Post by judyb on Mar 25, 2018 21:16:44 GMT -5
Resisting a physical craving can be accomplished by any number of
things--tying one's self to a bedpost, sitting on the roof having
kicked the ladder over, eating 7,435 M&M's--any number of tactics can
work--for a while.
But sooner or later one has to deal with one's mind. I think that the
romance of the cigarette started long before we smoked that first
one, or even saw the first ad, and that we were 'imprinted' with
certain illusions that the cigarette was a 'good' thing, maybe not as
soon as the just-hatched duckling, but very early. It could have been
seeing parents/attractive movie stars with a cigarette, etc....who
knows?
Then, of course, there's the advertising...do auto makers ever have as
models some snaggle-tooth models? Of course not--the women certainly
don't have an apron tied around their waist, but are gorgeous, and the
men are suave and rich. There's usually a circle drive-way. We know
all that stuff. Madison Ave. stuff.
But when it comes to cigarette advertising, we have been exposed to
the state of the art-- it is the most sophistocated message that deep
& bottomless pockets can buy. It's not only the earliest messages
that impresses the young smoker but messages continues to re-inforce
the early brain-washing for the rest of the smokers life, unless the
smoker intervenes and pulls all the romance out. Tobacco has created
a giant myth--not even kissing cousins to truth.
(Ads usually contain, wonderful words like flavor, taste. Beautiufl
scenery--no consequences--no odor,; no haze--mostly outdoors in fresh
air.).
Example: Consider the task of writing an ad for cigarettes. Only,
you have the condition that you must tell the truth in your ad. You
are a compulsive truth-tellerHow would you word your ad?
Would this be a start?
The Romance:
For those special moments of relaxation....Cigarettes relax
you......."
The Reality:
"When your nicotine levels drop, use our nicotine delivery system,
"
Brand X, to stop those nasty withdrawal pangs. Guaranteed to hold off
the next pangs and their anxiety for the next30- 45 minutes!!!!
And then you get to do it all over again!!!!
The Reality: "It's hard to think when you're in a state of
withdrawal--use our product to relieve withdrawal anxiety and to plug
most of those empty receptors with that much needed nicotine,
(receptors that by the way, our product stimulated their growth) and
to constrict the blood flow to your brain--which DECREASE thinking
ability.!!! Free side benefits are tension headaches, sinus
headaches/congestion!!!!"
The Romance: "Look at people smoking, having a good time..."
The Reality: "Looking at people still in perpetual
withdrawal/relief/withdrawal/relief....who would love to be free....
The (Hidden) Romance: "Notice our slim models? Smoking will help you
lose weight;!!"
The Reality: "ANYTHING that you substitute for food/calories will
help you lose weight."
The (hidden) Romance:
"A man smoking a cigarette is a turn-on--a picture of virility, sexy.
"
You will exude that special Marlboro aroma that marks you special
The Reality: Urologists urge male pts. to stop smoking--for
inclreased blood flow--and the smoker is a turn on only if they have
had their teeth cleaned, hair washed, clothes sent to the cleaners,
etc....."
The Romance: "For Superior flavor and taste....."
The Reality: "(While we don't recommend you eat our product, 'flavor'
and 'taste' sound better than smell) For that unmistakable smell of
old rope burning, for the taste of dried lawn clippings, most likely
sprayed with insecticides, extra nicotine enhancers, throw in a pinch
of arsenic/carbon monoxide, and you've got our disgusting product!"
The Romance: "Come back to [friendship, i.e., companionship]"
The Reality: "Our product helps you commit suicide on the installment
plan and is no friend to anyone!!!!
And you get to do it again and again and again and again every d**n
day of your life for the rest of your life!!!!--Talk about
obsessive-compulsive behavior!!! All this can be yours!!!!"
De-romancing cigarettes, IMHO, is not a one-time experience, but has
to be attended to daily, over & over until one is completely convinced
that a cigarette will do nothing for them.
The lies are all exposed, the smoker unable to fall for the lies
anymore, the glamour and the myth, and knows that he's no longer
willing to be the tobacco companie's sucker. The romance is over.
