Amusement and contempt
Monday, October 31, 2016 at 19:25 On Friday ASH Scotland posted an article on their blog that raised questions about the Forest-funded Smokers' Survey.
We answered their principal complaint - that respondents won't represent smokers "as a whole" - on Twitter.
In addition I and several other people submitted comments to the ASH Scotland blog, Tobacco Unpacked.
That was three days ago. So far not one has been published. Not one.
I'm not angry because I couldn't care less, to be honest. But I thought I'd mention it so it's on record that ASH Scotland is happy to have a pop at Forest but when we (and others) respond they won't even give us the customary right of reply.
To be clear, I don't publish every comment that's submitted to this blog. That's why I have comment moderation in place.
But if I criticised anyone directly I wouldn't think twice about publishing their reaction (subject to the laws of libel and defamation, of course).
Tobacco control doesn't work that way. Their aim is to shut down discussion, ignore opposing views and censor dissent, just like totalitarian governments the world over.
So, no, I'm not angry. I'm not even surprised. I'm just sad for anyone who has to work in such a stultifying environment.
Forest may be a corner shop compared to ASH Scotland's state-funded superstore but I could never work for a body that's the complete antithesis of a free, open-minded society.
Anti-tobacco campaigners talk about people's addiction to smoking but their addiction to propaganda and control is a far, far greater threat to society.
I genuinely pity them and their small-minded illiberal attitudes.
But my principal reaction is one of amusement and contempt.
It's all they deserve.
Reader Comments (4)
ASH is an antidemocratic, totalitarian propaganda machine. They should be disbanded and prosecuted for racketeering.
Don't worry in the long run the truck will get out ands the tobacco controllers will be held to account for their lies, exaggerations, and persecution of smokers.
It never ceases to amaze me (though it is ASH so, you know, I should have learned by now how they like to ignore things) how ASH et al decry any survey that they didn't commission as loaded with bias (either funding or selection), yet they utterly fail to realise that their own surveys are susceptible to the very same biases!
Yet it is their own surveys that they base all their lobbying on. ASH either need a reality check (hah!) or a complete and total defunding (double hah!).
Just read in the Daily Express today that Glasgow is opening a junkies room with crèches for their kids and places to tie up their pets so they can have a comfortable hit of Heroin etc inside away from the elements. Does this sound like a bit like the loonies are running the asylum or not? As a smoker of tobacco I still have to brave the elements.
ASH speaks for smokers and represents them about as fairly as the BNP speaks for immigrants 😉