Joker
Sinn Fein
Joined: Mar 20, 2011
Age: 24
Posts: 7593
Location: North Carolina The Tar Heel State :)
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 Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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| CrazyCatLord wrote: | Everyone knows that smoking can cause cancer and if you don't smoke, you're living healthy and have a greatly lowered cancer risk. Right? Wrong.
One of the biggest causes of cancer are free oxygen radicals. How do they get into your body? By breathing. That's right: Breathing can cause cancer. Another common cause of cancer are oxidative processes in the digestive tract, which occur whenever you digest food. Which means that eating can cause cancer.
But everybody needs to eat and breathe, so let's focus on cancer risks that can be avoided. Here's one: Human papillomavirus infection. The virus has been linked to skin cancer as well as cervical, oral and throat cancer. Experts estimate that between 50% and 80% of all humans are infected with HPV, which is often transmitted through sexual activity. Some estimates are as high as 90%. Condoms offer little to no protection, because any skin contact with an infected area can transmit the virus. Which means that sex can cause cancer, even if you use a condom.
But it doesn't stop at sex. You can also contract HPV through any other kind of skin contact, or contact with any object that an HPV-affected person had skin contact with. What does that mean exactly? Shaking hands can cause cancer. Hugging can cause cancer. Kissing can cause cancer (oral HPV infections are very common). Touching a shopping cart handle can cause cancer. And so on. You get the picture. If you touch anything without disinfecting it first, or make skin contact with another human being, you're practically begging for cancer. Just like a smoker.
Let's move on from HPV to other avoidable risks. Such as processed food. While eating any kind of food is a moderate risk factor, many preservatives and additives that are commonly used by the food industry greatly increase your natural cancer risk (such as sodium nitrate a.k.a. curing salt, propyl gallate, aspartame, natamycin, BHA, BHT, and many food colorings). And let's not forget the carcinogenic chemicals that are leaking out of plastic wrappers and packages. So, processed food can cause cancer. Even bread can cause cancer, thanks to the carcinogenic flour improver potassium bromate.
I guess it's time to start baking your own bread and cooking your own... actually, you might want to quit baking and cooking. Why, you ask? Because smoking can cause cancer. If you don't see the connection, let me explain it to you: The carcinogenic effect of cigarette smoke is caused by hydrocarbons, which are released when any kind of organic matter is burned. Such as wood or incense. Which, on a side note, means that attending a Catholic mass can cause cancer. And visiting a Buddhist temple can cause cancer as well. Sitting around a campfire can cause cancer too, and of course a summer barbecue can cause cancer.
But what does that have to do with cooking? Scientists have discovered that hydrocarbons are also released when organic matter is merely strongly heated. It doesn't have to be burned. You can see where this is going: Cooked food can cause cancer. Baked food can cause cancer. Fried food can cause cancer. Roasted food can cause cancer. Grilled food can cause cancer. Food that was heated up in the microwave can cause cancer (not because of microwave radiation, but because of the generated heat). Looks like it's raw food for you from now on.
Of course the above also applies to burning fossil fuels. On top of carcinogenic hydrocarbons, car exhaust fumes also contain the equally carcinogenic chemical benzene. There is no denying that driving a car can cause cancer. Car owners are not only endangering themselves, but also other people who inhale their exhaust fumes. Living near a road can cause cancer. Using the sidewalk next to a road can cause cancer. Being anywhere near car traffic can cause cancer. If you drive a car, you have no business lecturing tobacco users on the risk of second-hand smoke.
The only piece of modern technology that is as ubiquitous as cars are cell phones. Many earlier studies on cell phone radiation and cancer risk were inconclusive, but last year, the World Health Organization found that there is indeed an increase in glioma and acoustic neuroma brain cancer among cell phone users. A team of 31 scientists from 14 countries has gathered enough evidence for the WHO to announce that cell phones can (probably) cause cancer.
Another thing that's an omnipresent part of modern life are carcinogenic plasticizers, which are either absorbed through skin contact with plastic and rubber items or by inhaling their fumes. Have you ever noticed that many cheap plastic items have a horrible smell? What you are smelling is very likely carcinogenic. And I've read that when you hold the rubber handles of cheap tools for ten minutes, you might absorb as many carcinogenes as if you smoked several cigarettes. So, touching plastic, rubber, or faux leather and fur can cause cancer. And breathing in a room full of plastic items can cause cancer.
The list goes on and on and on. Sunlight can cause cancer. And fine dust can cause cancer. Particulate matter is ubiquitous from both natural and man-made sources. The concentration is especially high near urban areas. So unless you live in the countryside, you'll have an increased cancer risk. One of the riskier types of fine dust is talcum (talc is closely related to asbestos), which means that even baby powder can cause cancer.
