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Oregon Raises the Smoking Age (fastcompany.com)

From a report: Some 95 percent of lifetime smokers pick up the habit before their 21st birthday, so Oregon lawmakers yesterday passed a law making it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to purchase cigarettes in the hopes of nipping the bad habit in the bud. "By the age of 25, this addiction is cemented in the brain and it becomes very difficult -- almost impossible -- to quit," State Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, told KGW. Oregon is not the first state to do this, and it probably won't be the last. No one under 21 can (lawfully) buy cigarettes in Hawaii, California, Washington, D.C., and Guam to date. It also passed in New Jersey, but noted beachcomber Gov. Chris Christie vetoed the bill -- although it could still become law there. According to the American Cancer Society, at least 250 localities across the country have passed similar local ordinances.

410 comments

  1. Also illegal to sell? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Will it also be illegal to sell ciragettes to anyone under 21?

    1. Re: Also illegal to sell? by hackwrench · · Score: 1

      And in other news, Barney Fife was made an honorary Slashdot editor. Nip it in the bud, indeed!

  2. Is this to save lives? by Rockoon · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Will it also be illegal to send those under 21 off to die in wars?

    --
    "His name was James Damore."
    1. Re:Is this to save lives? by geekmux · · Score: 0

      Will it also be illegal to send those under 21 off to die in wars?

      It's been over 40 years since the US Military imposed a forced draft on any citizen, so drop the drama. Those entering the military today are doing so voluntarily, and hopefully scored high enough on the ASVAB test to understand what that activity could entail. I'd say it's pretty damn clear when job training includes a shooting range and hand-to-hand combat.

    2. Re: Is this to save lives? by Time_Ngler · · Score: 4, Insightful

      But why can't the same 18 y.o. person who can sign their life away in the military not be deemed responsible enough to decide whether or not to smoke a cigarette?

    3. Re:Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, but all male citizens are still required to sign their Selective Services card when they turn 18, and then, if I'm not mistaken, you're eligible to be called up until you're 45.

      Wouldn't take much, (an act of Congress would do it,) to reimpose a draft. There's one senator, (forget his name,) who puts up a bill to do just that, every year.

    4. Re:Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Will it also be illegal to send those under 21 off to die in wars?

      Or to (gasp!) drive a car?

      Not a fan of tobacco, mind you. But really: bigger fish to fry out there.

    5. Re: Is this to save lives? by SirSlud · · Score: 5, Informative

      Because one act contributes to society while the other is costly to society.

      --
      "Old man yells at systemd"
    6. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The military will oppose a draft to their dying breath. They are professionals and don't want Johnny Dontwanttobehere failing to have their back when shit goes down or slowing down the advance against the next objective.

    7. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You spelled mercenary wrong.

    8. Re:Is this to save lives? by I'm+New+Around+Here · · Score: 1

      Your state's driving age is 21? That is one fucked up place.

      --
      If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
    9. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Basic training is 10-16 weeks 24x7. How many classes on the pros and cons of smoking does a person need to sit through before they're allowed try their first one?

      I've never smoked, don't agree with the ban, and have never been in the military, but I'd expect the military training makes you responsible enough to stay in it.

    10. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I think the point is... ...if you are old enough to decide to possibly die in a war, you're old enough to possibly die from smoking.

      The same argument is easily made for the drinking age.

      Possible conclusions...

      Raise the age to sign up for military service to 21.

      Lower the age to drink and buy cigarettes to 18.

      Anything else is not consistent, logically.

    11. Re:Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Out of curiosity, how old do you have to be in order to buy a firearm?

    12. Re: Is this to save lives? by drinkypoo · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Because one act contributes to society while the other is costly to society.

      Both acts are costly to society, though in different ways.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    13. Re:Is this to save lives? by religionofpeas · · Score: 1

      Or to (gasp!) drive a car?

      Driving a car allows people to increase their productivity. Smoking only has costs.

    14. Re:Is this to save lives? by I'm+New+Around+Here · · Score: 0

      In my world, old enough to read the Second Amendment to the Constitution. In the modern country that conquered the United States of America last century, old enough to have enough money to bribe local officials.

      --
      If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
    15. Re:Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      It's not voluntary, it only looks voluntary. We've largely stopped funding higher education and an increasing share of the jobs that pay a decent wage require a college degree of some sort. Sure, there are ones that don't, but there's a much higher supply of people who need those jobs than positions to fill.

      Calling it an all volunteer military when it's some people's only meaningful hope of bettering themselves in society is a rather large stretch.Even back in Vietnam most of the people in the military at that time were "volunteers." Even if many of them were like my dad hoping to get out of some backwater rural town with no other viable options.

    16. Re: Is this to save lives? by dougdonovan · · Score: 1

      isnt 18 the legal adult age. let them smoke, drink, find a career, do 20 years whether civilian or military, retire and enjoy life.

    17. Re: Is this to save lives? by rholtzjr · · Score: 1

      Aaaah, there's your problem. You expected logic to play a part in this decision.

    18. Re:Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Will it also be illegal to send those under 21 off to die in wars?

      It's been over 40 years since the US Military imposed a forced draft on any citizen, so drop the drama. Those entering the military today are doing so voluntarily, and hopefully scored high enough on the ASVAB test to understand what that activity could entail. I'd say it's pretty damn clear when job training includes a shooting range and hand-to-hand combat.

      ASVAB, when I was young, was a joke. I scored in the 98 percentile, which had every recruiter calling me for months, until I fell for the spiel of a Navy recruiter and joined, I don't regret that decision, but as far as the test goes I didn't even "try" as I took it to get out of a couple of classes I didn't care for in high school. It did NOTHING to prepare "me" for what was to come though.

    19. Re:Is this to save lives? by nnet · · Score: 1

      Oregon is a state, with the ability to enact state laws. Take your issue of military service age up with your federal representative. I'm sure they'll be happy to listen to your comparison of state law vs. federal.

    20. Re: Is this to save lives? by nnet · · Score: 1

      Because federal laws controlling things military have no authority over state laws regarding who can buy cigarettes. Why is that such a difficult concept to grasp?

    21. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As a Vet who enlisted at the age of 19 (After living on my own for two years and picking up a nasty smoking habit), it was my enlistment that ultimately led to my cessation of smoking and my maturation.

      How about instead of depriving legal adults the right to serve their country we work to train them better and do a better job choosing which entanglements we get involved with.

    22. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I know. It's like those folks that confuse questions of logic with questions of legal jurisdiction. Why don't they grasp the concept?

    23. Re: Is this to save lives? by SirSlud · · Score: 1

      Maybe I should rephrase - the majority of the population doesn't see any benefit to society from smoking.

      --
      "Old man yells at systemd"
    24. Re: Is this to save lives? by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

      Because the 18-year-old will receive training. The smoker doesn't or they would never smoke in the first place.

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    25. Re: Is this to save lives? by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

      Wasn't that what fragging was for?

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    26. Re: Is this to save lives? by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

      How about we raise the age of both by one year every year? Solves both the problems of smoking and wars.

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    27. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I doubt they're too hip on getting blown up or shot, either.

    28. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So what you are saying is that this is a fundamental tyranny of the majority example? The individual right of a free person, who is considered an adult in most other areas, to choose is irrelevant when weighed against the desires of the majority?

    29. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      As a former Army Officer I can tell you this is horse shit. The US military has a very carefully crafted indoctrination program that convinces these *children* they're serving their country and doing the right thing, when they're really being manipulated to fight rich men's wars. It is sick and one of the main reasons I left. There was no good that came from the US involvement in the middle east, other than lots of dead innocents and a whole generation of kids fucked up for life. This nationalist crap has got to stop, if you think it's better to train kids to kill and send them off to war is preferable to them shooting heroin, much less smoking cigarettes, you're a fucking mad man and exactly what is wrong with this country.

    30. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If each (threatened) smoker shot-dead one snowflake progressive every week they were not allowed to smoke, then the benefit to society of forced non-smoking would be confirmed.

    31. Re: Is this to save lives? by VAXcat · · Score: 1

      Smoking isn't costly to society - it actually saves money, since it kills people off before they get age related degenerative diseases that are rally costly to treat.

      --
      There is no God, and Dirac is his prophet.
    32. Re:Is this to save lives? by sexconker · · Score: 1

      How long has it been since the government forced people to smoke?
      People can join the military at 18, but not smoke or drink until 21, and not rent a car until 25, and not run for President until 35. I only agree with one of these restrictions.

    33. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because the 18-year-old will receive training. The smoker doesn't or they would never smoke in the first place.

      Bull.

      I sat through the stupid classes in school. Drugs are bad. Smoking is bad. Sex is bad. etc...

      Been smoking since I was 15. Now I'm 48. Zero issues. The only doctors I have ever been to are a dentist, and a chiropractor.

      It's not the job of the state to tell people what they are and aren't allowed to put into their bodies. Or what people can do with their body.

    34. Re:Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The one set by private agencies based on risk assessment, and not enforced by the government in any way?

    35. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Unless smoking can make you more productive by lowering anxiety levels, which it can, so that's no argument really.

    36. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      Please provide a reference for where you got that information...

      Smoking does cause a number of illnesses that are not lethal, but still very costly and may present themselves while a person is still quite young. You also have to factor in that most smokers are from low-income areas, so public school is an assumption. This would then be an extra cost where a person is home sick a lot more than a non-smoker and may also die earlier than the retirement-age resulting in a lower ROI on the person.

      A quick search pointed me to:
      https://www.treasury.gov/press...
      where it points to a total cost of $130 billions. (from 1998, adjusted value would be $195 billion.). $130 billions is excluding the increased cost of reduced mortality, see below quote.

      With each cigarette smoked taking seven minutes from the average smoker’s life — and taking
      into account the lives lost due to smoking-related fires and smoking during pregnancy — the
      estimated cost of reduced mortality is approximately $120 billion per year. This cost is the
      equivalent of $5 dollars for every pack sold, and represents the amount over and above the lost
      productive output mentioned earlier.
      While these costs are impressive, they are highly subjective. Exactly how one would apply this
      methodology to the human costs of smoking is a complex and certainly controversial question.
      As a result, we have chosen not to include the costs of reduced mortality in estimating the cost of
      smoking in the U.S.

    37. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because one act contributes to society while the other is costly to society.

      "You are allowed to have freedom so long as someone else disproportionately benefits from your choices."

    38. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd expect the military training makes you responsible enough to stay in it.

      Maybe you've never smoked tobacco, but you are clearly smoking something.

    39. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or you could just learn to cope with life you worthless sack of shit.

    40. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2

      I like how the only doctors you've been to are a dentist and a "chiropractor" (note: they're quacks) and somehow know there's nothing wrong with you. That cancer is going to be a fun surprise when it metastasizes.

    41. Re: Is this to save lives? by rogoshen1 · · Score: 1

      also legal in oregon mind you.

    42. Re: Is this to save lives? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Maybe I should rephrase - the majority of the population doesn't see any benefit to society from smoking.

      I don't disagree, my objection is to your example as I would argue that the majority of the population receives more harm than benefit from the military-industrial complex. Is the price of cheap oil worth the payoff, for example? Or as one might put it, sometimes I wonder if the fornicating I'm getting is worth the fornicating I'm getting.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    43. Re: Is this to save lives? by kenh · · Score: 1

      God what a stupid argument.

      --
      Ken
    44. Re: Is this to save lives? by kenh · · Score: 1

      Wouldn't take much, (an act of Congress would do it,) to reimpose a draft. There's one senator, (forget his name,) who puts up a bill to do just that, every year.

      It's a congressman, Charlie Rangel, and he does it because he thinks analysis volunteer army is racist.

      Remember when 'an act of congress' used to mean something WAS a big deal, apparently to you it's a trivial accomplishment...

      --
      Ken
    45. Re: Is this to save lives? by kenh · · Score: 1

      It's not voluntary, it only looks voluntary. We've largely stopped funding higher education

      I challenge the assertion that we 'largely stopped funding higher education', I think the money spent has gone up year after year every year the past 50 or so years.

      Remember when an HS diploma meant you could read and write at a 12th grade level? Now a too-large majority of college students require multiple remedial classes their freshman years in math/English.

      --
      Ken
    46. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Being 19 probably helped with your maturation vs. the previous two years...

    47. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Every Anonymous Coward on Slashdot is a former military officer.

    48. Re: Is this to save lives? by epyT-R · · Score: 1

      This 'nationalist' crap will stop when globalists in each of those national structures quits trying to impose itself on the rest of the world. It's NOT just the US you know.

    49. Re:Is this to save lives? by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 2

      It depends. How addictive is fighting in a war? I've known plenty of guys who quit cold turkey once their tours of duty were over and didn't feel any constant urge to keep shooting.

    50. Re: Is this to save lives? by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 2

      Treatment for lung cancer can be as expensive as a house. If you live in a state like Oregon with filial responsibility laws and your father dies of lung cancer, you can be socked with bills that will make you homeless.

    51. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Holy shit, you're retarded.

    52. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That doesn't happen to 18 yr olds, just ask them.

    53. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      18 year olds are idiots. Only under-25 idiots don't understand that.

    54. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      How the fuck is fighting in bullshit wars a contributon to society?

    55. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yea, the smoking doesn't catch up to you until the end

    56. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because your system conjoins both federal and state levels into a living working system, not absolutes as you indicate.

      For example, having variations on the ages of adults to whom companies can sell their product, could violate the interstate commerce clause.

      I hope you appreciate that could/may happen without requiring us to imagine a completely different universe.

    57. Re:Is this to save lives? by Areyoukiddingme · · Score: 1

      It depends. How addictive is fighting in a war? I've known plenty of guys who quit cold turkey once their tours of duty were over and didn't feel any constant urge to keep shooting.

      There's a few who still have the constant urge to keep shooting. At people, specifically. It's one of the severest forms of PTSD.

      Unfortunately, they don't get much better healthcare than any random nicotine addict.

    58. Re: Is this to save lives? by PoopJuggler · · Score: 1

      How else are the execs of defense contracting companies going to buy new Ferraris?

    59. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I smoked for a decade, peaking at five packs a day. Marijuana is a pleasant change, and cheaper.

    60. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's wrong on so many levels. You also need to account for the lost productivity when people with skills, experience, and education die and then you have to hire and train someone new.

    61. Re:Is this to save lives? by amxcoder · · Score: 1

      Those today are doing so voluntarily, and hopefully scored high enough on the test to understand what that activity could entail.

      They put scare warnings on every single pack of smokes, so it's not like you have to search hard to find the 'fine print' of the possible repercussions. All that's required is basic english comprehension.

    62. Re: Is this to save lives? by amxcoder · · Score: 1

      Maybe that is one reason why a large portion of people don't want to socialize health care. Because once you do that, your personal life decisions become other people's business (when it shouldn't be). Then these other people seem to *think* they have a right to tell you how to live, and vote for more nanny state laws because they have the attitude that it IS their business.

      It's not that those against socialized health care are completely heartless (contradictory to left leaning politicians and media), it's that they're looking at the issue from another point of view--one of personal responsibility, and individual freedom. They don't want to go down the road of socialized health care, because they don't want other people to feel it's their right to tell them how to live, what not to eat, what not to smoke, what not to drink, and what hobbies or activities they can't do because it might be high risk. They also definitely don't want things to go one step further, and not only ban some things, but also start adding in things that are mandatory, like things you HAVE to eat, or HAVE to drink, or HAVE to do.

      We haven't seen those laws yet, but once all the bad and risky things are de-facto banned, like smoking, alcohol, sugary drinks, High Fructose Corn Syrup, etc -- how long do think it will be before the next step is taken where laws are passed requiring people to exercise regularly, drink 8 glasses of water per day, eat 3 servings of vegetables per day, wear sunscreen, etc. If you think that is over the top and unrealistic, I'm sure if you asked someone from 20-30 years ago about a law banning soda size, you'd be laughed at too, and that's already a reality.

      something to think about...

    63. Re:Is this to save lives? by amxcoder · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure if this differs by state, but in California, you must be 18 to buy a rifle, and 21 to by a handgun. Go figure, even that isn't consistent and based on any kind of logic that I can figure out.

    64. Re:Is this to save lives? by amxcoder · · Score: 1

      Don't know if it's an addiction, but many service members also "feel the need" to re-up over and over after coming back. They come back, try to fit in with society, and decide they'd rather be back fighting the war.

    65. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why should they not be allowed to reap the consequences of their actions? I mean, I'm only after consistency here. Are you an adult at 18 or at 21?

    66. Re:Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, I still think that's absolutely insane to allow, but your position is consistent so I can respect it.

    67. Re: Is this to save lives? by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 2

      You didn't have an intensive 12-week training on the dangers of smoking. And if you think chiropractors are real doctors, you are as dumb as you sound.

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    68. Re: Is this to save lives? by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      +5 Insightful

    69. Re: Is this to save lives? by SirSlud · · Score: 1

      I didn't say that any specific wars were a benefit to society. But having an actual national defense most certainly is. Are you saying that the military shouldn't exist in the first place?

      --
      "Old man yells at systemd"
    70. Re: Is this to save lives? by SirSlud · · Score: 1

      A lot of other countries have single payer health care, and none of those laws exist in those countries. Preciously because we can afford to take care of people even if their health problems are their fault.

      I don't get that slippery slope argument. Some Americans don't travel much, it seems.

      --
      "Old man yells at systemd"
    71. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Rifles are rarely used in gang violence. 21 year olds are less often in gangs.

    72. Re: Is this to save lives? by yuriklastalov · · Score: 1

      Now now, the OP probably believes the Globalists are going to save him from the deadly scourge of Nationalism! Surely once there are no more nations we can finally be free of nationalistic chauvinism and its zealous adherents! It's not like anyone could ever be a zealous chauvinist for a Global Superstate, that'd be crazy!

    73. Re: Is this to save lives? by kenh · · Score: 1

      because we can afford to take care of people even if their health problems are their fault.

      So by afford, do you mean ration?

      As the need for more and ever more expensive medical care is needed by your citizens, do taxes increase to cover it, or does the care provided become more scarce?

      The poster child for socialized medicine (NHS in UK) is constantly having money issues and our neighbors to the north have been known to have scarcity issues, ranging from procedures to even basic access to physicians.

      --
      Ken
    74. Re: Is this to save lives? by amxcoder · · Score: 1

      Except all the new laws being enacted here that are turning law abiding gun owner's into felons virtually overnight are almost all aimed at "Scary Black Rifles"

      don't get me wrong, hand guns are facing a not so good future either, but that is not so much due to the constant barrage of new legislation each year, but by a single tweak of the handgun roster rules that is preventing any new models from being available for purchase, while old ones expire and are slowly falling off of the roster.

    75. Re: Is this to save lives? by geekmux · · Score: 1

      But why can't the same 18 y.o. person who can sign their life away in the military not be deemed responsible enough to decide whether or not to smoke a cigarette?

      Again, let's drop the drama. Those entering the military these days are doing so voluntarily for employment, so let's stop painting it like it's a guaranteed suicide mission where you stand a 50/50 chance of not making it out alive. You probably stand a greater chance being killed in a car commuting to a Military job than you do being killed on a battlefield.

      And serving in the military provides many benefits for a person. There's not a single fucking benefit provided with a smoking habit. And taking up smoking is not a wise decision at any age, but perhaps it's a decision better reserved for the 21-year old mind vs. the 18-year old mind (kind of like alcohol). The main reason we allow people to enter the military at a younger age has to do with physicality, not wisdom.

    76. Re: Is this to save lives? by geekmux · · Score: 1

      Smoking isn't costly to society - it actually saves money, since it kills people off before they get age related degenerative diseases that are rally costly to treat.

      What a load of shit.

      There are many reasons tobacco is a legal product today, but one of the main ones is because it's fucking profitable for the Medical Industrial Complex. There is nothing cheap about treating tobacco-related ailments.

    77. Re:Is this to save lives? by geekmux · · Score: 1

      Yeah, but all male citizens are still required to sign their Selective Services card when they turn 18, and then, if I'm not mistaken, you're eligible to be called up until you're 45.

      Wouldn't take much, (an act of Congress would do it,) to reimpose a draft. There's one senator, (forget his name,) who puts up a bill to do just that, every year.

      Given the obesity epidemic in our country, I'd say there's a fat fucking chance of any draft actually working.

      Perhaps Senator whats-his-name can wake up to that fact before bringing it up next year.

    78. Re: Is this to save lives? by geekmux · · Score: 1

      I think the point is... ...if you are old enough to decide to possibly die in a war, you're old enough to possibly die from smoking.

