[Sparklechick]

Wow, how about that. I was wondering when the greedy NZ lawyers were going to latch on to this type of suing.

This woman smoked for years and then died of lung cancer. Her family is suing the tobacco company because they believe the woman didn't realise the risks.

So basically they're saying she was an idiot. What person doesn't know that if they continue to smoke heavily it's quite possible you'll die from it. Every smoker I've ever met is aware of how bad smoking is and it's not just because of the advertisements on the packets AND on TV.

In her trial they're going to use a tape from when she was on her death bed.

What's next? Are families going to sue liquor companies when someone their loved one dies of liver failure? Where will it stop?

[kall]

Smoking is bad for you?!

I thought these things were GOOD FOR YOU!!

[mikeartee]

The thing is - the prosecution is going for the fact that there were no warnings around when she was sixteen.

So she smoked for years, and they're blaming the company for getting her "hooked".

So the family is suing for her stupidity and lack of willpower.

I wonder if anyone has tried suing a drug dealer for getting them hooked on cocaine?

[mikeartee]

Originally Posted by kall

Smoking is bad for you?!

I thought these things were GOOD FOR YOU!!

They make you look cool, and all the other kids do it.

[sarahk]

My dad died in 1980 and whenever I visited him (he lived in the SI, I lived in the NI) I used to give him hell about smoking.

A couple of years earlier we'd been to a hypnotist show and as part of the show 4 people were offered the opportunity to stop smoking.

During the early '80s my folders were adorned with stickers saying "kiss a non smoker, taste the difference" which we all thought was terribly racy.

So I KNOW that people know in the '70s that smoking was bad.

I don't doubt for a second that the tobacco companies tried to hide evidence and make smoking sexy etc but there was no shortage of info to the contrary.

Then again, that heart surgeon the other day tried to make out he'd never heard of P. Yeah right!

[Neophis]

I am a smoker, and I know it is bad for me. I knew it was bad for me when I started smoking at 12 years of age ... and that didin't change anything.

[busyness53]

yeah i think that was real STUPID especially when she made no effort at all to give up. I'm a smoker pretty heavy one to, however no-one forced me to, i think to many choices are getting taken away from us by the government. So smoker's keep on smoking

[sarahk]

Check this out: Tobacco: Profits or Genocide?

But here’s a great quote from a tobacco industry executive when asked why he didn’t smoke himself: “We don’t smoke this shit, we reserve it for the dumb, the black, the ignorant and the poor.”

Yeah, I'd really want to do business with these guys - not.
You obviously don't mind!