Smoking ban in films: Is it uncalled for?

And shooting people in film/TV continues to be a-ok.

Priorities are out of whack.

I don't recall seeing a health warning last night during Raising Hope.  I do recall seeing Andrew Dice Clay smoking through most every scene he was in and thinking "Thank god these people aren't pussies regarding showing someone smoking a (if I am not mistaken, still legal) cigarette. 

I totally agree with Nexus-7. Priorities way out of whack.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexus-7 

And shooting people in film/TV continues to be a-ok.

Priorities are out of whack.

That's the dichotomy the leaps out at me.

These are supposed to be stories, not visual guides to living healthy, virtuous lives.

All these points are bang on the money. However, sex, murder etc. are fun to watch while smoking is one of the very few things left in daily life that people are allowed to hate and keep the moral high ground. Never mind the fact that smoking is portrayed as a part of daily life, which is part of the mandate of art; now by indicating that people out in the world smoke, you're advertising A GREAT EVIL THAT MUST BE STOPPED. Even better, if you try and defend this people are now trained to jump to the conclusion that you're also endorsing the habit.  That's why I think the PC Brigade are eventually going to win this one, as much as I hate to admit it. Everyone wants to watch murder and no-one wants fucking swept under the carpet, but smoking? Well, that's the only indefensible thing left.

I propose that, when the inevitable worldwide blanket ban happens, every time filmmakers want to show someone lighting up they just have the character pick their nose and eat it. Then when people complain, say "Well, it could've been worse. They could've smoked."

Damn, I'm in a cynical mood tonight.

Health warnings at the beginning(and only the beginning) I can take, though I do think it's absolutely absurd - complete banning I can't or, as idiot anti smoking groups are trying to do here, make any film that shows a ciggie to automatically get an 18 rating... so for example if Alice in Wonderland(animation) was released in cinemas now say, it would be an 18 if they got their way. See how bloody ridiculous that is...

Thankfully the moronic idea will probably never happen.

And frankly, if someone wants to smoke, what on earth has it got to do with anyone else... not our fault they are easily influenced by someone smoking on screen...

Oh, and I'm not a smoker.

In L.A., if you want to watch a movie that portrays smoking, you have to do it outside and at least 20 feet from a building entrance.

I've long said that of all the deeply unhealthy aspects of the American lifestyle, the fanatical focus on smoking as the great evil of our society is all part of a con desgined to allow people to think they're on top of their health when in fact it's everything else in their diet, air and water that's killing them

Smoking is just a lifestyle choice, and a pretty darn nifty one to boot. It's undeniably cool, looks fantastic, and feels great. It's also damn cinematic. The awful, manipulative and often grotesque unskippable anti smoking ads in films bother me to no end, but these new guidelines cross the line to an absurd degree

My feelings on smoking have been made clear

But smoking on screen should be here to stay

PS IMHO smoking is going to make a HUGE comeback in the next few decades. Why? 1) As cancer fighting/preventing technologies improve, the risk will be seen as a less serious consideration 2) As our environment spirals into decline, and the world falls into chaos, people will want to indulge in simple comforts, and the "death wish" aspect of living dangerously with cigs will seem cool and counter cultural

I think smoking in movies can't increase the number of smoking people. So it's no need to ban it ;) Cigs4girls.com

Yeah, that's fucking ridiculous, but that's never stopped the government before, why should it now?

By the way, what's the link for this article?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Dickson 

 

These are supposed to be stories, not visual guides to living healthy, virtuous lives.

For me it all comes down to this simple point. I absolutely detest smoking on every level, but it's part of everyday life and thus seems silly to remove it from art.

If true, I think it's stupid. Cigarettes have been getting a lot of crap in the media lately, but alcohol goes untouched. Tit for tat I say.