areas. The considerate smoker would absent themselves from most of these without legislation in place; yet they are chased away and threatened with legal action.

The result of these bans is that we see smokers clustered together like social outcasts. Areas have been designated for smokers and smokers congregate in these areas to smoke. Ironically, some non-smokers will approach these spaces and complain about the smoke. Just as with any group of people, there are also the “radical non-smokers”.

The true bane of the smokers’ existence is both the “radical non-smoker” and the “radical ex-smoker”. Like evangelicals they feel it is their purpose in life to convert or persecute smokers wherever they may be found. They are mortally offended if they can smell smoke on a breeze and will expect the smoker to move regardless of the situation. They will quote evidence of the damage and cost of smoking, even though this is now evident, often in graphic detail, on every pack which is bought. What they do not realise is that they harm their cause taking such a stance.

Nicotine is a drug, pure and simple, and an addictive one at that. Alcohol is also a drug, and a poison, yet smoking products are taxed and legislated against far more strongly, even though it could be proven that the damage caused by alcohol is far more costly.

What is also not known is that some of those smokers are doing it for their health. For some it is a simple and relatively quick form of pain relief when access to other drugs and pain relief are not available. For others it provides a measure of stress relief in situations where other methods are not possible.

Smokers are a dying breed, and they know it. They know the risks of their habit. They are not all the same and they do not all smoke for the same reasons. Unless you have been in the smoker’s shoes you do not know as much as you think. Have some consideration before you speak out against their habit, our “nanny state” may decide that your habit or hobby is too dangerous and anti-social next.

Cheers,

Henry.