A thought exercise for denialists (and their critics) [Dr. Joan Bushwell's Chimpanzee Refuge]

Published: May 22, 2008, 10:53 pm

What typical reaction might the following passage have elicited had it been written four or five decades ago? And how does that reaction compare to the one it would generally elicit today? I do not feel that people who have quit smoking nor have spent money on smoking-cessation products and services should be congratulated for their tasks. Offering up a positive retort only serves to reinforce the idea, ultimately, that it is bad to smoke. The simple congratulations - even if stated in a meaningless fashion, even if you really don't care, even if it's awkward to say nothing - means that one supports the status quo. This goes hand in hand with why I hate (yes, hate) the "smoker acceptance lite" idea, which suggests that smoking cessation and the acceptance of smokers as people can co-exist. When people purposefully quit smoking, they're saying that they are more willing to support society's limited views on smoking and smokers than fight for broadening those views and

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