      The same argument is easily made for the drinking age.

      Possible conclusions...

      Raise the age to sign up for military service to 21.

      Lower the age to drink and buy cigarettes to 18.

      Anything else is not consistent, logically.

      You really need to understand and grasp the fact that the military age of enlistment has to do with physicality, not wisdom. The 18-year old body is better prepared for military conditioning than the 21-year old body. This is unfortunately becoming more and more validated when you take into account the obesity epidemic, and a young adults capability to pass a physical exam and drug screening by the time they reach 21.

      Given what we understand about the average 18-year old mind to make fucking stupid decisions, most other things that offer little or no benefit whatsoever (such as smoking and drinking) should be reserved for a more mature 21-year old mind. THAT is simple logic, those viewing it as "not fair" will soon wise up and understand that life isn't fucking fair.

    79. Re:Is this to save lives? by geekmux · · Score: 1

      Will it also be illegal to send those under 21 off to die in wars?

      It's been over 40 years since the US Military imposed a forced draft on any citizen, so drop the drama. Those entering the military today are doing so voluntarily, and hopefully scored high enough on the ASVAB test to understand what that activity could entail. I'd say it's pretty damn clear when job training includes a shooting range and hand-to-hand combat.

      ASVAB, when I was young, was a joke. I scored in the 98 percentile, which had every recruiter calling me for months, until I fell for the spiel of a Navy recruiter and joined, I don't regret that decision, but as far as the test goes I didn't even "try" as I took it to get out of a couple of classes I didn't care for in high school. It did NOTHING to prepare "me" for what was to come though.

      The purpose of the ASVAB has nothing to do with preparing *you* for military service, and has everything to do with determining what jobs you would be qualified to perform.

      Needless to say, those scoring in the 50th percentile are not going to be handed some advanced engineering job...

    80. Re:Is this to save lives? by geekmux · · Score: 1

      How long has it been since the government forced people to smoke? People can join the military at 18, but not smoke or drink until 21, and not rent a car until 25, and not run for President until 35. I only agree with one of these restrictions.

      The military age has to do with physicality.The 18-year old body stands a better chance of handling military physical conditioning than the 21-year old body. This becomes even more obvious as we look at the obesity epidemic.

      Making other decisions like drinking or smoking is better reserved for a 21-year old mind that can hopefully make a smarter decision when it comes to stupid activities. This age restriction follows the same logic as reserving those who would rent a car, or run an entire country. An older, more experienced human has gathered wisdom to make smarter decisions. Plain and simple logic, and thus I fail to see a fault in any of the age restrictions.

    81. Re: Is this to save lives? by geekmux · · Score: 1

      How the fuck is fighting in bullshit wars a contributon to society?

      So a "peaceful" pacifist nation that does not get involved is what you desire? Had your mentality been infectious during World War II, we would likely be speaking German. Would you prefer that version of a society to live in, or the one you have now? Would you have survived to see that society, or would you have been one of the millions of innocent lives exterminated to ensure only a "pure" race thrives on this planet?

      Be careful what you wish for. No matter how we may dream about World Peace, the human race has proven it will never happen. I agree that conflicts are not always justified, but unfortunately the society we have today wasn't free. Many fought and died for it.

    82. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A quick search lead me to this: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/health/05iht-obese.1.9748884.html

    83. Re: Is this to save lives? by Dread_ed · · Score: 1

      With regard to the draft, it's not technically signing your life away. The state preemptively asserts its prerogative to expend certain members of it's corpus for the survival of the whole through a mechanism called the draft. By being born male in the USA your life was already under this obligation to the state in this limited circumstance, excercisable by the state in times of extreme duress and only on or after your 18th birthday.

      To compare the survival of the state with the optional consumption of a provably harmful recreational substance is a bit of a stretch. In addition, considering that Oregon is only one state of 50 and that the draft is a federal function the comparison becomes even more tenuous.

      Let's play in your realm and try to establish a fair and functional reciprocal agreement. How about this: Oregonians that are drafted get to smoke, even if they are under 21 years old?

      --
      When the only tool you have is a claw hammer every problem starts to look like the back of someone's skull.
    84. Re: Is this to save lives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, I left the fuhrerbunker and escaped to Argentina, after sending thousands of young men to a certain death. I'm 116-year-old currently.

  3. Re:Nanny state socialism by AK+Marc · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yeah, the reasonable law would be to raise the smoking age 1 year every year, no new smokers.

  4. Raise It To 65 by mentil · · Score: 0, Troll

    I imagine 99% of smokers start smoking before age 65, so the age should be raised to 65. Who thinks up this shit? If the addiction is less severe before age 25, then wouldn't banning purchasing cigarettes by people over 25 make more sense?
    The proportion who start between 18 and 21 is probably insubstantial. Perhaps the intent is to stop 18 year old high school seniors buying cigs for their younger friends/siblings. Second-hand smoke bothers the hell out of me but I think people should be free to do stupid things that hurt only themselves, therefore I'd advocate banning cigarettes and only allowing vaping.

    --
    Corruption is convincing someone that the selfless ideal is the same as their selfish ideal.
    1. Re:Raise It To 65 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Actually the proportion who start between 18 and 21 is very large. =18 mainly catches those who try to be a rebel, while almost all other smokers start in in the few years after that when the social pressures do a complete 180 and mop up everyone they missed on the first pass.

      As for why not set the limit somewhere beyond 21: good luck dictating that people past the age of majority can't buy cigarettes. The lawmakers involved with this consist of those who (a) face strong resistance from those who insist that they government has no business telling adults they can't smoke and (b) those who ARE the ones insisting that government has no business telling adults they can't smoke.

    2. Re:Raise It To 65 by Zocalo · · Score: 1

      Actually, adoption rates are almost certainly going to start as a typically gaussian (bell curve) distribution but petering out into a long tail as people get older - at least according to most of the statistics I've seen on the subject. In other words, you have a modest number of people who are likely to start smoking regularly before they can legally do so, most do so in the first few years after it becomes legal, then a gradual tail off to a point where adoption is highly unlikely. That's probably a long way before 65 though; I can't see very many people who make it into their 30s without taking up smoking are ever going to start - probably to the point that any that do would be more of statistical outlier than anything else. Still waiting to see some stats on how the adoption of vaping has skewed the stats of actual tobacco smokers though.

      I guess the main rationale behind this is that "age 25" comment. Most countries consider a person an adult by the time they are in their 20s, but physically we do quite a bit of further positive development for a few years after that before going into decline as we age. By pushing out the legal age of adoption, they're basically playing around with the distribtion of the bell curve with the hope of achieving two main goals. Firstly, by shifting the bell curve to the right, they should reduce also its volume due to lower adoption rates as people get older, and secondly, by delaying when more people start smoking, they'll reduce the extent of the mental hardwiring and make it easier for them to quit should they try. There's possibly a couple of additional goals too; besides making it harder for under age smokers to pass themselves off as legally able to purchase cigarettes, reducing the number who start smoking before reaching legal age, a reduction in the total numbers of smokers could also reduce the extent of the peer pressure that gets many people into smoking in the first place.

      --
      UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
    3. Re:Raise It To 65 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Secondhand smoke actually kills a lot of people every year..
      https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/da...

      My vote would would be. Allow smoking, but only in special places with good ventilation and filtration-systems that prevents anyone else from being affected. $100 fine for anyone that smokes closer than 20 meters from another person (so you could smoke in your backyard, but only if you don't affect your neighbour.).

      Let people do whatever they want as long as they don't cause harm to others. Their rights extend to the point where my rights starts.

    4. Re: Raise It To 65 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What a bunch of propaganda. Did you read that site? It basically bulls down to "don't smoke, don't allow people to smoke, ban smoking in all places possible".

      It is a witch hunt. If it was that bad then they would make it illegal. But they won't because money. So fuck the CDC and their bullshit reports.

      They are the same people that once said weed was dangerous. Yea.

    5. Re:Raise It To 65 by ranton · · Score: 2

      The proportion who start between 18 and 21 is probably insubstantial.

      But the number of 17 year olds with 21 year old friends is much less than the number of 17 year olds with 18 year old friends. The goal is simply to make it less available.

      --
      -- All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. -- Edmund Burke
    6. Re:Raise It To 65 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Has never been a problem getting cigarettes underage. 10 minutes of asking strangers outside a gas station...

  5. Only 21? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why not make the legal age 95? If you live that long, you deserve the right to smoke without the blow back about healthcare costs....

    Another note is I have a very addictive personality and smoked (amongst other things) from 13 to 28 and very heavy from about 16. I no longer smoke umm, cigarettes, so I'm the exception that proves the rule, bitch!

    1. Re:Only 21? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      so you're a pothead. and still a drag on society.

    2. Re: Only 21? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Different AC here. Inevitably when people think of drug users of any kind, they lump them into the "on welfare loser" bracket. High functioning drug users and addicts are invisible to the the public eye, yet make up most users. Why is this? Do people want it to be true (people cant be successful and have fun at the same time), or has the misconception been forced upon them through years of media portrayal?

    3. Re: Only 21? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dunno if that was a pun or not, but at one point I was a heavy MJ user, made 6 figures. Paid all taxes bought a couple of duplexes.... Even living in Colorado, I tapered off and stopped because I got married, had kids and the people I hang with these days... Probably better off for having stopped, but calling all MJ users a drag is a bit disingenuous.

    4. Re:Only 21? by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      Really how is that? I smoke weed, I am a rather productive member of society. What do you do? You probably think you're more important than others, and also better than them. So they should do as you say, right? People like you make me sick and violent.

    5. Re:Only 21? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      People like you make me sick and violent.

      It sounds like the weed's not working.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    6. Re: Only 21? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or it's time to smoke again. The last hit is wearing off.

    7. Re:Only 21? by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      I mean, it works. But some peoples level of stupidity is too much even for the best kush.

  6. Whew! by Timothy2.0 · · Score: 0

    Good thing I've never seen anyone below the legal age to buy cigarettes smoking one!

    ...wait a minute...

    1. Re:Whew! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No system is flawless, there is always cases slipping through the cracks.
      For example we have laws against murder, but people still get murdered.
      So tell me, do you think we would be better off if we legalized murder since the law clearly won't prevent all murder from happening?

    2. Re: Whew! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Are you comparing murder with smoking ? How about we forbid people ALL unhealthy behavior- starting with alcohol and food, moving to cars, extreme sports and anything that may somehow harm your precious little life. After all, the state should know better what's better for your body. That's all I can say about your comparisons...

    3. Re: Whew! by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 1

      Nobody, and I mean nobody, ever sat around the night before their birthday saying "I can't wait until tommorow, so I can start smoking!". Teenagers will continue to smoke at the exact same rate as always.

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
    4. Re: Whew! by SirSlud · · Score: 0

      How about we forbid people ALL unhealthy behavior

      Or in the real world of adults who don't poop their pants when discussing reasonable compromises on personal freedom, how about we set some reasonable compromises?

      We collect some data, notice that when you raise the smoking age to 21, significantly less people start smoking when they're young, and call it a reasonable tradeoff on freedom to buy a product that is mostly known for being bad for you.

      And we have laws on cars, extreme sports, and such. And those laws change over time, often times raising restrictions (and of course sometimes lowering them) when it's determined that it provides a benefit to overall safety and public health.

      --
      "Old man yells at systemd"
    5. Re: Whew! by SirSlud · · Score: 1, Insightful

      When you say something, it doesn't make it true.

      Actual data on the subject says otherwise. And even common sense points out why this is true. When you make it more difficult for people to get something, it shouldn't be surprising that overall usage goes down a certain amount as for some people, the inconvenience of acquiring that thing outweighs their desire to acquire it.

      Nobody thinks it will stop smoking entirely. But it will reduce the amount of people who start smoking.

      --
      "Old man yells at systemd"
    6. Re: Whew! by I'm+New+Around+Here · · Score: 0

      How about we forbid people ALL unhealthy behavior

      Or in the real world of adults who don't poop their pants when discussing reasonable compromises on personal freedom,

      Sorry. Stopped reading right there. Can you rephrase your comment without thinking I'm going to give up my personal freedom just on your whim?

      I mean, since you are obviously opposed to giving up your personal freedom just on the other guy's whim.

      --
      If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
    7. Re: Whew! by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Or in the real world of adults who don't poop their pants when discussing reasonable compromises on personal freedom,

      Sorry. Stopped reading right there. Can you rephrase your comment without thinking I'm going to give up my personal freedom just on your whim?

      If you're determined to be unreasonable, then you can come up with any kind of excuses you want for shitty behavior.

      I mean, since you are obviously opposed to giving up your personal freedom just on the other guy's whim.

      Willful ignorance is not a virtue.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    8. Re:Whew! by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      Good thing I've never seen anyone below the legal age to buy cigarettes smoking one!

      Your post should be at +5 insightful. The amazing thing is that most people seem to have forgotten what it is like to be a teenager. When they hit that rebellious stage, they...rebel.

      I started smoking at 14 years old, and why? because it was an act of rebellion. It was something grownups did. I wasn't allowed to buy or smoke. And musta been something pretty cool if adults kept it to themselves. So what did I do? Started smoking. Howbow dah?

      Even without the laws, it wasn't hard then, and it isn't hard now.

      I was up to three packs a day before I quit at 20. Smoking is a damn stupid thing.

      But if I were to rebel and start today as a teen, I'd grow my own tobacco, and roll stogies.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    9. Re: Whew! by I'm+New+Around+Here · · Score: 1

      Or in the real world of adults who don't poop their pants when discussing reasonable compromises on personal freedom,

      Sorry. Stopped reading right there. Can you rephrase your comment without thinking I'm going to give up my personal freedom just on your whim?

      If you're determined to be unreasonable, then you can come up with any kind of excuses you want for shitty behavior.

      I didn't know that wanting to keep my personal freedom was shitty behavior.

      I mean, since you are obviously opposed to giving up your personal freedom just on the other guy's whim.

      Willful ignorance is not a virtue.

      Never claimed to be virtuous. Claimed to have personal freedom that means a lot more to me than someone who is claiming that it isn't worth shit.

      --
      If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
    10. Re: Whew! by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      I didn't know that wanting to keep my personal freedom was shitty behavior.

      It depends on which personal freedom you're talking about. If you mean the personal freedom to pollute your airways, I believe in that. If you mean the personal freedom to pollute my airways, that shit has got to end.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    11. Re: Whew! by I'm+New+Around+Here · · Score: 1

      Your point would be valid if I was coming into your home and smoking against your wishes. In any open public area, there are more pollutants than cigarette smoke in the air. Do you seek to prohibit all those as well? As for restaurants, you can choose to go to one that voluntarily chose to be smoke-free, rather than use the government to make them all smoke-free. Just like there are lousy vegan restaurants, there were lousy smoke-free restaurants without it being law.

      By the way, I don't smoke. Cigarette smoke in particular bothers me, and worsens my breathing problem I developed in the military. I am not advocating smoking. What I am doing is resisting other people thinking they can take away my personal freedom (which is a broad concept, not a singular item) just because they don't think I should have it. It's not that I don't care what your or Slud's reason is. It is that you both start your arguments with assuming my reason is unfounded or ridiculous.

      --
      If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
    12. Re: Whew! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It is unfounded, and ridiculous.

      We limit personal freedom in the US. You can't murder someone. You can't drive 90 down a city street. You can't buy alcohol until you are 21. Etc., etc.

      The only real question is whether increasing the smoking age should be one of those items we limit.

      Simply considering the cost to society in real $$$ to treat the diseases caused by smoking, I would say there is a pretty good public concern over this activity.

      It is *not* simply a matter of Personal Freedom, as you state.

    13. Re: Whew! by sexconker · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      How about we forbid people ALL unhealthy behavior

      Or in the real world of adults who don't poop their pants when discussing reasonable compromises on personal freedom, how about we set some reasonable compromises?

      FUCK YOU!

      There is no "reasonable compromise" on freedom. Just like there are no "reasonable restrictions on speech" or "reasonable gun control laws". It's always a power grab and it always gets more restrictive over time. Or are you okay with "free speech zones", you fucking fascist?

      If you want to illegally infringe on people's freedoms and rights, then play by the fucking rules and change the constitution so you can do it legally.

    14. Re: Whew! by I'm+New+Around+Here · · Score: 1

      Right. To you it is simply a matter of money.

      --
      If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
    15. Re: Whew! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      An interesting take, although it should be described as mildly authoritarian, rather than fascist behaviour, which is relatively specific and doesn't apply in this case. You appear to be placing yourself at the opposite extreme end of this axis, which is libertarian/anarchist. Without judgement, just to place your position, can I ask where you stand on things like murder (in fact crime in general), destruction of national parks, and the treatment of the dangerously insane?

    16. Re: Whew! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So did you use the public school-system? If you did and is a smoker you are "stealing" money away from the rest of us since you will be working less than the average non-smoker and die earlier.

      Sure, if we removed all types of federal/local programs that provides a service, paid for by tax-money, your personal freedoms should not be limited in these ways.
      As soon as we accept public-schools, and other things like that, things like smoking does have a financial affect on our shared society and it would not be fair for other, non-smokers, to carry the cost for the smokers.

      Another variant could be. If you sign up for public school you will have to sign a contract where you agree to never smoke. If you would ever smoke later in life you will have to pay back the full cost of your education, or whatever tax-funded handout you got.

    17. Re: Whew! by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 1

      To follow your logic, you said "when you say something it doesn't make it true", and since you said that, it might well not be true, right dumbfuck? (Yes, you are a total moron) Again, nobody ever waited for their birthday to start smoking. HAND and FOAD!!! :^)

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
    18. Re: Whew! by I'm+New+Around+Here · · Score: 1

      So did you use the public school-system? If you did and is a smoker you are "stealing" money away from the rest of us since you will be working less than the average non-smoker and die earlier.

      And people think I'm nuts.

      --
      If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
    19. Re: Whew! by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      Very reasonable argument. I was thinking along those lines but couldn't figure out how to articulate it. The thing that gets me is its already illegal to smoke inside almost any building in the country, right down to bars. At least here in Nevada they include bars. I remember California trying to say you couldn't even smoke inside of your car while you were driving at one point(was young cant remember exactly when 2005-06?). If someone wants to do something they're going to do it regardless of if its legal or not. Look at how much of the country smokes weed, and does other drugs. They're illegal completely. No age limit involved. That hasn't changed the number of people doing them. This I feel is just a "Do what I say or I will punish you for not obeying" law. Does no good for anybody except the government. Next they will mandate encryption backdoors and other nonsense and we will once again be england, the exact thing our founders fought to prevent. And you(thank you), and my father, and my grandfather, looking back I wish I had pulled my head out of my ass when I was 18 and joined also.

    20. Re: Whew! by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      Upping the age to buy is not really making it more difficult to get them. They are still on the shelf at EVERY gas station. Do you have teenagers? get one of them to go up to a homeless person and offer them the a few bucks and a few smoked to go buy them a pack of smokes. I bet no matter how old your kids are, they say OK!
      Then after that go offer another one a few bucks and a few beers to go buy a 12 pack. See what the response to that is. IF they want to smoke, They will smoke. The only way to make it harder for kids and teens to get them is to completely rid them of the planet. Because hell in your theory there should be no heroin addicts or cocaine addicts or meth addicts. Do you see where your theory is flawed?

    21. Re: Whew! by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      In any open public area, there are more pollutants than cigarette smoke in the air. Do you seek to prohibit all those as well?

      The short answer is yes, where feasible. Do you want the long answer, or will that do?

      As for restaurants, you can choose to go to one that voluntarily chose to be smoke-free, rather than use the government to make them all smoke-free.

      If you're going to make this argument and you want to be taken seriously by people with two neurons to rub together, then you're going to have to address the obvious counterargument, and in fact the argument under which smoking in bars was finally banned: occupational health.

      I am not advocating smoking.

      You are advocating for subjecting people who aren't even smokers to smoking, which is actually worse.

      What I am doing is resisting other people thinking they can take away my personal freedom (which is a broad concept, not a singular item) just because they don't think I should have it.

      That's a lot of bullshit. What's proposed is that your freedom (or whoever's, but you're arguing the case, so right now it's going to be you) to pollute your lungs in the pursuit of a low-grade high and/or feeding your addiction does not supersede the right of others to not breathe the combustion byproducts which are not sticking to your lungs, whether they don't for want to for health reasons or just because they think you're disgusting.

