19 replies to this topic

[cmt489]

Hey!! That's not nice!! Being FAT is genetic. Until you've been there, don't comment on it.

I have to respectfully disagree on this one. Most overweight people who feel that it is genetic are that way due to lifestyle choices passed on from their parents. Unless there is an actual medical condition such as a thyroid problem, studies have shown that overweight people tend to have just as active or more active metabolism as thinner people.

What is true is that the body's number of fat cells are created by the time someone is in his/her mid teens. Therefore, if someone is heavier earlier in life, this means that this person will be more likely to gain weight later on in life. Couple this with bad choices passed on from parents and yes, it would appear that fat is genetic but it is not.

On the issue of smoking, I agree with the others that the problem with smoking is that it is not just contained to the smoker. The other day I was on a patio and a woman was smoking beside me. Okay, smoking is allowed on patios in Vancouver (for now, they are working to change this) so I did not have a particular problem with it. What I did have a problem with was that in her effort to be "polite" to her table, she had her cigarette held right beside me when she was not smoking it. Hey, her table chose to sit with her so they should be getting her direct hit of cigarette smoke, not me!

And while I can not tell you why or how I know this informaiton, all I can say is that the data released only tells a small part of the story. Smoking is way worse for you (and those around you) than any of you can imagine!

[DandyDon]

Yep, being fat runs in families - look at mine, since after the Great Depression.

However, studies of fat people, just following them around, show that they just tend to eat more and exercise less. Has worked on me at times.

I thought this was the smoking lounge...?

[leaudaustin]

Hey!! That's not nice!! Being FAT is genetic. Until you've been there, don't comment on it.

I have to respectfully disagree on this one. Most overweight people who feel that it is genetic are that way due to lifestyle choices passed on from their parents. Unless there is an actual medical condition such as a thyroid problem, studies have shown that overweight people tend to have just as active or more active metabolism as thinner people.

There is a lot of interesting information in this article: Scientific American: Obesity: An Overblown Epidemic? It does touch on the genetic aspect. Like many things genetic, it's not an is/is-not affair naturally. But more interesting is the finding that while there may be correlations, being overweight may not cause many bad things attributed to it.

To jump back on point, I don't think smoking is the same way. There's a lot more confidence in cause-and-effect. So, comparing the two as analogous, as is often done, is often a poor choice.


Health affects aside, I myself am easily annoyed by smoke (and air pollution generally). I've also had numerous occasions where I was somewhere smoke-free and smokers came and ruined the atmosphere. The problem is that air doesn't stay put. Smokers take up as much space as their smoke is filling the air.

I do appreciate that when I was at an SD event, I did witness the smokers being overtly courteous about their smoking outside and intentionally standing upwind (fortunately, there was a breeze so this was effective).

[Desert_Diver]

I didn't want to start a flame war, but I'm *really* tired of well-meaning people trying to 'help me'. I'm already paying MORE than my fair share, and I'll be darned if I'll be quiet when someone suggests that I pay even more. Put a sin tax on Twinkies and sugar coated cereal if you want to be thorough about it, as well as coffee, Cokes and alcohol. If you pick on ME, then I'll take up the fight. Be fair is all I ask. Gee, isn't that implied in our Constitution?


If you're against known addictive substances, then to be honest you MUST include both caffeine and sucrose, neither of which are a standard component of mammalian diets (except for humans). Alcohol is REALLY bad for you; it killed my dad, and has caused enormous cost and suffering all over the country. 3 people at work have lost loved ones due to drunken drivers, dunno how many lost family due to alcoholism. Take *that* up as a Cause, if you really need to. Fat lot of good we did in the '20s with Prohibition...

