|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2023 9:50:20 GMT -5
My sister wasn’t pleased with me once when I insisted she wear a seatbelt while she sat in the back. I wasn’t being pedantic or authoritarian, but I never forgot reading about a person who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt while sitting in the back - and after a crash, he suffered great nose damage after being thrown forward, his nose hitting the driver’s seat hard. Since this is a historical thread, when I think about this topic, I am amazed at how different many things were decades ago, e.g. tobacco advertising (“This is the cigarette that your doctor smokes!”) and asbestos mattresses being sold. My parents on a given evening might take me to say Burger King for dinner with none of us wearing seat belts, and the booth we sat in might be literally next to a smoking section booth on the other side. Lots of people smoked. My combined junior high/high school had a student smoking lounge (for real), you had to be at least maybe 16 or something like that and get a parent's "permission slip" on record, but it was totally accepted. I remember the old Marlboro sign at Yankee Stadium and stuff like that. And don't get me wrong, wearing seat belts MUCH safer of course, not smoking MUCH better for your health statistically speaking, etc., but man people seemed so much more relaxed and enjoying life than these days (not that everything was wonderful back then, far from it). |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2023 9:58:44 GMT -5
Yeah, you’re right. I mean, no judgement from me, just observations. I still think about how a snooker tournament here was sponsored by Benson & Hedges, a tobacco company. Can’t imagine it now.
I don’t know how true to life it is, but I watched a medical drama once, set in the 60s. It was called The Royal. The consultant was visiting each ward while smoking a pipe. I wonder if UK hospitals were like that?!
|
|
|
|
Post by impulse on Jan 31, 2023 10:23:31 GMT -5
And don't get me wrong, wearing seat belts MUCH safer of course, not smoking MUCH better for your health statistically speaking, etc., but man people seemed so much more relaxed and enjoying life than these days (not that everything was wonderful back then, far from it). I don't doubt this at all, but I highly doubt the reason is because they didn't have to wear seatbelts and could smoke while eating fast food cheeseburgers.  I personally feel a large factor is the advent of the 24 news cycles and the CONSTANT connection that our devices and social media bring. I keep seeing articles on how heavier social media use leads to worse mental health, and I believe it. Not saying that is the only thing, either, but things sure seemed a lot slower paced before we had all this crap and knew about every bad thing the moment it happened anywhere. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2023 10:34:21 GMT -5
I loathe the 24/7 news cycle. Here in the UK, it just allows opinionated wannabe celebrities to pontificate all day. Some of them look down on the poor, it seems, but I don’t think sitting on your arse all day pontificating and patronising your viewers is the hardest job. They should try some cab driving, agricultural work or bricklaying if they think they have all the answers.
Eric Bischoff did a TED talk about the media once. The highlights:
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2023 10:48:16 GMT -5
And don't get me wrong, wearing seat belts MUCH safer of course, not smoking MUCH better for your health statistically speaking, etc., but man people seemed so much more relaxed and enjoying life than these days (not that everything was wonderful back then, far from it). I don't doubt this at all, but I highly doubt the reason is because they didn't have to wear seatbelts and could smoke while eating fast food cheeseburgers. I personally feel a large factor is the advent of the 24 news cycles and the CONSTANT connection that our devices and social media bring. I keep seeing articles on how heavier social media use leads to worse mental health, and I believe it. Not saying that is the only thing, either, but things sure seemed a lot slower paced before we had all this crap and knew about every bad thing the moment it happened anywhere. While I fully agree the stream of media is very damaging, believe it or not, having a smoke could be very relaxing. You're having a stressful day at work, you take a 15 minute break, a little nicotine kicks in to relax, the day doesn't seem so bad. Waiting in line or in your car and feeling impatient? Have a smoke, the original chill pill. I know that sounds horrible from a heath standpoint (and we know it is of course), but it did serve to pass time and relax folks. Not that I in any form endorse it knowing what we know now, but just putting it in perspective. And even the fast food cheeseburger...I argue that brought more happiness too. A generation of hipster tofu and food truck nonsense is a swindle...they smell that bag of someone with McDonalds fries and are so jealous but worried it will look uncool on social media if they give into what they really want. And so they suffer, with much better arteries, but still they suffer. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2023 10:54:13 GMT -5
Wouldn’t pipe smoking be better? Everyone who smokes seems so calm, collected and reasonable, such as Sherlock Holmes, Commissioner Gordon, Bruce Banner (pre-Hulk), Reed Richards, etc…
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2023 10:59:30 GMT -5
Wouldn’t pipe smoking be better? Everyone who smokes seems so calm, collected and reasonable, such as Sherlock Holmes, Commissioner Gordon, Bruce Banner (pre-Hulk), Reed Richards, etc… I will switch to a more serious note, there's still very serious risk of not only mouth type cancers, but even other types with pipe as well as cigar smoking even though you don't inhale into the lungs like cigarettes. You are still getting carcinogens and nicotine. While there was a little levity in my earlier comments, though again with the strong qualification the health stuff is no joke, you really are at a lot of risk still even with a pipe. |
|
|
|
Post by impulse on Jan 31, 2023 11:05:18 GMT -5
I don't intend to knock people of the past, far from it. And I've heard how great nicotine feels to smokers, totally get it. I just think the issues are larger and more societal. When I was a kid, we all had time to go to Burger King for lunch and meet the friends there, hang out, kids go on the play place while our parents chat. Nowhere we had to be and no device popping off every single thing we need to d o.
