Harawira takes on smoking giant due to Maori deaths

**ynot slow** · 12th March 2010, 17:08

You toke the smoke,ya takes ya chances.

Was in Wellington hospital,elderley maori lady had her lung removed due to cancer,was she going to stop,"nope been doing it for 50yrs why stop now" kinda like my dads' thoughts,but his lungs ok.
My lung was removed(lower left lobe)due to cancer and never smoked so kinda pissed me off,and pretty damn sure if people knew the pain after surgery(bearable for sure,but still have rib pain 9mths later,and maybe for life)they may flag starting. Personal responsibilty for anything we all do.

**wbks** · 12th March 2010, 17:51

Originally Posted by ynot slow

You toke the smoke,ya takes ya chances.

Was in Wellington hospital,elderley maori lady had her lung removed due to cancer,was she going to stop,"nope been doing it for 50yrs why stop now" kinda like my dads' thoughts,but his lungs ok.
My lung was removed(lower left lobe)due to cancer and never smoked so kinda pissed me off,and pretty damn sure if people knew the pain after surgery(bearable for sure,but still have rib pain 9mths later,and maybe for life)they may flag starting. Personal responsibilty for anything we all do.

Do they treat people who continue smoking while ill/after opps?

**Dave Lobster** · 12th March 2010, 18:01

Originally Posted by wbks

Do they treat people who continue smoking while ill/after opps?

Of course. Someone thought it was a good idea to sign up the that human rights malarky.

Not me, incidently.

**Headbanger** · 12th March 2010, 18:13

Originally Posted by wbks

Do they treat people who continue smoking while ill/after opps?

Of course, Smokers are after all subsidising non-smokers health care. Keep em alive and smoking.

Win/win situation.

**peasea** · 12th March 2010, 22:06

Originally Posted by bogan

Hone can get fucked

Have some bling dude.

**peasea** · 12th March 2010, 22:15

Originally Posted by MisterD

Why take personal responsibility when you can blame the white man for everything?

I know a few others on here are regular readers of the Whale...but really you should read this about his appearance in front of that select committee:

http://whaleoil.gotcha.co.nz/2010/03...ke-it-up-em-2/

The further reading, which is what he was trying to present:

http://whaleoil.gotcha.co.nz/2009/11...g-101-results/
http://whaleoil.gotcha.co.nz/2009/11...troughing-102/

...and you thought the Treaty was the only gravy-train in town...

Must spread rep etc........great reading, thanks.

**Ocean1** · 12th March 2010, 22:49

Originally Posted by wbks

Do they treat people who continue smoking while ill/after opps?

Including the ones smoking through a tracheotomy shunt.

**KiWiP** · 12th March 2010, 23:42

Nicotine is a highly addictive drug (more addictive than heroin, cocaine, alcohol etc) it is freely available to all, children included. When anyone starts smoking they are not thinking of long term health effects, financial costs or becoming a burden on society. Not surprising really because what alcoholic does when they have their first drink or gambler when they place their first chip on red.
I think all the "personal responsibility" comments come from people who have never smoked or are those blaggards who have smoked but now don't and forget how difficult it is to give up or how many times they tried before eventually succeeding.

Tobacco companies are ruthless. They target the poor, the ill informed and those who don't have the benefit of higher education. Proof? compare the price of bread, milk and cigarettes in a dairy in a poor neighborhood to a rich one. Bread and milk cheaper in a rich one, cigarettes cheaper in a poor one. A smoker will forgo milk in their coffee and go without a piece of toast before they go without a cigarette. Remember it's a drug and BAT and Phillip Morris are drug pushers. Don't bash the user they are the victims. take your (rightful) anger out on those who push this vile, pernicious product.

An ex-smoker.

p.s. Any one who does smoke I support your choice to smoke so don't get all pissy because I am not attacking you. But please appreciate you are an unknowing victim of crimes against your person. Are you smoking because you want to and it is your free choice or are you smoking because you have to?

**PrincessBandit** · 13th March 2010, 08:32

Originally Posted by Tank

Yep - because smocking deaths is a Maori only issue.

Yeah, they die of embarrassment having been caught smocking...
(couldn't resist)

I just love how people like Hone keep making things like alcohol abuse, drug abuse, smoking, the list goes on, a racial issue. Do Maori smokers have special place above non-Maori smokers?

**bogan** · 13th March 2010, 08:40

Originally Posted by PrincessBandit

Yeah, they die of embarrassment having been caught smocking...
(couldn't resist)

I just love how people like Hone keep making things like alcohol abuse, drug abuse, smoking, the list goes on, a racial issue. Do Maori smokers have special place above non-Maori smokers?

all moari have a special place above everyone else doncha know, they were here ~~first~~ second?... well, yeh so they get better stuff you see

**Mully** · 13th March 2010, 08:58

Originally Posted by KiWiP

Nicotine is a highly addictive drug (more addictive than heroin, cocaine, alcohol etc) it is freely available to all, children included.

Agreed.

When anyone starts smoking they are not thinking of long term health effects, financial costs or becoming a burden on society. Not surprising really because what alcoholic does when they have their first drink or gambler when they place their first chip on red.

Anyone who doesn't know the effects of smoking before they start has, frankly, got their head in the sand. The fact that tobacco companies sell a highly addictive, poison is common knowledge and has been for many, many years.

I think all the "personal responsibility" comments come from people who have never smoked or are those blaggards who have smoked but now don't and forget how difficult it is to give up or how many times they tried before eventually succeeding.

As I understand it (and you're right, I've never smoked) becoming addicted to these cancer sticks is indeed easy. However, smokers I have asked have said that it was extremely unpleasant to start smoking. I also know smokers (and drinkers, for that matter) who have given up cold-turkey. For health reasons, mainly.

I tried it when I was younger (cos it was cool, obviously) and it was disgusting. Anyone that perseveres with that shit long enough to get addicted is obviously much "cooler" than I was.

Tobacco companies are ruthless.

Again, agreed.

They target the poor, the ill informed and those who don't have the benefit of higher education.

I maintain that it's pretty difficult to be unaware of the effects of smoking. Regardless of your education level.

But please appreciate you are an unknowing victim of crimes against your person. Are you smoking because you want to and it is your free choice or are you smoking because you have to?

And why did you start smoking, for that matter.

**wbks** · 13th March 2010, 09:17

Heard the "smoking is more addictive than P" line a few times... Kind of makes me wonder, like with the old "more people die of lightning strike than shark attacks"... Strangely enough a lot less people go walking in a thunderstorm than swim in the sea, just as people aren't quite given the same incentive to stop smoking tobacco vs. P, and I've yet to see someone burgle a house to fund their nicotine habit