<p>how about…over reactive…
Anyone who takes that post seriously, needs to lighten up.</p>
<p>it figures that a simple question would turn into a grand social debate, when its posed to potential/future uchicago-ers.</p>
<p>and on that note, all i have to say is i dont understand why people can be so rude to smokers/drug users/drinkers. as long as they do it responsibly, let them live as they wish! their health is no one else’s concern- besides, we don’t look at obese people and tell them to stop eating, so why are we so rude to smokers? if you can’t live your life doing whatever makes you ahppy, whats the point?</p>
<p>“we don’t look at obese people and tell them to stop eating” Sure we do.</p>
<p>And sarcasm doesn’t translate well over Ye Olde Inter-web, erin, this place is text-only. It’s a commonly-enough held view for me to take it seriously…</p>
<p>I’ll make sure to post my sarcastic remarks in brackets for you. :)</p>
<p>““we don’t look at obese people and tell them to stop eating” Sure we do.”</p>
<p>And if we don’t, we probobly should. As stated in Super Size Me: “It’s socially acceptable to tell a smoker to stop smoking becuase its going to kill them, so why cant we tell really big people to put down that burger becuase its going to kill them”</p>
<p>plus at least a smoker can say, im physically addicted. you cant get addicted to junk food.</p>
<hr>
<p>i think that people are rude/condescending to both drinkers/smokers/etc and binge eaters (or people who just like to eat) because theres something morally lax about both. a lot of people feel a sense of moral superiority when they look at someone who isnt as “strong” as they-- meaning that they cant resist lustful urges (yes, you can lust after a peice of sinfully good chocolate cake).</p>
<p>personally, i dont think that theres anything wrong with smoking up or drinking or doing whatever you please, as long as it is done responsibly. however i will admit that there is something intrinsically (sp?) irresponsible with smoking stogs, since 2nd hand smoke is quite harmful. in that regard, maybe its better to do anything BUT smoke.</p>
<p>its not a physical addition, so much as an emotional thing. if it wasnt a sort of addiction, no one would be obese. </p>
<p>really, when was the last time you saw an obese person on the street and told them to stop eating? see, that woudl be seen as rude. but people give smokers dirty looks and tell them to stop smoking all the time, even when they are doing it outside/away from other people. I personally dont think there is anything wrong with smoking or drinking or overeating- i dont do any of them but just as good food is a great pleasure, smoking can be too. and why give up something you gain such great pleasure from, unless, of course, you have a good reason to?</p>
<p>“i think that people are rude/condescending to both drinkers/smokers/etc and binge eaters (or people who just like to eat) because theres something morally lax about both. a lot of people feel a sense of moral superiority when they look at someone who isnt as “strong” as they-- meaning that they cant resist lustful urges (yes, you can lust after a peice of sinfully good chocolate cake).”</p>
<p>i second that. why should we feel morally superior to someone whos just doing what makes their life good? its like we reward ourselves, or put ourselves at higher moral regard for being able to deprive ourselves of guilty pleasures.</p>
<p>but then again, smoking kills. we can go on and on about how unfairly or hypocritically smokers are treated, but in the end smoking IS a bad thing, no matter how you look at it.</p>
<p>Maybe smokers wish an early death on themselves. If that’s their bag, then whatev. Fine with me.</p>
<p>I’m not so sure about public smoking though…</p>
<p>its not a physical addition, so much as an emotional thing. if it wasnt a sort of addiction, no one would be obese"</p>
<p>This is not true. Genetics and aging is the main reason ppl are obese when others are not.</p>
<p>obesity kills too. hell, practically everything kills, or causes cancer. trade-off, my econ teacher always tells us. driving in cars is a risk. freaking walking around is a risk. no matter what, you’re always dying. so you pick whatever you get the most pleasure from. and bettina: i’m sorry, i didnt think of that. thats true too, it doesnt negate my point though, because i was just responding to the assertion that obesity is a choice whereas smoking is entirely ones choice. </p>
<p>… i dont smoke, nor am i a fan of second hand smoke, either- but it’s not fair to treat smokers rudely unless they’re blowing smoke into your face.</p>
<p>I do neither. I have too many eyes watching me.</p>
<p>And as for obesity/smoking, let people do as they like. If they mess up their health, well i’m afraid it’s their problem. Remember, YOU are not going to change them. It comes down to their PERSONAL decision on helping themselves in stopping something that obviously hurts them. Criticizing won’t get you anywhere.</p>
<p>fortune4260,</p>
<p>You’re closer than the rest to a good solution, but you need to add a little phrase. “Let people do as they like”…Until it interferes with other people doing as they like.</p>
<p>Yep, and also “Let people do as they like until it threatens the social contract” :)</p>
<p>eh i feel kind of obligated to tell people, or at least close friends, when theyre doing something dangerous.
yes, its hypocritical, but smoking is really, really bad for you. one of my best friends started to smoke a few months ago, and i was on his case every day until he quit. however, i do agree that if you arent close with some one, it is very inappropriate to say something.</p>
<p>oh and also—
genetics and aging are NOT the main reason people are obese. consider the rising rates of obesity- its not as if suddenly only obese people are having tons of children… haha</p>