• TheFudd@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      I hope you have kids and that they start smoking in their angst-ridden rebellious phase and become lifelong smokers because of it.

      Not only that, but I also hope every time you get to see your kids, you smell smoke on their clothes and when you do, may it remind you of this time on lemmy when you said all smokers should find a faster way to kill themselves.

    • TriflingToad@sh.itjust.works
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      2 months ago

      If you smoke, please just find a faster way to kill yourself

      I think thats a bit too rough, you need to calm down a little :)

      • lud@lemm.ee
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        2 months ago

        We don’t know for sure yet.

        For example here is a study seemingly published by the department of subdomains and acronyms: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11773639/

        RESULTS

        We included 39 studies in the main analysis and 12 in the subgroup analysis. Of these, 2 were longitudinal observational studies, 9 were cross-sectional studies, 1 case report and 27 were cell/in vitro and animal studies. All human studies were conducted in adults, and about half of them had a low risk of bias. No significant incident or prevalent risk of lung cancer or other types of cancer was found in the never smoker current vapers population. However, there was substantial biomarker-based evidence of a significant association between e-cigarette exposure and oxidative stress, cellular apoptosis, DNA damage, genotoxicity, and tumor growth, particularly following acute exposure. We did not find any age or sex-based differences in cancer risk, and findings on race and education-based differences were insufficient.

        CONCLUSIONS

        There is substantial evidence that e-cigarette exposure is associated with biomarkers reflective of cancer disease risk. However, the overall evidence on cancer risk is still limited and should be further investigated by future research, particularly rigorously designed clinical trials and population-based research.

        Either way, purposefully inhaling toxic chemicals is pretty stupid.

      • ragebutt@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        2 months ago

        Vaping is less carcinogenic than smoking by a significant degree but it is carcinogenic

        Acrolein, a carcinogen, forms in small amounts from the breakdown of glycerin during heating

        If a “dry hit” occurs the effect is worsened, acrolein forms in higher amounts, and formaldehyde (another carcinogen) can occur from the breakdown of both glycerin and propylene glycol

        Vaping still leads to inflammation and oxidative stress in the lungs and long term use will almost certainly lead to irreversible damage

        Harm reduction is important. Vaping is likely better than smoking but it is not yet clear whether that is the case. It is likely the case based on short term anecdotal data from people who have switched but this does not mean that long term use won’t create more severe lung issues over a period of 20-30 years. We don’t know.

        In the meantime for further harm reduction to reduce risk you can vape with low temperatures as this mitigates much of the carcinogen risk, you can use reusable devices and frequently change coils and ensure the coil is saturated, and you can use a liquid that is free of flavorings as these present much of the “unknown” variables.

        Or you can work to quit. It is challenging. I smoked and vaped, I know it is tremendously hard. But frankly these companies don’t deserve your money. They’re all fucking scumbags

        • PraiseTheSoup@lemm.ee
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          2 months ago

          Well said. I smoked a pack a day for 17 years and finally quit a little over a year ago. Lots of people around me quit around the same time but just ended up exchanging the habit for something else like vaping, chewing, or the new fad: nicotine pouches. It made me feel even better to be entirely nicotine free.

          For anyone curious, I used nicotine gum from Costco for the first 2 months to help. It tastes like shit and is not enjoyable at all, but I don’t know if I could have done it without.

          • ragebutt@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            2 months ago

            Congrats on quitting. Shit is super hard

            To clarify things from my post: I didn’t even touch upon the environmental harm from vaping. If you use disposable vapes you’re kind of a shithead that is wasting a ton of lithium, that is mined by literal slaves, for your 2 day smoking device that you’ll probably not recycle properly. People recycle these batteries to power e bikes and literal homes. Vape shops with racks of these plastic boxes filled with single use 18650 (or similar high discharge) batteries are an environmental disaster

            Nicotine pouches and gum lower the lung risk but are another space where long term risk is unknown.

            They do irritate the gums and raise the risk of gum disease

            Nicotine in general, gum or pouch, negatively impacts brain development and strains the cardiovascular system.