I almost forgot one of the greatest cancer risks: Obesity. Being overweight can cause cancer. And, of course, having a genetic predisposition for cancer can cause cancer, even if you're a total health nut. Bottom line: If you are a bit overweight, eat a lot of processed food, live in an urban area and had sex at some point in your life, your cancer risk is probably on par with that of a smoker who is slim, eats healthy, lives in the sticks and is still a virgin. It might be even greater. In the end we all get to choose our poison and no one will live forever. |
You can get lung cancer with out every smoking a day in your life it does happen. |
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Sweetleaf
Metalhead
Joined: Jan 07, 2011
Age: 23
Posts: 14828
Location: Somewhere in Colorado
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| Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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| CrazyCatLord wrote: | | Sweetleaf wrote: | | well crap I'm going to hide in a sterile room and never touch anything than. |
I didn't mean to scare anyone  I just wanted to show that there is no escaping the natural cancer risk, or the man-made cancer risk that is an inescapable part of modern life. It is important to realize how low the cancer rate is despite all these carcinogenes that we're exposed to on a daily basis. For example, the chance of a 30 year old person to develop lung cancer within the next 10 years is only 0.02%.
Even if smoking increases this risk by a factor of 10, that's still only 0.2%. In comparison, the chance of an American person to die in a traffic accident within a decade is 0.15%, which is pretty much the same. Anyway, my point was that people who berate smokers might have an equally high cancer risk themselves due to factors like overweight, an unhealthy diet, or bad air quality at their place of residence.
Of course it does make sense to try and live healthy, within reason. You can greatly lower your cancer risk if you stop smoking, take a vow of celibacy, move to the countryside, and munch raw vegetables for dinner. The question is, are a few more years really worth all this trouble? Everybody has to decide that for themselves. And since very few of us live in a remote monastery and only eat home-grown food, we have no business berating each other for our potentially unhealthy habits. |
I was joking, I smoke cigarettes and have done plenty of other drugs to...but yeah I got you're point and I agree.
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It's like alice in wonderland except, my names not alice and this is the real world not a dream. |
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ArrantPariah
Phoenix
Joined: Mar 31, 2012
Posts: 4866
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| Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 10:08 am Post subject: |
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| CrazyCatLord wrote: | | Sweetleaf wrote: | | well crap I'm going to hide in a sterile room and never touch anything than. |
I didn't mean to scare anyone I just wanted to show that there is no escaping the natural cancer risk, or the man-made cancer risk that is an inescapable part of modern life. It is important to realize how low the cancer rate is despite all these carcinogenes that we're exposed to on a daily basis. For example, the chance of a 30 year old person to develop lung cancer within the next 10 years is only 0.02%.
Even if smoking increases this risk by a factor of 10, that's still only 0.2%. In comparison, the chance of an American person to die in a traffic accident within a decade is 0.15%, which is pretty much the same. Anyway, my point was that people who berate smokers might have an equally high cancer risk themselves due to factors like overweight, an unhealthy diet, or bad air quality at their place of residence.
Of course it does make sense to try and live healthy, within reason. You can greatly lower your cancer risk if you stop smoking, take a vow of celibacy, move to the countryside, and munch raw vegetables for dinner. The question is, are a few more years really worth all this trouble? Everybody has to decide that for themselves. And since very few of us live in a remote monastery and only eat home-grown food, we have no business berating each other for our potentially unhealthy habits. In other words, let smokers smoke. Just like the thread title says |
I don't know where the above "facts" come from (maybe a tobacco company's website?), but smokers do seem to be masters at the art of self-deception.
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/lung/basic_info/risk_factors.htm
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Cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer. In the United States, cigarette smoking causes about 90% of lung cancers. Tobacco smoke is a toxic mix of more than 7,000 chemicals. Many are poisons. At least 70 are known to cause cancer in people or animals. People who smoke are 15 to 30 times more likely to get lung cancer or die from lung cancer than people who do not smoke...
Smoking can cause cancer almost anywhere in the body. Smoking causes cancer of the mouth, nose, throat, voicebox (larynx), esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, cervix, stomach, blood, and bone marrow (acute myeloid leukemia). |
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LennytheWicked
Phoenix
Joined: Oct 23, 2011
Posts: 516
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| Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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As long as they do it in private, I don't care, but I'm asthmatic and being near people who smokes can and often does trigger an asthma attack for me. And I'm fairly sure that my dad having smoked since he was eighteen and being thirty when I was born has something to do with it [he didn't have asthma when he was a kid, but he does now. My mom doesn't have asthma, and no one on her side has asthma].
That, or him smoking when I was a baby managed to screw me over. I doubt he smoked in the room, or in the house, but you never know what happened before your earliest memory. |
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puddingmouse
exclamation mark!
Joined: Apr 25, 2010
Age: 26
Posts: 7048
Location: Mega City 3
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| Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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^ My Mum smoked when she was pregnant with me. I don't have asthma. I did get glue ear, though and God knows what else is wrong with me because of it.