      I think that if you can smoke tobacco without impacting other people, you should be allowed to do that. In a system with national health, it's reasonable to simply tax tobacco products to pay for the health impact, however much that tax might be, and then go ahead and let people smoke so long as nobody else has to breathe their smoke.

      It is that you both start your arguments with assuming my reason is unfounded or ridiculous.

      All of the reasoning that you have displayed so far has been unfounded and ridiculous, why would I assume that the secret workings of your mind are sensible and logical?

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    22. Re:Whew! by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      But if I were to rebel and start today as a teen, I'd grow my own tobacco, and roll stogies.

      So you're saying if you were a teen today, you would be a hipster?!? That's WAY worse than smoking.. you really went to the extreme there!

      lol but all joking aside you have a very good point, I replied to somebody above with a comment along the same lines as yours. not quite as funny as you made yours though.

    23. Re: Whew! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, what about the staff at a restaurant? Lots of people cannot afford to say no to a job. They would be affected by secondhand smoke involuntary.
      What about children that are joining their parents at a restaurant.. Same there with secondhand smoke.

      Smoking does cost *A LOT* for society.. And i would be all for a free market and no restrictions as long as no money were paid out to people causing harm to themselves in a way that shortens their lifespan and increases the cost for the rest of us. A good middle-ground is to ban smoking indoors (resturants, pubs etc) raise the age-limit to make less kids start smoking to begin with... But i would have preferred them setting limits on amount of "tobacco-smoke" allowed at all areas where staff is working. This would have allowed them to have smoking-areas with good ventilation, if they wanted.

      The thing is that tobacco is a really harmful drug, even in very low quantities. The drug has been designed to be as addictive as possible (fast uptake of nicotine) and the addicts of this will of course start screaming if someone wants to restrict where they are allowed perform this. By doing this in public you are advertising the act to children and other people, making it more socially acceptable.

      As you write above with public places.. If i go up to you and start spraying ammonia in the air 2 meters in front of you and you breath some of that in, would you consider that to be an acceptable thing to do in a public space or would you consider that to be an assault on you? If you start having breathing issues, would move it to the point of being assault?
      If we take someone that is hyper-allergic to tobacco-smoke. If someone lights up 1 meter in front of them and causes a severe reaction in the allergic person..

      Would that be classified as assault of these? Both are acts that causes discomfort for someone else.. Neither of them should be illegal according to your reasoning..

      Sure you have your rights, but smoking or spraying ammonia in public is causing harm to others and is restricting others freedoms from being in that area.

      * Spraying ammonia in the air is just an extreme example to indicate an act that is completely optional for me to perform. But from your statement above, as long as it's only smoke (or gas in this case) it would be fine..

      I would say that preventing me from walking around fully nude is blocking my rights a lot more... Me walking around nude does not hurt anyone else and does not infringe on their rights...

    24. Re: Whew! by SirSlud · · Score: 1

      nobody ever waited for their birthday to start smoking

      Out of the millions and millions of people who have smoked, obviously, some people have. I know of several people personally. The same goes for drinking. Some kids felt comfortable doing something even if it was against the rules. Others felt uncomfortable breaking the rules, and thus didn't try smoking or drinking until they were of age.

      --
      "Old man yells at systemd"
    25. Re:Whew! by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      But if I were to rebel and start today as a teen, I'd grow my own tobacco, and roll stogies.

      So you're saying if you were a teen today, you would be a hipster?!? That's WAY worse than smoking.. you really went to the extreme there!

      lol but all joking aside you have a very good point, I replied to somebody above with a comment along the same lines as yours. not quite as funny as you made yours though.

      My father used to smoke these weird seed pods that grew on trees when he was a kid. Apparently a lot of kids did at the time. Maybe the war on drugs can go after those trees. Maybe that has something to do with my present mental state.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    26. Re: Whew! by SirSlud · · Score: 1

      Do you have teenagers? get one of them to go up to a homeless person and offer them the a few bucks and a few smoked to go buy them a pack of smokes.

      You just described having to do additional work to get cirgarettes. Some teenagers don't feel comfortable doing that (nevermind having to give the homeless guy extra money just to do it.) - just as some kids don't feel comfortable sneaking into restricted movies by themselves.

      The way some people talk, it's like no teenage on earth follows rules and laws out of principle, and that's just plain demonstrably incorrect.

      --
      "Old man yells at systemd"
    27. Re: Whew! by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 0

      You are a lying fucking douchebag.

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
    28. Re: Whew! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your point would be valid if I was coming into your home and smoking against your wishes.

      I'm not especially worried about smoke in my home, as much as my airways. Sure, there is smoke damage to materials and all, but I could let you pay me for that. Sadly, there is no compensation sufficient to effectively remedy the harm to my lungs.

      In any open public area, there are more pollutants than cigarette smoke in the air. Do you seek to prohibit all those as well?

      Yes, other pollutants are regulated. Thank you for noticing.

      As for restaurants, you can choose to go to one that voluntarily chose to be smoke-free, rather than use the government to make them all smoke-free. Just like there are lousy vegan restaurants, there were lousy smoke-free restaurants without it being law.

      Nope, going into the restaurants doesn't eliminate the burden of exposure, and in fact, there are people who were compelled to enter those locations, and it turns out the smoking and non-smoking sections, were ineffectual as well.

      p>By the way, I don't smoke. Cigarette smoke in particular bothers me, and worsens my breathing problem I developed in the military.

      Most of the use of the second-person here will be the generic form, not the personal.

      I am not advocating smoking.

      Indeed, your advocacy is even less legitimate than somebody supporting smoking.

      What I am doing is resisting other people thinking they can take away my personal freedom (which is a broad concept, not a singular item) just because they don't think I should have it. It's not that I don't care what your or Slud's reason is. It is that you both start your arguments with assuming my reason is unfounded or ridiculous.

      Nope, the problem is yours, you premise your argument on the idea that your reason is well-founded and not ridiculous, while impugning that of others, by claiming for example, that they are doing it "just because" and "just on your whim" (these are your own words, by the way, your choice of characterization) and asserting things like "I didn't know that wanting to keep my personal freedom was shitty behavior." when yes, your behavior can be shitty, and you can claim it is about personal freedom, when in fact, that argument isn't worth shit.

      See, it isn't as you claimed "just because" or "just on your whim" but actually subject to a good degree of scrutiny and consideration, which you, in your typically melodramatic hysteria, want to ignore by stomping your feet and screaming out "personal freedom" like a toddler having a tantrum.

      What you are doing, is failing to be anything except willfully ignorant. Not an uncommon practice for yourself, but you should think about the virtue of changing. At the least, you'd stop discrediting yourself when you did have a legitimate argument, rather than establishing yourself as a braying fool who would rather act as a child than an adult.

      To be honest, I'm not sure if your argumentation is worse than FNJ's tedious semantic pedantry, but it isn't a good method.

    29. Re: Whew! by SirSlud · · Score: 1

      There is no "reasonable compromise" on freedom.

      Of course there is. There is. You're living in it. Sorry if you don't find life reasonable, but I'll conclude that's more a matter of your disfunctionality over objective reality.

      --
      "Old man yells at systemd"
    30. Re: Whew! by I'm+New+Around+Here · · Score: 1

      In any open public area, there are more pollutants than cigarette smoke in the air. Do you seek to prohibit all those as well?

      The short answer is yes, where feasible. Do you want the long answer, or will that do?

      No, that will do. Now we know you want everything your way, at your leisure, and to hell with anyone with a different opinion. Can't say I'm surprised at this point.

      As for restaurants, you can choose to go to one that voluntarily chose to be smoke-free, rather than use the government to make them all smoke-free.

      If you're going to make this argument and you want to be taken seriously by people with two neurons to rub together, then you're going to have to address the obvious counterargument, and in fact the argument under which smoking in bars was finally banned: occupational health.

      I worked at many restaurants earlier in life, as did many of my family. At the time, at least half the employees smoked cigarettes. Waitresses, cooks, dishwashers, managers, cleanup staff. Usually it was well over three-fourths. So they didn't mind the smoke. The non-smokers, such as myself, chose to work in that environment. I never asked you to ride in on your white stallion to save me.

      I am not advocating smoking.

      You are advocating for subjecting people who aren't even smokers to smoking, which is actually worse.

      I think imposing my will on people is worse than having to face second hand smoke myself.

      What I am doing is resisting other people thinking they can take away my personal freedom (which is a broad concept, not a singular item) just because they don't think I should have it.

      That's a lot of bullshit. What's proposed is that your freedom (or whoever's, but you're arguing the case, so right now it's going to be you) to pollute your lungs in the pursuit of a low-grade high and/or feeding your addiction does not supersede the right of others to not breathe the combustion byproducts which are not sticking to your lungs, whether they don't for want to for health reasons or just because they think you're disgusting.

      If you don't want to inhale pollution, there are things you can do on your own.

      As for other people causing pollution you don't want to breathe, if you do anything in your daily life that causes or caused pollution, you are being a hypocrite. And you do things every day that cause or support those who cause pollution. Whether you drive a car, take a plane trip, buy food in a store, use a computer, or have something dry cleaned, there is pollution released that others will be exposed to. But the only thing you want to eliminate is activities you don't participate in, such as smoking. You are a hypocrite, and a selfish one at that.

      I think that if you can smoke tobacco without impacting other people, you should be allowed to do that.

      I doubt that.

      What if there was a national corporation that wanted to run a variety of businesses, and all the businesses allowed smoking on their premises? All potential employees knew there would be smoking at the work place, and all customers knew that as well.

      Would you allow that corporation to run restaurants, transportation, entertainment, and leisure businesses if everyone involved accepted those conditions?

      In a system with national health, it's reasonable to simply tax tobacco products to pay for the health impact, however much that tax might be, and then go ahead and let people smoke so long as nobody else has to breathe their smoke.

      We don't have national health in the US, thankfully, so your argument is a tangent. But are you consistent, and want every one who engages in unhealthy activities to be taxed more?

      It

      --
      If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
    31. Re: Whew! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Very reasonable argument.

      Nope! It's actually unreasonable and illogical. See the numerous rebuttals to it. It is quite obviously not a genuine sentiment, but a fraudulent one.

      I was thinking along those lines but couldn't figure out how to articulate it.

      I'm not sure if that's commendable or not, since you still want to articulate it. But at least you can't make yourself do it. It is a blessing.

      The thing that gets me is its already illegal to smoke inside almost any building in the country, right down to bars. At least here in Nevada they include bars.

      Is there some reason that you believe bars should be smoke-filled? Is that some sort of mindset you have, that a bar is a place for such conduct, regardless of the cost it has to the individuals involved?

      I remember California trying to say you couldn't even smoke inside of your car while you were driving at one point(was young cant remember exactly when 2005-06?).

      You misunderstood, the issue was with children in the car. No smoking with them...in California, or 8 other states, and Puerto Rico. Oh, that's right, you can't just single about the Californians as anathema, no doubt though you wish you could.

      If someone wants to do something they're going to do it regardless of if its legal or not.

      Yes, they will, because criminalizing something isn't creating a magical effect that prevents the unlawful action being made. This is a well-known limitation, but the point of laws is not to prevent, but to allow the discouragement.

      Look at how much of the country smokes weed, and does other drugs. They're illegal completely. No age limit involved. That hasn't changed the number of people doing them.

      Actually, it has had an effect, as have had numerous other laws. Some good, some bad, such is the way of things.

      This I feel is just a "Do what I say or I will punish you for not obeying" law.

      Unfortunately for you, your opinions, are not exactly meaningful on their own to anybody else.

      Does no good for anybody except the government.

      The government isn't going to benefit in any meaningful way by raising the smoking age, you can't even make a tangible argument as to how.

      Next they will mandate encryption backdoors and other nonsense

      Ah yes, the slippery slope argument. Actually, they'd do that mandate if they want, regardless of the smoking laws, especially since the state of Oregon has nothing to do with the Federal government. Just check out states like Texas and their restrictions on individual liberty.

      and we will once again be england, the exact thing our founders fought to prevent.

      Nope. Being "England" is just a useless statement, in reality, what the Founding Father fought to prevent was more precisely articulated in the Declaration of Independence (recently tweeted by NPR), and included a lot of things that the English had that they didn't.

      That you claim it was the "exact thing" only shows your poor grasp of the facts, as well as indicating what seems to be a needless denigration of England on your part. At the least, it is a poor articulation on your part. I suggest you reconsider your approach.

      And you(thank you), and my father, and my grandfather, looking back I wish I had pulled my head out of my ass when I was 18 and joined also.

      An uncertain proposition, there are people who benefit from military service, and those who are harmed, and those who are broken, and those who remain flawed, yet justify it with their service as a cloak.

    32. Re: Whew! by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      Some teenagers don't feel comfortable doing that (nevermind having to give the homeless guy extra money just to do it.)

      The thing is.. those teenagers are most likely not the ones that are going to start smoking anyways. what difference does 18 to 21 make? explain how that "makes a difference" to the kids? its 3 years that's not a long time. they either are going to do it or they're not. now if it was a 10 year difference I could understand your argument. but its not and that few years will make no difference. look at high school partys. 90% of them have alcohol.. have to be 21 to buy that.

    33. Re:Whew! by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      lol. That sounds interesting. I would like to know what kind of trees and if there is any health effects from it. I had never heard any thing like that with the exception of like.. Heroin I believe the bulb of a poppy is a seed pod right? and weed. Since the bud is where the seeds are produced.

    34. Re: Whew! by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 1

      I didn't know that wanting to keep my personal freedom was shitty behavior.

      You sound like one of those guys who sets up a gun range in front of their neighbors' backyard fence and whines about personal freedoms if they complain.

    35. Re: Whew! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Please tell me which of those are unfounded or ridiculous thoughts.

      All of them, didn't you read earlier?

      All of the reasoning that you have displayed so far has been unfounded and ridiculous, why would I assume that the secret workings of your mind are sensible and logical?

      You're not very courteous, if you won't even read what is clearly stated.

    36. Re:Whew! by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      lol. That sounds interesting. I would like to know what kind of trees and if there is any health effects from it.

      I looked it up, and the ree name is the Southern Catalpa, commonly know as the Indian Cigar tree. I even found a Youtube link for a guy who tried smoking them. My father said they were very harsh, and the Youtube guy agreed. Apparently there isn't any physical effect other than the harshness. https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    37. Re: Whew! by I'm+New+Around+Here · · Score: 1

      Fine. Give up your personal freedom on someone else's whim. If that makes you happy. I can't force you to have personal freedom if you don't want it.

      --
      If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
    38. Re: Whew! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Terrible isn't it? No matter how much you want to impose your "freedom" upon me, your nonsensical argumentation is just too easy to reject.

      Instead, I would be more inclined to do the opposite.

      I even busted my neighbor for running their lawnmower too early as well.

    39. Re: Whew! by amxcoder · · Score: 1

      discussing reasonable compromises on personal freedom, how about we set some reasonable compromises?

      When it comes to personal freedom and individual liberties, there isn't very many compromises that fall under the "reasonable" category. Murder, sure. Robbery/Theft sure. Violence, sure. These are "reasonable" because when performed, the person on the receiving end is loosing their freedoms/liberties.

      After that short list though, the graph of "reasonable" compromises starts falling off DRASTICALLY.

    40. Re: Whew! by amxcoder · · Score: 1

      OR....let's play the replacement game...

      I think that if you can without impacting other people, you should be allowed to do that. In a system with national , it's reasonable to simply tax to pay for the impact, however much that tax might be, and then go ahead and let people so long as nobody else has to their .

    41. Re: Whew! by amxcoder · · Score: 1

      Let's try the replacement game again here...

      I think that if you can [loudly speak] without impacting other people, you should be allowed to do that. In a system with national [media], it's reasonable to simply tax [public speaking] to pay for the [mental] impact, however much that tax might be, and then go ahead and let people [speak] so long as nobody else has to [hear] their [words].

    42. Re:Whew! by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      Some people will do anything to get high I guess.. Bet the fact that there was no change in feeling made him think back on his life decisions O.o

    43. Re:Whew! by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      Bet the fact that there was no change in feeling made him think back on his life decisions O.o

      Well played!

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    44. Re: Whew! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I agree that maximising personal freedom and individual liberty is a good thing. However, your view of what infringes on anothers freedom appears to be extremely limited and unimaginative - immediate harm to self due caused by an affirmative action by another party wanting to cause harm.

      I might want to go for a quiet walk in the woods, enjoying the beauty. I might want to hold a noisy party in the woods. I might want to chop down the woods and run a highway through there. All these activities infringe on the liberties of the others. Who is right? This is why we have laws - when the spheres of what different people want to do collide, we have to have a way of resolving the differences. And with enough people wanting to do enough things, we're talking about an absolute chaos of collisions.

      Inevitably, sorting this out is going to lead to at least one party coming away unhappy, and claim that their freedom has been restricted. Well, yes, we restrict personal freedoms within society where strictly necessary in order to maximise them overall for everyone. It's this compromise that makes society, allowing people with differing wants to live together without going for each others throats.

      It's the reason why all groups that have attempted to set up a "libertarian state" have always failed in a spectacular and farcical manner. At the extremes, pure ideologies don't work, they're too simplistic and fail to account for, well, almost everything.

      And that is also the reason why globalisation is a bad thing. Not everybody wants to live in the same way. We need different places where different likeminded people can live the way they want to. If we reduce the world to one system of law, then personal freedoms are reduced to a minimum.

      I'm very suspicious of anyone claiming to adhere to any idealogically extreme position, such things are always unworkable and responsible in practise for most of the worlds atrocities.

      The world is a complex and chaotic place, rather than trying to understand it by reducing it to a philosophy of a few sentences, revel in that complexity, roll and learn with along with it, knowing that you will never learn everything.

    45. Re: Whew! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Let's try the replacement game again here...

      I suggest replacing your arguments with ones that aren't so silly.

       

      I think that if you can [loudly speak] without impacting other people, you should be allowed to do that.

      Indeed, there are noise ordinances and limitations to behavior, even to public speaking. All your blather accomplishes is to highlight your ignorance.

      In a system with national [media], it's reasonable to simply tax [public speaking] to pay for the [mental] impact, however much that tax might be, and then go ahead and let people [speak] so long as nobody else has to [hear] their [words].

      Yeah, there's a lot of arguments over the funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting too, but can you imagine a system where you couldn't turn off your television?

      I can mute commercials, skip them by various means, and otherwise avoid them.

      Can you imagine a world where I couldn't?

      Horrors. I wouldn't be free at all.

  7. Terminology compounds the problem by garryknight · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's not a "bad habit," it's a drug addiction.

    --
    Garry Knight
    1. Re:Terminology compounds the problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ah, democidal tendencies.

    2. Re:Terminology compounds the problem by AK+Marc · · Score: 1, Troll

      White drug abuse is a "habit" or a "health issue". Minority drug abuse is a "criminal problem".

    3. Re:Terminology compounds the problem by FooAtWFU · · Score: 1

      Is it or is it not bad? Because drug addiction is definitely a habit.

      --
      The World Wide Web is dying. Soon, we shall have only the Internet.
    4. Re:Terminology compounds the problem by careysub · · Score: 1

      Marked "Troll" as I read this, but this is an accurate description of how "society" - the dominant culture including politics, the law, and the media - deal with these respective situations.

      --
      Starships were meant to fly, Hands up and touch the sky - Nicky Minaj
    5. Re:Terminology compounds the problem by Brett+Buck · · Score: 1, Insightful

      This is the same state the encourages hard drug addiction by having a "medical marijuana" "dispensary" on ever third street corner. Despite the fact that it is a Schedule 1 drug and a federal felony to possess, use, or distribute.

    6. Re: Terminology compounds the problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      A funny story, one of the seamstresses in the nunnery that I used to make deliveries to got addicted to pot. Her work output went right down, and no matter what else you could say about her she certainly wasn't habit forming.

    7. Re:Terminology compounds the problem by Your.Master · · Score: 1

      You need to look up the definition of "hard drugs". It doesn't mean federally illegal, it means physically addictive.

      Nicotine, present in tobacco, is a hard drug. For the record, alcohol is also a hard drug, though not to the same degree. Marijuana is not. So what you said is literally the opposite of true.

      To learn: https://simple.wikipedia.org/w...

    8. Re:Terminology compounds the problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Jeff? Jefferson Sessions? You have a slashdot account? Wow.

    9. Re:Terminology compounds the problem by KiloByte · · Score: 1

      This is the same state the encourages hard drug addiction by having a "medical marijuana" "dispensary"

      Does marijuana shorten your life by 14 years on the average?

