I admit I was a smoker when I first saw this, but quit a long time ago. I believe it's the worst thing in the world for health, and Wigand is a true hero.
For who would bear the whips and scorns of Hollywood... (;-p)
Longevity per se is over-rated (not to mention unpredictable), and few people mention the quality of life - I cite the cases of my parents, neither of whom smoked, and both of whom had long, drawn-out ends of life. My father had many months of agony and humiliation, and longed to die: he told me so, and eventually he succeeded in essentially starving himself to death (once he'd finally convinced me to let him go). My mother, when she still had occasional periods of lucidity within her dementia, did once ask me "How much longer will it be?"; but she had four more years to endure, most of them immobile in bed and doubly-incontinent (she wore diapers/nappies). Some days, if she was lucky, they would hoist her up on a thing like a small crane and into her wheelchair, and I or they would push her round the garden. I don't even know for sure the last time she knew I was her son - about two years before she died, I'd guess. She was always overweight and took little exercise, he was slim and fit - she died at 86, he at 77.
Both my grandfathers were serious smokers, and both died from cancer, lung or throat - not pleasant, but relatively quick. My mother's father was 74, my father's father 82. Both my mother's brothers also smoked all their lives - they died at 76 and 87. My father's brother has just died at 88 - he smoked heavily till he was 50 (then stopped). He was completely blind for the last two years of his life - on the ball mentally, but immobile, incontinent, in lots of pain, and in need of constant care from a whole troop of carers. So, please, someone, sort out the logic within those gene pools, and also tell me whose longer/longest lives were most worth living.
Yes, I'm still a smoker - not a heavy one, and ultra-light ciggies...and my diet is good, my exercise regime and weight variable (but not bad). Of course I don't want to keel over at 66, or have a debilitated, fighting-for-breath sort of dotage - but no sign of that yet (I'm 64). And besides, contrary to what Californians apparently believe, we all have to die. I'm as concerned about the 'how' as I am about the 'when' - and I certainly don't want to while away my last few years in a care home smelling of pee, sitting around staring out of the window or doing group sing-songs of "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands".
So I doubt I'll quit now - and if I buy an annuity with my pension pot next year, at least I'll get a noticeably bigger income than a non-smoker! Then I can buy myself a ridiculously expensive car, and drive it over a cliff if need be...
People should be allowed to die with dignity
No more dead Lannisters
No More dead Trolls
I'll quit when I'm dead.
Wendy? Darling? Light, of my life!
I love these replies. I really expected to hear a lot more anti-smoking bologna on these boards.
shareNo, I quit 9 years ago.
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