Health professionals are the priests of the age
Friday, December 11, 2009 I was interviewed this morning by the Irish radio station 4FM. We were discussing the decision this week by the Irish government to freeze the price on cigarettes for fear of escalating the problem of tobacco smuggling.
They also wanted to talk about a survey from Singapore that suggests that health warnings on cigarette packs may make smokers smoke more "as a way to cope with the inevitability of death". (The study was based on just 39 psychology students who were asked to fill in a questionnaire so I wouldn't take it too seriously.)
Also on the programme was Michael O'Shea, chief executive of the Irish Heart Foundation. O'Shea, like many of his colleagues in the anti-smoking movement, finds it hard to listen to any argument that doesn't echo his own.
This is particularly noticeable in Ireland where I have done many interviews over the years. Doctors, in particular, seem to take it as a personal affront if you dare argue with them.
I imagine that, 25 years ago, it would have been unheard of to argue publicly with a priest. Today health is the new religion and health professionals are the priests of the age.
That's why I particularly enjoy doing interviews alongside doctors and other anti-smoking campaigners in Ireland. It's a joy to listen to their indignation - and occasional fury - when they have to listen to someone else for a change.
One exception to this is Professor Luke Clancy, chairman of ASH Ireland, a charming man who I was always happy to see on the rare occasions we bumped into each other in Dublin. It is no coincidence that Clancy is perhaps the most formidable opponent I have come up against.
Michael O'Shea, in contrast, did everything he could to stop me talking until, eventually, I had to ask the presenter to allow me to be heard. (This, despite the fact that I had previously allowed him to make his point completely uninterrupted.)
To be honest, it's moments like that when you know you're winning the argument. Anyway, I eventually made my point and I had the final word so I was quite happy. I think 4FM were too!
Simon Clark
The Singapore study has got me wondering. How do non-smokers "cope with the inevitability of death" - or are they immortal? I think we should be told.
Reader Comments (9)
You are right that it was unheard of to argue with a priest here in Ireland and their word was God.
Look where that got us so the comparison is a valid one!
The Singapore study is not isolated this is from Denmark..
"Warnings on cigarette packets such as ‘Smoking can kill’ or ‘Smoking is very harmful to you and your surroundings’ were supposed to get people to stop smoking. But according to new marketing research, they have precisely the opposite effect, according to dr.dk."
"Want to smoke
In fact according to research, the warnings give consumers more of a wish to smoke. A Danish marketing guru Martin Lindstrøm has tested the brains of several thousand consumers and found that the warnings are associated with pleasure – because the smoker associates the warning with something pleasant that is about to happen – smoking.
As a result, the junior coalition partner the Conservative People’s Party and the government’s parliamentary safety net the Danish People’s Party want to have the warnings removed again.
Health Minister
“First of all I will be discussing this with the minister for health who is the one who goes to the meetings in the European Union – and this is an EU issue,” says Conservative Health Spokesperson Vivi Kier.
The research method used by Lindstrøm is revolutionary in marketing in that it makes it possible to determine how to stimulate parts of the brain so that consumers want to buy a product without realising that what they see is an advertisement."
http://politiken.dk/newsinenglish/article585176.ece
Might have guessed that all of this propoganda stuff would end up shooting the Ban Gurus in the foot!
With so many things they do not seem able to see further than the end of their noses and in most cases they seem to have extremely short noses!
I haven't thought about what is written on the cigs for a long time, I swapped to Rollie's shortly after the ban, I found I enjoyed them more than ready made cigs, and so much cheaper.
Handier for bring home from holiday, friends an relations can all be asked to bring tobacco home without worrying about bulk.
There are still warnings on the packs of tobacco but as I said I don't even see it anymore.
I feel very sorry for all the pub owners, staff and customers, and the cafes, bingo halls and clubs.
I have found there are places where smokers can go, a bit like naughty school children, it is a very hush, hush, quite exciting I must admit. I never broke the law before, what next I ask myself, slippery slope? nope, just slippery Government.
Simon, re your update above: 'The Singapore study has got me wondering. How do non-smokers "cope with the inevitability of death" - or are they immortal? I think we should be told.'
I wonder whether at some deep level smokers have been made a scapegoat. 'The thinking is: drive them out into the wilderness and we the virtuous ones will be safe.'
This would relate to the concept of 'healthism' as the new religion.
Doctors in Ireland have taken over the status that priests once held.
The holy fathers are in the dog house at present because of child abuse in their ranks.
And as the state of irish hospitals hardly measures up to third world standards, the exalted ones would be far better employed if they kept their mouths shut and refrained from shouting people down about smoking a cigarette, and concentrated instead on the hygiene in their superbug hospitals.
Taking a pay cut wouldnt do them any harm either instead of spouting anti smoking bilge for the worried well to earn an extra nixer.
How do non-smokers "cope with the inevitability of death"
I believe that anti-smokers (not non-smokers) look for a scape-goat to blame and harrass. That's what they're doing now and it doesn't half show.
All others, be they smokers or non-smokers accept the inevitable and are grateful for the life they have had and have lived.
I would like an experiment (seeing as the antis love them and abide by them). Let's allow one of these puritans to allow their offspring to be brought up in sterile conditions that they long for. Then let's see their offspring released into the real world. They wouldn't last a year.
To be honest, I don't think I'd ever see any volunteers. It's always 'do as I say' not 'as I do'.
Their house of straw is either burning or being blown away - so it should.
Sheltered lives breed ill-health. The elderly today have roughed it, smoked it everywhere, lived through mining, asbestos, cotton mills, making gun-powder. The kids had ice on the inside of their windows when they woke in the morning. They are alive and kicking.
A good immune system is essential for a long life, yet only develops if we ignore the powers that be.
Mary, reading your post reminded me of something. When I was informed that there was more bacteria on my kitchen worktops than my toilet seat, I spent the next day moving my kitchen into the bathroom.
Timbone -
Re: "more bacteria on my kitchen worktops than my toilet seat...."
And YOUR comment in turn reminded me of a daft commercial some years ago for a toilet-cleaner that 'CARES'.
Compassionate bleach ?
They'll be telling us that Fluoride is good for the brain next (unless you're an Ant and Dec fan).
It isn't, by the way..............