      --
      The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
    10. Re:Terminology compounds the problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Does marijuana shorten your life by 14 years on the average?

      Yes

    11. Re:Terminology compounds the problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Smoking is thankfully less common than it used to be, but I feel for the addicts who are a target for taxes and social scorn.

      Those with no empathy for addicts are one thing, but hypocrites with double standards are disgusting; especially those who foam at the mouth over effective treatments because their brain pattern matches it with smoking.

    12. Re:Terminology compounds the problem by Brett+Buck · · Score: 1

      Marijuana has long been known to be a "gateway drug" leading to more serious addictions, analysis by drug-addled hippy idiots since the 60s notwithstanding. It also has no medical use, and it's illegal. Aside from that, excellent post

    13. Re:Terminology compounds the problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You count marijuana as "hard" drug addiction? What would you call heroin then?

    14. Re: Terminology compounds the problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      For the sake if argument assuming that this is true for a moment (although I'd debate that): This still doesn't qualify marijuana as "hard", which the initial post says.

      If you want to use a *different* argument now, go ahead, and we can discuss that on its own merit. But first please acknowledge that the first one was BS and point is rightfully lost. That's the rule of a fair discussion.

    15. Re:Terminology compounds the problem by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      It also has no medical use,

      False. Cannabidiol has lots of medical uses, from alleviating seizures to relieving pain that requires opiods to generally control.

      Cannabidiol should NOT be confused with THC, the "addictive" part of marijuana. In fact, the two exist in inverse proportions - as THC levels go up, cannabidiol levels go down, so high THC pot is less effective. The low THC stuff works best. Look up CBD Oil, one or two drops is generally the prescribed dose for a day, so you're not going to make edibles or anything else - you just take it with food.

      The only reason there's a lack of research is because it's illegal to grow marijuana and research is controlled. Though it has been slowly trickling out as it becomes more acceptable.

      In fact, around WWI or WWII, the US Government was actively promoting the use of marijuana among the troops. The propaganda film is little known because after the war was over, the US Government withdrew it and denies all knowledge of it. It's only because of modern day someone found a copy and posted it on YouTube.

      Don't confuse medical marijuana with stoners who want the high THC stuff. That stuff's the addictive kind with little beyond addictiveness.

    16. Re:Terminology compounds the problem by No+Longer+an+AC · · Score: 1

      This cannot be emphasized enough in my opinion.

      I certainly knew smoking was bad when I started. I didn't plan to become a regular smoker. Peer pressure didn't make me do it either. I wanted to try it. I liked it. I didn't become a daily smoker right away. It crept up on me.

      I really had no concept of addiction back then. I told myself I was a strong person and would just quit whenever I wanted. I told myself I'd definitely quit if I hit 30 and still smoked. I didn't.

      I have now been quit for years though. I have no idea how many. Cost was not the only factor, but it was a huge one.

    17. Re:Terminology compounds the problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      White drug abuse is a "habit" or a "health issue". Minority drug abuse is a "criminal problem".

      Not sure if racist, but it seems more common for white drug abusers to be primarily harming themselves, which is fine, but minority drug abuse seems to commonly harm others, which is not fine.

  8. Age of Consent by mlookaba · · Score: 2, Insightful

    States that require someone be 21 years of age to consent to engaging in risky smoking behavior will also ban those under 21 from enlisting in the military, right?

    Young people do lots of risky things. Let's be consistent.

    1. Re: Age of Consent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They should ban driving under 21 too, it is pretty risky. How about unhealthy food ? Alcohol?

    2. Re:Age of Consent by geekmux · · Score: 1, Insightful

      States that require someone be 21 years of age to consent to engaging in risky smoking behavior will also ban those under 21 from enlisting in the military, right?

      Young people do lots of risky things. Let's be consistent.

      Our wold is full of risk regardless of age, so look at the chances of harm before assuming.

      One of the most deadly activities you likely do every day is step into a car. With a generation addicted to their smartphones (behind the wheel), this risk increases even more. What do we raise the driving age to?

      Smoking kills over 400,000 Americans every year, far more than any wartime activity. FUCK raising the age, tobacco should be illegal. One would think we would want to actually take steps to prevent our #1 preventable killer.

      By comparison, your chances of entering the Military and going off to be harmed in war are far less than these much more common activities. You probably stand a greater risk of dying prematurely from High Fructose Corn Syrup in the food supply.

    3. Re:Age of Consent by SirSlud · · Score: 3, Insightful

      One thing is risky because it's dangerous to serve in the military to defend the geopolitical interests of your country, while the other thing is dangerous because it's a drug that carries significant health risks.

      I don't see why you think you're being smart by appealing to treat these things the same way.

      Vehicles are also very dangerous, but using vehicles provides a massive net benefit to society that cigarettes do not. It doesn't take a genius to understand why in actual fact, legally and socially, we view and legislate these activities differently.

      --
      "Old man yells at systemd"
    4. Re:Age of Consent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The age of "majority" has traditionally always been 21 in western society, but they lowered it to 18 for Vietnam war draft.
      IMO they really should have raised it back to 21 after that failed experiment.

    5. Re:Age of Consent by argStyopa · · Score: 1

      No, because the willingness of young people to do stupid crap and be easily led is useful to a country as military drones.

      More logically, it should suggest that the voting age should be raised to 21 however. I'm sure we'll have the Clintons support on that one.

      --
      -Styopa
    6. Re:Age of Consent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Especially since everybody smokes in the army.

    7. Re:Age of Consent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That doesn't make any sense. One can quit the military any time without any health issues. One can never really quit smoking after you start. You'll be stuck with a physical addiction that never goes away because you were stupid as a young adult.

    8. Re:Age of Consent by nnet · · Score: 1

      Oregon is a state, with the ability to enact state laws. Take your issue of military service age up with your federal representative. I'm sure they'll be happy to listen to your comparison of state law vs. federal law.

    9. Re:Age of Consent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm fine with this, as long as we also raise the voting age to 21 also. Probably driving age also, and the age of sexual consent, marriage, juvenile crime age, etc.

    10. Re:Age of Consent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Dropping dead is not the worst thing. Submitting to your statist, power-grab of my personal liberty is totally the worst thing. I will slap-you-down for trying to snatch away my personal power ... I will slap you down hard.

    11. Re: Age of Consent by John.Banister · · Score: 1

      Ethanol and marijuana are already restricted for under 21 in Oregon. I don't think they differentiate on age for unhealthy food. Acetone, rat poison and paint thinner can all be purchased by 18 year old Oregonians.

    12. Re:Age of Consent by SuricouRaven · · Score: 1

      Any suggestion of raising the voting age would be evaluated by all politicians according to the most critical factor: "How does this effect my party's electoral success?"

      As the average age of Republican voters is higher than that of Democrat voters, the Republicans would naturally support such a measure. They don't bother to make it an issue though, because they know it'll never get through.

    13. Re: Age of Consent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That threat was so empty NASA wants to use it to hold particles of antimatter.

    14. Re:Age of Consent by kencurry · · Score: 1

      Cigarette smoking is a choice. (For those of us in the US) Our nation fought to protect our freedoms as well as freedom in Europe and in pacific rim, and smoking choices naturally come out of that. If free people want to smoke so be it - that is what my dad fought for in WWII.

      Smoking, freedom & military service are linked, even if you don't think so.

      --
      sigs are for losers (except to point out that sigs are for losers)
    15. Re:Age of Consent by SirSlud · · Score: 1

      I understand why they're linked - but you don't have the choice to do whatever you want. Certain choices are illegal, and sometimes it depends what age you are at when you make those choices. Do not make the fallacy that people fight in wars for the freedom to do literally anything you want free of legal consequence.

      --
      "Old man yells at systemd"
    16. Re:Age of Consent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      One is a risk for a cause (the greater good, in theory), one is a risk that is not. Clear now?

    17. Re:Age of Consent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      - Don't make it illegal. Just make it illegal ($500 fine?) to smoke anywhere in public. Ie all places where other non-smokers may show up and expect it to be smoke-free. If you do it in your own home or some "smoke club" that should still be fine.
      - Make all types of advertising of it illegal. Stores should not be allowed to even show that they sell tobacco.
      - Make all packets anonymous like http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix...
      - Prevent smokers from getting any type of social-security. They need to quit before any tax-money reaches them.

      Disclaimer: I did smoke, but managed to quit 13 years ago. I do know what the drug does to you and your thought processes.

    18. Re:Age of Consent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      One can never really quit smoking after you start. You'll be stuck with a physical addiction that never goes away because you were stupid as a young adult.

      Yes you can... 6 to 24 months is the time until you do not have any physical nicotine addiction left if you stay away from nicotine completely....
      But sure, you may have health-issues that will remain for the rest of your life after you quit... But not the actual addiction..

      I stopped using tobacco many years ago, and it did require a few attempts.. I do know it's hard to succeed and for me it was around 10-14 months when i stopped having those cravings when smelling the smoke.. after 18-20 months i remember thinking "How could i ever have used that crap that smells like shit".

    19. Re: Age of Consent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What? Tell that to all the discharged soldiers with PTSD.

      Dumbass.

    20. Re:Age of Consent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Disclaimer: I am an ex smoker.

      Heart disease kills more people than smoking so we should ban bacon right?

      Yes this is a logical fallacy, however, the fact is that unless you want to control EVERYTING a person does or consumes you are making subjective decision on what to ban.

      as long as it is not effecting you DIRECTLY you have no right to tell anyone else what to do or consume.

    21. Re:Age of Consent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd mod you up, but no mod points.

      The constitution needs another amendment here. You shouldn't be able to serve your country without having the full rights of an adult. Some of the later posters are missing the point, if your country is prepared to send you out to die you should be as entitled as anyone else to make life and death decisions. Particularly those affecting your own life.

      If they want to ban smoking totally, not a problem. But any age selective laws should have that as a cap.

    22. Re:Age of Consent by KiloByte · · Score: 1

      Marijuana and alcohol at least make you feel better. Tobacco merely briefly returns you to a bit below the baseline you'd be on were you a non-smoker. No one sane would smoke if not for immense chemical addiction that you contracted due to curiosity, peer pressure, advertising or "looking cool" earlier in your life.

      --
      The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
    23. Re:Age of Consent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Disclaimer: I did smoke, but managed to quit 13 years ago. I do know what the drug does to you and your thought processes.

      So are you wilfully ignoring that knowledge, or what? Smoking addicts are typically poor; your solution is to fuck them over even more?

      Imagine if we treated addicts of any other hard drug by trying to wring more money out of them.

    24. Re:Age of Consent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ya those damm kids free to die for their country at 18 but can't have a drink or a smoke first.
      The latter the age where drinking is allowed the more binge drinking kids will do.
      In the civilized world kids have a drink when they want and it's no big deal just a beer just some wine just a beverage.

    25. Re:Age of Consent by Nephandus · · Score: 1

      Actually, nicotine, unlike other drugs, sensitizes your pleasure receptors. It's a general emotional enhancer for pleasure responses.

      --
      "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."
    26. Re:Age of Consent by Nephandus · · Score: 1

      The age of conscription was 18 (or lower in even early times) before. They just lowered the voting age since they were embarrassed to be sending non-voting "kids" to die. Even odder considering they generally regarded adolescents as adults in older times yet still pulled voting "maturity" bullshit, but, hey, they historically didn't want the general populace voting at all. That includes the "founding fathers" and their self-electing socialite circles.

      --
      "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."
    27. Re:Age of Consent by Nephandus · · Score: 1

      Osteoarthritis by early 20s says otherwise, and that's not counting psychological issues, which you're semi-officially supposed to swallow, or the repeated toxic exposure cover-ups since they really don't care about you personally at any point.

      --
      "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."
    28. Re:Age of Consent by ckatko · · Score: 1

      The funniest part is less people die every year in the military than they do from cigarettes.

      But keep on running with that cliche argument.

    29. Re:Age of Consent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Speaking of vehicles. NJ is the only state to not allow customers to operate fuel pumps.

    30. Re:Age of Consent by geekmux · · Score: 1

      Disclaimer: I did smoke, but managed to quit 13 years ago. I do know what the drug does to you and your thought processes.

      So are you wilfully ignoring that knowledge, or what? Smoking addicts are typically poor; your solution is to fuck them over even more?

      If cocaine were sold at 10 bucks a pound, we would probably have a hell of a lot more addicts. One of the largest deterrents is the cost of doing a drug. The problem with tobacco is I can't count how many times I've heard a smoker claim "I'm gonna quit if the price hits X dollars a pack!", and then never quit. Perhaps the best solution is to essentially make it financially impossible to continue to do a drug. And quite honestly, smokers are not poor. if they can afford to smoke these days. By comparison, that's a "hobby" that consumes hundreds of dollars every month.

      Imagine if we treated addicts of any other hard drug by trying to wring more money out of them.

      Uh, we do wring more money out of them. You think drug treatment facilities are free? There's a reason alcoholism was turned into a "disease" half a century ago; so treatment costs could be recognized and subsidized by medical insurance plans.

    31. Re:Age of Consent by geekmux · · Score: 1

      Disclaimer: I am an ex smoker.

      Heart disease kills more people than smoking so we should ban bacon right?

      Yes this is a logical fallacy, however, the fact is that unless you want to control EVERYTING a person does or consumes you are making subjective decision on what to ban.

      as long as it is not effecting you DIRECTLY you have no right to tell anyone else what to do or consume.

      It is obesity that is now our #1 killer, not heart disease. And since smoking can cause heart disease, it's rather hard to fully understand just how much of an impact smoking has on other killers.

      Regarding making tobacco illegal, I was speaking towards the fact that the government will try and claim we have "epidemics" surrounding opiods, heroin, or even marijuana, while turning a blind eye to the 400,000 deaths tobacco causes every year, ten times more than all other drugs combined. Where is the tobacco epidemic? By comparison to illegal drugs, tell me again why tobacco should be legal?

      As far as your personal freedoms, laws tell people what they can and cannot do all the damn time. And secondhand smoke is not some myth, so it does impact people DIRECTLY, which is why we now have so many laws against smoking indoors and other public places. My point is by comparison there's not a damn reason it should be legal. It is only legal because of Greed.

    32. Re:Age of Consent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's simple: Either the law considers you an adult capable of making decisions regarding their own health and safety, or it doesn't. That's how it should work. Instead it is saying you have all the responsibilities of an adult the second you reach arbitrary age X, but still are restricted from having all the rights of an adult until age Y.

    33. Re:Age of Consent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Coming Soon, you new government approved diet!

      Obesity in america is at an all time high and its counter-productive to society as a whole to have some many people in our society being obese. Therefore, the government will put all obese people on a mandatory diet and exercise until they are old enough to make wise dietary and exercise decisions.

      You see, they say that the slippery slope isint real, but Ive been alive long enough to provide plenty of evidence that it is, especially when the government is involved

    34. Re:Age of Consent by strikethree · · Score: 1

      I don't see why you think you're being smart by appealing to treat these things the same way.

      To do otherwise is to take away free agency. It is kind of one of the founding principals of the United States of America.

      "Give me liberty or give me death!", John Wayne Gacy

      --
      "Someone needs to talk to the tree of liberty about its ghoulish drinking problem." by ohnocitizen
  9. State rep. quote is complete rubbish by Harold+Halloway · · Score: 1

    "By the age of 25, this addiction is cemented in the brain and it becomes very difficult -- almost impossible -- to quit," State Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, told KGW.

    Absolute rubbish. Plenty of people, myself included, have managed to stop smoking after the age of 25. Is being an idiot now a pre-requisite for election to high office in the US?

    1. Re:State rep. quote is complete rubbish by peragrin · · Score: 2

      And you are among the exception. Actually I would argue that you were never permenately addicted to begin with. While yes you did develop a short term chemical dependacy you never developed or at least changed the nerve dependacy that makes change harder to impossible to quit.

      Some people just can't quit a chemical dependacy,. Alcohol, coffee, nicotine.

      Me I knew what I would be like with an alcohol drpendancy and so never let it develop while young, so now older I can have just one drink.. I only drank under the age of 30 when in a truly good mood and happy environment. Drinking while angry leads to other issues in my family.

      --
      i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
    2. Re:State rep. quote is complete rubbish by dwywit · · Score: 2

      40 years a smoker (and I enjoyed it), quit cold turkey 4 years ago - that's not a "short-term chemical dependency". I did some self-reflection, and decided it was time to stop.

      Some can do it, others need help. If you *want* to give up, you will.

      --
      They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom
    3. Re: State rep. quote is complete rubbish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually the more I read about laws and restrictions on smoking, the less I want to give up.

    4. Re:State rep. quote is complete rubbish by Kjella · · Score: 1

      And you are among the exception. Actually I would argue that you were never permenately addicted to begin with. While yes you did develop a short term chemical dependacy you never developed or at least changed the nerve dependacy that makes change harder to impossible to quit.

      My dad and two of my uncles quit all after smoking 20+ years. In fact that older people quit is quite easily shown with statistics, it's in Norwegian but daily smokers by age group, since the statistics goes over more than 10 years you can easily compare:

      16-24 in 2003: 25% -> 25-34 in 2013: 12%*
      25-34 in 2003: 26% -> 35-44 in 2013: 15%
      35-44 in 2003: 31% -> 45-54 in 2013: 19%
      45-54 in 2003: 32% -> 55-64 in 2013: 20%
      55-64 in 2003: 25% -> 65-74 in 2013: 14%

      * Should have been 15-24 to fit the pattern.

      So slightly over half quit young, but there's all sorts of reasons why 16-24 is the hardest party age with the most experimentation. In every other age group though, smoking also went down with ~40%. There's not enough data here to see over 20 years, but the trend is pretty clear. It's very much culture and attitude, once your friends quit smoking and it's very unlikely you'll be the lone wolf still smoking. And if you do, you'll do it outside not in the house, not in the car, not near your kids or grandkids... basically it's become your personal vice, but don't bother us with it. That's been enough to make most people quit.

      --
      Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
    5. Re:State rep. quote is complete rubbish by rmdingler · · Score: 1

      I wonder if some of the drop-off in the percentage of smokers in each demographic is due to the increased mortality of the habit.?.?

      --
      Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.

      Ernest Hemingway

    6. Re:State rep. quote is complete rubbish by skam240 · · Score: 1

      Let's bring some real data in on this

      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/p...

      The short; the average age of someone quitting smoking for the 2011-2012 period (the most recent period in the study) was 39.5 years old. In other words, the parent you're replying to is correct, a 25 year old threshold does not make sense.

      --
      I ignore Anonymous Coward posts. If you want to discuss something, that's awesome. Log in.
    7. Re:State rep. quote is complete rubbish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, but it is true that if you are an idiot when you turn 25, it's almost impossible to stop. ;-)

    8. Re:State rep. quote is complete rubbish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually I would argue that you were never permenately addicted to begin with.

      true scotsman fallacy

    9. Re:State rep. quote is complete rubbish by I'm+New+Around+Here · · Score: 1

      Very few die from smoking related issues before age 40. The 35-44 year-old group went from 31% of that age population smoking, to 19%. There certainly was not a die off of 12% of that age group, or even anything close to it, smoking-related or otherwise.

      --
      If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
    10. Re:State rep. quote is complete rubbish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      More likely they're only trying to address the addiction without addressing what caused it in the first place. While the root cause exists, the addiction will continue to reoccur.

      People permanently addicted can never break their addiction because that's the definition of permeate, so that's a complete bullshit argument. Just like how much is too much of XYZ? The answer is always "too much".

      You can still become addicted at any age. You just have the self-awareness to stop before that happens.

    11. Re:State rep. quote is complete rubbish by nnet · · Score: 1

      "my friends been snortin' coke for 15 years 'n he aint hooked on it!" - Richard Pryor

    12. Re: State rep. quote is complete rubbish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Which proves you are stupid.

    13. Re: State rep. quote is complete rubbish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Then you are an idiot.

      The health risks of smoking are well known.

    14. Re:State rep. quote is complete rubbish by careysub · · Score: 1

      "By the age of 25, this addiction is cemented in the brain and it becomes very difficult -- almost impossible -- to quit," State Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, told KGW.

      Absolute rubbish. Plenty of people, myself included, have managed to stop smoking after the age of 25.

      Sure - the anecdote of your personal story, combined with your personal beliefs, negates the findings of the entire field of addiction research on nicotine.

      Sure.

      --
      Starships were meant to fly, Hands up and touch the sky - Nicky Minaj
    15. Re: State rep. quote is complete rubbish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The average age of people quitting was 39. Someone provided a citation. Look it up. You are wrong. Stop doubling down on stupid. This isn't anecdotal evidence.