Life seemed slower paced overall before. It seems with each passing iteration of efficiency by technology, instead of going "hey our work now takes less time so we can enjoy our time more" we collectively go "hey our work now takes less time so we can fit in more work now!".
You could truly disconnect when you weren't at work or at home because no one could reach you.
|
|
|
|
Post by impulse on Jan 31, 2023 11:06:13 GMT -5
Pipe smoking is by far the more pleasant to be around for 2nd hand smokers. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2023 11:09:31 GMT -5
I don't intend to knock people of the past, far from it. And I've heard how great nicotine feels to smokers, totally get it. I just think the issues are larger and more societal. When I was a kid, we all had time to go to Burger King for lunch and meet the friends there, hang out, kids go on the play place while our parents chat. Nowhere we had to be and no device popping off every single thing we need to d o. Life seemed slower paced overall before. It seems with each passing iteration of efficiency by technology, instead of going "hey our work now takes less time so we can enjoy our time more" we collectively go "hey our work now takes less time so we can fit in more work now!". You could truly disconnect when you weren't at work or at home because no one could reach you. Good points. I had lunch with a friend a while back - and he seemed distracted by his phone. He said he was busy sorting out rotas for work as the manager was off. A shame, yes, but in the pre-digital age, the rotas would have had to have been sorted out prior to the manager going on leave, or left until my friend got there. A cafe here in Birmingham had a no WiFi available sign up. I also saw on my travels a sign saying “No WiFi here, pretend it’s 1995 and talk to each other”. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2023 11:12:25 GMT -5
Pipe smoking is by far the more pleasant to be around for 2nd hand smokers. It also improves brainpower. The Hulk was smoking a pipe while playing chess with Agamemnon in one 90s issue. If I recall correctly, the Hulk won via checkmate - despite the chess board having been there for 400 years, Agamemnon had not noticed the checkmate move. So perhaps pipe smoking improves your chess! |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2023 11:17:35 GMT -5
Pipe smoking is by far the more pleasant to be around for 2nd hand smokers. The most magical smell to me this day is this little shop that had the comic book newsstand spinners I used to go into when I was little. The combined pipe tobacco, chocolate, and fresh printed material smell that hit you immediately when you stepped inside was somehow heavenly. Also, completely agree with all of your comments on societal change, definitely reflects my experience as well. |
|
|
|
Post by Slam_Bradley on Jan 31, 2023 14:41:03 GMT -5
Pipe smoking is by far the more pleasant to be around for 2nd hand smokers. Not so much if it's a meth pipe. |
|
|
|
Post by impulse on Jan 31, 2023 15:20:48 GMT -5
Touché.
|
|
|
|
Post by codystarbuck on Jan 31, 2023 21:30:40 GMT -5
When I was a kid, there was no such thing as a smoking section and, depending on the age of the car, there might not be seat bets installed!. Now, we always had seat belts, and my dad's Volkswagen Squareback came after they were mandatory (when I was real little, he had a Beetle, but not sure the year of it; likely early 60s) and my mom's car was a 1970s Buick, with seat belts (and an 8-track player!). My mom smoked, occasionally (not a chain smoker, thankfully) and did in the car, with the window open, though I hated the smell and made a point of saying something. My grandfather smoked quite a bit, so it wasn't poleasant to be around him when he was puffing away. My paternal grandfather didn't smoke, drink or swear. Probably why I always had an affinity for Superman and the Kents. My grandfather and Jonathan Kent would have gotten along quite well.
Restaurants were a haze of cigarette smoke and it was a blessing when smoking laws were instituted. We delighted in bringing home anti-smoking stuff from school when I was older (mostly junior high and above, for that period).
Cigarettes were major sponsors of a lot of sports, as it allowed them to get around advertising restrictions. By the 70s, smoking advertisement was limited to print ads; but, they sponsored things like women's tennis (The Virginia Slims Tournament), NASCAR and other auto racing, and some others and could have banners and logos all over stadiums and raceways. I know tobacco companies were major sports sponsors in the UK, as there was a Yes, Prime Minister episode that revolved around the Health Secretary wanting a complete ban on smoking advertisement, including sporting events and Sir Humphrey tries to block things and there is a cabinet reshuffle.
|
|