            The acidity from the pouches still irritates the airway and oral mucosa and the constant increase of mucus production can lead to chronic bronchitis

            The vasoconstriction effect of nicotine means that there is still potential lung involvement due to decreased blood flow even though it is not inhaled

            Nicotine in low doses has some effects similar to adderall or methylphenidate but unlike those medications it tends to increase blood pressure and on long timelines create cardiovascular problems even in low doses. additionally it’s far more addictive (though tbf this is possibly/probably due to ease of access) and most users tend to use a fairly substantial amount, 20-40mg for a pack a day smoker, 35mg for someone who burns through a 5% juul pod in a day, etc

            The gum is typically used short term and is actually marketed as a cessation device so that’s one thing but the pouches are huge now as you’ve said. It’s somewhat telling that for a minute they were big with the right wing grifter crowd

          • mrmhm@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            I think consciously choosing unpleasant methods to get nicotine helped me quit, or at least made quitting a little easier. I understand if you’re making that choice you’re probably well on your way to quitting anyways, but for me it was a good reminder of the goal.

      • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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        2 months ago

        Don’t laugh … my wife has pulmonary fibrosis … it’s basically a mysterious inflammation of the lungs with your immune system running haywire. No one knows what causes it or what triggered it … all we know is that it is happening. They suspect it was originally a virus of some kind (this all started about three / four years before the pandemic). There is no cure, there is no remedy, there is no healing, there is no recovery. It only grows worse with time, spreads through the lungs and drowns you to death as you run out of healthy lung to breathe.

        Take care of your lungs everyone.

          • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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            2 months ago

            Sadly no … it’s an immune dysfunctional disease … basically a broken immune system that is destroying itself from the inside. It’s a very complex thing to try to figure out. The more we studied it and read about it, the more we began to realize that we are all just living with a very delicate machine inside our bodies … the wrong thing, at the wrong time, in the wrong place, in the right circumstances will trigger your lungs to react and never stop. It can be caused by a fungus, virus, bacteria, dust, pollen, chemicals, particles, whatever. It’s the main reason why we should be careful about what we breathe in, that we shouldn’t smoke and wear masks in industrial, farming, construction, agriculture, commercial kitchens, etc.

            It’s like driving around everywhere with a glass ball that you should never break. The glass ball is pretty durable and tough and takes a bit of a beating but if you ever come across something that will break or crack it … you will never be able to get it back to what it was.

      • glimse@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Cigarettes look so uncool, though. Hardly a step up from vapes and they fuckin stiiiinnnnk.

        I would much rather be near someone vaping their blueberry muffin raztastic whatever than a lit cigarette

        • Empricorn@feddit.nl
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          2 months ago

          Vaping can smell like watermelon, Fruit Loops, etc, but then it’s gone. Cigarettes stink up the surrounding area, seep indoors, when people do it at entrances, and it lingers. Plus the smoker themselves will have it clinging to them…

        • Not_mikey@slrpnk.net
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          2 months ago

          If you’re used to secondhand smoke they don’t smell bad, even good because of the slight nicotine buzz, and I assume everyone in that country is used to secondhand smoke.

        • HollowNaught@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          I mean, I hate it when I’m walking down a street and I get the stink of something sickly sweet wafting over

          I honestly put vapes in the same tier of “takes me out of the moment and ruins anything I’m enjoying then”

          • Psychadelligoat@lemmy.dbzer0.comBanned
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            2 months ago

            It’s gone in a few seconds, unlike actual cigarette smoke

            I fuckin hate cigarette smoke, vape isn’t great but it’s also not nearly as long-lasting or staining or… Really at all as bad

            • HollowNaught@lemmy.world
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              2 months ago

              Yes, but it’s much more common for people to be walking around and just take a puff of their vape rather than start smoking a cigarette

              It absolutely ruins a nice breakfast out when somebody vapes walking past

        • Valmond@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          Yeah it’s just a meme, people smoke waaay less in France today. Back in the nineties it was a whole other world.

