3rd comment- response to smoking ban blog

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=484742278888341717&postID=3305713906486560535&page=1

I disagree with your views on the smoking ban, as I think peoples choices are being slowly taken away from us by the Government. Pubs should have split into non smoking and smoking, as it was before but with stronger rules to ensure that both areas were respected. Smokers pay massive tax duty to the Government through buying cigarettes, so why should they be forced out into the cold? It seems to contradict selling them in the first place, if you arent allowed to smoke in a public place.

The main establishment to be effected by the smoking ban, is obviously pubs, where yet again smokers give their hard earned cash to buy drinks. Why on top of all this should a ban come into place. On a positive note, the ban encourages people to quit smoking, but at the same time we shouldnt be forced into something we do not want to do.

2nd comment

The blog you made, 'smoking-Marlboro cowboys', raised two questions that relate to my own blog on the topic of smoking.
''However, the question is, is ignorance better or is knowing the dangers and still continuing, the correct thing to do?''
People continue to smoke even though there has been an insentive by the government to make aware the dangers of smoking over the last 5 years. Slogans such as 'smoking seriously harms you and the others around you' can be found on every cigarette packet, and yet we STILL buy them. By ignoring the dangers and continuing to smoke, you are no better off. The damages will build up. For some it may be too late to quit by the time they have paid attention and done their research.

http://wildonwilde.blogspot.com/2008/04/smoking-marlboro-cowboys.html

1st Comment-

In response to the blog on Jeremy Kyle (http://leannemulloy.blogspot.com/2008/04/jeremy-kyle.html).
I have mixed feelings when talking about the show, there are couples who solve their differences although maybe not it the correct way. Personally I would never take part in the show or anything similar to it, as I would not like my details broadcast to the nation. On the other hand, if a couple who's relationship is in danger of ending, the show does act as a savior and place to air their views. Jeremy adds his input although He can dominate the conversation (It is HIS show), which I dont think helps at all.

You mentioned that you watch programmes like Jerry Springer', surely that falls into the same catagorey? Both involve coming onto a stage, live on television and having your intimate details raised by a host eager to boost ratings. All guest's should know what to expect before they dish out insults alike for us all to see.

1st lecture-Being Bad

The first lecture was a way of introducing the key concepts of Being Bad, with examples relating to the title being given by all students in the lecture hall. Things like drugging dogs all the way to exporting drugs to foreign lands were submitted, gaining laughs all round. Personally I think there is definately something that turns me on when 'being bad, doing things that are 'Morally' wrong. You know, things that make your parents shake their head or that teacher you never see eye to eye with completely freak out at the sound of the fire alarm. Lifes hard enough as it is without those snotty nosed, never-step-out-of-the-box characters that we see day in day out complaining about the state of todays youth.

Hip Hop- The 'Bad' Lifestyle

Hip Hop has come under scrutiny ever since it was created, with lyrics causing the most controversy. Subject matter can range from gang violence, all the way to teenage pregnacy. Snoop Dogg was banned in 2007 from entering the U.K. because of his violent gang related past. The tour in which he wished to bring to the U.K. was called the 'peace' tour. Surely this is showing and incentive to end the violent themes that often arrive with Hip Hop, If not I think its a pretty good attempt. The subject matter in the lyrics we hear shouldnt be seen as showing teenagers the 'wrong route' but rather highlighting the problems in which youths today have growing up.

If these things are happening, then I think that it should be known and not pushed away as if nothing is wrong. Drugs is also an issue, in which Snoop knows all too well, and so needs to be 'reported' on by Artist. A teenager is hardly going to buy a gun and shoot up their local Tesco after hearing 50 Cent on the radio are they? If policing and Government incentives were put in place, more could be done to stop the crimes we hear of from happening.

It was announced in april 2008 that Snoop Dogg finally had his ban from the U.K. lifted after evidence was found to prove his innocence in a recent scuffle with security in Heathrow airport. He hadn't been all good though, after getting probation when caught smoking his favourite girl, Mary Jane, outside a New York night club. I suppose you can't have everything can you?

Being Too Religous

The prayer at the start of the lecture got mixed reviews when feedback was given. I didnt think that the prayer was offensive, as the U.K. has always practiced Christianity. Is it offensive to practice the core religion in your own country? Maybe it could be seen as leaving other religions and faiths out of the picture, but I honestly do not see the problem.

Was the lecture hall the correct venue for the prayer to take place? I think that isn't a valid issue. Surely the prayer was meant for everyone present, so in my opinion those who were offended may have taken it the other way around, and left their faith entirely out.

In a world where race and religion are under intense scrutiny, the prayer may have been taken out of context.

