I am not ready to get off the soap box and never will. I am not ashamed of my feelings about smoking or drug use or alcholism or pornography or wearing fur. And besides, smoking is bad for IBS so saying some of the negatives of it could make someone who hasn't stopped smoking maybe quit. Really though how many smokers would want a loved one like their child to smoke? and how many people if they went back in time 200 years wouldn't tell people how bad smoking is for health? If people had known lives could have been saved. Like Elizabeth II's father George VI. He was one of the first people to die from smoking where a connection was finally thought of. I know it isn't pleasant to be told by people that smokers stink (not like IBSers don't!) but they have the right to clean air too. And the cost! I often think of the things I could have had if my dad hadn't been a drunk and smoking loser! Maybe that pony I wanted. I couldn't run for much of my life because my lungs were so awful from second hand smoke and I already mentioned my grandma so I have the right to be offended by smoking. Getting terrible bronchitis every year of my life made me really hate my poor lungs. Yet I am not really paying attention to anyone here saying they smoke, that is, don't think I will hold it against anyone or anything. Although when people smoke around kids I want to freak out! So I don't think berating a bad dirty habit is wrong. Of course it isn't against the law so my opinion doesn't mean anything, but I hope it can be respected as an opinion and nothing more.
-------------------- IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!