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carl2407

Listed below are comments made by carl2407 between Thursday, 9th July 2009 and Friday, 7th August 2009.

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Hard-core smokers 11:18am on 07 Aug 2009 Sorry this blog has become so long now that Health and Safety have stated it may harm you. The need to keep scrolling down has affected some peoples hands and the amount of time in front of the screen needed to read it goes beyond what is deemed safe.

You can carry on reading at your own risk outside these premises. A 90% tax will be levied on your internet fee.

There has also been a great deal of complaints from the working classes that these people who have nothing better to do than complain are spoiling their lives and stressing them out resulting in illness. Therefore the Government will be implementing a ban on whingers in public places. They can still whinge but must do so outside, preferably in the cold and rain, where they will cause far less stress and inevitably illness.

Scientific evidence states quite clearly that most scientific evidence is not and that fact is not the same as scientific evidence. Source "The Layman Report" Feb 30th 2010.

You want to cut the risks in life ? Don`t live.
Hard-core smokers 10:41am on 02 Aug 2009 From the Beeb today

"Some studies show that alcohol, in moderation, can reduce the risk of heart disease.

In terms of damage to the liver, the risk begins when regular weekly consumption exceeds about 30 units, said Dr Sheron.

But for other conditions, like cancer, the risk starts at zero and goes up proportionately with the amount of alcohol is consumed.

A person who regularly drinks 50g of alcohol a day - around 6 units or three pints of normal strength beer - has nearly double the risk of stroke, high blood pressure and pancreatitis as someone who abstains. "

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8172982.stm

Where are the warnings on the bottles ? Where is the ban against doing it in public because innocents suffer because of drinkers ?

Cigarettes smell but a smoker doesn`t beat up your son/daughter cos he had too many. He doesn`t career into a bus queue because he can`t control his vehicle. As for the smell, I moved out of London partly because I could no longer stand the stagnant smell of vehicle fumes, which are also toxic I might add. However in the height of summer I get to smell the sewage works a mile or so away, the manure that goes on the farms not to mention the various, possibly toxic, sprays the farms use on their crops.

I`m not saying the ban is wrong, as I have stated all along I think there should be a complete ban, but there should be some parity. The inequality of the arguments is what is wrong and the fact the Government supports and taxes slow suicide is wrong.

As a parent I wouldn`t say to my children you can smoke but not in my house, I do say "You can`t smoke". I also make them aware of the dangers of alcohol but I`ve no chance of stopping them there because I`m not backed by the Government stating the dangers on TV ads, on bottles and on BBC blogs.

Smokers are not the only addicts harming themselves and others. A bit of equality would not be amiss. Or you can kid yourselves as smokers have done for years, it`s what addicts do.
Hard-core smokers 5:27pm on 30 Jul 2009 Ok let`s look at some logic from myself an addict.

Assisted suicide is illegal in this Country, even possibly if the deceased did it abroad yet according to everyones opinion by smoking I am commiting suicide. I am doing this with the blessing of the law/Government who even tax me on my chosen poison. Is the Government then commiting a crime ? Certainly in the way it taxes me !;-)

It`s a fudge yet again, the popularist poisons are fine by majority rule and you may commit suicide to your hearts content with the Government`s help provided there`s something in it for them. Alcohol is popular yet the cost of the effects of it possibly outweigh those of smoking.

Smoking is bad for me, I fully understand that but lets be seen to be fair and not hypocritical there are a lot of things equally bad. If I choose to smoke and one pub in my area is licensed to allow smokers, where obviously non smokers would not like to be, that should be fine shouldn`t it? After all I`m not going to affect you there as long as you don`t wish to come. You have that choice, I no longer frequent restaurants because I don`t have that choice.

Let`s be realistic and stop being so draconian with the law. Smokers are not going to go away. I see more of the younger generation take it up daily. We are not pariahs and don`t deserve to be treated as lepers. Most are only asking that fair treatment is applied, a licence for say one pub in ten to allow smokers surely must seem fair. How much cocaine and other drugs are done in pubs and clubs albeit illegal ?

And if you should decide you are assisting my suicide then by all means make it totally illegal but lets stop this fudging around. Even those here who are passionate non-smokers and totally anti-tobacco must surely believe the current position makes no sense and needs to change ?

It has to be one way or the other not this Government fudge simply to accrue more taxes which they then go on to state is not enough to cover the effects.

If the majority really can see it`s bad and killing people unnecessarily then why in a democratic society is it legal ? Taxed ? And ok to do around children albeit your own ? If secondhand smoke is damaging to children why can I do it ? After all I can`t smack them but I can make them part of my assisted suicide and perhaps theirs.

Please don`t attack me the victim of an age where the Government said ok you can commit suicide in THIS instance provided you give us a few quid. It should be the importers, dealers and those who benefit from importing addictive drugs that should really be to blame, I`m just an addict whose habit came from those that said it would be ok by means of availability.
Hard-core smokers 9:38pm on 29 Jul 2009 @Joan Olivares who said

"why wouldn't you at least try to change your "wicked" ways"

Would you like to change into a nervous wreck, have temper tantrums, go through withdrawals and know at the end you MAY be an unhappier albeit healthier person ?