        • Lucky_777@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          This. I smoked cigs for such a long time, now on vape. It’s 100% better. You feel better, your teeth are better, list goes on. Sure it’s not the best, we all should quit smoking. But it’s better than nasty ass cigs that stay on your clothes, car, makes your teeth yellow and the list goes on.

          There is nothing better than a cig, a glass of whiskey, in a hot tub naked on a cold day. But I don’t want that everyday.

  • idefix@sh.itjust.works
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    2 months ago

    I’m 45+ and French. This seems very misleading as smoking has been declining a lot the past couple decades.

      • idefix@sh.itjust.works
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        2 months ago

        I don’t have stats with me and in very much biased by my experience. Around me, less than 20% smoke but I believe it’s anecdotal.

      • nyctre@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        In 2022, an estimated 16.4 million people (8.4 million males and 8.0 million females) aged 15 years and older were tobacco product users in France. This positions the country as the 14th globally and the 3rd in the WHO European Region in terms of number of tobacco users.

        And as someone who works in the service business, I can confirm that there’s a decent amount of smokers.

    • Gronk@aussie.zone
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      2 months ago

      I could quit smoking for 20 years but if you were to offer me a Gauloises blue or a gitane I would light it up in a heartbeat

      French cigarettes are delicious, just like the cuisine. (And they pair very well)

      Smokes in Australia have added flame retardent that make a night and day difference, but I suppose that’s a silver lining as an ex-smoker

      • hector@sh.itjust.works
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        2 months ago

        Only smoking Virginia tobacco is boring, if I were to smoke I would try Cavendish, Lakatia, and other more spicy and interesting varieties and blends of the plant.

    • slaneesh_is_right@lemmy.org
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      2 months ago

      Did it actually? I remember going to france like twice a year like 30 years ago. And my observation was just: everyone smokes.

      When the indoor smoking ban started, i felt like people stopped. Same as over here. But now i feel like at least as many people atarted smoking again. But i haven’t really been in france again in the last 10 years.

          • pseudo@jlai.lu
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            2 months ago

            They spend to finance there tabacco dealer a bi-yearly trip to the border. I don’t trust this type of graph. Every smoker I know buy most of his consomption from a friend buying it in bulk over the border. And it’s a 6 hours round trip. Not the next town.

            But also the taxe do reduce their consomption.

            • dankm@lemmy.ca
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              2 months ago

              6 hours to me is the next town (of any size), and the sort of thing one would do every other weekend. How do the French see it? Is that considered an annual trip distance?

      • Noodle07@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Yeah it really shifted, still way too many people smoking but vaping + price hike did some good.

    • abbadon420@lemm.ee
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      2 months ago

      Britain, where you see smokers outside the hospital doors when you go to an Editors concert.

      • Nurse_Robot@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Almost certainly, but there are some caveats. Vitamin E was added to some around 2020 and that really fucked people up. The much higher nicotine percentage could also be doing damage we haven’t had enough time to fully understand as well. There’s also concern around the metal coils breaking down, especially when people ‘dry hit’ or use a coil after it’s spent. That being said, normal vaping is almost certainly safer than smoking

        • Kornblumenratte@feddit.org
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          2 months ago

          AFAIK, you have to apply nicotine quite frequently to achieve a steady state and avoid withdrawal – every 30–45 minutes. 10–20 years ago, every single smoker I asked smoked > 20 cigarettes. Today, almost all admit to only 10–15, which is pharmacologically too infrequent and triggers multiple withdrawal–relaps cycles every day, worsening the nicotine addiction.

          To handle drugs which are so addictive, you need a stable steady state, not fluctuating pladma levels. If you want to lower your dose, you cannot lower the frequency, you have to lower the dose of each application.

          If vapers would vape every 30–45 min ≈ 20/day, they would stabilize their nicotine level, which would enable them to reduce the dose of nicotine over time.

          • slackassassin@sh.itjust.works
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            2 months ago

            It doesn’t work like that at all. Not everyone who smokes has a pack a day habit. It varies wildly and doesn’t require some uniform steady state.

            Someone who has a morning cigarette just wants a morning cigarette. Social smokers may not even smoke everyday.

            It’s just that those who DO make the habit more frequent, pack a day etc., will maintain THAT level.