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The mess has ended. Go home in pieces. |
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Dox47
Consigliere
Joined: Jan 29, 2008
Posts: 5189
Location: Seattle Area
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 4:15 am Post subject: |
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*lights cigar*
_________________
Unconditional allegiance is the surest way to render one’s beliefs and agenda irrelevant
Any power that government has to do something you like will invariably be used for something you abhor
Murum aries attigit |
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ArrantPariah
Phoenix
Joined: Mar 31, 2012
Posts: 4866
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 7:53 am Post subject: |
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| Dox47 wrote: | | *lights cigar* |
Why? |
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Dox47
Consigliere
Joined: Jan 29, 2008
Posts: 5189
Location: Seattle Area
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 8:43 am Post subject: |
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| ArrantPariah wrote: | | Dox47 wrote: | | *lights cigar* |
Why? |
Because it's delicious. The fact that it annoys the people who I'd wish to annoy anyway is merely a bonus.
_________________
Unconditional allegiance is the surest way to render one’s beliefs and agenda irrelevant
Any power that government has to do something you like will invariably be used for something you abhor
Murum aries attigit |
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ArrantPariah
Phoenix
Joined: Mar 31, 2012
Posts: 4866
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 8:49 am Post subject: |
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| Dox47 wrote: | | ArrantPariah wrote: | | Dox47 wrote: | | *lights cigar* |
Why? |
Because it's delicious. The fact that it annoys the people who I'd wish to annoy anyway is merely a bonus. |
So, you admit that smokers are out to annoy people. It seemeth the pinnacle of silliness to engage in self-destructive behaviour for the purpose of annoying others.
It is like a child who tries to hurt himself in order to get his parents' attention. |
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piroflip
Deinonychus
Joined: Aug 21, 2008
Age: 40
Posts: 352
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 8:55 am Post subject: |
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My mother died of a smoking induced stroke yesterday morning.
She died one arm and one leg at a time over a period of ten years.
Anybody who smokes OR forces others to breath their disgusting filth is INSANE. |
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ArrantPariah
Phoenix
Joined: Mar 31, 2012
Posts: 4866
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 9:03 am Post subject: |
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| piroflip wrote: | My mother died of a smoking induced stroke yesterday morning.
She died one arm and one leg at a time over a period of ten years.
Anybody who smokes OR forces others to breath their disgusting filth is INSANE. |
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ruveyn
Phoenix
Joined: Sep 22, 2008
Age: 76
Posts: 29317
Location: New Jersey
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 9:12 am Post subject: |
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| piroflip wrote: | My mother died of a smoking induced stroke yesterday morning.
She died one arm and one leg at a time over a period of ten years.
Anybody who smokes OR forces others to breath their disgusting filth is INSANE. |
Smoking is a vile nasty habit. Smokers should do their smoking far away from others who want no part of their air pollution.
Either smoke in an open place at least a hundred yards away from the nearest non-smoker or smoke in a room that is totally isolated from outside air and is buffered by effective filters.
ruveyn |
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ArrantPariah
Phoenix
Joined: Mar 31, 2012
Posts: 4866
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 9:15 am Post subject: |
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| ruveyn wrote: | | piroflip wrote: | My mother died of a smoking induced stroke yesterday morning.
She died one arm and one leg at a time over a period of ten years.
Anybody who smokes OR forces others to breath their disgusting filth is INSANE. |
Smoking is a vile nasty habit. Smokers should do their smoking far away from others who want no part of their air pollution.
Either smoke in an open place at least a hundred yards away from the nearest non-smoker or smoke in a room that is totally isolated from outside air and is buffered by effective filters.
ruveyn |
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Dox47
Consigliere
Joined: Jan 29, 2008
Posts: 5189
Location: Seattle Area
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 9:36 am Post subject: |
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| ArrantPariah wrote: |
So, you admit that smokers are out to annoy people. It seemeth the pinnacle of silliness to engage in self-destructive behaviour for the purpose of annoying others.
It is like a child who tries to hurt himself in order to get his parents' attention. |
No, I admit that I smoke because I find the experience pleasurable, and add that the people who tend to be offended are not people I particularly care about offending. I'd think you of all people would understand that, having made a bit of a second career out of selectively annoying people and all.
_________________
Unconditional allegiance is the surest way to render one’s beliefs and agenda irrelevant
Any power that government has to do something you like will invariably be used for something you abhor
Murum aries attigit |
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ArrantPariah
Phoenix
Joined: Mar 31, 2012
Posts: 4866
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 10:44 am Post subject: |
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| Dox47 wrote: | | ArrantPariah wrote: |
So, you admit that smokers are out to annoy people. It seemeth the pinnacle of silliness to engage in self-destructive behaviour for the purpose of annoying others.
It is like a child who tries to hurt himself in order to get his parents' attention. |
No, I admit that I smoke because I find the experience pleasurable, and add that the people who tend to be offended are not people I particularly care about offending. I'd think you of all people would understand that, having made a bit of a second career out of selectively annoying people and all. |
I have no such career. However, thanks for letting us know that you enjoy offending people. |
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