I like me, unfortunately the me I like smokes profusely. Do I want to change ? Not at present !

My addiction has always been me, the same as my wish not to grow old and infirmed and when I`m looking up from the gurney at that last dose I`ll say...." Boy didn`t we have fun and throw caution to the wind, it was great. See ya" Perhaps you don`t believe me but then you don`t me ! Everyone has to learn to stand on their own two feet sooner or later as my kids will undoubtably.

Don`t wrap me in a bubble and protect me from life it`s too much like death.

I am an addict there is no logic that can change that, it`s not I want...It`s I need ! And right now I need to be me, the one I know. It`s my comfort zone and if you try to take it away, I will fight tooth and nail. Try to understand addiction, you have them, try to change them.
Hard-core smokers 6:44pm on 29 Jul 2009 Joan Olivares said

"Smokers leave a lot of sad people behind after they go."

Does that not stand for the child who dies of cancer ?

The end results of life are never great, smoker or not. Will banning fags from pubs etc., end cancer ? Nope !

Does giving up smoking carry risks? There is plenty of anecdotal evidence it does. Weight gain and obesity, the blood suddenly thickening can cause vascular problems, mental health problems, depression, aggression etc.

In the late 60`s when I started smoking it was commonplace and acceptable, the Government have always accepted my taxes from it. I was not to blame for this acceptable addictive substance being readily available to me.

I defend it because I am an addict, as much as you are to alcohol or your car, your air holiday, after all I thought it was a democratic society with choices. It`s bad for you ? Yes I agree but after 40+ years of being sold it by Government sponsored dealers would it do me any good to stop ? Do I want your expensive(apparently) cancer cures when it happens ? Nahhhh just give me cheap strong pain relief and I`ll bid you goodbye, I`ve no wish to get to the stage where I`m totally useless and can`t have a laugh....and a fag as long as it`s legal.

Best you anti-smokers move onto the young chaps thinking of joining up...Ooooh it can kill or main you getting sent to Afghanistan. Oh but of course it`s not harming you is it ?

Life ends the same way always.
Some smokers get ill and die. Non-smokers get ill and die.
Heroin is an addictive drug.Tobacco is an addictive drug.

Ban it or shut up, the pictures, the ads, my kids, pubs, restaurants aint enough...I am an addict and you expect me not to defend my addiction? Nag all you like, it`s not going to happen. Yes I`ve seen all the "educational" material stating "facts" and ?

Warning
Life causes serious diseases, see your Doctor or Pharmiscist to stop now !

UK DUTY PAID
Hard-core smokers 11:45pm on 28 Jul 2009 On a Friday or Saturday night are our A&E departments full of smokers ? Does smoking make you violent,break the law and cause liver damage ?

The Health Authorities know that most Cancers bought on by substance abuse are a mixture of something and alcohol.

Is there something nice to die of ? Should we all become a burden to the taxpayer and Health Authorities by living to 120 ?

I am an addict of tobacco, which is as bad as Heroin to get off. Ban it or don`t but stop fudging around. Don`t give me hypocrisy, you let me smoke but spend a fortune in taxpayers hard earned on ads etc., trying to get me to stop. I`m not going to stop, I`m an addict...It`s bad for me...yeah so is life.

I don`t drink but society is making my kids addicts of alcohol and you cannot alcohol doesn`t affect others...It does perhaps more than smoking.

Life is a risk but it`s your choice to get in the car, step in the road, have that drink, get on a bike, fly on a plane...at the moment. Utopia is a place of extreme boredom without risk, with little grey people.

And when that Doctor tells me I have Cancer is he really 100% sure it`s because of cigarettes ? No because hundreds die of it who never lit up.

Ban it completely or shut up and whilst you`re at it ban the planes that are giving out toxic fumes that kill our kids, the cars, the toxic waste from numerous products etc.,....Oh but of course it`s about industry, it`s about pound notes really not our health.
The Web at 20 1:44pm on 12 Jul 2009 I run a small IT business.

My 18 yo daughter grew up with the net, apart from one time when risque photo`s were put on she has been no problem. Except for the fact every second of free time is spent infront of her PC. There are times howether she becomes embroiled in arguments online that spill into real life and some have become feudal.

I have alway`s policed my kids MS Messenger,MySpace, Facebook rigourously much to most peoples disdain in the beginning. What occurs on my internet is my responsibilty.

