Smoking around the world • Hacker News Board

Re: Smoking around the world

#11

Post by TheSpiceIsLife » Fri, Aug 10, 2018, 1:52 AM UTC

mertd wrote: post #9

tjr225 wrote: post #5

Isn't it incredible how much the smoking culture of America has shifted over time? If only the forces who put the anti-smoking effort into motion could come together and work towards making renewable energy, alternative commuting methods, or universal healthcare acceptable ideas in this country. I used to smoke a pack a day and I'm glad I don't anymore.

I wonder how anti-smoking campaign would have played out today when a good chunk of population can't be convinced that vaccines are a good thing.

I haven’t seen any numbers, but I would have thought tiny minority would be more accurate?

Re: Smoking around the world

#12

Post by dfee » Fri, Aug 10, 2018, 2:06 AM UTC

tjr225 wrote: post #5

Isn't it incredible how much the smoking culture of America has shifted over time? If only the forces who put the anti-smoking effort into motion could come together and work towards making renewable energy, alternative commuting methods, or universal healthcare acceptable ideas in this country. I used to smoke a pack a day and I'm glad I don't anymore.

Over the weekend a friend of mine pointed out that while nicotine use has dropped, cannabis use has heavily increased. As if, the rise on tobacco prices has driven folks to alternative drugs.

I wonder (and if someone on HN knows how, please share) if you were to track use and abuse of pills, stimulants (including things like 5 hour energy), cannabis and other forms of what’s becoming not-so-recreational drug usage — what would we find?

Re: Smoking around the world

#13

Post by dyarosla » Fri, Aug 10, 2018, 2:08 AM UTC

mc32 wrote: post #7

What's odd about this is that women in "richer" countries smoke more on average than women in developing nations, but conversely, when it comes to men, men in developing nations smoke more on average than men in developed countries...

This could be explained by women in developing nations simply having the least amount of money out of all of these groups and not be able to afford it- otherwise I could imagine women in developing nations would also smoke more than women in developed nations.

Re: Smoking around the world

#14

Post by paxy » Fri, Aug 10, 2018, 2:12 AM UTC

I have anecdotally observed much higher rates of smoking among friends and on the streets in South Asia (mainly India) vs. USA, but interestingly the data seems to indicate the opposite.

Re: Smoking around the world

#15

Post by anewone » Fri, Aug 10, 2018, 2:16 AM UTC

tjr225 wrote: post #5

Isn't it incredible how much the smoking culture of America has shifted over time? If only the forces who put the anti-smoking effort into motion could come together and work towards making renewable energy, alternative commuting methods, or universal healthcare acceptable ideas in this country. I used to smoke a pack a day and I'm glad I don't anymore.

Smoking is scary on an individual level, not to mention expensive. Those other causes you mentioned aren't interesting if you don't personally need them. It's harder to get someone to make a short term sacrifice for other people's long term gains.

Re: Smoking around the world

#16

Post by illuminati1911 » Fri, Aug 10, 2018, 2:17 AM UTC

paxy wrote: post #14

I have anecdotally observed much higher rates of smoking among friends and on the streets in South Asia (mainly India) vs. USA, but interestingly the data seems to indicate the opposite.

Yeah. I have also often heard westeners saying that "people in China(or Asia) smoke so much!" etc. which is probably true if we are dealing with absolute numbers. When looking at the relative numbers however, there are more smokers in France than in China and smokers in Sweden consume more cigarettes each day.

Maybe smoking in public is more common in China/Asia?

Re: Smoking around the world

#17

Post by paulkon » Fri, Aug 10, 2018, 2:19 AM UTC

paxy wrote: post #14

I have anecdotally observed much higher rates of smoking among friends and on the streets in South Asia (mainly India) vs. USA, but interestingly the data seems to indicate the opposite.

India has 4 times more people than USA and much greater density. Odds are greater that people around you will be smoking.

Re: Smoking around the world

#18

Post by zavi » Fri, Aug 10, 2018, 2:22 AM UTC

anewone wrote: post #15

tjr225 wrote: post #5

Isn't it incredible how much the smoking culture of America has shifted over time? If only the forces who put the anti-smoking effort into motion could come together and work towards making renewable energy, alternative commuting methods, or universal healthcare acceptable ideas in this country. I used to smoke a pack a day and I'm glad I don't anymore.

Smoking is scary on an individual level, not to mention expensive. Those other causes you mentioned aren't interesting if you don't personally need them. It's harder to get someone to make a short term sacrifice for other people's long term gains.

A better analogy would be a potential campaign to reduce obesity. If US could pull off a public fat shaming campaign as successful and the one around tobacco it would be a huge benefit to individual people's quality of life as well as economy as a whole.

Re: Smoking around the world

#19

Post by geomark » Fri, Aug 10, 2018, 2:30 AM UTC

TheSpiceIsLife wrote: post #11

mertd wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder how anti-smoking campaign would have played out today when a good chunk of population can't be convinced that vaccines are a good thing.

I haven’t seen any numbers, but I would have thought tiny minority would be more accurate?

In some areas the percentage of unvaccinated is quite high. See this map of anti-vaxxers by county http://rpubs.com/markdg/AntivaxxerHotspots It uses the Personal Belief Exemption for school children as a proxy for the general population of anti-vaxxers. So arguably a bit inaccurate.

Re: Smoking around the world

#20

Post by elorant » Fri, Aug 10, 2018, 2:37 AM UTC

I quit the damn thing some 13 years ago and I've never looked back since. Best decision I've ever made. Earned back my life, I'm in my mid forties and my physical endurance is way better than what it was in my twenties. The thing that most smokers don't realize is that smoking is like taking heroin. You're addicted to a substance that's slowly and silently killing you. Just a couple of years ago I lost a very good friend of mine from lung cancer. He was smoking three packs a day and the cancer ended him in less than six months.

To anyone reading this as a smoker. Quit the fucking thing. You won't miss it and there are ways to quit that aren't as harsh as cold turkey. Just seek medical advice and move on.