No Smoking Day and the power of addiction
Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 13:49 I've been quite busy this morning.
It's No Smoking Day which is not the big media event it used to be but I was asked nevertheless to do a number of interviews with local radio stations such as BBC London, BBC Humberside, BBC WM, BBC Tees, and BBC Sheffield.
BBC Tees presenter Mike Parr turned out to be an opinionated ex-smoker who, based on personal experience perhaps, wouldn't accept that not all smokers are addicted.
Parr welcomed the smoking ban because the absence of people smoking inside a pub removed temptation, or so he said.
I've never understood this argument. What about people smoking outside, or in the street? Isn't that a source of temptation too? So what do you do, ban smoking everywhere? ("Yes!" shrill the anti-tobacco lobby.)
Parr didn't like it when I suggested he might be just a little weak-willed, but when I mentioned that I wasn't a smoker it seemed to press a button in his head and he went on a bit of a rant.
I was going to respond but then I realised he had cut me off!
Meanwhile the behemoth that used to No Smoking Day stumbles on with few people taking it seriously.
This year it has been re-launched (and paid for?) by the British Heart Foundation. The slogan was 'Swap fags for swag'.
Am I missing something? Is this youth-speak? I haven't heard anyone use the word 'swag' since the 1960s. It has echoes of Dixon of Dock Green or even The Beano.
If you do quit smoking today good luck. I understand The One Show is doing an item on the subject because last week No Smoking Day tweeted:
Giving up smoking for @NoSmokingDay? @BBCOneShow wants your story. Contact craig.chambers1@bbc.co.uk.
We thought it might be a good idea if some people told Craig why they're NOT quitting. I don't know if anyone did but I'm sure it's not too late.
Reader Comments (6)
'Swap fags for swag'.
Idiots. They don't even realise that we've "swapped tax for swag."
Many millions of Resistance members go abroad and buy fags for a third of the price here and we save much swag thanks very much - and we don't pay for the privilege of being abused with our own money. We refuse to fund the anti smoker industry and Govt until it starts listening to us..
I have to say everyone I've seen today has happily carried on smoking. In honour of No Smoking Day, I even lit up inside a pub. No one cared a damn - not even those who don't smoke. One pub customer told me: "If anyone came to my house and asked do you mind if I smoke, I'd say not at all. I don't understand these freaks that want to ban it everywhere."
Tolerance still lives. Sadly, the Govt should get out more and mix with ordinary people instead of quangocrats and then it would see how much this ban is truly despised by all but the most zealous extremists.
Take your pick:
http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/swag
In a nutshell - a choice of drooping material, a stolen lawn mower/ hedge trimmer etc, weed or the total worldly belongings of an Antipodean tramp.
I'd guess the middle two would be the most popular incentive to quit (smoking tobacco that is). A stolen propagator would also come in handy for some who might be tempted by the offer....
Regretfully, I must complain about the moderation policy of this blog. I would like to add to Pat Nurse's post, but there is no point - it may well be old-hat by now.
What is moderation? It merely holds up publication. Each post needs to be approved. Surely, it would be much simpler to allow the posts through, and then delete those posts which are mischievous. "CLICK - DELETE"
This blog used to be useful.... Now, it is bare.
Any chance you could let us know what time you were on Parr's show? I'm not sure I can face listening to the whole thing....
Didn't there used to be a comedian called Nosmo King?
Bout time we had a national smoking day
I shall have an extra Habano tonight
John we do have "Octabber" for those who choose not to quit in October when the banal "Stoptober" runs. Maybe we should have a national smoking day - why not call it "Anti-Bully Day" :)