Originally Posted by
Mishanya 
I said their lives AND the lives of others
Did I mention the lives of others? If you had read it properly.. you will see that I think it is a good thing they have stopped smoking in public places. Therefore it is not damaging anyone else, except those who choose to do it.
STIs? Again it would be damaging someone ELSES health. If however, for sake of argument, everyone knew who had and who did not have an STI someone decided they wanted to get one.. let them do it. Why not eh?
You're just being pedantic. Of course we need some form of state intervention because otherwise we wouldn't have a government and the country would be unlawful... duh. But there is a certain extent to which it can be too much interferrence. What I'm saying is there are some things which the government shouldn't interfere with. Things in people's private lives that aren't going to harm anyone else, but themselves.
I'm not a smoker and I think smoking is disgusting. But I think if someone chooses to smoke, let them do it. We are all aware of the effects of smoking. It should be up to us to decide whether we do it or not. Are they going to stop us from sunbathing? That causes cancer too. My grandmother has had skin cancer twice from that. Having had it twice, she knew what sunbathing can do, yet she continued to do it. I know what sunbathing does through her.. but I still walk out my front door and onto the beach to lay every time the sun's out.
With regards to becoming old.. people can't do anything about that. It's not controllable. So that's irrelevant.
Those who smoke are conciously making a decision to do so knowing of the possible consequences.
Don't ask me about disabled people, because I believe in euthanasia. If they willingly want to die.. then I think they should be allowed to do so. Yes people should be allowed to damage their lives. People have a right to life. So surely they should be allowed to die if they wish. That's why I believe in euthanasia. If someone is in so much pain that they don't want to live anymore.. or have such a crap life that they don't want to live anymore.. let them do what they want. Some people have pleasure from having pain inflicted upon them. And they want to do that. They are willing. Let them do it.
And yes clearly those who speed.. should be punished. And they are. Because it is endangering other people's lives. Seeing as you're not allowed to smoke in public places.. that is only endangering smoker's lives. If you do smoke in a public place.. that is also an offence and is punished.
I'm a fitness fanatic. But I don't think everyone in this country should be made to do some sort of exercise every week because no exercise is unhealthy. In my opinion it's just interferring with people's lives too much. Again with the example of what kids are allowed and aren't allowed in their lunch boxes.
STIs is another irrelevant point you made, in my opinion. If, for arguments sake, however everyone was aware of who had STIs and who didn't have STIs.. then those who wanted to recieve an STI should be allowed to do so. Why not eh? It's only themselves they are damaging. That is IF everyone knew that they had one. Ofcourse people shouldn't pass on STIs.. because it damages some one elses health.
Main point: People should be allowed to damage their own health if they so wish, or do something which they are fully aware damages their health. People should not be allowed to inflict their damaging behaviour upon other people.
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