My 14 yo, at 12 was flashing on webcam...webcam taken away. Sexually oriented conversations/swearing from that point on resulting in internet being withdrawn for periods. These things were no different to what her peers were/are doing. She had sex at 13, arranged via internet convo`s, arranged drinking sessions/liasons. Take a good look around your teenagers MySpace/Facebook and see our very kids trying to copy Jordan poses in some cases explicitly imho. These kids are unpoliced in most cases as parents do not know how. Her internet now has parental control where all Social Networking is barred. Her life has changed. She gets far more exercise, moans that her friends sit in all the time wasting their lives and is a far better person to live with. Her moods have changed being no longer involved in the bullying, one side or another, and the gossiping trouble has all but stopped.

My 8 yo, I fear will have the same no Social Networking parental control added when she reaches that stage as I am now experienced enough to realise what teenagers and others use the net for.

Humans get satisfaction from power, greed, sex etc., and most have very little self control when it comes to these basic instincts. Look at what the net has become on the dark side untold numbers of sex sites, a lot free for teemagers to delve into, drugs onsale online, scams, viruses etc. Yes it is only a mirror of real life but so much more influential and very much quicker.

Lots of online activity is illegal and no one cares because everyone is doing it even the schools where a teacher states "Download a picture" or other but the teacher fails to state "Get the copyright holders permission". I had a child recently in performing arts school stating he had been told to download an amount of music without him being told he should do it legally and how/at what cost. I had to lecture him on how would he feel if in future he became a recording artist and his music was pirated.

Yes there are fantastically good things about the internet but bad news travels faster than good and makes more money. With the internet growing, the recession and cuts in public services who will police the new laws related to the internet that must come ?

Somewhere out there is a person making a database of all the information your kids are putting on social networking, their name, address, dob, school, friends etc., and he isn`t the good guy the Tim Berners-Lee is. He`s thinking "Me", money, power, sex, wealth,fame, power, control.
Chrome - living in a Google world? 3:22pm on 10 Jul 2009 mittfh wrote

Quote "As for the accusation that Linux is only for geeks..."

Please go out to Tesco`s and use the language you just used for that post...Some may understand "Wine" but not in the manner you`re meaning. Unless of course you`re in Macedonia ;-)

I think you`re in denial !

I`m not knocking Linux, I use Suse on one machine...but I am howether a bonifide geek, ie., not the average computer user. I deal with the average day in day out it`s hard enough at times getting them to the Control Panel in Windoze.

The lack of community wasn`t directed at the Linux community, which is abundant as you say. It was a generalisation that referred to the amount of help a "beginner" could get now compared to a few years ago and remember these beginners are using MS. It`s of no use staying in your Linux forum, you`re preaching to the converted and that`s the problem. The good guys who gave untold hours of help to people are mostly in those forums, the rest are making money from their knowledge..Include me in the latter to an extent.

If you don`t have a knowledge of Linux and everyone else you know uses Windoze where do you turn ? This is not you or I, I speak of, but the beginner. They use and do as their peers do which includes downloading music and films etc.

If you have a "Ferrari" and everyone else around you has a "Ford" I don`t think you`ll get much help when you need it. As much as you may know it`s better and quicker your peers can`t help you with it.

People are far too lazy/busy to learn something nowadays, they want to press a button and it`s done. How many times do I get a laptop that no longer has wireless simply because the user accidently switched it off but didn`t realise the button was there ! :-o

You can slate MS all you want in the same way we slate our so called democracies, true communism maybe great, it`s not going to happen though.MS may not be perfect but for the average person it works...And yes I thought Betamax was far superior
Chrome - living in a Google world? 09:42am on 09 Jul 2009 @Trevonnor

Absolutely agree that it has been seen with many products but please allow me my few moments melancholia where I miss people as yourself giving me a helping hand for free ! ;-)

@neilephipps

Remember Millenium Edition ? We still bought XP. (After a reasonable amount of time for everyone else to test and a few ??minor?? updates).
Chrome - living in a Google world? 08:12am on 09 Jul 2009 When the Asus Eee came out with a Linux OS pre-installed as one of the early Netbooks, I spent a lot of time installing Windows XP on them for customers. Most of these customers were techs from banks etc., who worked in a Unix environment day in day out.They knew how to use linux but didn`t want to spend the time, installing XP was easier and allowed access to all the common applications that joe public uses.

Go back some years and the guys who now run Linux would have been bending over backwards to show people how to do everything. Then money and profit arrived along with the masses who wanted one key to press, a whole community was lost or went underground to sites dedicated to coding which the masses couldn`t and didn`t want to understand. Commercialism killed off a lot of the good things about computing in my opinion and divided computer users into three distinct ethnic groups. The scientist/geek/programmer Linux users, the Graphic/Print using or now fashion accessory Apple users and the common person Windows users.

Have we room for another Religion ? Can we stop the racism ? They`ve all got something good about them but none is perfect for everyone. As for the Google OS I can`t see me putting it on many teenagers laptops....What I can see is if Google brings out a cheap Netbook that appeals is me putting on Windows which someone will adapt for them.

Mainstream is Windows, kids learn from their peers, parents know little if any. That is experience talking.

Cloud OS bring it on...I could do with the extra Windows install work ! ;-)

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