Anyone Find Bono's Smoking Insanely Ironic?

[GG_The_Fly]

Tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world. It is currently responsible for the death of one in ten adults worldwide (about 5 million deaths each year). If current smoking patterns continue, it will cause some 10 million deaths each year by 2020. Half the people that smoke today -that is about 650 million people- will eventually be killed by tobacco. -WHO Website

It would seem clear to me that smoking kills at least as many, if not more, people per year than abject poverty in Africa and is even more preventable.

As such, does it seem ironic that Bono smokes when he consistently spouts off about Africa and how we should do more to save lives there?

Don't get me wrong, I am all for what Bono's is preaching about and I try to give money each year to a number of causes that U2 has deemed worthy. However, i cannot help but feel that his smoking somewhat glamourizes this disgusting habit that kills millions each year.

This is a sort of apples and oranges argument that is obviously incongruent, but I thought I’d throw it out there to see what y'all think. . .

 

[indra]

Well... I personally find cigarette smoking very repugnant, with virtually no redeeming qualities, but to smoke or not to smoke is a choice each person makes. Does Bono's habit glamourise smoking -- possibly, and that's too bad. But it is a choice whereas people don't choose to be born into poverty.

 

[GG_The_Fly]

Well... I personally find cigarette smoking very repugnant, with virtually no redeeming qualities, but to smoke or not to smoke is a choice each person makes. Does Bono's habit glamourise smoking -- possibly, and that's too bad. But it is a choice whereas people don't choose to be born into poverty.

Indeed, and, of course, i agree with you completely. However, wouldn't you think then that somebody portraying themselves as being on the edge of proactivity with respect to helping out the third world would make better choices with his own health?

Furthermore, the smoking issue is obviously more complicated than a simple choice and that's why the tobacco companies have counted on for many many decades in order to line their pockets at the expense of the health of all of their 'clients.'

I just think that Bono would/should make better choices - to not glamourize something responsible for so much death and expense to society. If all the money spent on health care for those with morbidities relating to smoking were to go to the third world instead, we could EASILY provide them with all the AIDS drugs and financial assistance they might need. (obviously, that would never happen of course, but nonetheless. . .)

 

[Do Miss America]

So anyone who campaigns for Africa should cut out anything that's not healthy for them?

No fast food, alcohol, breathing in major cities, stress, driving, caffine, etc

Everyone has their vices. EVERYONE.

 

[sallycinnamon78]

Well... . Does Bono's habit glamourise smoking -- possibly, and that's too bad.

I agree with you there...

That said, I believe that people - old or young - are generally smart enough to make up their own minds about smoking, without being overly influenced by media figures.

From the time I was a very small child, I have understood that smoking is an unpleasant (IMO) and dangerous (FACT) habit. I grew up with that knowledge, as did both my elder brothers, and my younger sister. Our ages are 27, 39, 36, and 21 respectively.

As small kids, all four of us knew that smoking was anything but glamourous - we had role models who did smoke, of course, but that didn't mean we were sheepish/stupid enough to think it "looked cool" (as fools often used to say). None of us were ever silly enough to blame the media/ influential people/ role models for promoting smoking. We had minds of our own.

How anyone can perceive smoking to be cool in this day and age is beyond me. There's nothing glamourous about developing lung cancer or making yourself prone to various other health failures.

I reckon we should give kids more credit. I know peer pressure exists, and many kids do idiotic things because they think it will make them fit in with the crowd. Surely my siblings and I can't have been in the minority?

I smoke now, but didn't start until I was old enough to know better (although, having been born with at least a couple of brain cells, I always did know better). That is my choice and my own stupidity - but it certainly had nothing to do with any of my friends or role models.

I would also argue that, if some kids see an idol of theirs smoking, they may well become more aware of the negative effect this habit can have. I've seen this happen with my younger sister and several of my little cousins.

But it is a choice whereas people don't choose to be born into poverty.

Absolutely - well said. As initially stated, you do make a good point GG, but it's a case of apples and oranges again. Bono's not a saint. He's as human as any other poor bugger and it's not realistic to expect him to be perfect.

 

[GG_The_Fly]

So anyone who campaigns for Africa should cut out anything that's not healthy for them?

No fast food, alcohol, breathing in major cities, stress, driving, caffine, etc

Everyone has their vices. EVERYONE.

Yeah, but you shouldn't be smoking on your way to a rally to save lives. . . that's just bad form.

As unhealthy as fast food is, it's not even remotely comparable to the damage inflicted by smoking. The same goes for the other listed vices - all of which added together and multipled by high numbers do not equal the number of deaths due to smoking.

