Second Hand Smoke Swindle?: Philosophy Forums

Second Hand Smoke Swindle?

Reformed Nihilist
Oblong

Usergroup: Administrators
Joined: Jul 15, 2004
Location: The mighty fortress of the north
Total Topics: 8
Total Posts: 7784

Posted 10/17/07 - 02:07 PM: Subject: Second Hand SMoke Swindle?	#1
I was surfing and found the following link: http://www.davehitt.com/facts/ A few of the bits of info that I found particularly interesting were the contrast between the press realease entitled "PASSIVE SMOKING DOES CAUSE LUNG CANCER, DO NOT LET THEM FOOL YOU" and the actual content of the study : "CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate no association between childhood exposure to ETS and lung cancer risk. We did find weak evidence of a dose-response relationship between risk of lung cancer and exposure to spousal and workplace ETS. There was no detectable risk after cessation of exposure" No, it's not a barefaced lie, but shouldn't this trouble us and make us somewhat suspicious of such press releases? People are making legislation based on these studies. Thoughts? Critiques of the website posted? Other relevent facts?
_____________________ Vivian Jaffe: Have you ever transcended space and time? Albert Markovski: Yes... No... Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about. I Heart Huckabees (2004)

hyena in petticoat
Cheeky Possum.

Usergroup: Moderators
Joined: Dec 14, 2006
Location: Here.
Total Topics: 28
Total Posts: 856

Posted 10/17/07 - 10:35 PM:	#2
I am thinking that sometimes, press releases and studies are "manipulated" to be in favor of the motives of certain groups. I think so called "facts" are, intentionally or otherwise, manipulated depending on what the purpose of the "facts" are. The above being said, people can also "build up" facts or studies or statistics to serve their intentions. I mean, popularity doesn't necessarily mean it's true. Some things are made popular to make it believable. Some truths are kept hidden to protect certain people's interest. As to second hand smoke, I have always been a bit skeptic about it. (I mean, people have been exposed to smoke from vehicles, etc. with the polluted air of the metro. So what difference does it really make? Based on personal observation, direct exposures of babies especially the one's with asthma to second hand smoke does really trigger the illness. So perhaps in an indirect manner, second hand smoke does have an effect even after cessation of exposure only in a way that it kind of "established" the illness in these people. As to direct effects of it to normal people... Just a thought. Edited by hyena in petticoat on 10/17/07 - 10:50 PM
_____________________ Running running run. If you can't say anything nice about someone, say nothing. Then creep up behind them with a baseball bat and really let 'em have it. "What's the point of goin' out and riding if you're gona be a pussy..." - Ecce

rabeldin
Probabalistic Philosopher

Usergroup: Members
Joined: Oct 06, 2003
Location: Puerto Rico
Total Topics: 30
Total Posts: 5382

Posted 10/18/07 - 04:59 AM:	#3
I think that the vast majority of folks come to everything they read with an attitude. Nobody is neutral. If you disaprove of smoking, you will read such articles as supporting you. It is important for propagandists to provide a hook to catch every kind of fish, especially the suckers.
_____________________ Leave no assumption unquestioned.

PeeGee
Graduate

Usergroup: Members
Joined: Oct 05, 2003
Location: I am omnipresent
Total Topics: 2
Total Posts: 158

Posted 10/19/07 - 08:24 AM:	#4
Whether it's in Canada or Toronto, I've read that apartments can now be deemed 'smoke free', regardless of what the owner / landlord wishes. example: http://www.smokefreeapartments.org/ The example that we all breathe second hand pollution from cars and other sources pretty much shows this initiative as very likely a political one and not a health issue. For that reason, and also because I'm a libertarian above all things, I don't support banning public smoking.
_____________________ The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.

stuckongreen
Initiate

Usergroup: Members
Joined: Oct 29, 2007
Total Topics: 2
Total Posts: 3

Posted 11/06/07 - 09:35 PM:	#5
Penn & Teller have a tv show called "Bullshit" where they cover this subject; and at the time, yes, it was a bunch of bullshit. but they have now done conclusive studies that show the hazardous effects of second-hand smoke. so in the end they were right, but the fact that they began legislation on evidence that didn't exist is still a little nerve-wracking

Reformed Nihilist
Oblong

Usergroup: Administrators
Joined: Jul 15, 2004
Location: The mighty fortress of the north
Total Topics: 8
Total Posts: 7784

Posted 11/06/07 - 10:03 PM:	#6
stuckongreen wrote: Penn & Teller have a tv show called "Bullshit" where they cover this subject; and at the time, yes, it was a bunch of bullshit. but they have now done conclusive studies that show the hazardous effects of second-hand smoke. so in the end they were right, but the fact that they began legislation on evidence that didn't exist is still a little nerve-wracking Which specific hazerdous effects? I don't deny that there are some, but public perceptions are being shaped by just these sorts of vague, unspecific and unfalsifiable claims. That is the part that I find really scary. If you simply offered the specific study, its methods and results, then we could look at it and rationally debate the subject. "They" (the people who claimed that there was clear and uncontrovertible evidence that second hand smoke increases the likelihood of contracting lung cancer to a significantly measurable degree) were not right in the end from what I am aware of.
_____________________ Vivian Jaffe: Have you ever transcended space and time? Albert Markovski: Yes... No... Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about. I Heart Huckabees (2004)

rabeldin
Probabalistic Philosopher

Usergroup: Members
Joined: Oct 06, 2003
Location: Puerto Rico
Total Topics: 30
Total Posts: 5382

Posted 11/07/07 - 04:15 AM:	#7
Figures don't lie but liars figure.
_____________________ Leave no assumption unquestioned.

You don't have permission to post.