            Those who use vaporizers are able to create different patterns because of the nature of the device. Doesn’t have a finite time limit like a single cigarette and differing nicotine amounts, etc.

        • Devmapall@lemm.ee
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          2 months ago

          I definitely got my vape more than I used to smoke cigs. However it’s only one or two puffs usually. A whole cigarette is many more puffs.

          I don’t know if it equals out or one is more. I will say vaping feels better than cigarettes.

      • shalafi@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Had a wretched smoker’s cough for years, took me an extra 10 minutes to cough it out and get out of bed. Stopped 2 weeks after going to vaping.

        OTOH, 10 years later vaping became too much, now I do those nicotine pouches. Very happy with those.

      • slaneesh_is_right@lemmy.org
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        2 months ago

        Is there enough data to support that claim? Not really disagreeing, i genuinely don’t know. There was a time where your doctor would tell you to smoke camels, because these are the healty cigarettes.

    • School_Lunch@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Pretending? I’m not gonna say vaping is healthy, but it definitely isn’t as bad for you as cigarettes. I made the switch years ago just because I wanted to see if I could stop smoking cigarettes, and within the first week or two my lungs felt noticeably better. I’ve been gradually lowering the nicotine level in the juices I use and will hopefully ween myself off vaping too.

        • brap@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          Boom, same. Must be like 3 or 4 years now. It’s a great tool for that if you don’t fall into the hobby trap.

        • Carnelian@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          Same. Was smoking 2 packs per day for a while. Completely switched to vaping. Lowered the nicotine content of the juice a couple times and eventually was able to quit entirely. Been almost 6 years now.

          I’m not sure what the scene is like now that all the strong cartridges and disposable devices are more popular. Back when I was doing it most people used box mods and it was easy to find juice in any flavor and strength you wanted. I remember things got pretty wild right around when I quit actually, with many states doing temporary bans and eventually banning flavors and stuff

      • Landless2029@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        This is the right way to vape.
        Should be used as a way to quit smoking.

        People that vape as an alternative to smoking cigarettes end up chain vaping. It’s just too convenient.

        • Novaling@lemmy.zip
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          2 months ago

          It’s what it was advertised as originally, but then brands realized they could boom in sales by dropping that act and making cute, colorful cartridges with a shit ton of flavors that appeal to teens. Some girl had these iPod case looking ones that were flavored like pineapple banana or smth. Hell they make vapes disguised as school supplies now.

          There’s a lot of people who didn’t do drugs at all that started with vaping (Truth Initiative has a 2020 study about it, I skimmed it tbh), and it’s especially bad in middle and high schools. I saw people hitting huge fucking clouds in the middle of a classroom, near the teacher’s desk. One idiot made a cloud in our dark classroom with the curtains shining sunlight on him, so they had to close the blinds and fan the cloud so he wouldn’t get caught.

          They know full well they’re creating future addicts and eventual cigarette smokers, and they don’t give a damn.

          • Landless2029@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            The Netflix doc also covers how Juul hired the wrong guy to do thier commercials.

            He’s the dude famous for making the iPod pastel silhouette commercials. Hip and sexy.

            Juul started by wanting to help people quit. Then some influencer was vaping on stream and it blew the hell up in short order amongst younger crowds.

            What really pisses me off is the synthetic THC Juul carts teens were smoking that fucked them up. They did that to themselves by trying to do drugs using a Juul. Juul and the legit vaping industry took all that backlash. The news and even CDC spouted bullshit in the name of sparing kids. No one clarified that they were smoking bootleg weed (illegal drugs) and Juul/legal vaping wasn’t at fault.

            So adults that were vaping to quit ciggs switched back to ciggs to never quit. I was a vaper during that time and I can’t tell you how many people I set straight when they said “that’ll kill you” while they’re smoking ciggs.

        • BakerBagel@midwest.social
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          2 months ago

          That’s why i ditched my dab pen a few years ago. It was just too easy to lay on the couch and hit that all night, becoming ungodly high without realizing it. Now i go outside an smoke a joint so i EARN that ungodly high

  • CrackedLinuxISO@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    2 months ago

    In my anecdotal experience, French people vape a shitload.

