[CFrance]

Originally Posted by PaPaLarry

I couldn't agree more!!! Have very special friends also, that just can't kick the habit, but they are still very special to us. Just wish I could help

I thought I would be one of those people. I started smoking on a bet in college. Quit four times over the years, and it would last two years, and then bam! the craving would come over me again, so badly that I would start again.

Finally what did the trick was being able to buy patches over the counter. I scheduled a two-week trip with a group where I knew I couldn't smoke, and used the patches. And I do mean used. Don't bash me--I wore them for a year. After a few months I was cutting them into little pieces, but I kept at it until I finally lost the urge and the mindset.

It was hard. But in some ways, I thought it was easier than dieting, because you never have to learn moderation--you never have to pick up another cigarette in your life. You DO have to continue to eat, so you are constantly surrounded by that which you wish to overindulge in.

[JP]

I remember reading an article about a 51 year old woman that had breast cancer.
At the end of the article she said, "I don't know how I got it. I did everything right."
This always sticks in my mind when people say you should and shouldn't do this and that so you will live longer and happier(?).
Nobody is alike. Some will be effected more from doing certain activities some will not be effected at all or minimally.
We are supposed to be living in a free society.
Stop telling me what to do.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by JP

I remember reading an article about a 51 year old woman that had breast cancer.
At the end of the article she said, "I don't know how I got it. I did everything right."
This always sticks in my mind when people say you should and shouldn't do this and that so you will live longer and happier(?).
Nobody is alike. Some will be effected more from doing certain activities some will not be effected at all or minimally.
We are supposed to be living in a free society.
Stop telling me what to do.

I don't think they're telling you what to do. They're just saying if you do certain things, they won't hire you. Yes it's a free society, and they are free not to hire you if you are going to cost them a bundle in health care due to smoking. The "Free Society" thing works both ways.

[JP]

Originally Posted by CFrance

I don't think they're telling you what to do. They're just saying if you do certain things, they won't hire you. Yes it's a free society, and they are free not to hire you if you are going to cost them a bundle in health care due to smoking. The "Free Society" thing works both ways.

I think telling me I can't smoke or be fat if I want a certain job is telling me what to do.
It's restricting my freedom of choice for what kind of job I may want.
It's not a "for sure" thing that I am going to cost them a bundle in health care if I smoke or am fat.
With this kind of thinking we should check everybody genetically and charge those people with bad DNA more for health care.
What about people with a history of heart disease or cancer, shouldn't they pay more for health care. They're going to use more of it.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by JP

I think telling me I can't smoke or be fat if I want a certain job is telling me what to do.
It's restricting my freedom of choice for what kind of job I may want.
It's not a "for sure" thing that I am going to cost them a bundle in health care if I smoke or am fat.
With this kind of thinking we should check everybody genetically and charge those people with bad DNA more for health care.
What about people with a history of heart disease or cancer, shouldn't they pay more for health care. They're going to use more of it.

I think your right to choose what kind of job you want shouldn't supersede their right to hire whomever they want based on their bottom line. They are the ones with the jobs. You are the one with the resume, looking for a job.

[janmcn]

Originally Posted by JP

I think telling me I can't smoke or be fat if I want a certain job is telling me what to do.
It's restricting my freedom of choice for what kind of job I may want.
It's not a "for sure" thing that I am going to cost them a bundle in health care if I smoke or am fat.
With this kind of thinking we should check everybody genetically and charge those people with bad DNA more for health care.
What about people with a history of heart disease or cancer, shouldn't they pay more for health care. They're going to use more of it.

I agree. Smokers should be able to smoke in restaurants, in movies, in church, or anywhere they please. If a surgeon wants to puff on a cigarette while performing surgery, so be it. The state should not be telling us what to do. We, the people, need to march on Tallahassee and get this no-smoking law repealed.

And while we're at it, let's do away with the driving while drinking law, and the seat belt law, and toss all the kid's car seats out.

We already have a 'right to kill' law, but we have to make sure felons and terrorists have the right to buy guns. They can't tell us what to do. Get ready to rumble in Tallahassee.

[Steve & Deanna]

Smoking is a bad habit and not only will shorten a life by many, many years, it dries your skin, constricts blood vessels, can ruin your gums and it stinks; besides, it seems a bit silly to accelerate death. The absolute last thing I would want would be in a hospital environment and treated by a smoker. The smell is nauseating (spelling??). You can smell it on their clothes, their hair and themselves. I say good for the hospitals that are championing smoke free zones. By the way, I am an ex-smoker for well over twenty years. Years ago, my wife's physician said it would be a good idea to avoid cigarette smoke due to a health reason. I 'manned up' and tossed them. It wasn't easy but we're both all the happier for it.

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by JP

It's not a "for sure" thing that I am going to cost them a bundle in health care if I smoke...

Ummm, yes it will. They pay premiums based on criteria. When they rate a 'group' they consider average age of group, smokers vs. non-smoker %, etc. etc. Smoking is the number ONE rating criteria for pricing life or health insurance. I was in the insurance industry for over 30 years.

[Bay Kid]

Smoking waste much time at work, you know smoke breaks. Then you must wash up so you don't smell like smoke. Then wonder when can I do this again. I know because this was me.

[JP]

Originally Posted by janmcn

I agree. Smokers should be able to smoke in restaurants, in movies, in church, or anywhere they please. If a surgeon wants to puff on a cigarette while performing surgery, so be it. The state should not be telling us what to do. We, the people, need to march on Tallahassee and get this no-smoking law repealed.

And while we're at it, let's do away with the driving while drinking law, and the seat belt law, and toss all the kid's car seats out.

We already have a 'right to kill' law, but we have to make sure felons and terrorists have the right to buy guns. They can't tell us what to do. Get ready to rumble in Tallahassee.

I agree with car seats and seat belts.
I use/used both but it should be my choice not the governments.
Same with smoking.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by JP

I agree with car seats and seat belts.
I use/used both but it should be my choice not the governments.
Same with smoking.

When "you" don't use seatbelts and car seats, it raises the cost of my health care.

From 2004 statistics:

Over the past five years, the number of motor vehicle occupants killed in crashes has risen each year. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), seat belts save 13,000 lives each year, but 7,000 people die because they do not use seat belts. In 2001, 73 percent of restrained passengers involved in fatal crashes survived, compared to 44 percent of unrestrained occupants. The deaths and injuries that result from non-use of safety belts cost society an estimated $26 billion annually in medical care, lost productivity and other injury-related costs.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by JP

I remember reading an article about a 51 year old woman that had breast cancer.
At the end of the article she said, "I don't know how I got it. I did everything right."
This always sticks in my mind when people say you should and shouldn't do this and that so you will live longer and happier(?).
Nobody is alike. Some will be effected more from doing certain activities some will not be effected at all or minimally.

When the average person says they did everything right, what does that mean? It usually means "moderation" and we should all know that moderation is meaningless.

We are supposed to be living in a free society.
Stop telling me what to do.

No one has told you what to do, have they? Give me an example. What have you been told not to do? Oh, yes, I forgot, you can't drive your car at excessive speeds (over the posted speed limit) on public roadways. Darn those police, they think they can tell us what to do!

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by CFrance

I don't think they're telling you what to do. They're just saying if you do certain things, they won't hire you. Yes it's a free society, and they are free not to hire you if you are going to cost them a bundle in health care due to smoking. The "Free Society" thing works both ways.

Great answer. I couldn't agree more.

[graciegirl]

I hope you will live to be 145 Villages Pl.

You will miss us though.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I hope you will live to be 145 Villages Pl.

You will miss us though.

Yes, but he will have a fresh batch of conversion possibilities!