Roadkill
(posted June 98)
things--tying one's self to a bedpost, sitting on the roof having
kicked the ladder over, eating 7,435 M&M's--any number of tactics can
work--for a while.
But sooner or later one has to deal with one's mind. I think that the
romance of the cigarette started long before we smoked that first
one, or even saw the first ad, and that we were 'imprinted' with
certain illusions that the cigarette was a 'good' thing, maybe not as
soon as the just-hatched duckling, but very early. It could have been
seeing parents/attractive movie stars with a cigarette, etc....who
knows?
Then, of course, there's the advertising...do auto makers ever have as
models some snaggle-tooth models? Of course not--the women certainly
don't have an apron tied around their waist, but are gorgeous, and the
men are suave and rich. There's usually a circle drive-way. We know
all that stuff. Madison Ave. stuff.
But when it comes to cigarette advertising, we have been exposed to
the state of the art-- it is the most sophistocated message that deep
& bottomless pockets can buy. It's not only the earliest messages
that impresses the young smoker but messages continues to re-inforce
the early brain-washing for the rest of the smokers life, unless the
smoker intervenes and pulls all the romance out. Tobacco has created
a giant myth--not even kissing cousins to truth.
(Ads usually contain, wonderful words like flavor, taste. Beautiufl
scenery--no consequences--no odor,; no haze--mostly outdoors in fresh
air.).
Example: Consider the task of writing an ad for cigarettes. Only,
you have the condition that you must tell the truth in your ad. You
are a compulsive truth-tellerHow would you word your ad?
Would this be a start?
The Romance:
For those special moments of relaxation....Cigarettes relax
you......."
The Reality:
"When your nicotine levels drop, use our nicotine delivery system,
"
Brand X, to stop those nasty withdrawal pangs. Guaranteed to hold off
the next pangs and their anxiety for the next30- 45 minutes!!!!
And then you get to do it all over again!!!!
The Reality: "It's hard to think when you're in a state of
withdrawal--use our product to relieve withdrawal anxiety and to plug
most of those empty receptors with that much needed nicotine,
(receptors that by the way, our product stimulated their growth) and
to constrict the blood flow to your brain--which DECREASE thinking
ability.!!! Free side benefits are tension headaches, sinus
headaches/congestion!!!!"
The Romance: "Look at people smoking, having a good time..."
The Reality: "Looking at people still in perpetual
withdrawal/relief/withdrawal/relief....who would love to be free....
The (Hidden) Romance: "Notice our slim models? Smoking will help you
lose weight;!!"
The Reality: "ANYTHING that you substitute for food/calories will
help you lose weight."
The (hidden) Romance:
"A man smoking a cigarette is a turn-on--a picture of virility, sexy.
"
You will exude that special Marlboro aroma that marks you special
The Reality: Urologists urge male pts. to stop smoking--for
inclreased blood flow--and the smoker is a turn on only if they have
had their teeth cleaned, hair washed, clothes sent to the cleaners,
etc....."
The Romance: "For Superior flavor and taste....."
The Reality: "(While we don't recommend you eat our product, 'flavor'
and 'taste' sound better than smell) For that unmistakable smell of
old rope burning, for the taste of dried lawn clippings, most likely
sprayed with insecticides, extra nicotine enhancers, throw in a pinch
of arsenic/carbon monoxide, and you've got our disgusting product!"
The Romance: "Come back to [friendship, i.e., companionship]"
The Reality: "Our product helps you commit suicide on the installment
plan and is no friend to anyone!!!!
And you get to do it again and again and again and again every d**n
day of your life for the rest of your life!!!!--Talk about
obsessive-compulsive behavior!!! All this can be yours!!!!"
De-romancing cigarettes, IMHO, is not a one-time experience, but has
to be attended to daily, over & over until one is completely convinced
that a cigarette will do nothing for them.
The lies are all exposed, the smoker unable to fall for the lies
anymore, the glamour and the myth, and knows that he's no longer
willing to be the tobacco companie's sucker. The romance is over.
Roadkill
(posted June 98)