    I had French coworkers who vaped nonstop in the Paris office. You could hear the click of the heating element every few minutes. I’ve also seen old French ladies ripping from huge tricked out vapes.

    • someguy3@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      So what’s it like working in a vaping office? Smell?

      Also that’s good to hear, vaping is a shit ton healthier than smoking.

      • CrackedLinuxISO@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        2 months ago

        It was a giant open-plan office and there were only 1-2 people constantly vaping, so I didn’t smell much. It was quiet though, so it could be easily heard.

        Everyone else did the right thing and smoked/vaped on the roof every hour. Any why wouldn’t you? It’s a guaranteed break away from your crummy desk.

  • luciferofastora@feddit.org
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    2 months ago

    What the fuck is this comment section even? Is vape vs cig the new Star Trek vs Star Wars, where fans of either side congregate to tear into each other with enough vitriol to make both vape and cig look healthy in comparison?

    • Critical_Thinker@lemm.ee
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      2 months ago

      You been on the internet lately?

      Every single thing is like this now. It’s always some “i’m right, the other guys are idiots!”

      • exasperation@lemm.ee
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        2 months ago

        Before the Internet was popular there were decals being sold of Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes pissing on the logo for Ford or Chevy.

        I’m sure dueling fandoms have been around longer than that, too.

      • luciferofastora@feddit.org
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        2 months ago

        I’m not saying you’re wrong, but personally, I’ve run out of fucks to give about the whole debate. I have an opinion, sure, but I don’t want to throw it into the sewage pool that is the discussion in this comment section.

    • BigBrainBrett2517@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      With barely an ounce of fact or dialogue. It’s from such a personal place. Weird and sad. I agree with another comment - this is mostly the internet now.

      • RoquetteQueen@sh.itjust.works
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        2 months ago

        I would literally rather stick my nose in a dirty diaper than smell a cigarette. The flavour scents are such a huge improvement that I don’t have the words to properly express this.

      • ZeldaFreak@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Except that you aren’t required to use a flavor. I don’t use any flavor for many years and the only thing that could anyone others would be the cloud.

        I don’t vape for fun, I vape for my nicotine addiction. The flavors made the switch easier but after the switch, I phased out the flavor. Now I don’t smell like an ashtray but you can see me from a distance and I visualize where my bad breath smell from my lunch and my germs are in the air.

        • PoPoP@lemm.ee
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          2 months ago

          i’m with you on the no flavor thing, I make my own vape juice and I use a box mod, shit’s completely inoffensive and nearly free

    • Wanpieserino@lemm.ee
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      2 months ago

      Vapes create a gigantic cloud and it smells quite bad.

      Both are bad, but vaping is just even more annoying.

      • Master@lemm.ee
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        2 months ago

        Amen. Its also not just water vapor… If it was people Wouldn’t vape. A lot of people have issues with the garbage they put in vapes… But gigs are worse for me personally.

        • Bogus007@lemm.ee
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          2 months ago

          It increases the risk of getting cancer! Your sentence implies that you get it each time you are exposed. However, there is a subtle difference between being really attacked by a lion or being in the territory of a lion. In the first case you are highly likely done, in the second you have a chance to get out complete and healthy. And also: when and how are often two important questions.

          Why I am saying this: I knew two guys in my family, who smoked from young like chimneys. They died old (>90) and not due to lung cancer! But perhaps in their times (50-90) the cigarettes were less toxic, who knows 🤷‍♂️

      • syreus@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Potentially, they could have visited multiple countries. Or maybe they don’t want to partially doxx themselves.

      • Steve Dice@sh.itjust.works
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        2 months ago

        Are you seriously trying to argue that “europeans” isn’t a valid characterization of a group of people with some common traits, you absolute muppet?

        • hector@sh.itjust.works
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          2 months ago

          Maybe y’all Americans all have the same commodified culture managed by a hedge funds but in Europe, every country has a rich culture and its own identity+way of life.