Indeed, my argument isn't a very good one and certainly operates on a slippery slope, but nevertheless, smoking is a vice that exposes others to disease, something largely absent from the other 'vices.'

In my opinion, if you are going to campaign for the lives of others, you SHOULD cut out the outwardly obvious vices like smoking, etc., things that the public sees consistently.

 

[GG_The_Fly]

I reckon we should give kids more credit. I know peer pressure exists, and many kids do idiotic things because they think it will make them fit in with the crowd. Surely my siblings and I can't have been in the minority?

That may be entirely logical, but the fact is that young people are influenced by the media and celebrity smoking - it's been proven repeatedly and unequivocally and continues to have a tremendous influence on young people.

 

[2Hearts]

What I think would be interesting is if a high profile campaign against the tobacco industry sprang up all of a sudden. Many of the same celebrities that are featured on the ONE campaign ads could join this Anti-Smoking campaign also. GC_The_Fly made some great comments that would become the facts & figures of this movement. I wonder where Bono would be? What would be his reaction if a reporter asked him whether or not he supported it?

It won't happen, but it sure would be interesting.

 

[Do Miss America]

As unhealthy as fast food is, it's not even remotely comparable to the damage inflicted by smoking. The same goes for the other listed vices - all of which added together and multipled by high numbers do not equal the number of deaths due to smoking.

Bullshit! Have you seen Supersize me, the man got severe liver problems just within 30 days that could have killed him, never met anyone who died of smoking within a year. Driving could kill you the first time you are behind the wheel.

In my opinion, if you are going to campaign for the lives of others, you SHOULD cut out the outwardly obvious vices like smoking, etc., things that the public sees consistently.

Sorry but you'd never have anyone who campaigned for anything.

 

[beli]

Isn't Bono on a pisshead too? Hes a man not a God. Most people have vices.

When I was at Uni, there was a section where all the smokers used to hang out. Most of the time this section was filled with nurses. ie people who should know better.

 

[MrBrau1]

This is dumb.

 

[GG_The_Fly]

What I think would be interesting is if a high profile campaign against the tobacco industry sprang up all of a sudden. Many of the same celebrities that are featured on the ONE campaign ads could join this Anti-Smoking campaign also. GC_The_Fly made some great comments that would become the facts & figures of this movement. I wonder where Bono would be? What would be his reaction if a reporter asked him whether or not he supported it?

It won't happen, but it sure would be interesting.

I guess this is the point where i should admit that i am a oncologist and smoking just absolutely bugs the shit out of me - i see so much death and misery thanks to smoking. I remember a study that stated that the cost to society for each pack of cigarettes is something like $33.

I think the high profile campaign for smoking cessation is absolutely needed and i would love to see it.

 

[GG_The_Fly]

Bullshit! Have you seen Supersize me, the man got severe liver problems just within 30 days that could have killed him, never met anyone who died of smoking within a year. Driving could kill you the first time you are behind the wheel.

Check your facts dude - you're wrong. I did see the movie and take a personal interest in the fast food business (it's relatively intertaining history, that is).

Sure, you can die behind the wheel as soon as you get your licence but deaths due to motor vehicle collisions pale in comparison to smoking deaths - obviously just much much more slowly.

 

[Bono's shades]

I hate smoking as much as anyone and would be overjoyed if Bono quit tomorrow. However, I don't think the fact he is a smoker should disqualify him from campaigning for the lives of others. If the only people who could so such work were those without vices who never did anything unhealthy, there would simply be nobody to do it.

 

[sallycinnamon78]

That may be entirely logical, but the fact is that young people are influenced by the media and celebrity smoking - it's been proven repeatedly and unequivocally and continues to have a tremendous influence on young people.

I don't do 'logical' - well, very rarely anyway!

With reference to the research you cite, I realise that you are right and that celebrity bad habits CAN influence kids, especially at impressionable ages. I'm uncertain as to the extent of this influence, though. I am curious as to how wide the sample groups were, when the investigative studies took place, the ages of the kids involved, and the amount of information available to us about the dangers of smoking.

In this particular case, I prefer to think this is a matter of basic common sense. Maybe it's me going off on my 'individualism' thing - I simply don't believe in people behaving like sheep for the sake of being seen as 'cool' (although I know it does happen).

 

[2Hearts]

An oncologist? God bless you and your work, GC.

 

[foofey-foofey]

This is dumb.

Thanks for adding to this discussion. . .

I think this is absolutely an apples and oranges argument as GG stated, but I do think if you are going to be the POSTERCHILD for helping the needy live with AIDS drugs, then you should probably NOT be smoking on the way to the fundraiser. I mean that just makes sense and certainly would (for me) make me less inclined to take him seriously.