    16. Re:State rep. quote is complete rubbish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Absolute rubbish. Plenty of people, myself included, have managed to stop smoking after the age of 25. Is being an idiot now a pre-requisite for election to high office in the US?

      Only for Republicans.

    17. Re:State rep. quote is complete rubbish by Nephandus · · Score: 1

      Yep, after smoking since age 14, I quit about 25-26 while starting community college, acting as primary caregiver to my senile, semi-violent grandmother, and putting up with destructive maternal deceit and psychosis, specifically making both worse to nearly impossible. But most people tend to be weak little, overprivileged sheeple, so...

      --
      "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."
    18. Re:State rep. quote is complete rubbish by nbauman · · Score: 1

      Is being an idiot now a pre-requisite for election to high office in the US?

      Being an idiot is not a pre-requisite for misunderstanding statistics and the scientific method, but it does help.

  10. Hypocrisy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You need to be 21 to smoke a cigarette, but at 18 you can go into the army and kill people

    1. Re:Hypocrisy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That angle was tried when they raised the age limit to purchase alcohol 30 years ago. Never made a dent. And we still purchased and drank anyway. It stopped no one because politicians are fucking dumbasses who don't understand how things work in the real world.

      They would raise the age you could join the military, but then they'd lose out on a substantial number of idiots willing to murder people for pay.

    2. Re:Hypocrisy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      To be fair, in order to kill people you have to go through a pretty extensive, long, and controlled training process. Plus, in the end your actions are controlled by someone else (in theory).

      In you had to do the same for smoking then 18 would be OK in my book.

    3. Re:Hypocrisy by blindseer · · Score: 1

      So, give the people cigarettes at 18 so they can die of lung cancer instead of having to shoot them? Works for me.

      That's enough snark for now. Seriously though, to me a person is an adult capable of making decisions or not. Set and age at which a person can make their own choices and stick with it.

      Marry at 18? Sure.
      Vote at 18? OK.
      Buy a house, sign a contract, get a job at 18? Absolutely.
      Join the military at 18? Works for me.
      Set a different age for things like buying alcohol, tobacco, or a handgun? There I have a problem.

      I hear about this concept of "extended adolescence" where grown people choose to continue living like teenagers. They live in their parent's home, marry later (if at all), and so on. Maybe if the government would stop treating adults like children then they might start to grow up?

      --
      I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
    4. Re:Hypocrisy by SuricouRaven · · Score: 1

      Extended adolescence is a real effect in modern society, but the causes are easy to see. Educational standards are higher - finishing high school is effectively mandatory, and everyone who can tries to go on to higher education. The cost of living in many places has gone up in recent years (it certainly has in the UK), and job stability is much less than it used to be - you can't buy a house if you are concerned you might lose your job in a few years and be unable to make the mortgage. Marriage age has been shifting later ever since contraception became readily available, as it's now possible to enter a long-term sexual relationship without the inevitability of children.

      It might just be that life is more complicated than it used to be.

    5. Re:Hypocrisy by blindseer · · Score: 1

      It might just be that life is more complicated than it used to be.

      I don't disagree that life may be more difficult and complex now than (I'm picking a somewhat random time span) a generation ago. Shouldn't we do what we can to simplify things? Such as pick an age of minority/majority and stick with it?

      The government is not helping with things like allowing adults to stay on their parents' health insurance until the age of 25. They are adults and should be treated as such. In college, at the age of 21, I found it odd or even condescending to have to put my parents' information on things like student loans. I'm an adult at that point. What my parents do is irrelevant, or at least should be. To get a loan I might need a co-signer but that responsibility should not automatically fall on my parents.

      I've lived with friends or my brothers when I could not afford a place on my own. I had to co-sign so my brother could get a loan. We got along without moving back home. I can see your argument on delaying having kids in an age where contraception is cheap and effective but that does not mean marriage should be delayed as well.

      Living with parents as an adult is not healthy, and it should not be encouraged by the government or society. That's not saying it should be illegal, but people need to grow up and be allowed/encouraged to grow up. I'm hoping this trend of delayed adulthood is temporary and will become less common as the economy improves.

      --
      I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
  11. The Text Of SB754 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2017R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/SB754/Enrolled

    It primarily deals with those selling Tobacco Products, with a schedule of new required Paperwork and Fines. It also authorizes retired Police Officers to enforce the Law, with the sole exception for People under the Age of 21 being allowed to purchase Tobacco products for the sole reason of Entrapment when working with these Officers.
    It criminalizes the purchase and possession of Tobacco by those under the age of 21, but significantly does not specify what Fines are to be levied against them, but that may be already present in the dozen or two Laws just referenced without explanation. It also criminalizes the smoking of Tobacco in a Motor Vehicle while somebody under the age of 21 is present. There is also a whole lot of cryptic unrelated wording concerning Medical Insurance, which was probably the real point since this was sponsored by Fucking Republicans.

    1. Re:The Text Of SB754 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It also authorizes retired Police Officers to enforce the Law,

      If I'm a retired officer , why would I do this for free?

    2. Re: The Text Of SB754 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      To stop your grandchildren from picking up a disgusting habit

    3. Re:The Text Of SB754 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey Deputy Dawg, the reason why people post links is for other people to read them. I mentioned nothing about this being done for free:

      "(3) The department shall establish and administer a program employing retired state police of- ficers who are active reserve officers for the purpose of enforcing laws designed to discourage the use of tobacco products by persons who are under [18 years of] the legal minimum purchase age. The department shall periodically consult with the authority to maximize program qualification for federal funds to enforce laws designed to discourage the use of tobacco products by persons who are under [18 years of] the legal minimum purchase age, including but not limited to grants under P.L. 102-321, section 1926 (42 U.S.C. 300x-26). Service by a retired state police member under this section is subject to ORS 238.082. The department may not use the services of a retired state police officer under this section to displace an active state police member from the enforcement of laws concerning tobacco products."

      The wording in brackets is what was removed from existing laws. Note significantly that if the "legal minimum purchase age" is raised above 21, this section no longer needs amending. Here is "42 U.S.C. 300x-26"
      https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/300x-26

  12. Nicotime addiction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I used heroin to cure my nicotine addiction.

    1. Re: Nicotime addiction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I know you are being funny, but I had an old neighbor quit heroin by smoking crack. To quit crack he used adderall. To quit adderall he used nodoze. He still takes nodoze. ;)

    2. Re:Nicotime addiction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      For me it was oxycodone, but unintentionally as I broke my leg while giving up smoking.

  13. Lol by mobby_6kl · · Score: 1

    Yeah this would be about as effective as limiting alcohol in the same way. And it's not like the over-18 restriction is particularly effective anyway, most smokers that I know started way before that, probably by 16 already, so this would change pretty much nothing. Good job.

    1. Re:Lol by skam240 · · Score: 1

      Now I'm not necessarily advocating for this law but the big idea here is to get cigarettes out of the reach of school age kids. Everyone I know who smoked in high school got seniors to buy them smokes and they were therefore much easier to get than the 21 and over alcohol.

      Don't get me wrong, we certainly did get our hands on alcohol when we were underage but getting enough to maintain a habbit would have been much harder to do.

      --
      I ignore Anonymous Coward posts. If you want to discuss something, that's awesome. Log in.
    2. Re:Lol by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That just means that the black market will have more customers to accommodate. If you buy into the "gateway drug" argument, that also means that kids will go to their cigarette dealer one day and be told: "sorry, I don't have any cigs today, would you like to try some heroin?"

  14. Easily cicumvented by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Oregon lawmakers yesterday passed a law making it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to purchase cigarettes in the hopes of nipping the bad habit in the bud.

    So just don't admit that you're purchasing them in hopes of nipping the bad habit in the bud. How many people do that anyway?

    1. Re:Easily cicumvented by I'm+New+Around+Here · · Score: 1

      Thank you. That caught my eye too. With the pedants around here, I'm surprised I didn't see it in the comments above.

      --
      If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
  15. Won't help... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Someone who never smoked before, didn't just wake up on the day of his 18 birthday and suddenly decide "Today is the day I start smoking!". That just doesn't happen. They started smoking long before that, in the school yard, due to bad influence of other little sh*ts that got smokes from yet another bad influence on them.
    Maybe raise the penalty for getting caught selling to kids or even go as far as arresting those kids smoking in the school yard during recess instead of just turning a blind eye. Pretty much anyone who went outside during recess in high school, were smokers, there's just no other reason to go outside otherwise.

    1. Re: Won't help... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, that's how it started for me. My first job after college, new apartment, adulting for real: I went out and bought a pipe, pipe tobacco, and matches.

    2. Re:Won't help... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Someone who never smoked before, didn't just wake up on the day of his 18 birthday and suddenly decide "Today is the day I start smoking!". That just doesn't happen.

      You might be technically right in that it does not happen exactly like that, but you are still wrong if you think that there aren't people who tried their first fag on their 18th birthday. It's just that they decided several days/weeks/months before that they would try a fag on their 18th birthday, as opposed to your spur-of-the-moment decision.

      It's true of alcohol and people turning 21, it's true of weed and states legalizing it, so why would it not be true for fags?

    3. Re:Won't help... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      recess in highschool? and theres plenty of reasons to go outside, none of which involve smoking. what the hell kind of education system and culture does your country have that resulted in an attitude like yours?

  16. Probably not by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    Oregon also made a law this week making all abortions completely free and mandatory with all insurance coverage. So to recap, you need to be 21 to slowly take your own life, but not to take another's (in the military, or that of an unborn child) - plus my tax $ have to pay for it. I knew OR was looney tunes but holy shit. I think if they let you hold an M16 you should be able to handle a fucking cigarette if you so choose.

    1. Re:Probably not by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1

      Oregon also made a law this week making all abortions completely free and mandatory with all insurance coverage. So to recap, you need to be 21 to slowly take your own life, but not to take another's (in the military, or that of an unborn child) - plus my tax $ have to pay for it. I knew OR was looney tunes but holy shit.

      I can see Portland suing the state for appropriation of its slogan, 'Keep Portland Weird'.

    2. Re:Probably not by PopeRatzo · · Score: 2

      So to recap, you need to be 21 to slowly take your own life, but not to take another's (in the military, or that of an unborn child)

      We could just let unborn children smoke.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    3. Re:Probably not by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A law that calls for mandatory abortions? My oh my they've gone too far. That's one way to reduce the under-21 smoking population though.

    4. Re:Probably not by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 2

      And here we're making the ultrasound and abortion pill free. Good up to the 7th week of pregnancy. It will save money in the immediate term, and lots of money in the long run.

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    5. Re:Probably not by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      I think we should legalize 93rd trimester abortion also while were at it. would really make the planet a better place.

    6. Re:Probably not by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

      I don't know if anyone else remembers a sci-fi story that legalized abortion until the day the child turned 5. Parents who either just wanted to experience (possibly repeatedly) the early years of having a child, or who didn't like the way the kid was turning out, were able to say "nope, not viable" and everyone else would accept it same as a miscarriage.

      There are people out there who would love that - octo-mom for one.

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    7. Re:Probably not by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      Im not all that opposed to it. But it needs to be extended a few years, cant really tell if they're going to be worthless or not until they're about 18 or 19 usually..

  17. Yearly raises by Idimmu+Xul · · Score: 1

    The age limit should be raised by 1 year, each year, effectively phasing out the industry.

    --
    The problem with slashdot is that most of its users were bullied and stuffed into lockers as kids!
    1. Re:Yearly raises by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      It's neither the government's job to be everyone's mommy nor is to decide which industries can survive or go under.

      It's just tobacco. There are so many bigger issues the state or oregon ought to tackle.

  18. Nicholas Alkemade says ... by Hognoxious · · Score: 2

    Unfortunately it also turns out that if you're going to learn statistics you must do it before you're 23.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    1. Re:Nicholas Alkemade says ... by I'm+New+Around+Here · · Score: 1

      Well thank god I didn't pick up that used Introduction to Statistics book at Goodwill last week. Would have been a waste of $3.

      --
      If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
  19. 90% of smokers start before 18 by Kevin108 · · Score: 1

    This is a feel-good law that accomplishes nothing but wasting taxpayer dollars.

    --

    It's a perfect time for being wasted.
    A perfect time to watch the stars.
    - Burden Brothers, "Beautiful Night"
    1. Re:90% of smokers start before 18 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Don't be so quick to dismiss this idea. This law will mean 18 year old high school seniors can't just go buy cigarettes at the Quik-E-Mart across the street from school, which means there will be fewer 14 year old freshmen bumming their first smokes from seniors, and it may actually have an real impact on teen smoking.

    2. Re:90% of smokers start before 18 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      90% of Slashdot posts have uncited statistics and draw wild conclusions from them using uncited extrapolations.

    3. Re:90% of smokers start before 18 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And how does it waste dollars exactly? Convenience store clerks are already checking IDs, and the little signs they post are updated each year to reflect the year of birth of 18 year olds.

      ZERO added expense.

      The only plausible excuse is that it is lowering the total taxes collected from cigarette smokers, but the concomitant decrease in government health care expenses means that form an actuarial standpoint, it's a net gain in revenue to get a smoker to never start.

  20. Are you over 21? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Your a freeloader, you use services other people's taxes pay for. You go places defended by soldiers paid by other people's taxes. If you want to die slowly by smoking then smoke away, I assume you're over 21 and old enough to be a dumb ass?

    As to abortion, you have no fucking idea, how bad it is when your baby might have to be aborted, and you're scrambling around to find money for the amniocentisis tests. What was my wife supposed to do if we couldn't afford the abortion? Carry it to term and let it die after birth? Fuck you, you selfish asshole.

    1. Re: Are you over 21? by Time_Ngler · · Score: 0

      tldr summary: Just keep them benefits a'comin', asshole!

    2. Re: Are you over 21? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah maybe if you weren't forced to pay for the US's mass genocide in the middle east you could afford your abortion. But I guess if paying for the mass murder of upwards of a million people over the past 15 years helps you sleep at night...

    3. Re:Are you over 21? by Type44Q · · Score: 5, Funny

      Your a freeloader, you use services other people's taxes pay for.

      You really ought to pipe down; other peoples' taxes paid for your education and look what you fucking did with it...

    4. Re: Are you over 21? by kenh · · Score: 2

      As to abortion, you have no fucking idea, how bad it is when your baby might have to be aborted, and you're scrambling around to find money for the amniocentisis tests. What was my wife supposed to do if we couldn't afford the abortion? Carry it to term and let it die after birth? Fuck you, you selfish asshole.

      So we have to pay for everyone's elective abortions because your wife needed a medically-necessary abortion?

      Decent health insurance would have covered a doctor-prescribed abortion for medical reasons, even long before obama even ran for office, let alone implemented Obamacare.

      --
      Ken
    5. Re:Are you over 21? by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 1

      Your a freeloader, you use services other people's taxes pay for.

      My tax dollars were used to pave the street where you live, which I never even drive on because I have no interest in meeting you. It's not fair!

    6. Re: Are you over 21? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      we should just ban cigarettes all together

    7. Re:Are you over 21? by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      He learned how to form a possessive, so he's ahead of you.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    8. Re:Are you over 21? by Type44Q · · Score: 1

      Other than a poorly-placed comma, you lost me...

    9. Re: Are you over 21? by yuriklastalov · · Score: 1

      I say we just start killing smokers now and get it over with. Surely a nice clean firing squad would be better than spending all that tax payer money keeping some filthy degenerate smoker alive for a second longer than they deserve!

    10. Re:Are you over 21? by Type44Q · · Score: 1

      I see what you mean now... still, it's clear he only got bit correct by accident.

    11. Re:Are you over 21? by Type44Q · · Score: 1

      by accident

      Or "on accident" as the illiterates like to say...

    12. Re: Are you over 21? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But we smokers will get to have a last smoke, while tied to the pole and awaiting execution. So this will hardly deter us.

  21. Re:Nanny state socialism by geekmux · · Score: 1

    Yeah, the reasonable law would be to raise the smoking age 1 year every year, no new smokers.

    No, the reasonable law would be to make the product that kills over 400,000 Americans every year illegal.

    Unfortunately, Common F. Sense never seems to prevail over Corruption N. Greed.

  22. Addictive Personality by zifn4b · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This doesn't solve the root cause problem. The root cause problem is some people have addictive personality. Addictive personality in my estimation arises from an inability to cope with the anxieties of life and reality. Therefore the person turns to self medication. If it's not cigarettes, it'll be something else. If we addressed the root problem, the demand for these self medication "fixes" would reduce naturally.

    --
    We'll make great pets
    1. Re:Addictive Personality by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If we addressed the root problem,

      the root problem is people dying from inhaling too much cigarette smoke

    2. Re:Addictive Personality by zifn4b · · Score: 1

      If we addressed the root problem,

      the root problem is people dying from inhaling too much cigarette smoke

      Let's try the 5 why's technique (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5_Whys):

      - Why are cigarette smokers dying? From inhaling too much cigarette smoke
      - Why do they decide to smoke to begin with?

      That's how root cause analysis works. Get jiggy with it and you might actually solve some real problems.

      --
      We'll make great pets
    3. Re:Addictive Personality by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The problem is cancer, and the solution is to not smoke. People are more heavily addicted the younger they start, so raising the age makes it difficult to start younger. Therefore less people will likely smoke, and be less likely to get cancer.

      What's cool is that if you use your brain you can come to the same conclusion. Try it out.

    4. Re:Addictive Personality by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The "root cause problem" is that the tobacco companies donate to the Republican Party. This is another case of the Democratic Party using government power to suppress its political opposition and consolidate power while using some flimsy feel-good excuse that doesn't stand up to a moment of thought like asking "aren't people supposed to be adults at 18?"

    5. Re:Addictive Personality by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The root problem is people dying of severed arteries, not the person stabbing them (or the person's mental health issues that lead to the desire to stab people.)

    6. Re:Addictive Personality by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The majority of smokers start their addiction before they're the legal age to buy cigarettes. Raising the legal age would solve this, right...?

    7. Re:Addictive Personality by bluegutang · · Score: 1

      US smoking rates have dropped drastically in the last few decades. Is that because fewer people have addictive personalities nowadays? That would surprise me...

    8. Re:Addictive Personality by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is just one more in a bag of excuses, there are people who look for excuses and those who win in life. The reason so many people do not give up smoking is they don't have to, and they only have a desire to among many other desires. Statistics do not provide facts just a summary of a piece of history here.
      For example.
      If the cost went up 20x many would quit.
      If you could go to jail for smoking many would quit.
      If someone started lacing cigarettes with poison and 1 in 100 of them would kill you on the first puff many would quit.

      Or to put in another way the excuses and reasons why people don't quit can be summarized as they don't have to so they don't. They may say they want to and even try to but their is trying and doing.

  23. Wrong Age by CanadianMacFan · · Score: 0

    "By the age of 25, this addiction is cemented in the brain and it becomes very difficult -- almost impossible -- to quit," State Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, told KGW.

    ---

    If 25 is the age that the addiction gets cemented into the brain then why did they only raise the limit to 21? Of course I'd like to know where they got this age of 25 from. Shouldn't it also apply to alcohol?

    Of course I'd rather see a total ban on smoking as it doesn't have any good purpose at all. Smokers should be responsible for their own health care costs that are the result of their smoking if they are under a certain age (say 45) unless they are actively trying to quit. They will have free access to smoking cessation help, gum, patches, etc. It's going to take a lot of nicotine gum to cost more than the treatment for lung cancer or a lengthy stay in hospital for emphysema.

    1. Re:Wrong Age by skam240 · · Score: 1

      "Of course I'd rather see a total ban on smoking as it doesn't have any good purpose at all."

      You could say the same for alcohol, coffee, or any number of other things. Personally, I really enjoy a smoke every now and then if the tobacco is good. Of course I'm happy none of my friends smoke anymore because of health issues but I do miss being able to bum a smoke every other month or so to enjoy, wake me up, or just to get a nice little nicotine buzz. Tobacco and alcohol pair especially well

      --
      I ignore Anonymous Coward posts. If you want to discuss something, that's awesome. Log in.
    2. Re:Wrong Age by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      25 is a pretty consensus-led idea of the age around which childhood neuroplasticity begins to end.

      I can tell you that at my age I really feel it is very clear that my internal self was different at 21 to how it is now, which isn't that different to how I felt at 25.

      The problem with using 25 as a cutoff for behaviours you do not wish to encourage is that youth is still youth; young people will still try stuff.

