Smoking- when we took the vote in lecture i was one of the few who had never smoked- never even tried it, and this is something i am farely proud of. at 14 i vividly remember all of my close circle smoking. friends of mine would encourage me to try it "just once", people would seem to think of me as boring cause i wouldnt. but as i sit here and take a clear intake of oxygen- no wheezing, im glad i refused. i was exceedingly pleased when it was taken out of pubs and clubs. i used to be annoyed that i would make an effort to dress nice and by the end of the night id smell like an ashtray and look like a member of kiss as my make-up was down my cheeks cause the smoke made my eyes sting! i struggle with the idea that smoking is "cool". when i see someone strolling down the street smoking i just think what a waste- waste of money, time, life. but i cant help that when i see someone like brad pitt in a film or seeing james bond enjoying the 'finer' things in life is within his character, and yes, as much as i hate smoking it is a credit to film makers because they do for that split second make me stop and think "wow, they're cool" and this is so puzzleing to me- i hate smoking. i disagree with some critics that seeing those films would influence me to smoke however. there is a slight twinge that stops me for one second but then my own beliefs kick in. i think that people who suggest seeing these films encourage people to smoke underestimate children- they are not just brain dead sheep or something, they are capable of making rational decisions on their own. the 14 year old me- i had peer pressure and film influence and i still didnt smoke. this "media influence" debate is still ever present. i found this website based upon it
i do think that more coul be done to stop people smoking, but taking it out of movies doesnt take it out of schools, streets, homes. perhaps the only way to stop youngsters taking up smoking is to stop selling them, but as the tax is so high on them, we all know government wont be likely to do this. and yes, it is a freedom of choice. but its a crime to commit suicide- why is it legal to do it slowly? haha i'm just ranting becuase this issue is to confusing to me. as simple as my main principles on smoking- its disgusting, totally not for me, my other ideas - whether its cool or not, should be made illegal- are still very much grey. i think this is why this topic is perhaps on the module because it does raise much debate- health issues, moral issues, danger issues. argh!
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in response to the whole 'good deads' debate that we have engaged in, i think you may have slightly misunderstood what i meant by my 'disabled people' blog, which is understandable, as it seems most who have read it also have. please let me elaborate my thoughts a little more; when i am asking 'are there any truly altruistic deeds?', i mean 'is it at all posiible to help someone without at least acknowledging your subjective sence of self worth even in the slightest?', even if it hasn't made you feel good, and maybe even bad (as in your mentioned scenario', have you still not evaluated your act of kindness against your own sense of how one 'should act' in the way to which you measure up any action against what it is to lead a virtuous life? indeed altruism is deemed 'unselish concern for others' but i think we can take this further than that...
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