Anybody see this anti-smoking commercial?

[Michaelrob]

Very heartbreaking to watch.
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[bocarioja]

It is sad. Unhortunately, I don't believe that scare tactics *like this* help most people to quit. WHile these commercials elicit an emotional reaction from people, but they don't help people to find productive ways to overcome a chemical addiction.

[Sputterduck]

I don't think sharing the truth about a possible outcome is a scare tactic. It's reality.

[bocarioja]

Perhaps it is an effective commercial for non-smokers to reinforce their negative view on those who do smoke.

This commercial will not motivate the masses who do smoke to quit.

I smoked on and off for 15 years. I quit again back in July. People die from smoking. Hardly a news flash. Taking the first steps to overcome addiction is more complicated than simply watching a commercial about what what might happen to someone else.

Many told me sacry stories of loved ones who suffered because of smoking, were burned, diagnosed with cancer and died... It didn't make a lick of difference. I thought it wouldn't happen to me, I could quit and cut down at any time, eat healthy and exercise a little to not be completely unhealthy... I felt as though I was in control and was choosing to smoke because I wanted to. I told myself that 3-5 cigs a day was no problem and it did me more good to relax with a smoke than get heated angry and stressed. It was my coping mechanism, my reward for accomplishing little goals, and my stess relief.

I don't think scaring people is motivation enough based on my experiences. I only knew I needed to quit when I started feeling like crap, couldn't get over a cold, made sure I always had at least 2-3 packs tucked away, hidden from dh. I went away for a weekend and all I thought about was smoking, I knew I couldn't control it and I was addicted, again. I was (ands still am) having problems getting pg and I wonder how much smoking had to do with it.

While I understand that the point of the commercial is to help people realize the effect of smoking on others that love them, that commercial alone wouldn not have made me want to quit. I had spent a lot of time convincing myself why smoking was still 'OK.' It would make me angry that because others felt bad from watching it, all the horrible things that happen to others is somehow my problem by association.

When I made the decision to quit, I didn't do it because of a commercial. I didn't seek out advice meant to make a smoker feel like crap. I went to the Dr, got Chantix, enrolled in a support program, started exercsing more rigorously, eating healthy, avoided my friends and co-workers who smoke, and found new hobbies and routines to make it through the stress in my day, one craving at a time.

You can't beat a chemical addiction by scaring it out of someone.

[Tweet]

Can't say that it's effective. I don't have the answer,but I agree that you can't scare a physical addiction out of someone.

[Tweet]

I don't think sharing the truth about a possible outcome is a scare tactic. It's reality.


The thing is, most smokers I've known over the years completely understand how their death would affect their family. It tears them up. They know. Lots struggle and quit and restart and quit and restart. It's a powerful addiction for many. It does not necessarily mean they don't give a shit about their family.

I can't say how the commercial affects anyone else. As someone that struggled with cigarette addiction for years and years, I can't say the commercial would have helped me quit. Nope . Like Boca said , you can't scare a physical addiction out of a person. You can sure make them feel like shit.

[JudyJudyJudy]

I have a couple of problems with it. First, I wonder if they really did make the kid think his parents were missing; it looked so realistic. If so, that really sucks.

Second, I agree that such commercials are not effective. I've seen smokers sitting with their very sick kids in the hospital due to cigarette smoke exposure. If that doesn't make a smoker stop smoking (or at least stop smoking around her kids), then nothing will.

Dh is morbidly obese. He knows that statistically, especially if you add in his family history, he very well could leave our child fatherless. Regardless, knowing that doesn't make him lose weight. After all, it isn't going to happen to him anyway. He won't be one of those statistics.

[Sputterduck]

Judy, I was thinking, "How did they make that kid so sad?" :(

[JudyJudyJudy]

If that child is simply that good of an actor, he needs to be doing something bigger than a commercial like that. It's very rare to see even top kid stars who are that good.

[Bohemian]

Dang, I feel sorry for the kid because he looked like he wasn't acting. Other than that I agree that scare tactics aren't effective for a chemical addiction.

[Sputterduck]

My mom and nana stopped smoking after a friend of theirs died of lung cancer. So, the reality that they could die worked for them.

[RaisingThemLeft]

You can't beat a chemical addiction by scaring it out of someone.

Depends on the person. My FIL was an alcoholic who quit cold turkey after seeing a loved one die from it.

[bocarioja]

Thats why I said most/some people, not all.

It really depends on the person, completely agree.

Ive seen funerals where people died of lung cancer and most of the family is smoking outside. Ive seen alcoholics blame their problems on everything else instead of the alcohol. I also know of people who purposely light up every time they see an anti-smoking commercial out of sheer defiance.

I keep wondering how well the commercial would have been received if the caption had read, "eating foods high in saturated fat can result in heart disease and death." While it is also true, the emotional manipulation of that small child is a bit ott, IMO.

[Sputterduck]

I wouldn't mind a saturated fat commercial if they were nice to the kid while making it.

[JudyJudyJudy]

FWIW, saturated fats aren't the only problem when it comes to obesity.

[HammBugga]

My Mom was telling me about that commercial earlier. Then she went out and had a cigarette.

[Sputterduck]

FWIW, saturated fats aren't the only problem when it comes to obesity.


Now see that feels like bf.com. Now someone needs to come and say "People wouldn't be fat if they ate right and exercised. People are just lazy." That's when I come in with "Some people have other factors, like health problems. PCOS causes people to be obese, even when they eat decently and exercise." Then, 50 pages later, we've gotten nowhere, but at least we've all felt like we've had a good debate.

[JudyJudyJudy]

We have to get carbs in there somewhere. Oh, and gluten.