      One does have to allow for a window of education.

      And to the others saying should people serve in the military before 21? I think it's entirely reasonable to say they shouldn't be allowed to see active service before then.

    3. Re:Wrong Age by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Of course I'd rather see a total ban on smoking as it doesn't have any good purpose at all."

      You could say the same for alcohol, coffee, or any number of other things. Personally, I really enjoy a smoke every now and then if the tobacco is good. Of course I'm happy none of my friends smoke anymore because of health issues but I do miss being able to bum a smoke every other month or so to enjoy, wake me up, or just to get a nice little nicotine buzz. Tobacco and alcohol pair especially well

      This is why we have smokers!

      Smoking is far, far, far more detrimental to you health than anything else that is legal. Yes, alcohol destroys live too, but it only destroys the lives of a relatively small percentage of those who drink. I'm not aware of coffee being a major health risk. OTOH there have been studies that shown that two thirds of smokers (yes, 67 percent) will die from smoking related illness. AFAIK, there is nothing that says this is decreased if you only smoke occasionally. (My mother-in-law died from lung cancer years after she quit smoking.)

      If you want to be part of the 33%, rather than the 67% I'd urge you to quit now. It may already be too late, but with some luck it isn't.

  24. Everything is dangerous to our health. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Everything is dangerous to our health.
    Too much water and we die.
    Too much oxygen and we die.
    Too much milk and we throw up ... then die.

    Adults should be allowed to do whatever it is they want, provided it doesn't harm anyone else or someone elses' property.

    If someone wants to kill themselves slowly by smoking cancer sticks, fine. Cocaine, painkillers, whatever other drugs, it is still their decision. If they are physically addicted and ask for help, that help should be provided

    If someone wants to kill themselves slowly by overeating, fine. We all know someone like this.

    If someone wants to kill themselves by using a gun shot to the head, fine. Had a friend do this 1 Sunday. He left a wife and 2 yr old behind. Sad.

    How are we to decide what is best some someone else? Should we try to convince that person these habits are dangerous and bad? Sure! But in the end, it is their decision.

    Adults are responsible for their own actions. So ... when is someone an adult? 12, 15, 18, 21, 25, 35? An argument can be made for each of those. I'm inclined to say when they move out from their parents' home, not some age-based date.

    1. Re:Everything is dangerous to our health. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Secondhand smoke causes harm to others.. It even causes deaths...

      Second thing would be... If society has paid for you to go to school and be productive because of what you learnt, then why should society accept that you do things that will reduce your productivity?..
      Fine if you paid for school yourself and never received any type of handouts that the rest of us paid for....

      The same should go for all types of unhealthy living.. If the rest of us foots the bill for education and other things you need to pay that back before you can go and be self-destructive.....

  25. When will public smoking be banned? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

    I don't think we should ban tobacco. I think we should ban smoking anything where someone else has to breathe it. While we're at it, let's ban chemicals that anyone else can smell. Why is it acceptable to make chemical attacks on people you walk past on the street? No one else should be able to smell you unless they are right up in your business.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  26. How many "new" smokers are there? by swb · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The attitude towards smoking has changed so much in my lifetime. When I was in high school (80-85), the area around the door to the student parking lot was the semi-official smoking area. Students could openly smoke without any problems. The teacher lounges were a haze of smoke. The only real restrictions on smoking were restaurants had to offer a "non-smoking" section, bars could be all smoking. Private offices were often OK for smoking, even the downtown office building I worked in circa 1993 still had some accommodation for smoking (smoking lounge, departments could set their own smoking policy -- most banned it totally, but two allowed it, and a couple more allowed it after hours).

    Now, it's totally different. No smoking in any restaurant or bar, most buildings ban smoking with a large distance of their doors, pretty much any public place has no smoking at all. Even the parks have banned "tobacco use" (which IMHO is kind of ridiculous, but OK, less litter and the picnic table zone is smoke free). Unless you want to smoke in your own home (most rentals are no-smoking) or in your own car, you're pretty much out luck for smoking.

    So I'm kind of curious how many new smokers there are given how inconvenient it is to smoke, especially if you're under 21 or a teenager. Plus there are all the vaping options, which seem like they would be way more attractive (good flavors, little odor so you can get away with it in places you could never smoke). And let's not forget the cost, with all the new taxes, a pack of cigarettes is like $8.

    I would think that the rate of adoption for cigarettes would be low enough at this point that new enforcement measures would mostly be for show or a waste of effort. I also wonder if some of the new laws aren't an effort by "stop smoking" organizations looking for fresh PR to keep funding going when it already seems like they could just close shop and declare victory.

    1. Re:How many "new" smokers are there? by will_die · · Score: 1

      There are lots of new smokers out there however they are not doing tobacco cigarettes, cigars or pipes.
      They are now into hookahs, e-cigarettes, and there are a bunch of new ones that go directly into cannabis.

    2. Re:How many "new" smokers are there? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It really varies by area; in my city few young people smoke, but I was amazed that a similar-sized city the majority seemed to. If it was just bad for the person who does it I wouldn't care, but it stinks and causes health problems for those around you. Why we allow to people to walk around spraying aerosolized carcenogens at one another is utterly beyond me.

      I'd be perfectly fine with them ditching age restrictions and just making it based on date of birth. Born on or after 1/1/2000? No nicotine products for you! If they want to dissuade kids from taking up the habit, making it clear that it will never be legal for them is a better approach than making it something that only adults can do.

      Of course, banning harmful choices is one of those things that gets a lot of push back, and banning profitable-but-evil industries also gets a lot of push back, so it will never happen. We'll continue to pay for the poor choices of stupid kids and addict adults both through increased taxes and healthcare costs whilst evil megacrops rake in the dollars, because profit comes before people.

    3. Re:How many "new" smokers are there? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Trying to follow the argument... You are making the case against new laws and government intervention by citing a bunch of laws and government intervention that has worked?

    4. Re:How many "new" smokers are there? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Have*... Serves me right for posting ac.

    5. Re:How many "new" smokers are there? by swb · · Score: 1

      It's funny, but yes. I agree the changes in laws have been effective, so effective that at this point I don't think more of them will accomplish any meaningful further improvement in smoking reduction.

      I also think that advocacy groups with money don't like to decide they have achieved victory, they have to keep fighting the fight or they lose money and disappear. So you have non-smoking groups looking to perpetuate stop smoking movements not because there's an increase in smoking but because the organization needs its enemy to exist.

    6. Re:How many "new" smokers are there? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I started smoking ~4 years ago.

      I have them as treats, smoking 0 - 2 cigarettes a day. Been consistent throughout the 4 years.

      I don't like vaping because frankly, it doesnt look as cool, and it's also less fun, and less convenient.

      With cigarettes, I'm forced to go outside and reflect on things for a handful of minutes. Watching the fire burn the tobacco is sort of fun. Hearing it slightly crackle and pop is nice too. The single serving size is great.

      Overall, Imma keep doing it. Otherwise, I'm a healthy, active young man.

  27. Follow your own logic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No, you are supposed to be a higher order animal, and forgo intercourse if you can't fucking pay for it. Don't make others pay for it, asshole

    1. Re: Follow your own logic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Higher order animals can't predict the future. We usually find out about severe birth defects after conception, not before.
      If you and your wife want to carry a non-viable fetus to term, that is certainly your choice, and it is your risk as well. But don't force the rest of us to follow your religious views and risk our lives over something we do not believe in.

    2. Re: Follow your own logic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can also choose not to drive on public roads, but you seem to have no problem with doing so and expecting me to pay for them.

    3. Re: Follow your own logic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      lol at /r/incel invading slashdot!

  28. CNN is fake news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Death to CNN. Long live the new flesh.

  29. Re:Nanny state socialism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    The reasonable law would be one that respects people's freedom to smoke what the fuck they want. Everybody is aware of the health risk. Some people decide the benefit outweighs the risk. Just as an example, smoking is good for people with mental health issues. Would you prefer them to get more anxiety attacks and commit suicide? Leave them the fuck alone.

  30. Re:Nanny state socialism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Because banning shit makes it go away.

  31. EVEN more reasonable by Texmaize · · Score: 2

    So, wouldn't it also be reasonable to ban alcohol use, a product that is responsible for over 85% of all date rapes and is the 4th largest cause of death in the U.S?

    Was this not mentioned because you are friends with Mia Vice Izafine and Bee Cuz Ilikait?

    --
    "Liberalism is a very noble idea, currently controlled by some very bad people. Be sure you do not get the two confused.
    1. Re:EVEN more reasonable by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 2

      So, wouldn't it also be reasonable to ban alcohol use, a product that is responsible for over 85% of all date rapes and is the 4th largest cause of death in the U.S?

      Ah, yes - I see you belong to the group that believes that a woman who had had a drink is incapable of giving consent, while a man who has had a drink is therefore a rapist if they engage in sexual activity, perhaps simple sexual assault if they hold hands or cuddle.

      It also means that if my wife has had a few and gets frisky, I am likewise guilty if I engage with her. And she'll be a tad pissed if I don't.

      So perhaps we need to install breathalyzers in all homes, and that the amorous couples be required to test negatively for alcohol before being allowed to engage in sexual activities. It's funny how many people claim that women are strong and independent at the same time they clam women are weak and helpless. It's like Alice's Red queen.

      Stop it! you're not doing women any favors.

      Life in itself is invariably fatal.

      Now making alcohol illegal. Good old prohibition. Yes, that was one of the biggest kickstarters for organized crime, caused widespread disrespect for government by way of turning most of America into criminals, and didn't do a thing it was intended to do.

      America's War on drugs part one was just as successful as the present Version 2.0.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    2. Re:EVEN more reasonable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The reason why alcohol is legal is because banning it was so unpopular that it lead to literal drug wars and even the police were ignoring the law to have a drink leading to massive corruption.

      Alcohol and tobacco are not legal because they have some sort of redeeming quality to them, they're legal because there's too many people that enjoy those drugs to have a law work.

    3. Re:EVEN more reasonable by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

      You just proved there's no moron like an old moron.

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    4. Re:EVEN more reasonable by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      Weed, Dont forget weed!

    5. Re:EVEN more reasonable by Powercntrl · · Score: 1

      So, wouldn't it also be reasonable to ban alcohol use...

      Alcohol can be enjoyed responsibly and also has substantial uses in culinary arts. (cabernet sauce, beer-batter fried seafood, bourbon marinade, vodka sauce, moonshine BBQ sauce, Jack Daniels beans, garlic butter white wine sauce, kahlua chocolate mousse... etc.)

      It would be like banning crowbars because they can be used to break into homes.

      --

      ---
      DRM is like antifreeze, to the MPAA/RIAA it's sweet, to the consumers it's poison.
    6. Re:EVEN more reasonable by Powercntrl · · Score: 1

      Alcohol and tobacco are not legal because they have some sort of redeeming quality to them

      You do know there are other alcoholic products besides Budweiser?

      --

      ---
      DRM is like antifreeze, to the MPAA/RIAA it's sweet, to the consumers it's poison.
    7. Re:EVEN more reasonable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      So, wouldn't it also be reasonable to ban alcohol use...

      Alcohol can be enjoyed responsibly and also has substantial uses in culinary arts. (cabernet sauce, beer-batter fried seafood, bourbon marinade, vodka sauce, moonshine BBQ sauce, Jack Daniels beans, garlic butter white wine sauce, kahlua chocolate mousse... etc.)

      It would be like banning crowbars because they can be used to break into homes.

      Or guns because they can kill people despite hundreds of millions only being used for target practice.

      Or explosives for the same reason despite the vast, vast majority going towards industrial uses.

      Or agent orange as an effective weed-killer which, when used in a controlled way, can be safe.

      We measure things based on their effects. Guns, explosives, and various chemicals are too dangerous to outweigh their benefits. Alcohol is in the same category.

    8. Re: EVEN more reasonable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How? His points are perdeftly reasonable.

    9. Re:EVEN more reasonable by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      You just proved there's no moron like an old moron.

      Barbara, I am withoug doubt the bigest moron on the planet. It's no insult when I accept the charge.

      Then again......

      http://www.pamf.org/teen/abc/s...

      This really clearly supports my incorrect notions.

      I have noticed the my cites are often not read so I'll quote a little from the article.

      "For instance, if someone is drunk or high on drugs, then that person cannot give consent. This means that even if someone seems eager to engage in sexual behavior, doing so can legally be considered sexual assault or rape if he or she is intoxicated.

      http://everydayfeminism.com/20... Here one from: http://teenadvice.about.com/od...

      "Another area of confusion on the date rape topic is intoxication. Bottom line, if a girl is intoxicated she cannot consent to sex and you could be charged with rape. It does not matter whether you knew she was intoxicated, it doesn’t matter if you were intoxicated too, all that matters is that she was not in a state of mind to consent and therefore it is rape. If you get a girl drunk or high and then “get together” with her you have committed a sexual assault.

      Again, it doesn’t matter if you are drunk or high as well. Your diminished abilities do not negate your responsibilities. A good rule to follow; if you are under the influence do not have sex. Now say you really had no idea a girl was intoxicated and that she truly appeared to be a willing partner, what then?

      A drunk woman cannot give consent, and if she appears to but she is drunk, it is rape. If the male is drunk as well, he miraculously is still raping her. Damn white male privilege straike again.

      I know, I know, you do not have the time to read it.

      So yes, it's moronic, Yes I am pathetically stupid.

      Your name calling is indicitive of bubblethink. I thought better of you, and sad to see that once again I am wrong.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    10. Re:EVEN more reasonable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Old man yells at clouds

    11. Re:EVEN more reasonable by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      Old man yells at clouds

      Anonymous coward posts really tired old never very funny memes. But hey - thanks for playing. You'll receive a copy of the Slashdot coward's home game for those times when you've blown your data cap.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    12. Re: EVEN more reasonable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Found the Mormon.

    13. Re:EVEN more reasonable by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

      You are so full of shit. Your link doesn't even support your claim. You said:

      Ah, yes - I see you belong to the group that believes that a woman who had had a drink is incapable of giving consent, while a man who has had a drink is therefore a rapist if they engage in sexual activity, perhaps simple sexual assault if they hold hands or cuddle.

      On the contrary, one drink does not vitiate consent, unless it's been spiked with roofies. Grow the fuck up, moron. You can start by not putting words in my mouth and then arguing against them.

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    14. Re:EVEN more reasonable by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      You are so full of shit. Your link doesn't even support your claim. You said:

      I appear to have angered you. Where does impairment start? The legal limit of .08, or the new metric MADD and NSC uses of "impairment starts with the first drink." http://www.nsc.org/learn/NSC-I...

      On the contrary, one drink does not vitiate consent, unless it's been spiked with roofies. Grow the fuck up, moron. You can start by not putting words in my mouth and then arguing against them.

      Are you going through some difficulties in your life that has caused a once reasonable person to write like the Anonymous Cowards that pollute Slashdot with that sort of stuff?

      You see, your definition or even mine is not required. Roofies are not required. What is required is a person that claims they have been violated because they have had any amount of alcohol. And the definition is so broad that it extends to married couples.

      And I'm a little curious about your statement of me putting words in your mouth - and rest assured if I did, I wouldn't use your foul language as insults. My reply that you are quoting was most certainly not to you.. If you look back at the threads, you will see that I was replying to Texmaize. So unless Texmaize is another pseudonym of yours, why are you trying to hijack the conversation and make up things to be insulted about?

      All of which is to say, chillaxe, friend. I'm happy to converse with people who disagree with me, but much prefer that they eschew taking it over the edge into name calling, especially when they are being insulted by a post not even directed toward them. Otherwise I won't give you the gift of my witty wisdom and brilliant ripostes.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    15. Re:EVEN more reasonable by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

      I really don't want your "gift of witty wisdom and brilliant ripostes", probably because I've yet to see any evidence they exist. They must suffer from Cheshire Cat Syndrome - they appear brilliant to you but fade away when anyone else tries to look at them, leaving just the crap,

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    16. Re:EVEN more reasonable by Texmaize · · Score: 1

      One could make the same argument about homosexuality. They were hunted for years and society thought that was ok. Yet, in the face of evil we can progress. Step one, call things what they are....

      --
      "Liberalism is a very noble idea, currently controlled by some very bad people. Be sure you do not get the two confused.
    17. Re:EVEN more reasonable by Texmaize · · Score: 1

      Technically, it is not enjoyed as responsibly as you think. See, I provided all those links n all. Try reading.

      More to the point, the original post was very sanctimonious about certain vices, but ignoring others. Most likely because the poster enjoys those vices. That is called hypocrisy, and no one should stand for it. This was pointing that out. The funny thing is, since I dared question the sacred cow of alcohol, I got many people's pee pee out of wack.They really don't see the irony of it.

      --
      "Liberalism is a very noble idea, currently controlled by some very bad people. Be sure you do not get the two confused.
  32. What a stupid idea. by thesandtiger · · Score: 2

    I started smoking at the age of 12 (and quit at 32), and I never, ever, not even once, had a problem getting cigarettes when I was underage, and I hardly think it's any more difficult for underage people to do the same nowadays.

    I'd say put all age restrictions on things - literally everything that is currently legal but with an age restriction - at the same age as the normal age of military service.

    If you really want to discourage smoking, ban it from anywhere but a private residence and tax the hell out of it. Make the fine for smoking anywhere but in a private residence double per offense, starting at $50, and if the person smoking is underage, make the parent or legal guardian responsible for the fine. Make the tax for tobacco something like $25 for a pack of cigarettes. Make the fines for selling age restricted products to an underaged person draconian - first offense $5000, second offense you lose your license to sell ANYTHING age restricted, period. Tobacco isn't a necessity, it isn't an essential - tax it as the (stupid, harmful) luxury it is.

    Mind you, I don't agree with the notion of doing the above, and I'm not on an anti-smoking crusade, but if the powers that be were actually serious about the public health elements of smoking they'd do more than this weak-tea pandering bullshit. They don't actually want to do anything to really break the back of big tobacco because of $$$, so they just do idiotic things like raise the age for legal purchase which plays well to some people, but is basically ignored.

    --
    Since I can't tell them apart, I treat all ACs as the same person.
    1. Re:What a stupid idea. by blindseer · · Score: 2

      Make the tax for tobacco something like $25 for a pack of cigarettes.

      I'm not a fan of that idea. I remember my dad talking about how after he quit he noticed how other people were dealing with their habit. Specifically he noted a lady at a filling station that bought a pack of cigarettes and then started counting pennies to buy enough gas to get home. You see, getting her nic-fix was more important to her than making sure she had enough gas to get home. You can raise the tax but then you have a lot of people still buying them because this is an addiction, not a luxury.

      I hear this all the time on how such taxes punish the poor. I used to think that this was just an excuse by the tobacco lobby but now I see some truth in it. This is an addiction that taxes cannot fix, at least not alone. People have to want to quit, and an addiction will cloud their thoughts. I'm sure that taxes will drive some people to stop smoking but they have to remain rational enough to make that decision. Dad tried quitting for decades before he could stop. He had nicotine patches and whatever. I don't know what it took for him to stop, but I suspect getting a new house and not wanting to stink it up helped a lot. He broke a lot of habits after he retired, like not getting up at 5:30 in the morning any more.

      What reduced smoking in the USA was the same thing that reduced drunk driving, people just didn't tolerate it any more. People still smoke, people still drive drunk, but people also generally find both behaviors unattractive. Sometimes government is not the solution.

      --
      I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
    2. Re:What a stupid idea. by thesandtiger · · Score: 1

      I agree that social pressure is the way to reduce this particular problem. However, the article is about government trying to address the issue by using the tools of government, and my comment was aimed at the stupidity of that governmental approach when they have other approaches they could take that would be more effective, and how because they weren't taking the more effective governmental approach over the less effective governmental approach, they were obviously pandering and playing to the monied interests.

      As to a tax on the poor - I don't see a pack of cigarettes costing $10 or $15 or $20 due to taxes as all that much more of a burden on the poor than if cigarettes cost $5 a pack. If one is in such dire straits that a $5 or $10 increase on a non-essential item is going to break them, then maybe they should stop purchasing said non-essential item.

      I get that it's an addiction - it's one that I had, as I said. It's also one that was DAMN hard for me to break, and took a dozen tries over the course of my addiction. However, what it didn't do was cause me to go homeless, cause me to commit crimes in order to get a fix (even when I was flat broke), cause me to make stupid choices like "cigarettes vs. food" or "cigarettes vs. paying a utility bill", and frankly, given that we don't see a massive increase in crimes related to people stealing, turning tricks, or whatever else in order to get their nicotine fix in areas where smokes cost $15 a pack or more, I don't think most other people do any of those things, too.

