Job Discussion Forums

missieUAE · Joined: 15 Feb 2009 Posts: 23

Right now I'm in the USA. I teach in a public school, so obviously no smoking allowed there (theoretically, lol). In general I think very few people around here smoke. Those that do (such as my sister) constantly get nagged by friends and family telling them they should quit before they get cancer and die.

Of course the US is huge and diverse, and there are still areas/sections of the population where smoking is the norm.

Not worth the hassle (or the cancer, or the huge expense) IMHO.

jonniboy · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 6:27 pm Post subject:

LadyK · Joined: 25 May 2009 Posts: 55 Location: USA, FL

I smoke clove ciggarettes (Djarum Specials) and would like to know where they are available throughout the globe before I begin my TEFL career. I know they sell them in Tokyo, but what about elsewhere? Prices?(They're made in Indonesia)

johnslat · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 9:31 pm Post subject:

Dear LadyK,
Well, they're available online:

http://www.saleclovecigarettes.com/

http://www.allclovecigarettes.com/

http://www.smokeplaza.com/clove-cigarettes.html

But you'd really need to narrow down your search area and be a bit more specific since I doubt anyone knows where they're sold (in stores) all over the globe.
Regards,
John

Chancellor · Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 8:18 pm Post subject: Re: What about cloves?

BocaNY · Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 131

I don't smoke but the majority of my friends do...so it really doesn't bother me.
In Ecuador I only saw people smoke in the bars or clubs and then it was like one or two through out the whole night. People that I didn't think smoked did when they were having a beer. Never saw anyone smoking on the streets during the day. When my friend from America smoked our friends would comment on it cuz he smoke all the time like a pack or two a day and they didn't smoke like that over there.
It seemed to me that smoking in Ecuador was just a social thing to do when drinking.

Chancellor · Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 4:00 pm Post subject:

BocaNY · Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 131

johnslat · Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 11:22 pm Post subject:

Dear BocaNY,
I believe the bouncer was wrong:
"Then, in 2003, New York City amended its anti-smoking law to include all restaurants and bars, including those in private clubs, making it�along with the California ban�one of the toughest in the United States."
But there are "loopholes." If the bar/restaurant posts signs displaying the law, and someone still smokes, then that person (and not the bar/restaurant) will be fined if caught.

http://www.smokersclubinc.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=501

Then, there are the "smokeasies":

"As the speakeasy was to alcohol prohibition in the early 20th century, so is the smokeasy to smoking bans: it is a business, especially a bar, which allows smoking despite a legal prohibition. Numerous clandestine smokeasies exist in most jurisdictions with smoking bans in bars and restaurants, and have been noted widely, including in New York City . ."

http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:2_8obj29xzwJ:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking_ban+New+York+law+no+smoking+in+bars+2009&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Regards,
John

moneyoriented · Joined: 11 May 2008 Posts: 76

Regarding clove cigarettes (Djarum, etc.) - wow, those smell so nice! I hate the smell of any other kind of smoke, but love the smell of clove cigarettes. But I just read that they are now banned in the US, along with all other flavored/scented tobacco, the sole exception being menthol flavor (this only applies to cigarettes for some reason, and not shisha, cigars, etc. - so now Djarum is trying to sell slightly fatter cigarettes as "cigars" - it's being challenged in court). Importing it by mail order, etc. is also illegal. I don't know what the penalty is if you are caught.

The rationale is that flavors make tobacco that much more enticing to teens. Tobacco companies know that if they don't get us hooked when we're young, they'll likely never get us. We start smoking in our teens, or not at all. At that age, we think we're invincible, immortal, will never age, let alone get some disease that only old people get, etc. Plus, there's peer pressure. Plus, smoking is "cool" and "rebellious" etc.

I'm sure smoking is pleasurable - otherwise no one would do it. But that doesn't mean corporations (remember? "evil corporations"?) and governments (through massive tax revenues) should be allowed to advertise, sell and profit from a highly addictive drug which causes so much suffering and death. In countries like Japan and China, the major tobacco companies are actually owned by the government! Can you imagine if your government was in the business of selling cocaine or any other addictive, life-destroying drug? (Well, it probably is, but we won't talk about that).

You don't care - it's your life? Then think about the people who love you - think about your friends, family, spouse, kids, etc. You not only hurt them with your second-hand smoke, but you'll really hurt them when you die before your time. Ask any kid whose parent died from a smoking-related disease (no, it's not just lung cancer, but many other kinds of cancer, plus heart disease, stroke, etc.).

Those of you defending tobacco are in denial. Yeah, it's pleasurable - I get that. But so is crack, heroin, PCP and a lot of other things. Should all of it be legal? You want TV ads pushing this stuff on kids watching cartoons, maybe handing out free samples on their way to school? Why not? You want a nanny state?

The fact is, you DO want a nanny state - we all do. You don't want to be hit by a drunk-driver. You don't want to get food-poisoning at a restaurant. You don't want to be mugged by a desperate crack-addicted teenager. And you don't want to get cancer because of other people's "right" to smoke. Government can be a force for tremendous good. These smoking bans have already saved countless lives - that's already been proven by studies in many places where second-hand smoke has been restricted. Death rates go down, dramatically. That's a GOOD thing, isn't it?

Look - it's a powerful addiction; most smokers couldn't quit if they wanted to, and I sympathize with them. But I bet if given the choice, even most smokers would prefer to have grown up in a society where smoking was unheard of and non-existent, so they never would've started in the first place (and so wouldn't know what they're missing). As for myself, I wish I had grown up in a society where fattening, life-shortening (but tasty and apparently addictive) bakery products, desserts and other junk-food didn't exist. That would be a better world, and one we should be moving toward.

Pleasure will not come to an end if we rid society of tobacco and other harmful drugs. There are plenty of healthy things to enjoy - good food, good music, good movies, good company, good sex, travel, etc. Plus, if we're healthy, we'll live longer to enjoy these good things.

Think about it sometime.

rusmeister · Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 867 Location: Russia

Chancellor · Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 9:24 pm Post subject:

tommchone · Joined: 27 Oct 2009 Posts: 108

"It's a nasty f*ing habit, but I like it." So said the fit, healthy, 87 year old man who was one of my supervisors at the university admin job that I had years ago. I'm probably the only person in the world who's NOT trying to quit smoking. I'm 56 years old, I've been smoking since I was in my mid-teens. I've yet to see any ill effects from smoking except the people who INVENT things to complain about every time the subject comes up. Since I'm quoting people, the great philosopher Keith Richard once said "I don't have a problem with drugs, only policemen".