Smoking at Occupy Rallies: A Contradiction

[Renoir Gaither]

Even though I disagree with the window smasher's method of direct action at the time, I sympathize with his suggestion that the Occupy movement needs to be more militant in its ideas about shaping the future and the powers that be. I can't attend most Occupy gatherings because of the rampant smoking by participants. If Occupiers announce their opposition to corporate interests before the people's interests, then why go along with big tobacco's products that cause illness and death? This need (addiction) to fuel the corporate machine at the expense of human life and quality of life only shows the shallow depth of thought beyond self-interest in many of this movement.

People can't have it both ways--Play along with capitalist profit motives by buying and using their products to the detriment of self and others and then claim "Oh, the government is in the pockets of capitalists." No, all who support and fuel capitalist attempts to profit at the expense of the 99% seem to be at odds with what I consider the general idea of the Occupy message.

In fact, I think this contradiction in the larger view is what allows capitalism to evolve, mutate and remain simply a "norm" of everyday experience and helps to mystify and neuter political and revolutionary consciousness. There's no need to debate the health effects of smoking nor the fact that tobacco lobbyists contribute greatly to the political direction of the country. Anyone can go to opensecrets.org for enlightenment.

The challenge is to acknowledge contradictory behavior, open real, honest dialogue about making change for the community and the future beyond simple, momentary self-interest, and to see our role in supporting a system people in this movement claim to want to change. I guess the question is (as the window smasher was asking) the degree to which individuals are willing to sacrifice or take to heart in order to effect change. Smoking a cancerous product is not the way, even for self-interest.

[Tom Kuczborski]

The negativity you have towards cigarettes is only the negativity that is inside you - hence only your concern. Screw your socially conditioned norms, stop oppressing people who choose to smoke!

[Renoir Gaither]

You can spew all the ad hominem you want, but the fact is that smoking is detrimental to human welfare and life. You need to wake up and direct scrutiny at the tobacco industry and your (our) role in supporting the canard.

This isn't about my problem with tobacco, but everyone's. That's the problem--people act out of self-interest, instead of welfare beyond themselves--and that's the problem facing Occupy.

Reynolds American Inc., the nation's second-biggest tobacco company, awarded its outgoing CEO Susan M. Ivey a compensation package valued at $16.8 million in fiscal 2010, up 4 per cent from fiscal 2009, according to an Associated Press analysis of a regulatory filing.

The pay package came in a year when the maker of Camel and Pall Mall cigarettes, and Kodiak and Grizzly smokeless tobacco saw its net income grow more than 15 per cent and its revenue excluding excise taxes increase 1.6 per cent. The company, based in Winston-Salem, N.C., raised prices but sold 5.1 per cent fewer cigarettes.

[Renoir Gaither]

Someone wrote: Screw your socially conditioned norms, stop oppressing people who choose to smoke.

Wow, a contradiction beyond belief! Me oppressing people who choose to smoke? My socially conditioned norms? Would that I could oppress people as much as corporations. No, just trying to show the stark contradictions in someone's comments. If smoking isn't socially conditioned, I wonder what is?

No, someone's libertarian ideology is whacky. No only that, the ideology oils the wheels that count on it to act "normal," to go along with the system and its consumerist ideology, to not question the illness and death in service to corporate profit, like war. Warmongering's patriotic call is similar to the libertarian call to ignore individual actions that cause harm to the larger community, harms that are borne both economically and emotionally by the community. Some call these external costs. But what are such externalities to the libertarian individualist who counts on government to assure his own narrow ambitions. Occupiers move in the libertarian direction at their own--and our--peril.

[Tom Kuczborski]

Don't like smoking? Then don't smoke and fuck off. I'm tired of people telling other people what to do.

[Tom Kuczborski]

Back in the day, you'd be smoking like everyone else. Today, you're joining the mindless social campaign against another imagined threat. First drugs, now cigarettes and a ton of other stuff. Mob mentality, it's all that it is. The dictate of the majority results in the oppression of the minority. Everyone mind your own business, if you want to change the world, change yourself first!

[Renoir Gaither]

Hey Tom, or whoever you are, stop the foul language. Stop the harassment. This forum is sharing useful ideas, not slinging invectives. If you want to debate the issue, use the personal reply. I liked your idea about taking direct action; I don't like your name calling. If you can't desist with the name calling, then we'll have to move on to the next level--all a waste of time. But if you insist . . .

[Tom Kuczborski]

The fact that people get bothered by smoking, is their own negativity (bullshit) that they have to deal with. If you allow yourself to get bothered by one thing, soon you'll be bothered by a bunch of things. The little whiny beaver has a problem with his/her own psyche, and then projects his/own bullshit unto other people. All I ask: just be more tolerant. Being tolerant means sometimes choosing not to get bothered by things and letting things be. If you go on condemning people for smoking, then you become their oppressor. Even if they quit as a result of your effort, they'll reroute the negative energy in some other way (perhaps they'll start beating on their children, for example). So please, leave the smoker the fuck alone and mind your business - that way you won't be bothered by these little things in life. It will be easier for you to live, and for those around you as well. Thanks.

[Tom Kuczborski]

Here's another example of mob action: stop you foul language. Guess what, fuck off, I like swearing and being politically incorrect.

[Tom Kuczborski]

The other day I told a woman on a bus that I love her and she accused me of sexual harassment. Most Americans are the most fucked up people in the world. Seriously.