 ericskiff says: This is a harsh film, yes, but definitely gets its point across. Smoking is one of the only "personal liberties' in this country that directly harms the people around you. Which right is more important? The right of the smoker to do what they want to their own body, or the right of the second-hand smoker not to be exposed to that harm. As someone with asthma and allergies, I know where I stand on this one. I don't completely agree with this ad, as I feel that the damage done by abuse is orders of magnitude greater than that done by second-hand smoke, but I do believe that it is a form of abuse nontheless. What's your opinion? Good lord, that's a truly disturbing piece of filmmaking. Out of curiosity, ericskiff, why do you think abuse is worse? My instinct is to agree, but when I stop and think about it, I'm not sure why. Smoking may cause permanent, debilitating health problems in children, and potentially even death. Abuse may also cause permanent, debilitating emotional (or sometimes even physical) problems. Hard to weigh one against the other. Abuse seems worse, I suppose, because child abuse just strikes most of us as evil. But what if instead of smoking, a parent were putting a few drops of poison in a child's food everyday? Wouldn't we think of that as evil too? And really, how is that different from smoking around your kids? That really is a powerful video. I was cringing as the camera panned in to show the abuse going on inside. Having lived through a childhood full of smoking adults--in houses and cars with windows rolled up--and having asthma and allergies, I agree that subjecting children to tobacco smoke is abuse. Whether it is as bad as subjecting them to physical and/or verbal abuse depends upon the severity of the abuse. You have to tally up the damages and see which were the worst overall: outward external, mental/emotional, or insidiously internal. I had more than my share of both physical and verbal abuse as a child, but in the long run the damage to my lungs from second-hand smoke may turn out to be the worst abuse I suffered. I don't know which is worse, the smoking around your kids or letting your kids watch a show with content like that. Interesting Clip Eric, I watched the video a few times and my final verdict is, this is wrong! in more ways then one, this video is tasteless and funnily enough I think totally useless as it abuses the "abuse" concept by taking it out of context. subjecting your children to tobacco smoke may be unhealthy but it is in no fashion on the same level as the form of abuse presented here. moreover those that are unaware will probably discard it as a piece of fascist propaganda, those that are, well, it is preaching to the converted. it (the video) in no fashion allows the point to come across. No one has picked up on my earlier question. Given that we know the health effects of second-hand smoke, what's the difference between smoking around your kids and putting an eyedropperful of poison in their food each day? And if you take that comparison seriously, then isn't the abuse analogy pretty solid? this reminds me of a older man I knew in his 50s when the subject of conversation was smoking and the different measures put in place in education etc he relayed his expierience how they were shown smokers lungs and horrific shocking matieral obviously to scare them straight to stay away from tobacco ne way they were given all this treatment then one day a man came in and gave this piece of information with the money you would use to buy a packet of cigarettes for one year you could buy a scooter and pick up girls now which would you choose the next summer he got on his scooter he had saved up for and did just that what's the difference between smoking around your kids and putting an eyedropperful of poison in their food each day?I'd say it has to due with risk perception which has a lot to due with historical acceptance, community acceptance, and education. I'm glad to read the thoughtful comments on Ramaa Mosley's powerful anti-smoking PSA. It's a shame it hasn't yet found wide distribution. It could help many children by causing well-intended, but thoughtless, smoking parents realize their habit is damaging their children. I really appreciate this conversation. I want to throw my point of view into the mix. I directed this commercial (originally for the American Lung Assocation) because I believe that people who are complacent enough to continue smoking in front of their children need a huge jolt - something powerful to alter their way of seeing their actions. People may be furious with the comparison between second hand smoke and child abuse - this is not a surprise. It is extremely disturbing to hear the sounds of the child in the spot being abused - as it should be. It's also extremely disturbing that there are still parents out there who know that smoking causes illness and possible death in children, ... by the way - it would be helpful to get some positive input on the youtube link. If you like the spot please comment at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNOb1A-7Sh8 I think the ad is vile. It reminds me of the kind of politics where anybody you disagree with is dubbed a "Nazi". |
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