 

[sallycinnamon78]

I guess this is the point where i should admit that i am a oncologist and smoking just absolutely bugs the shit out of me - i see so much death and misery thanks to smoking. I remember a study that stated that the cost to society for each pack of cigarettes is something like $33.

I think the high profile campaign for smoking cessation is absolutely needed and i would love to see it.

You're an oncologist? I need your advice! My younger sister , aged 21, has 3 months left to live - she has cancer of the liver, kidney and lung, and bone marrow leukaemia on top of that. She's being offered no treatment at all. Please tell me that you are either a genius or the Messiah, and can get me any kind of miracle drug. Not likely I know!

Sorry to go off-topic - I am 100% certain you didn't start this thread to hear me moaning on about illness . Just had to ask out of sheer despair and desperation.

Anyway the specialist who diagnosed her found thelung tumour first - and said it had nothing whatsoever to do with smoking.

An oncologist? God bless you and your work, GC.

Damn right. Respect to you.

 

[KhanadaRhodes]

***obesity (and all its related health problems - heart attack, high cholesterol, etc.) is now ranked second in preventable causes of death, behind lung cancer (smoking)***

so i think i'd put fast food on the same level as smoking.

 

[GG_The_Fly]

You're an oncologist? I need your advice! My younger sister , aged 21, has 3 months left to live - she has cancer of the liver, kidney and lung, and bone marrow leukaemia on top of that. She's being offered no treatment at all. Please tell me that you are either a genius or the Messiah, and can get me any kind of miracle drug. Not likely I know!

Sorry to go off-topic - just had to ask out of sheer despair and desperation.

Anyway the specialist who diagnosed her found thelung tumour first - and said it had nothing whatsoever to do with smoking.

I am going to PM you my email address- i will need to know more about where the cancer started, what the diagnosis is, before i can even begin to answer the question. But i would be happy to disucss it with you!

 

[beli]

It would seem clear to me that smoking kills at least as many, if not more, people per year than abject poverty in Africa

Do you have some facts to back that up?

 

[sallycinnamon78]

I am going to PM you my email address- i will need to know more about where the cancer started, what the diagnosis is, before i can even begin to answer the question. But i would be happy to disucss it with you!

Thankyou so much, that is really kind and I am very grateful.

 

[GG_The_Fly]

Re: Re: Anyone Find Bono's Smoking Insanely Ironic?

Do you have some facts to back that up?

According to the WHO (World Health Organization):

- Smoking kills about 5 million people per year worldwide
- HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis continue to cause the deaths of some six million people each year (together)

It's much harder to assess deaths due to 'abject poverty' because that is a relatively vague term - does it refer to malnutrition, infectious disease - it's sort of a catch all, that when summated, would actually exceed worldwide deaths from smoking.

However, my comment on smoking had nothing to do with comparing smoking in Africa to poverty in Africa - merely WORLDWIDE smoking with deaths due to poverty.

 

[beli]

My opinion, and my blood is boiling so I'm going to back away from the internet in a minute:

People choose to smoke. Its a self indulgent activity.

People do not choose to be born in a destitute African village.

PS My background - I used to work for Oxfam, and I now work in Safety and Health at a University.

 

[indra]

Re: Re: Re: Anyone Find Bono's Smoking Insanely Ironic?

According to the WHO (World Health Organization):

- Smoking kills about 5 million people per year worldwide

And cigarettes are not only legal, but tobacco growers are subsidised (in the US at least). What a fucked up system.

 

[Axver]

It's worth noting that for a long time, Bono has been attempting to quit smoking. Seems he hasn't been doing so well at it, but that fact must be presented in his favour: he doesn't wish to continue smoking and he is aiming to stop.

So there goes some of the irony factor.

 

[Do Miss America]

Another addition to the story. Everyone in the band smokes or has smoked in the past. But it wasn't until Zoo TV where Bono really made his smoking a part of his persona.

 

[villamania]

I always find it strange that so many singers in the music industry smoke and compromise the tool that makes them their living - their voice. I have always been far more impressed by the non smokers who dont take their vocal chords for granted. Sadly seems to be a minority of vocalists these days

 

[Do Miss America]

"Never met a singer worth his salt who didn't smoke"

Sinatra

 

[Miggy D]

Like someone else said - smoking is a choice that a person makes. Being born into abject poverty is just a bit out of a person's control. In my opinion, if a person picks up a cigerette in this day and age of information, and begins smoking, then they know what they're risking.

But the people in Africa and other debt-ridden, destitute areas deserve better. It's not like they picked up the 'poverty habit' one day and just haven't been able to kick it. Poverty is incomparable to smoking.

-Migdilio