''In past eras when crime inside churches was rare, the church sanctuaries were open most, and often all, of the time, ready for anyone with spiritual needs to come in and pray in peace. As with everything else nowadays, the fears, expense, staffing and effort to do that is too much for most congregations. But then, where can we pray? Anywhere, I suppose, but the rest of our lives and our world get in the way.'' - http://www.spirithome.com/prayroom.html

To solve the problem, notification should be given beforehand to warn those who have strong feelings about religion can expect to experience another religion. Learning from other religions can only be a good thing in my eyes, as similarities can be made and differences understood on top of clearing up any issues one may have.

Bad Comedians

'Bad Comedians' such as Roy Chubby Brown and Bernard Manning where shown on the power point in the lecture. They fall into the group who's jokes/gags are usually racially motivated. Is it racist to poke fun at another race in the form of a joke? I think that if its funny and only to make people laugh rather than embarrase or hate a minority then no. The problem is, deciding what is funny and what isn't. Personally I dont care what subject a joke may be based on, as long as it gets a laugh and its usable then I'm fine.

Ricky Gervais raised a fair amount of controversy while on tour making his stand-up DVD 'Fame'. He included several jokes aimed at cancer patients. Alot would think that this is uneccessary and extemely rude, but personally I think it was taken out of context. He is putting himself on the line by telling the gag, therefore well aware of how people would react. I have included the clip to let you judge for yourself, you will see the joke approx 2 minutes into the video.

Ricky Gervais Live- 'Fame'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l1WROWJkZA&feature=related

Beating!

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Have you got a spare cig mate?

That question. Have you got a spare cig mate? I must have said it to at least 50 people and all with the same answer. No. Although a few from the older generations advised I quit 'that dirty habit'.

The lecture on smoking brought up the idea of it being 'sexy' and 'cool', with film stars and other celebs being pin pointed as evidence. You can see the picture Im trying to paint, the leather jacket, slick black hair with a marlboro hanging out of his mouth in the disco. All the girls obviously fancy this boy because of the smoke he's inhaling. Ok, maybe 50 years ago, after all we are swamped with gym adverts on t.v and healthy living being promoted through food etc.

But the whole issue about the cigarette still ponders on. It makes your clothes and breathe stink as well as slowly killing you. I dont need to tell any smokers that, it clearly states it on every cigarette box sold. But still we smoke, obviously informed of the negative effects to come from the habit, not to mention the expense. I have included two websites for both sides of the arguement, you can see which one has the best reasons why you should/should'nt smoke.

www.ninjapirate.com/smoking- pro smoking

www.nicorette.com - anti smoking

People will always challenge authorities, it just seem to be in us from birth. By being told not to do something, there is always that little bit in you that wants to say, ''You know what? I think I will''. Smoking is a personal choice at the end of the day, its only you and your cigarette. So.....Has anyone got a spare cig? No?....

Dirty habit anyway.

Drugs. YES? NO?

Ok, So your at a party and the person beside you offers a spliff. what do you say? yes, and take the high road or no and save it for the hippies? Judging on my personal experience with drugs, I'd choose the later, but who's to say whats right and whats wrong, right?

Talking about the negative responses in the lecture, I came to ask myself, how come we never hear the times when people used drugs, and quite frankly enjoyed themselves? Its always the villiage clown who takes one to many hits on the reefer or popped a few pills for a night on the tiles that vomits outside the club while shouting abuse at randomers, that make the headlines in national newspapers.
www.drugsline.org- The effects of drugs are cleary made online as well as on television. Those choosing to experiment in drugs should learn how to deal with the effects. By going into it all not knowing what to expect, then its obvious that things could go very wrong.

If people would Know their limits or at least carry a sober friend to look after them while 'high', then events as mentioned would'nt make the journey through town at night a nighmare. Somebody in the lecture mentioned stopping supplies and finding out who is selling the drugs. my main issue would be asking WHY they are selling drugs.

Attitudes will always differ on drugs, it will never change. On one side you have drug users, and the other side firmly against the evils of home reckers known as heroin.

attitudes to infidelity

The main issue I tend to have with infidelity is the different reactions from both sexes. while men are considered 'players' for the amount of women they have slept with, women tend to face the negative attitudes to this by being labelled terms such as 'sluts', 'tramps' etc. Is it ok to cheat on a partner? In my opinion no, but others obviously feel differently if they do sway from their partners.
An example of our feelings on the topic as a society as a whole is expressed on soaps such as Coranation Street, Eastenders, Hollyoaks etc. All people seem to do is experiment in infidelity! How many marriages and relationships do people really go through? Surely sleeping with your neighbour isnt an every day thing? Maybe Ive been missing out, but the rate at which these characters that we watch week in week out cheat is unbelievable.
Back to my innitial point, on the split between men and women when relating to infidelity, I think that both parties involved regardless of their sex are guilty. By choosing to sleep with someone else, while in a relationship, you are to blame along with the person you slept with. There can't be a rule for one and a different rule for the rest. As soon as people and society realise that there was two people (maybe more?...) involved then attitudes will change. Until then we've got Eastenders.....