SFist: Lung Cancer!

Belgand

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 04:20:36 -0800

People who smoke recognize and are well aware of the health risks. It's very, very obvious to everyone involved from young children on up that smoking is very hazardous to your health. The problem is that the people who smoke simply don't care. Either they adopt a "gonna die anyway" attitude or they casually ignore the health risks because they haven't directly manifested themselves yet. I see absolutely nothing wrong with any form of cigarette marketing as a result. It's basically a test as to whether you're going to do something amazingly stupid, addictive, and pay quite a bit just to do so. If you're stupid enough to ignore the risks (and as long as you aren't puffing out your second-hand smoke anywhere near me or your captive children) then it's not my responsibility to keep you from killing yourself.

OG

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 11:58:44 -0800

On the wall of the main floor of the UCSF library, right by the tobacco documents collection, there's a copy of a letter signed by Sly Stallone. It's a contract for $500,000 to overtly smoke a particular brand of cigs in five movies. You can see a scan at the website linked above, which isn't all that bad (in my opinion). Anyway, cigarette marketing is very profitable for Hollywood, which is why the MPAA isn't doing anything about it.

MattyMatt

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 11:01:39 -0800

And they're doing a bang-up job of it.

Rachel

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 10:35:38 -0800

MPAA, an advocacy group for the six major studios that's awfully good at manipulating opinion The MPAA operate the ratings system. It's their choice to set the ratings criteria.