Many of us are polite about it, but it's been ~ 20 years since we were allowed to smoke indoors, so we HAVE to use the outdoors. Is this a big surprise? If there's not a dedicated smoking area, then ask 'em to move or blow it elsewhere. I don't smoke at restaurants 'cos I don't like the smell when I'm eating, either. If you're parked next to an ashtray, it's assumed you don't mind the smell (sorry...), but we won't know if you don't mention it. Suggest to your State Gov't that they require signs (we have 'em here) to reduce the confusion / conflict, but don't forget that we're people, too, and we ONLY have the outdoors for our habit.

(BTW, I've been in Seattle before in the winter, and everyone ran outside 'cos the sun finally broke through the clouds... so I *do* understand, although coming from AZ I couldn't really feel it. Damifino how ANYONE can live up there without going crazy in the gloom.)

I've worked with women that apply perfume with a bucket, and it's not polite to tell 'em that they stink like a French (fill in the blank). I can't get away from 'em at work 'cos it's perfectly legal to reek to high heaven, as long as the stench doesn't include tobacco. Where's the justice in that?? We won't go into the various fumes released after ill-chosen meal choices, but I digress.

Like DandyDon, I actually USE the ashtray in my cars 'cos I don't like the litter, and I don't just toss 'em wherever... Most places have a minimum $50 fine for littering, and here in AZ it's about $500 'cos it WILL start a fire. Folks tossing butts out the window either A) don't give a damn, or B) don't like the ashes/smell and need to find a less messy oral fixation. I *have* seen the AZ cops pull people over for tossing butts, but it hasn't reduced the number of 'em I see daily. The law is in place, they just need to enforce it to convince folks to follow it. Truthfully, some folks are polite, and some will always be butt-heads about it.
That's just humanity, and you can't change it. Many have tried, none succeeded.


Can we just agree to disagree, and get on with life? I promise I won't bitch about your drunken, overweight, unhealthy lifestyle if you'll leave MY peccadillos alone. Don't treat ALL of us like we're the last A-hole that pissed you off, and don't single ANY group out for 'special attention' and expect 'em to meekly knuckle under, 'cos I bite.

[Cold_H2O]

If you're against known addictive substances, then to be honest you MUST include both caffeine and sucrose, neither of which are a standard component of mammalian diets (except for humans).

(BTW, I've been in Seattle before in the winter, and everyone ran outside 'cos the sun finally broke through the clouds... so I *do* understand, although coming from AZ I couldn't really feel it. Damifino how ANYONE can live up there without going crazy in the gloom.)

I've worked with women that apply perfume with a bucket, and it's not polite to tell 'em that they stink like a French (fill in the blank). I can't get away from 'em at work 'cos it's perfectly legal to reek to high heaven, as long as the stench doesn't include tobacco. Where's the justice in that?? We won't go into the various fumes released after ill-chosen meal choices, but I digress.

Like DandyDon, I actually USE the ashtray in my cars 'cos I don't like the litter, and I don't just toss 'em wherever...

I confess. I do have an Iced Mocha habit. I have quit many times cold turkey but it always gets me back in the end.
I find that during times of stuff I literally "crave" them.

You have touched on one of my major peeves. I hate to smell a woman or man who is drenched in purfume or aftershave. I worked with a gal who you could smell from one end of the building to the other. It made my eyes water when she would come near my desk.

I have found that many smokers DO try very hard to be courteous to us non smokers. I would sometimes carpool with a smoker. He would not smoke the entire commute even when he was driving HIS car.

As for the littering of smokers. Come on .. Just because you smoke does not mean you litter.

I do not feel it is my job or place to tell smokers, overweight people, or anyone with an addiction that they are wrong. They know what they are doing and for whatever reason continue to do it. I know that those triple shot iced mocha's that I love are not good for me.. Too much caffine too much fat and sugar. But DON'T ever lecture me on what I am putting into my body. Last time I check being 40 qualifies me as an adult.. and I DO have the right to manage my own life.

So to all you smokers and other out there. Please be considerate towards each other.
I won't make you drink my mocha.... if you don't make me take part in your "sinful" pleasure....