Bogus and Political or True . . . that is the question.

[lonsdale]

I remember reading years ago, in the CA I believe, that the science of second hand smoke was suspect, to say the least. There were references to articles somewhere that argued against the reigning dogma. Yet I hardly ever see any condemnation of the pc science of second hand smoke, even among cigar smokers, a fact that makes me more likely to accept the current science (pseudo-science?). Any opinions out there? I can handle the truth

[orca99usa]

I believe that the risks of second-hand smoke are overblown. Unless you're in an enclosed room for hours with several people puffing away, I doubt that it has a significant effect on anyone. I can see that maybe it would have more of an effect on children, because their lungs are smaller and less developed. I believe that most people have tired of fighting this particular battle, especially when the anti-smoking lobby has high-powered (and well funded) people on their side. It's gotten to the point that you can't fight for your own rights without appearing to be against the health of others.

You probably breathe in more garbage driving home on the freeway than you get sitting in a cigar lounge.

[TonyToro]

There used to be a Doc on ASC from way back in the day that did some extensive research on said topic. If I recall correctly his name was Marc Schneiderman, not sure on spelling there. He posted some pretty neat studies on the net, I just don't recall where. Maybe you can google his name and see what you come up with. I do believe that second hand smoke is indeed very harmful to certain people. In fact, there's no question in my mind about that. That is exactly why I never fire up in a place where someone might be offended or worse possibly get sick.
It's just not worth the hassle.

[SeanGAR]

http://www.joejackson.com/smokingissue.htm

Low blood cholesterol increases the risk of violent death or suicide. Remember that next time you consider asking for the no yolk omelet.

[TonyToro]

Originally Posted by SeanGAR

http://www.joejackson.com/smokingissue.htm

Low blood cholesterol increases the risk of violent death or suicide. Remember that next time you consider asking for the no yolk omelet.

lol, I love it

[garyatmaui]

I'm there!

Originally Posted by SeanGAR

http://www.joejackson.com/smokingissue.htm

Low blood cholesterol increases the risk of violent death or suicide. Remember that next time you consider asking for the no yolk omelet.

[PerpetualNoob]

Take the most genetically and physically perfect human you can find, and then clone him or her about 50,000 times. From birth, lock them all in controlled environments, where you can eliminate all the other variables, and then expose half of them to second-hand smoke, and see if they develop higher incidence of cancer. None of the researchers can know which are the test subjects, and which are the control group. That's how Science is done. Anything less is anecdote and statistics, which aren't Science.

Then you get a well-earned trip to the Hague, where you will stand trial for crimes against humanity, and a complimentary hangman's noose.

Maybe tobacco smoke causes cancer in humans, and maybe it doesn't. I would submit that no one really, truly knows. I'm not saying it's good for you. From my own experience, I suspect that it probably causes decreased lung capacity, and other respiratory difficulties, but I also suspect that it's not nearly as dangerous as some alarmists would have you believe, or that it deserves the political witch-hunt that it currently endures. Like most things, both extremes are wrong, and the truth lies somewhere in between.

+

Now, I'm going to have a cigar.

[uvacom]

Originally Posted by SeanGAR

http://www.joejackson.com/smokingissue.htm

Low blood cholesterol increases the risk of violent death or suicide. Remember that next time you consider asking for the no yolk omelet.

Repeat this mantra: correlation is not causation.

[Warren]

Healthy people get hit by buses too.

[Neuromancer]

People get more lung damage from second hand smoke from the smoke and exhausts of all the busses and trucks on our roads and highways that are not emission inspected, than they do from the few cigars or pipes we enjoy...it's just the anti-smokers agenda to try and control us...they don't belive in the concept of freedom and would force their viewpoint on others...

[c2000]

All you have to think about is this.. The propaganda that is put out by the anti-smoking people is 50,000 people a year die from second hand smoke.
Now I was alive in the 50s, 60s 70s when people smoked everywhere, at their desks, in planes, trains and buses and even in hospital waiting rooms.. Smoking was prevalent in homes with a non smoking spouse and children present.. As well as in the family auto..

Was there a pandemic of second hand smoke deaths,, NO

Jerry in Minnesota.

[lougorilla]

All things in moderation.

I think smoking cigars can have actual health benefits, as well as risks. The benefits can be to lower stress levels. I know my shoulders loosen up after a good cigar. Yeah, it may increase my risk for oral or throat cancer, but it also just might have some benefits as far as lowering my stress levels. It's hard to measure those types of benefits, but I'd wager that stress is just as deadly a killer as cancer.

It's the same argument I use for alcohol. Yeah, too much and you ruin your liver, but if used in moderation, you can actually get some real benefits.

[PerpetualNoob]

Originally Posted by lougorilla

All things in moderation.

I think smoking cigars can have actual health benefits, as well as risks. The benefits can be to lower stress levels. I know my shoulders loosen up after a good cigar. Yeah, it may increase my risk for oral or throat cancer, but it also just might have some benefits as far as lowering my stress levels. It's hard to measure those types of benefits, but I'd wager that stress is just as deadly a killer as cancer.

It's the same argument I use for alcohol. Yeah, too much and you ruin your liver, but if used in moderation, you can actually get some real benefits.

Most people don't know this, but the latest research out of the Harvard Medical School indicates that cigar smoke particles go directly to the brain and block the receptors on the 'stranglions', the specific brain cells that control your involuntary impulse to choke people. These effects have been shown to last anywhere from 12 all the way up to 72 hours, depending on what kind of job you have. I'm a computer support geek, so I'm right in the middle, and I get about 24-36 hours of relief, typically.

[kansashat]

Originally Posted by c2000

All you have to think about is this.. The propaganda that is put out by the anti-smoking people is 50,000 people a year die from second hand smoke.
Now I was alive in the 50s, 60s 70s when people smoked everywhere, at their desks, in planes, trains and buses and even in hospital waiting rooms.. Smoking was prevalent in homes with a non smoking spouse and children present.. As well as in the family auto..

Was there a pandemic of second hand smoke deaths,, NO

Jerry in Minnesota.

Yep. People used to light up everywhere. The only place you wouldn't see people smoking was a church service...they waited til they got out on the front steps of the church.

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by SeanGAR

http://www.joejackson.com/smokingissue.htm

Low blood cholesterol increases the risk of violent death or suicide. Remember that next time you consider asking for the no yolk omelet.

Crap, and I take two meds to lower my cholesterol.