To the coward with the fake email address (ButtOut@myob.com) who commented on my Smoking Ban in NYC post:
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Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2003 11:55:43 -0400 (EDT)
From: Gabe
To: ButtOut@myob.com
Subject: Re: [life] New Comment Posted to ‘Smoking Ban in NYC’
Have you ever watched someone you love die a slow and suffocating death thanks to lung cancer?
I didn’t think so.
I would never wish that on anyone, not even your sorry ass.
-Gabe
3 responses so far ↓
1 Anonymous // Apr 13, 2003 at 11:42 pm
Have you seen someone who has lived a “healthy”, smoke-free life after their 70’s? Many of them live in nursing homes with disorders we have not been able to, nor in the near future able to, cure nor ameliorate. These disorders, from Alzheimers to Parkinsons to simple arthritis leave these people debilitated not only from the disease course but from complications of treatment. Many of these people cannot lead productive, self-sufficient lives. Their burden lies on us and it is not pleasant mentally, physically, nor economically. Visit a nursing home or hospital and see what longevity may bring before worrying about the scientifically unproven detriments of second hand smoke. Don’t be paranoid! There are many things that can debilitate you in your life and second-hand smoke is the least of your worries. Allow people some enjoyment, not everywhere, but atleast in bars. If not then the fast food, automobile and alcohol industries are equally to blame so get at them too.
2 jen // Apr 14, 2003 at 9:55 am
how selfish can you be here, ‘anonymous’? i am sorry if you are addicted to cigarettes, but you need to suck the cancer stick on your own time. the rest of us have the right to be in bars, restaurants, and other public spaces enjoying ourselves without suffocating in the toxic cloud of second hand smoke. (and yes, it HAS been proven detrimental. stop allowing yourself to be manipulated by the tobacco companies.)
as to your ‘golden years are not so golden’ rant- you are missing the simple point. apparently you have never lost anyone to cancer in their prime. believe me i’ve spent more than my share of time in nursing homes and understand the suffering that goes on there- but i’ve known several people who have passed away recently that were decades from a life that you describe. i hope you are able to kick the habit for the sake of your family and people who care about you- if not for yourself… the habit might catch up with you long before you are ready to go.
3 Dave Reed // Apr 14, 2003 at 9:37 pm
What that idiot doesn’t understand is that numerous people live wonderfully happy lives well beyond 70. My Great Aunt was in her late 90s and fit as a fiddle until she went.
I personally think if anyone is stupid enough to kill themselves slowly with cigarettes (or any other drug, for that matter), then they have every right to do so. Those of us who do not want to partake in their idiocy should not have to be subjected to their decision to die early.
Just wait until that bastard gets into his 70s and 80s. We’ll see how differently he thinks.
To add an interesting note: over at CTB/McGraw-Hill in Mather, CA, we have a covered patio segregated into “Smoking” and “Non-Smoking” sections. What’s amazingly, mind-numbingly stupid is that the smoking section is upwind of the non-smoking section. Nothing like gagging on cigarette smoke in the middle of lunch.