          I don’t get the same vibe at all from France and Germany or the Netherlands. I see similarities and a common history which makes the cultural ramification even more telling and insightful

        • diffusive@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          As someone you would call “European” there are massive cultural, behavioural and religious differences in Europe.

          Not the differences you imagine like NJ vs California vs Texas, much more

          And you know what? It’s a good thing and nobody wants to change that. After centuries we even stopped having fun at each other.

          Diversity is scientifically and provably good for creativity that in turn is good for everything humans do

          In the case of smoking, you can go to an extreme (Berlin) where people smoke in the clubs (even if it is forbidden) to another extreme (Dublin) that is pretty much like US

          • person420@lemmynsfw.com
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            2 months ago

            While I agree with most of what you said, I think you are underestimating the huge cultural differences between NJ, CA, and TX. They very much feel like entirely different countries. Very big differences in culture, linguistics, religion, etc.

            USA -> States is very similar to EU -> member countries. I understand that within the EU, member countries have their own concept of “states” that are very similar to the US, but I don’t believe most EU countries prioritize local regions over their country as much as the US does. Keep in mind, Europe as a whole is only slightly bigger than the USA (10m sq k vs 9m sq k)

            For instance, someone from Texas self-identifies as a Texan first, and then an American second. It’s why one of the first things an American asks when meeting a new American is “where are you from”. The state they’re from will (usually but not always) tell you a lot about them, their priorities, what their culture is, etc.

            Personally I think it’s stupid (I’m not a big fan of “states rights”), but I’m very much in the minority in that.

          • HalfSalesman@lemm.ee
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            2 months ago

            Not the differences you imagine like NJ vs California vs Texas, much more

            Dude, Texans fucking hate Californians and and East Coasters.

            They share the same citizenship and language but they almost certainly hate each other more than a typical European country hates it’s neighbors because of core value differences.

            UK+EU members might hate each other for historical reasons but generally they all hold similar core values. Good ones BTW. Democracy is good.

            I live in the midwestern US and if I could I’d have it’s culture swallowed up by the east coast’s culture (except maybe the food) because its pretty fucking boring and backwards in many respects anyway. The only reason I still live here is because I’m poor but I kind of hate midwestern culture.

            Diversity is scientifically and provably good for creativity that in turn is good for everything humans do

            Diversity is good, smoking is bad. So are Texas’s anti-abortion and anti-trans bills, which is fueled by Texas’s reactionary culture which diverges from Cali and NJ. Including unhealthy or even straight up death cult ideas as a form of “diversity” seems… ill advised.

            My point is, sometimes things are just bad and serve no beneficial purpose and can’t be justified on the basis of “diversity”. Smoking culture is one.

            • nyctre@lemmy.world
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              2 months ago

              Finland 20.7%, USA 23.6%, according to world population review.com and one of the few sources I could find that mentions both the USA and finland. So you’re wrong there. (Globalactiontoendsmoking.org has similar numbers, btw)

              Also, you said traits. Plural. But yeah, easier to make up shit and pretend you’re right and then stop replying when proven wrong than just be mature and say “my bad”.

              • Steve Dice@sh.itjust.works
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                2 months ago

                Whoops. I pulled a statistic from 2009. Anyway, here’s another one: they both love public baths. Do you really think you’ll come out on top while arguing Finland and Greece have zero common traits? Do you realize how insane that is?

                • nyctre@lemmy.world
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                  2 months ago

                  Saunas are popular in Finland, true. Not so much in Greece. And the Hellenic/Roman public baths, which are quite different from saunas, btw, haven’t actually remained popular in modern Greece nor Italy.

                  I never said they have zero common traits, but not enough for us to be one big culture or anything close to that. Common traits you can find between Norway and Zimbabwe. Or USA and Japan. Or Nepal and Argentina. Saying “europeans do x” is like saying “Asians do x” or “black people do y”. That’s what’s insane… That you somehow fail to see that. I was recently in Thailand. I guess I know what Asians are like now. AmA!

      • AItoothbrush@lemmy.zip
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        2 months ago

        Europe is a geological region where most countries share a lot of cultural ties with each other, including the smoking culture.