Why are anti-smoking adds so terrible?An overwhelming majority of anti-smoking adds and campaigns are designed to frighten and bully smokers into quitting. They enforce an extremely negative message, enforce guilt and shame, and enforce fear. With the still massive numbers of smokers today it is obvious that these tactics do not work. Yet everyone seems to be overlooking this.
Everyone knows that the amount an individual smokes is often directly related to the amount of stress they are under. These anti-smoking adds and smoker-bashing attitudes cause overwhelming amounts of stress on smokers. For some people they may be enough to frighten or bully them into quitting. For most though, it only increases their stress levels and could quite possibly be making it harder for them to quit. Some people may refuse to quit simply because they do not want to feel like they are being forced or bullied into doing so. Fear tactics and bullying are not accepted well by the targets.
Getting the message out is no longer important. In 2011 everyone, especially Americans are fully aware of the effects and potential risks of smoking. There is overwhelming evidence to support the negative effects of smoking and non-smokers have been bashing it into our brains for years.
My question is, why are the non-smokers so narrow minded?
Maybe if they tried positive reinforcement tactics instead, they'd have greater success. There are a lot of smokers who actually want to quit and find it too difficult. Maybe if others were more supportive and encouraging about it they would be able to quit. Sometimes things boil down to confidence and mind over matter. People do better with positive criticisms, support, and encouragement. Not by inducing fear and bully tactics.
I'm a smoker. Not a day goes by that I don't wonder how much time I have taken off of my life and if I have lung/throat cancer. Even when I'm not actively thinking about it, its always in my subconscious. I've had nightmares about the cowboy with no tongue in the anti-smoking add (you know the one), and I'm down right paranoid about my health. I'm ashamed that I still smoke because I have children and yet I do not quit.
I've tried many times. Last time I tried I went 1 and a half days with no smoke and I went to visit my mother. I was feeling good about myself and proud that I was doing so well. I told her that I hadn't smoked in almost 2 days and do you know what I got? A lecture about how horrible is was that I put my kids through this, how me and my children stink, and a bunch of other crap. I ended up in tears and left. I bought a pack of smokes on the drive home. I'm emotional when I go without a cigarette and it was just too much for me to handle. I can't help but think that I might be smoke free now if I hadn't went to visit my mother that day. I plan to try again soon and I will not be visiting my mother.
I guess my point is this. Why do they still use the same tired anti-smoking tactics when they obviously do not work?
rocky m
such a good point
Jiu Jitsu Fighter
smoking is bad.
Kailey
It's a battle, it always has been, probably always will be. The worst that happens is you get an ear full for about 20 seconds while trying to watch TV. We can deal...
Xyz
The thing that really annoys me is the way that nicotine replacement therapy costs three times as much as cigarettes. I'm sure that this must be either due to vested interests or profiteering. Especially considering that they don't carry tax like tobacco does.
emucompboy
> Everyone knows that the amount an individual smokes is often directly related to the amount of stress they are under.
False. Normal people don't smoke at all. Therefore smoking is unrelated to stress.
> I bought a pack of smokes
Stop buying them. Then you won't have them.
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