DemonArchangel
03-01-2007, 07:45
I wrote this earlier, enjoy please.
Now, those who know me well enough, know that I try to avoid consuming substances that affect my mind and the way I think. That means no alcohol, no tobacco, no non-prescription drugs, and no God. Of course, not all my friends and associates think that way. That's ok, I 'm not going to judge you by what you all choose to put into your bodies.
But I am going to be a douchebag and at least express my profound displeasure for said practices. Consider this to be a public service announcement. I'm not going to name any names, but you know who you are.
And now for my pet peeve:
*****
Pet Peeve #1: Tobacco
I've always maintained that tobacco was the Indians getting back at the White Man for the white man giving smallpox infected blankets to the Indians. It was one hell of a revenge too; the Native Americans' immune systems eventually adapted and they stopped dying from smallpox.
Tobacco continues to decimate us.
I don't even understand WHY people smoke tobacco. Not only is anybody that smokes inhaling carbon monoxide, they're inhaling that wonderful, wonderful nicotine. Not only is nicotine highly addictive, it's a neurotoxin. People used to use nicotine as insecticide, and yet every day, millions of smokers draw it into their lungs.
Just brilliant. And most of the buzz from nicotine is because it burns out the monoamine oxidase (MAO) in their brain. Pretty soon, your average smoker's dependent on tobacco just to be able to feel pleasure, because monoamine oxidase is responsible for the regulation of dopamine.
Dopamine controls pleasure and activates the reward center in the brain. tobacco usage gives people a false sense of happiness, because dopamine levels in the brain are increased after the MAOs are consumed.
Smokers must lead empty, unfulfilling lives, if destroying their lungs and cardiovascular system makes them feel happy. Frequently, smokers go after people that cut themselves. Hypocrisy. It's one thing to be one, but to maintain a self righteous attitude? That's straight up idiocy right there.
Self harm is self harm, no matter what form it comes in.
The fun doesn't end there.
On average, 599 chemicals are added to the average cigarette. You can take a look at a partial list here:
http://quitsmoking.about.com/cs/nicotineinhaler/a/cigingredients.htm
A few of my personal favorites include:
*Smoke Flavor (frequently nitrosamines and other known carcinogens are used)
*Butyric Acid (what gives rancid butter its lovely aroma)
*Various aldehyde compounds (which frequently form formaldehyde, aka embalming fluid, when burned)
There are also some unannounced chemicals as well, such as heavy metals like lead, and radioactive heavy metals like polonium-210.
Many of those chemicals are poisonous in and of themselves, and form quite a few different, interesting compounds when combusted. I've already mentioned formaldahyde. Other carcinogenic chemicals including acetone, DDT and benzene are formed from the chemicals Phillip Morris sees fit to administer to smokers.
And to think, I get to breathe this nice cocktail in every day whether I like it or not. In front of every dorm building, in front of every academic building, there's always a cluster of people puffing away.
I've been wanting to say something all year, and guess what? Today, I finally snapped.
Sure, I might take too many risks with Parkour to have a right to moral superiority, but you can't take away my right to be pissed off.
Now, those who know me well enough, know that I try to avoid consuming substances that affect my mind and the way I think. That means no alcohol, no tobacco, no non-prescription drugs, and no God. Of course, not all my friends and associates think that way. That's ok, I 'm not going to judge you by what you all choose to put into your bodies.
But I am going to be a douchebag and at least express my profound displeasure for said practices. Consider this to be a public service announcement. I'm not going to name any names, but you know who you are.
And now for my pet peeve:
*****
Pet Peeve #1: Tobacco
I've always maintained that tobacco was the Indians getting back at the White Man for the white man giving smallpox infected blankets to the Indians. It was one hell of a revenge too; the Native Americans' immune systems eventually adapted and they stopped dying from smallpox.
Tobacco continues to decimate us.
I don't even understand WHY people smoke tobacco. Not only is anybody that smokes inhaling carbon monoxide, they're inhaling that wonderful, wonderful nicotine. Not only is nicotine highly addictive, it's a neurotoxin. People used to use nicotine as insecticide, and yet every day, millions of smokers draw it into their lungs.
Just brilliant. And most of the buzz from nicotine is because it burns out the monoamine oxidase (MAO) in their brain. Pretty soon, your average smoker's dependent on tobacco just to be able to feel pleasure, because monoamine oxidase is responsible for the regulation of dopamine.
Dopamine controls pleasure and activates the reward center in the brain. tobacco usage gives people a false sense of happiness, because dopamine levels in the brain are increased after the MAOs are consumed.
Smokers must lead empty, unfulfilling lives, if destroying their lungs and cardiovascular system makes them feel happy. Frequently, smokers go after people that cut themselves. Hypocrisy. It's one thing to be one, but to maintain a self righteous attitude? That's straight up idiocy right there.
Self harm is self harm, no matter what form it comes in.
The fun doesn't end there.
On average, 599 chemicals are added to the average cigarette. You can take a look at a partial list here:
http://quitsmoking.about.com/cs/nicotineinhaler/a/cigingredients.htm
A few of my personal favorites include:
*Smoke Flavor (frequently nitrosamines and other known carcinogens are used)
*Butyric Acid (what gives rancid butter its lovely aroma)
*Various aldehyde compounds (which frequently form formaldehyde, aka embalming fluid, when burned)
There are also some unannounced chemicals as well, such as heavy metals like lead, and radioactive heavy metals like polonium-210.
Many of those chemicals are poisonous in and of themselves, and form quite a few different, interesting compounds when combusted. I've already mentioned formaldahyde. Other carcinogenic chemicals including acetone, DDT and benzene are formed from the chemicals Phillip Morris sees fit to administer to smokers.
And to think, I get to breathe this nice cocktail in every day whether I like it or not. In front of every dorm building, in front of every academic building, there's always a cluster of people puffing away.
I've been wanting to say something all year, and guess what? Today, I finally snapped.
Sure, I might take too many risks with Parkour to have a right to moral superiority, but you can't take away my right to be pissed off.