      To wring your hands over it being a "tax on the poor" is absurd. It's not heroin, it's not crack, it's not even alcohol - it isn't mind altering in the same way those drugs are and it doesn't cause the same insane lapses in judgement that those drugs do. It also doesn't run the risk of killing you during detox the way other drugs do. Worst case scenario is you turn into a raging asshole with a short temper while having a nicotine fit, which goes away in a matter of minutes (although the desire to smoke can last longer).

      --
      Since I can't tell them apart, I treat all ACs as the same person.
    3. Re:What a stupid idea. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So, more liberal faggot propaganda is the answer? Kill yourself.

    4. Re:What a stupid idea. by blindseer · · Score: 1

      As to a tax on the poor - I don't see a pack of cigarettes costing $10 or $15 or $20 due to taxes as all that much more of a burden on the poor than if cigarettes cost $5 a pack. If one is in such dire straits that a $5 or $10 increase on a non-essential item is going to break them, then maybe they should stop purchasing said non-essential item.

      You do realize that smokers do vote too, right? Assuming what you say is true there are only so many taxes that can be imposed before people push back. There's the smokers, the tobacco lobby, small government lobby, and the lobby lobby sitting in the lobby waiting to lobby for more lobbyists.

      Yes, there are people that lobby for these tobacco taxes but I've seen a lot of push back on them. The economy isn't great and lowering taxes is popular.

      Enforcement is an issue too. People carry cigarettes over borders all the time to avoid taxes. Take it too far and people get creative real quick.

      However, the article is about government trying to address the issue by using the tools of government,...

      And I say that there are some things the government should stay out of. Why is the government involved in this? Shouldn't they be worried about bridges falling into rivers? It's not their job to keep people from smoking.

      --
      I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
    5. Re:What a stupid idea. by amxcoder · · Score: 1

      The above mentioned tactics wouldn't really stop it. It would just create a black market for it instead. Heck, now that California just RAISED the tax $2.00 per pack over what it already was this year, making a pack of cigarettes around $8, I'm waiting to find out if a black market develops and steps up to the plate. The state can try to pick and choose industries to help and crush despite market demands, but if they go too far, people will just go around their red-tape.

      Case in point is marijuana. Which until recently in some states, had a de-facto ban on it, and possession being illegal. Did it stop the underground black market from making it readily available? Did it stop users from obtaining it? Nope.

      Another example being alcohol back in the 30's, with prohibition. Did that stop people from creating an underground distillation and distribution system. Did it stop Speak Easy's from cropping up. Did it stop people from drinking alcohol. Nope. It did create a side problem though, in that violence increased over rival groups who were competing with each other to provide these underground services, making the original problem even worse with the added violence, gang affiliation, and the rise of organized crime.

    6. Re:What a stupid idea. by thesandtiger · · Score: 1

      Really, If raising the tax on cigarettes gets people to vote, then honestly, I'm all for it. That would mean there would be more turn out in local elections etc., and that would absolutely be a good thing.

      As to what the job of government is, I'd say "addressing public health problems" is certainly a reasonable thing for the government to be involved in. Smoking is a pretty huge public health issue and smoking related issues winds up costing taxpayers vast sums of money. I don't think it's the government's job to "keep people from smoking" but I absolutely think that the government can do some things to address public health issues, things that wouldn't get done otherwise.

      Things like warning labels (do you think tobacco businesses would have done that themselves?), restricting how and where tobacco can be advertised (again, lots of luck thinking they'd have voluntarily restricted themselves), and funding research into the damage tobacco does (hahaha, yeah, these are the same companies that had doctors recommending various brands) have done FAR more to curb smoking than age restrictions on purchase. Tax increases have also had an impact, though not nearly as much. And there are a number of other little things - laws prohibiting smoking in various public venues etc. and so on, have all combined to reduce smoking.

      --
      Since I can't tell them apart, I treat all ACs as the same person.
  33. Re:Nanny state socialism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    euh, except there is always a healthy alternative to smoking for those problems. Besides the mental health patients there are literally no benefits to smoking. People only "enjoy" it because it makes them feel worse when they stop, and doesn't make them feel better when they start initially. I don't know any doctor that promotes smoking for mental health patients.

  34. Re:Nanny state socialism by ranton · · Score: 2

    Everybody is aware of the health risk. Some people decide the benefit outweighs the risk.

    People smoke because of addiction. I have never met even a reasonably intelligent person who is a smoker who didn't ultimately want to quit. They just didn't have the inner drive to quit yet. Nearly no one is making a benefit / risk analysis when choosing to smoke, they are being driven by addiction.

    smoking is good for people with mental health issues. Would you prefer them to get more anxiety attacks and commit suicide?

    There is no way you are getting that information from someone with any training in fighting mental health issues. Quitting smoking is well known to help combat mental health issues. Smoking is a very poor method of self medication to reduce stress and anxiety. While smokers may believe otherwise, smoking increases stress and anxiety. Smoking provides a very temporary sense of relaxation and without smoking a few packs a day will create an overall increase in stress and anxiety throughout a smoker's day.

    --
    -- All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. -- Edmund Burke
  35. Re:Nanny state socialism by ranton · · Score: 1

    No, the reasonable law would be to make the product that kills over 400,000 Americans every year illegal.

    Banning stuff doesn't make them go away. People tend to smoke because they want to regardless of whether it is illegal. Marijuana smoking rates went from about 10% to 12% in Colorado after it became legal so it isn't like there was a huge population of people who wanted to smoke but didn't only because it was illegal.

    Methods such as increasing the legal age and increasing taxes do reduce the number of new smokers, although unfortunately higher taxes have little effect on heavy/long-term smokers. But since it is so hard to get people who still smoke today to quit, stopping new smokers seems to be a practical goal.

    --
    -- All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. -- Edmund Burke
  36. Cigarettes Don't Kill People by SumterLiving · · Score: 1, Funny

    I've been told countless times and we read in every "gun control" forum that guns don't kill people, people kill people. Using that same logic, how can we ever justify "cigarette control" as a way to limit damage or death. The Oregon lawmakers just don't get it. Outlaw certain cigarettes and then only criminals will have them. And the only way to stop a criminal smoker is to make sure we have more and more good citizen smokers on the streets. We're just opening a huge Pandoras Box with these new laws. I advocate for open smoking laws. We should be able to walk around openly smoking with lighters and books of matches slung over our shoulders.

    1. Re:Cigarettes Don't Kill People by blindseer · · Score: 2

      I have a different view on that line of thinking.

      People accuse the NRA of the mantra of "more guns!!". Well, what I see from the government is the mantra of "more government!!" Can we perhaps get a solution from the government that does not involve more government? Maybe have the government say once in a while, "That's not a problem we can solve, all of you are going to have to figure that one out on your own."

      Nope, we have the government see a problem, therefore they must act to solve the problem. Often times the so called solution has little relation to the problem. We'll have a senator speak from a podium and effectively say, "Something must be done! This is something. Therefore it must be done!" There is little thought on if the solution would be effective, and rarely is there a means to remove the law if in the future there is evidence it's doing nothing or in fact making the problem worse.

      I agree that we've opened a Pandora's box here. We've created the idea that the government can solve all of our problems. Just like the solution may not in fact be more guns, sometimes the solution may not be more government.

      --
      I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
    2. Re:Cigarettes Don't Kill People by SumterLiving · · Score: 1

      To be fair, the NRA does like the "the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun" mantra. When applied to another inanimate object, that mantra seems kind of silly in my mind.

    3. Re:Cigarettes Don't Kill People by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But they don't apply it to another inanimate object, and so your point is completely irrelevant.

    4. Re:Cigarettes Don't Kill People by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      People should have access to free orca rides, no matter their social or financial position.

      Yes, things are silly when you act silly.

    5. Re:Cigarettes Don't Kill People by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have a different view on that line of thinking.

      Ok, it's still wrong. At least SumterLiving was being blatantly facetious.

      People accuse the NRA of the mantra of "more guns!!".

      Actually the accusations that the NRA faces are far more extensive than that. It has a long litany of criticisms, but no need to digress into them.

      Well, what I see from the government is the mantra of "more government!!" Can we perhaps get a solution from the government that does not involve more government? Maybe have the government say once in a while, "That's not a problem we can solve, all of you are going to have to figure that one out on your own."

      Actually, leaving aside your fallacy that the "government" exists as an entity to say anything, we get that all the time, and it tends to be a problem, as it leads to not solving a problem, but ignoring it. You may not have noticed, but there's a political party that loves to declare that the government should stay out of things as part of its mantra. They even have a popular scare-quote or two.

      It'd be nice if you even admitted it existed. Of course, that's not even limited to the legislature, it's also happened in the judiciary, see all of the "political question" deferrals.

      And believe it or not, it can become a problem in itself.

      Nope, we have the government see a problem, therefore they must act to solve the problem.

      Ah, but that's not true. In reality, people see a problem, and while some seek a solution, others decide against acting, and some want to act, but aren't sure how, and others oppose any action, because they reject the problem as a problem.

      Often times the so called solution has little relation to the problem.

      Often times, a person claims something without giving a specific example, but instead relies on a general acceptance of the notion, without it being actually true.

      We'll have a senator speak from a podium and effectively say, "Something must be done! This is something. Therefore it must be done!" There is little thought on if the solution would be effective, and rarely is there a means to remove the law if in the future there is evidence it's doing nothing or in fact making the problem worse.

      In reality, there is considerable thought as to effectiveness, and there is always a means to remove a law. Namely the same methods by which was passed, making your point tedious at best. That's not even counting the number of laws passed with sunset clauses, which are far more common than you realize.

      And we do have politicians speak from a podium, and effectively say things like "Do nothing, we must do nothing, because..." with a fallacious litany of excuses as they try to get a problem ignored, and give little thought to the costs of that inaction. The Great MisCommunicator was famous for it.

      I agree that we've opened a Pandora's box here.

      A mythological construct of imaginary nature that has no basis in reality, but merely represents an ancient fictional work?

      Well, at least you know what you've done. Right? Relied on a fantasy!

      We've created the idea that the government can solve all of our problems. Just like the solution may not in fact be more guns, sometimes the solution may not be more government.

      Sorry, but I'm not seeing you offer a solution, or any consideration of it at all, just railing, like your putative senator above, effectively wringing his hands, and yet giving no thought to effectiveness.

      Worse yet, you seem to be unaware that your suggest modus operandi IS one of the mechanisms for doing so, which even aside from its failures, is bad because such ignorance on your part is an abject failure.

  37. Re:Nanny state socialism by Harlequin80 · · Score: 1

    This is the approach Tasmania (a state of Australia) has taken. It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born in 2000 or later.

  38. Raising age by nospam007 · · Score: 1

    If you want to curb smoking, just raise the age to 91 instead of 21.

  39. Just make it insanely expensive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Making cigarettes more expensive works way better in europe then making it illegal.
    Just tax it untill a pack costs 15, or even 25, bucks. This will bring smoking down a lot. People don't seem to care much about the health risks. Also raising the minimum age to buy sigarettes does not make them less available.

  40. Freedom by chewie2010 · · Score: 1

    1. If cigarettes are so bad make them illegal 2. 18 is the legal age of adulthood. 3. If you ban cigarettes a black market will open up. 4. Damn the statistics, get the government out of our lives. No surprise the poorest state is wasting time on this garbage. How many homeless in the west? Portland and SF are full of homeless people and the politicians waste everyone's time with soda taxes and cigarettes.

    1. Re:Freedom by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No one is banning cigarettes, idiot. They are just raising the purchase age.

      The West is full of homeless people due to hospitable climate more than anything else.

    2. Re:Freedom by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Would you consider an increase of purchasing age to 150 to be "not a ban"?

  41. Re:Nanny state socialism by fnj · · Score: 1

    People smoke because of addiction.

    Bullshit. No one ever smoked their first cigarette because they were addicted. People smoke because they choose to try the experience. They may then become trapped by addiction, but that's not why they started smoking.

  42. Re:Nanny state socialism by andydread · · Score: 1

    Vehicles kill alot of people per year too so let's make them illegal. And didn't Oregon legalize POT smoking? I'm sure that kills people too.

  43. It's fire season by PPH · · Score: 1

    And, although it is illegal to throw burning materials out of a car window, many roadside grass fires will be started by cigarettes. Not that I've ever seen anyone get cited for this. I've seen people flick ashes out onto a following state patrol car.

    I suppose the biggest problem is the intent part of the law. The ashes just get blown out of the car through the open window. So, make it an offense to smoke in a vehicle with any windows open. I guarantee that, in addition to reducing the fire problem, this inconvenience will go a long way toward reducing smoking.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
    1. Re:It's fire season by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ashes... Are you fucking retarded? What is it that you expect ashes to do? I can flip ashes into my hand and rub them in.

    2. Re:It's fire season by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      The ashes just get blown out of the car through the open window.

      It is stunningly difficult to start a fire with a lit cigarette without throwing it out of the window, e.g. just by losing your cherry. It's the people who actually throw out their lit cigarettes who are the big problem there.

      So, make it an offense to smoke in a vehicle with any windows open. I guarantee that, in addition to reducing the fire problem, this inconvenience will go a long way toward reducing smoking.

      I, for one, would very much like to see this happen anyway. Before I became a smoker, I thought cigarettes were disgusting. Now that I'm well and really past being addicted (it's been years since I've had so much as a drag) when I do catch a whiff there is no urge to do anything but run away. It's disgusting. It's not a big deal while driving except in traffic or while waiting for a construction zone to clear, at which point it's common to get a big waft of someone else's smoke into your window if you have it open.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  44. Know how you get around this restriction? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Know how you get around this restriction?
    Grow your own.

    I knew people growing tobacco back in high school. One of them grew 'shit tobacco' as he put it to help fund his own tobacco purchases, while selling the low quality stuff he grew to other kids who wanted cheap cigs.

    Nowadays literally every farming seed supplier has heirloom tobacco seed of up to dozens of varieties. Aztec, Delaware, Hopi, Dominican, and those are just off the top of my head. You'd need to find the right kinds for the style of consumption you were planning (whether cigarette, cigar, pipe, or chew) and proper processing technique, but besides bragging rights for doing so you get around basically all laws relating to tobacco restrictions and bonus: you learn a valuable trade skill while also having an under the table economic fallback if you really need money. I am not condoning illegal activity, but given the number of people I've met or heard secondhand stories about funding their high school/college years through drug sales, in part because it is almost impossible to get a decent paying job as a high schooler (especially one without A or B level grades) there aren't many business opportunities for much of the US's minor population, unless you've got a 'hook up'.

    Having said that, you can now get seeds for almost anything you want in the world. Find out your local agriculture restrictions, then go crazy, even if you're in an apartment, all you need is a couple windows, or LED grow lights (which have gotten quite good in the past few years) and you can grow anything you're willing to maintain to 'still fits through the door' size. Lots of these plants could help you to reduce reliable on expensive spices or foodstuffs, although some would obviously take up too much room to harvest a sufficient supply. Tobacco, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Sugar Cane, and a variety of other kinds of plants will provide plenty given limited space as long as you can keep them watered, sunned, and in some cases fertilized.

  45. The 5 stages of dying for a smoke by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 2

    1 "I can quit any time" - denial
    2 "I will quit when I'm ready" -negotiation
    3 "I enjoy it too much to quit" - rationalization
    4 "It's the only thing I have left to enjoy." - capitulation
    5 "I don't want to die!" - reality

    Followed by the ultimate personal smoking experience - cremation. Do you really want to be "smoking hot"?

    --
    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
  46. Re:Nanny state socialism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "Pot" has not killed anyone, ever.

  47. Re:Nanny state socialism by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

    People smoke because of addiction.

    Bullshit. No one ever smoked their first cigarette because they were addicted. People smoke because they choose to try the experience. They may then become trapped by addiction, but that's not why they started smoking.

    Learn to read. Even you quoted it - "People smoke because of addition." This does not state that they started because they were addicted, but that they continue because the're addicted.

    --
    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
  48. Statewide ban. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If they really cared about stopping smoking they would ban that shit. Problem is, so many people smoke that would effectively remove a huge chunk of tax revenue.

  49. Lot more here for some reason by future+assassin · · Score: 1

    Seen more and more early 20's smoking, especially girls. Weird as I've seen smoking decline quite a bit in the last 15 years.

    --
    by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
    1. Re:Lot more here for some reason by Zaelath · · Score: 1

      That's the diet effect... it's the one thing that I miss about smoking; it replaces every craving. Hungry? Must want a smoke. Thirsty? Yeah, definitely need a smoke. Tired? OMG, you might as well light the next smoke off this one!

      Realising that was also a big help in quitting... I had to start going to bed a /lot/ earlier.

  50. Re:Nanny state socialism by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 2

    It often does. We made fireplaces and wood stoves illegal to reduce particulates (and added $5,000 fines for non-compliance). Worked like a charm.

    We made driving without a seatbelt illegal, and added $92 fines. Very high rates of compliance.

    We made it illegal to smoke in restaurants, work, enclosed public spaces, and certain outdoor spaces include outdoor restaurant terrasses and patios. with fines starting at $250 - $750 for the individual for a first offense. Nobody smokes in restaurants any more. Maximum fines can reach $250,000. Get caught selling tobacco products to a kid, pay $3000. Really cut down on sales of cigarettes to minors.

    Awards for discrimination can go up to $50,000 or more, at a simple hearing where you don't even need a lawyer. People have an incentive to behave better.

    --
    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
  51. As a young erson if I wanted to smoke then by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I would leave the country and piss on you on the way out.

  52. Re:Nanny state socialism by sexconker · · Score: 1

    Yeah, the reasonable law would be to raise the smoking age 1 year every year, no new smokers.

    No, the reasonable law would be to make the product that kills over 400,000 Americans every year illegal.

    Unfortunately, Common F. Sense never seems to prevail over Corruption N. Greed.

    With that logic, we should make booze illegal again.

  53. Re:Nanny state socialism by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

    lol worked so well with weed, that a hand full of states said "fuck it get high if you want to"

  54. Legal? by wisnoskij · · Score: 1

    Where in he legal system does it allow full citizens who are considered fully independent adults to be discriminated against because of their age?

    --
    Troll is not a replacement for I disagree.
    1. Re:Legal? by pi_rules · · Score: 2

      I'm not sure what the technicals are behind it all but age limits are enshrined right in the US Constitution. We put them on holding office.

    2. Re:Legal? by jroysdon · · Score: 2

      Founders recognized that people needed some years under their belts to get maturity before they should be running the country.

  55. Re: Nanny state socialism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I recognise the sentiment, but don't see any relationship to socialism. Are other political philosophies incapable of making laws?

  56. Re:Nanny state socialism by amiga3D · · Score: 1

    Most people start smoking well before 18. Another stupid law that accomplishes absolutely nothing.

  57. Re: Nanny state socialism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's an authoritarian approach, not one along the socialist/capitalist axis (the reasoning behind it may potentially although not necessarily lay anywhere along that axis, however). Some people just aren't equipped with the tools of thought to make any kind of political observation, just shout their team name blindly. Such is life.

  58. Futile Effort by hduff · · Score: 1

    Teens have always had access to tobacco no mater what restrictions were. Unless they plan for incarcerations or large fines, this is just tilting at windmills.

    --
    "I believe in Karma. That means I can do bad things to people all day long and I assume they deserve it." : Dogbert
  59. Re:Nanny state socialism by Highdude702 · · Score: 2

    And didn't Oregon legalize POT smoking? I'm sure that kills people too.

    Apparently you have never smoked weed. It id not like the 1930's movie "Refer Madness" You dont turn insane after one hit. Honestly it has some good mental health effects. The main reason I smoke weed is because I like it, taste, smell, feeling.. the whole thing. But it also relieves stress and occasional panic attacks my job tends to give me. Now, without weed. I'm sure I would have more homicidal feelings than I do currently(peoples stupidity makes me want to kill them). I live in Las Vegas, where recently was made legal to buy and consume in the privacy of your home. I can tell you that I didn't just start smoking weed last month. Back to your comment. I believe that weed not only DOESN'T kill people... But probably has saved peoples lives a time or two after what would have turned into a crime of passion, into a "fuck it I'm too high to care".

  60. Re:Nanny state socialism by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

    *does math.. takes shoes off*

    Uhh that would make the legal buying age 17 wouldn't it? Or did I not count my little piggies correctly?

