h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Empty Sky,

Ah, so improved performance is 'psychological' too!

Actually it doesn't matter at all what the reasons are - the fact is the effect exists.

Muzzlehatch, no I didn't say that improved performance is psycological. I'm sure the improvement is very real. I said it might have a psycological cause.

Of course it matters what the reasons are. If cigarettes are falsely identified as the reason for increased performance and if the real cause can be identified as something that won't have the side effect of killing the person - surely that's preferable.

Are increased concentration and slightly better reflexes worth your life? Especially when that sacfifice is unnecessary?

"but if we were to ban the manufacturing of cigarettes, there would be a huge black market for cigarettes"

capn petey, you make a good point. however I suspect that the danger of that happening is not as great as many people think.

Firstly, tobacco, as a drug, doesn't have anywhere near the same stimulant effect as other drugs. There is no actual cigarette high. The attraction to it - and therefore the demand for it - simply wouldn't be there to the same extent. The only people who believe they absolutely can't live without cigarettes are those addicted to them. For those who have never smoked, there's simply no reason to start, no attraction. If the legality is gone, the social pressure will also be gone. Cigarettes would quickly be forgotten.

Secondly, the attitude that something undesirable should remain legal, just because outlawing it is too difficult to police and 'people'll do it anyway' - is rather silly and dangerous. What if we applied the same 'logic' to murder or armed robbery? Should we legalise murder purely because it's impossible to completely eradicate it?

i think that, while passive smoking is essentially inproven, this does not mean that it has been disproved. It would probably be better to take precaution, for the eventuallity that it is lethal. i myself smoke occationally, but only about once or twice a month, and i think it is a foul thing to do, and i only do it when i am really angry (dont ask why, i dont know.) ok. i'll stop rambling now.