Massive Hypocrisy

Conditions : Warm.


I feel the need to speak about the latest brain-wave from our government: forcing Tobacco companies to put the most graphic, disgusting photos of effects of smoking on toes, teech, hearts, lungs and so forth right on the cigarette packets. Although I don't smoke, and think it's certainly A Bad Thing, this is truly a monumental example of the hyprocrasy of these idiots.


One: First and foremost, if these products really do cause these hidous effects (and it seems they do) then why is it okay for shops to be selling them to people anyway? Do you see little packets full of Asbestos or jars full of Weaponised Anthrax at the local supermarket? No you do not. And do you know WHY the supermarkets can't sell these things? Because they're dangerous and illegal. So since smoking causes your toes to rot off, your veins to get stuffed full of black ooze, and your teeth to turn green and die, why in the hell are they continuing to allow this shit to be sold to the public? If it's really that bad that we now have to have these pictures plastered onto the packets (over like 20% of the front cover, and 90% of the rear) to try and scare people off of the habit, surely by any definition of the word 'moral' we should outlaw the damn things?

Two: It won't work. For as long as I can remember (a week from Tuesday) we've been told again and again how bad cigarettes are for us, and what precisely they are doing to us. It's in the magazines, in the newspapers, even in television adverts. You honestly think putting these same old images on the packets themselves is going to make any difference?

People don't smoke because they're ignorant to what cigarettes do to them. They smoke because they're addicted to them. The fact that they ignore what cigarettes do is a testament to that addiction!

Three: Since I've never seen cigarettes on a retailer's shelf, I don't think plastering the packets with photos is going to stop them being sold anyway. They only way potential shoppers can see the photos is if they put money on the counter and get the assistant to open the cabinet up and fetch a packet. And I highly doubt that after that point they're going to change their mind just because of the artwork. And then what? Who looks at a packet of cigarettes as they're extracting one? They're too busy fumbling for a lighter with the other hand.

Either the government really wants to do something about this or they don't. Either they want to take a stand against a dangerous substance, or they just want to be seen to be doing something. This half-hearted candy-assed lilly-livered bullshit is simply a waste of time and (our) money.




Peace out.