  61. Re:Nanny state socialism by uM0p+ap!sdn+ · · Score: 2

    ROFLMFAO

    Do you see the trend here $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ greed, filthy greed that made us looooooose are rights for profit, greed has ruined this country, not smoking, drinking, sex

    Oh, what about the children !!

    One of the only countries in the world that does drug tests to work (illegal in countries outside the US because it invades privacy and is against the law to do so), my time off weekends, vacation, I should be able to smoke a joint if I want to and not be punished. lol free country, my privacy rights my @ss

    One of the only countries in the world that does credit checks to work/etc ...

    Outside the US, 18 years old (except Canada, 19) and you are an adult and can do what you please, smoke, drink, sex, etc ..

    I could go on, I won't, I am embarrassed at what has happened to this country and people like you that think this stuff is ok, perhaps you should live in russia or china= communism, oh wait, even in a communism state you don't have drug tests to work, you can smoke, drink, sex, hell they actually have more freedom and fun than the US, talk to Snowden or anyone else that has been there, I have, I had a great time.

    Pay for education/health insurance ?? No-one in this GREAT, FREE country should pay for education/health insurance (greed)

    We are a third world country when it comes to education/health insurance, and the most expensive, and it shows, just read this whole discussion, look at the people saying 18 is not old enough to smoke, drink, live, but, work to 70+ years old, then enjoy a few years of life after the government & states drained so much money and rights from you.

    You can go to war and die at 18 but not drink or smoke ?

    WTF is wrong with you people ??

    Freedom, freedom, freedom (basic fscking principles of how life use to be in the US )

    People wonder why other countries don't like us, mock us, laugh there @sses off at us (I own a home in the US & England, 3 of my 5 kids live & work in England).

    You people must be blind or you were bought into this scheme.
    The scheme being that 98% of the countries out there have more rights and freedom than the

    LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE

    I miss the 60's & 70's, our ancestors and founding fathers are rolling in their graves at what the fsck has happened to this country

    Home of the free & brave BULLSH!T

    I wonder how many people in my age group 61-70 agrees with any of this bulls!t that these young spoiled whippersnappers are trying to say is justified.

    The USA is one fsck up place to live now and is getting worse.

    It makes me sick to my stomach to see most of these responses and people trying to justify ......

    end of rant

  62. I thought the issue was smoking... by kenh · · Score: 1

    What is the law regarding smoking? Great, folks under 21 can't buy cigarettes, what is the law regarding consumption?

    --
    Ken
  63. Re:Nanny state socialism by sjames · · Score: 1

    Actually, in the past few years it has been discovered that nicotine uniquely relieves the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

    It is notable that cigarette smoke includes a MAO inhibitor. We used to use those for depression and still do in refractory cases.

    Interestingly, it is the combination of nicotine and the MAOI that makes cigarettes so addictive. The nicotine alone really isn't that hard to taper down and then off (though it might take a while). The patch might actually work if it delivered enough nicotine to help cover the loss of the MAOI initially.

  64. Nor your concern. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nor your concern.

  65. Re: Nanny state socialism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Or, they can't sell to anyone born in 2000 or later... ever.

  66. Re:Nanny state socialism by epyT-R · · Score: 2

    Lets just skip to the end, then, and force people to live out their lives in concrete boxes where every aspect is hypercontrolled for maximum efficiency and minimum impact on The People. One of the primary reasons people resist socialism is that it always results in some form of authoritarianism. Once something is publicly funded, that something can now be considered 'under threat' by the state, with any 'threatening' action it doesn't like conveniently deemed 'threatening' and 'curtailed,' usually with life-altering penalties. A cascade of power grabs then commences.

    As a lifelong non smoker who loathes any sort of smoke, I would never want to live in your smoke free dystopian hell. There'd be too many sacrifices of liberty in too many areas.

    Awards for discrimination can go up to $50,000 or more, at a simple hearing where you don't even need a lawyer. People have an incentive to behave better.

    Ahh, of course you'd say something like this. When in doubt, use fear, amirite comrade?

  67. 18 yrs of age is a legal adult by hambone142 · · Score: 1

    Why treat an adult like a child? Either people are or are not adults at 18.

    If they are an adult, they should have the same rights of any other adult.

    As mentioned, they can die in a war, kill people with the government's blessing and have other adult responsibilities.

    If they're not mature enough to judge whether or not they should be smoking (or drinking for that matter) than perhaps we should reinstate the age of majority at 21 and similarly, not allow anyone to enter the armed forces until that age.

    It is hypocrisy to do otherwise.

    1. Re:18 yrs of age is a legal adult by jroysdon · · Score: 1

      So same logic for alcohol?

      The problem is that while legally an adult at 18, not all mature adult cognitive abilities are there, not until 25 or so.

  68. Re:Nanny state socialism by Harlequin80 · · Score: 1

    Can't sell to people born in 2000 or later EVER. At the time of introduction 18 was the legal ago for buying tobacco products and people born in 2000 well under that age. The logic was it made the implementation easier for the person behind the counter

  69. Re: Nanny state socialism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    And your joint is safer than unfiltered cigarettes exactly how? Smoke inhalation is smoke inhalation. Used to see most news reports on fires before oxygen masks where at least one firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation. Grass doesn't make the smoke magically good for your lungs. Tar is the primary lung-damaging component, and is a result of burning. Doesn't matter the source.

  70. Ban for under 21, but age it out over 3 years by jroysdon · · Score: 1

    The problem with these laws is that they are totally unfair to the 18-20 crowd that may have already been smoking for a time, have the additcion, and now suddenly can't legally buy smokes.

    What should have been done is a gradual ageing out of all who are not 18 by a given date that has not yet occurred (in other words, those 17 now, won't ever get the chance to legally start smoking until 21).

    The other problem is folks who move into the state from elsewhere that allowed 18-20, especially the military.

    I dislike smoking, especially as I have a child with asthma and many smokers are inconsiderate, even when told this. I dislike the financial waste and health problems it causes folks. But, it doesn't seem right to rip away an ability from a legal adult who has been allowed to exercise that ability. For this reason, I think long-term this is a good idea. Banning all smoking on public education grounds makes a lot of sense as well, as many pick up smoking right out of high school while attending college.

  71. Won't work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Okay, so they changed the age to 21...when I was a teenager the majority of "new" smokers were well under the legal age of 18. Along with all the new alcoholics-in-training being well under 21. All they've done is made it easier to be a "criminal." The only people this is going to have any actual effect on is the poor and disadvantaged. Just another reason for a cop to hassle someone where they would otherwise have no reason.

  72. Evil Smokestacking baby! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    https://www.discogs.com/Haircut-One-Hundred-Too-Up-Two-Down-Demasiado-Arriba-Dos-Abajo/master/272499

  73. Re: Nanny state socialism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Make no mistake; they saw it as a taxable and easily regulated market that would expand the coffers a bit. Whether it gets used to benefit the states' people is yet to be seen.

  74. Re:Nanny state socialism by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

    thats the dumbest shit ive ever heard.

  75. Re:Nanny state socialism by Harlequin80 · · Score: 1

    Why?

    Seemed like a logical one to me. It was implemented in 2016. Rather than picking 1998 they went 2000 as the cut off. The idea being that smoking would become extinct.

  76. Re:Nanny state socialism by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

    I am not an American, nor do I want to be one. You keep cutting back on things that we, and much of the rest of the western world, consider as basic rights.

    You obviously don't know Canada. We imposed the fireplace ban in my city and many others, not because of $$$, but to save $$$. Fireplaces are not net heat sources, so you're using your main heating system to heat air going up the chimney. Also, the extra pollution adds to health care costs and lost productivity.

    Also, the vast majority of Canadians live in provinces where the age of majority is 18. The age for a teenager's medical records being private from the parent is 14. Parents cannot be informed of doctors visits, or even abortions, and can't see their kids records without the kids consent.

    But yes, the rest of the world agrees that "the USA is one fsck up place to live now and is getting worse." But you only have yourselves to blame. After all, you got the successive governments you deserved over the last 40 years that led you to where you are now. And nothing will change, because you won't even do basic campaign finance reform. Your owners won't let you.

    --
    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
  77. Re:Nanny state socialism by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 2

    What dystopian hell? Where people aren't subjected to second-hand smoke? Where tobacco companies, who have a long history of targeting kids, are loathed for doing so, and are not allowed to do that sort of shit any more?

    Awards for discrimination can go up to $50,000 or more, at a simple hearing where you don't even need a lawyer. People have an incentive to behave better.

    Ahh, of course you'd say something like this. When in doubt, use fear, amirite comrade?

    Violate my rights, I sure as hell have the right to put a bit of fear into you. Or make you pay for it. You clowns with your stupid libertarian arguments seem to think that rights only count when they're your rights being trampled on, and you should be free to do whatever the hell you want because "rules == socialism == communism". Go live in a social democracy for a while and you'll see there's a lot more freedom than people in the US enjoy.

    --
    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
  78. Re:Nanny state socialism by No+Longer+an+AC · · Score: 1

    I think it would put a huge dent in it for a number of reasons:

    * There is no current infrastructure for growing, distributing and selling illegal tobacco (Yes, I'm ignoring the cigarettes which are smuggled to avoid taxes because I believe most of those are grown and produced legally)
    * Growing your own tobacco would be a huge hassle for the average smoker unlike growing a little marijuana or making your own moonshine
    * Unlike weed and booze just about all cigarette smokers are regular daily, sometimes even hourly or more users. Keeping yourself in illegal tobacco is going to be a pain and you'd probably end up buying loose low-quality tobacco that doesn't taste anything like your Marlboro or your Camel Lights* and you'll have to roll your own.
    * The stench will give users away as it does now. Cops will quickly switch from saying they think they smell marijuana to I know I smell cigarettes.

    As an former smoker I just don't think I'd want to go through all the hassle I've gone through to get illegal tobacco that I went through to get illegal marijuana. I expect it would be expensive and of poor quality and everyone who got near me would know it. And you thought marijuana could make you paranoid?

    It might thrive in certain communities I suppose but if it were suddenly as illegal as marijuana used to be and it was enforced I see the number of users going down, especially new users.

    With all that said, it's not going to happen in the foreseeable future. Too many people would object way too strongly to it. I would object to it. It's an infringement on freedom.

    The best they can do is make it illegal to smoke anywhere which it seems they're working on.

    * - I just remembered. They don't sell "lights" anymore. I had quit long enough that at some point they forced them to stop calling them "lights" which was confusing when I decided to buy a pack a few years back. I quit again for good after that pack.

    I did not smoke "lights" because I thought they were safer. That would be stupid. They were milder. But the theory that smokers would think "lights" weren't as bad was the logic they used which I guess the tobacco companies are to blame for for running all those ads bragging about their low tar content. "Carlton is Lowest".

  79. Re:Nanny state socialism by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

    But that's not going to work, or murder would be extinct. And a plethora of other things. All they did was pull a "Do as I say not as I do" move.

  80. Re: Nanny state socialism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If the number of smokers fell to the number of murderers, then it would be among the greatest legislation successes in history.

  81. Re:Nanny state socialism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Good for them.

    Now, could you foreigners go and get back to worshiping at the altar of big government and let us adults in the U.S.A. (who've had some experiences with large, tyrannical governments) discuss things?

  82. Re:Nanny state socialism by amxcoder · · Score: 1

    Is it safe to assume that you would also support making all forms of alcohol illegal too? Considering the CDC reports that: alcohol abuse is the third highest cause of death in the U.S. I just want to make sure that your suggestion is fair to all forms of dangerous substances, and not just singling out smoking because you don't smoke.
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...

  83. Re:Nanny state socialism by j-beda · · Score: 1

    It looks like it has not been passed: http://www.abc.net.au/news/201...

    I have always been a proponent of enacting legislation that creeps its way to the places I would like it to get: Maybe every two years increase the smoking age by one year. Every five or ten years add another statutory holiday. Every five years reduce the standard working week by an hour.

    Similarly we should peg the minimum wage to be some fraction of the legislators' salary, or set a company's minimum salary to some fraction of the maximum compensation recieved by the executives.

  84. Re:Nanny state socialism by uM0p+ap!sdn+ · · Score: 1

    Ah, Canada is less than 10 miles from my house

    Our malls, gas stations, grocery stores, clothing shops, etc .. are packed with Canadians

    Ask any one of them why they come here and shop

    It's too expensive to live in Canada

  85. Re:Nanny state socialism by Harlequin80 · · Score: 1

    Really? Damn. I could have sworn that was passed.

  86. Re:Nanny state socialism by j-beda · · Score: 1

    I didn't do an exhaustive search but the bits I saw seemed to all be "this is an idea being floated" types of things, and the "official" tobacco restrictions lists for Tasmania did not mention it.

  87. Re:Nanny state socialism by Harlequin80 · · Score: 1

    I was working from memory of news items I'd seen in the past. I didn't go and check the bill, I just remembered seeing it on the news.

    Bit disappointed it's not gone through tbh.

  88. Re:Nanny state socialism by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

    Obviously not true that it's "too expensive to live in Canada", because most of us manage to do it.

    --
    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
  89. Not what that means by Texmaize · · Score: 1

    You and your wife enjoying a drink is not characterized as rape with the official stats. Sadly, your purely emotional response had no links or facts to make your argument, so it can't really be taken seriously.

    But hey, you think rape is cool.

    --
    "Liberalism is a very noble idea, currently controlled by some very bad people. Be sure you do not get the two confused.
  90. How so by Texmaize · · Score: 1

    You said I proved something. Yet you offered no proof. So, who exactly is the moron?

    Hint (look in the mirror)

    The only thing we can be sure of is that you got modded to 2 for this. So, either you are self modding on a different account, or morons run in packs and mod nonsensical things up. Sad.

    --
    "Liberalism is a very noble idea, currently controlled by some very bad people. Be sure you do not get the two confused.
    1. Re:How so by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

      If you believe I pull shit like modding using a different account, flag it. I have no problem with them posting their results. Here's a clue - I never have. I don't need to. I'm always at the karma cap. You, on the other hand, aren't even smart enough to realize how stupid your argument is, so you blame others. Grow up, take responsibility for your shitty logic.

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    2. Re:How so by Texmaize · · Score: 1

      Why, you must be right. I was wrong to think that slashdotters famously have a low attention span, often can't be bothered to read the article, post comments backed by no facts, or seldom link supporting information. You have enlightened me to see that they actually go back and read old posts, sifting for nuggets that they can mod up and down, and avoid using mod points on something no one else may ever see, instead of the issue of the moment. Yes, that makes a great deal of sense.

      BTW, having a friend follow you around and throw roses at your feet is no better. If you were remotely logical, you would understand that this is uncommon behavior for an old discussion. If it was current, it would make sense. As it is, you really are the one using shitty logic.

      Btw, disagreeing with you is not shitty logic. In fact, I use real examples often backed up with sources that are not at the basement blog level. Sorry that you do, and you find disagreement with your vitriol posing as a discussion to be so disturbing. Perhaps if you read more, read challenging sources, and tried to understand perspectives you would understand the world more....or at least grow up a little. See, only children have unwavering dedication to a simple idea and have no understanding from where it comes and if it is true. Like you....

      --
      "Liberalism is a very noble idea, currently controlled by some very bad people. Be sure you do not get the two confused.
    3. Re:How so by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

      You're the one who brought the whole claim of self-modding using a different account to the table. So much for your "logic" about it being off topic. Do you always shoot yourself in the foot in public?

      Since your attention span doesn't even include even a single post in it's entirety, here you go:

      either you are self modding on a different account

      See how nice I am? I even bolded the relevant part so you don't even have to read all of what you quoted.

      It's something I do not do, if only because I'm against the idea of internet anonymity. You should stand behind your words or STFU. All the excuses given so far are lame. Especially the one about "people need to post anonymously to protect themselves from persecution." Better to draw attention to any problem by being persecuted and standing up to the persecutor than by slacktivist anonymous posts.

      Same as it's much more effective to do any other real-world protest than to sign any amount of online petitions. You won't make any difference with online petitions, and not much more with protests but challenging a bad law through the courts ... that's standing up and being counted.

      I remember one time they arrested 59 of us. Everyone else pled out - every single one. I refused because we were within our rights, and I won. So, I had the courage of my convictions, and they had the convictions for lack of courage. I felt sorry for them - but not sorry enough to forgive all the big talkers for suddenly turning yellow. I've since found this is almost always the case. People will not stand up for their rights. Not even when the law clearly states that they are right.

      But then again, you don't have any real world experience in such matters.

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    4. Re:How so by Texmaize · · Score: 1

      Your logic still fails. I responded to your self modding untruth. Perhaps the sarcasm confused you. To put it plainly, no one goes through and mods old threads, unless they have a specific reason. Your post was not interesting. It was not profound. It was not even clever. It was also several weeks old. It does not matter if you modded it yourself, or you have a friend doing it for you. It is a matter of semantics and it is still unworthy and pathetic....much like you seem to be in real life. Is that clear enough for you?

      As for this:

      "It's something I do not do, if only because I'm against the idea of internet anonymity. You should stand behind your words or STFU. All the excuses given so far are lame. Especially the one about "people need to post anonymously to protect themselves from persecution." Better to draw attention to any problem by being persecuted and standing up to the persecutor than by slacktivist anonymous posts." I am not sure where you got that from, but it was not me. I suspect that you are having an argument with someone else on something else, and are sooooooo very stupid, it got all twisted around in your head. Sad.

      In the end, you are truly what is wrong with the world. Smug in your attitude, low in your learning. You rage and fight just to rage and fight. You do not investigate your "causes" deeply. You do not really check if they are right, or if they even make sense. You make up imaginary boogey men then set up straw men to rage against so you can feel good while achieving nothing for nothing. You think you are fighting the power and are too stupid to understand that you are part of the power. Most of the wrong stems directly from you.

      You won't understand much of what I wrote. It is ok. You are stupid, spoiled, and have never, ever been challenged on anything of substance. Maybe some day you will grow up. Read more. Think more. Shout less.



      Oh, one more thing. There is a beautiful irony in you so sarcastically making your point by saying you put something in bold, but failing to put in the correct /code or failing to bother to read what you wrote to see like yourself in life, total fuck up.

      --
      "Liberalism is a very noble idea, currently controlled by some very bad people. Be sure you do not get the two confused.
    5. Re:How so by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

      Again you lie. You made the claim that I modded up my own posts. Now quit bullshitting that you did so, with zero proof. Or take me up on the challenge, since you're not the first one to make the accusation. Ask the editors to go through all the mods on my posts, and see if any of them are connected to a sockpuppet - I don't use sockpuppets. I have used other accounts in the past, but NEVER modded up my own posts. I guess I could recover my original account with my original name before my name change, but what would be the purpose? I do everything out in the open, under my legal name, unlike you. Why don't you use your real name? Afraid of being held accountable? Coward.

      And you encourage others to hide behind anonymity. Again, to avoid accountability. You are what is wrong with the world, where everyone wants to have rights but is unwilling to stand up to get them or keep them, either through protests or in the courts.

      You're just another special snowflake.

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    6. Re:How so by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

      You're not even good enough to hold a candle to those currently trolling me. Loser. Go get some real world experience standing up for civil rights and then get back to us.

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    7. Re:How so by Texmaize · · Score: 1

      Well, I explained things pretty clearly. I can't help if you have below average intelligence and fail to understand things.

      I understand you are fairly stupid and all, but I really can't fathom why you are still having this discussion about internet anonymity. I never mentioned this topic. You have having an imaginary argument with me. I am honestly touched that I am so important in your life you are having imaginary arguments with me. Still, that wasn't me.

      Child, you need to take a breath, go back and read. You mixed me up with someone else, and are still trying to fight about something I never said. The funny thing is that are you that special combination of childish and stupid, you will continue to throw your little tantrum and not take the time to see your error. Pathetic.

      --
      "Liberalism is a very noble idea, currently controlled by some very bad people. Be sure you do not get the two confused.
  91. You've been caught. by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

    A quick check shows that accusing people you disagree with of self-modding is your "go-to". Also from today to another poster:

    Btw Nazi, This is a very old thread that no one else is reading. It is so pathetic that you are self modding yourself up. But then again, Nazi are pretty insecure.

    What a lamer crybaby.

    --
    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
  92. Remember, you've been caught! by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

    As I said elsewhere, you've been caught. You used the exact same tactic of accusing someone who disagrees with you of self-modding, on the same day. Not too smart, are you now? If you're going to try trolling, at least don't be quite so pathetically obvious.

    --
    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.