But why would you want the right to hurt yourself? lol IF you want the right to hurt yourself then there is something wrong with you.

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"if we were forced to choose just one, there would be no way to deny that Judaism is the most important intellectual development in human history."

- David Gelernter, Yale University Professor

No. There isn't. I want the right to do something that, while it may harm me in the long run, gives me great pleasure.

Do you think it should be illegal to have unprotected sex? I mean, that could potentially harm at least two people.

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Educate Yourself... See Both Sides of the Issue:

against: http://www.dhmo.org/

for: http://www.armory.com/~crisper/DHMO/

Not unless someone has a disease. Otherwise they can have as much unprotected sex as they want.

So then are you saying that suicide is moral? Should we not try to prevent suicides then?

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"if we were forced to choose just one, there would be no way to deny that Judaism is the most important intellectual development in human history."

- David Gelernter, Yale University Professor

I bet you don't know who else historically was anti smoking


So any and everything that can or causes harm should be banned? I'm just using your logic.

People have died playing football, should that and every other activity be banned.

I ride a motorcycle and a sk8board should I not because you wan to control my freedom to do so? I could die from both and have been injured by both.

People have committed suicide simply because law school was too tough

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I no longer believe that "conservatism" is the way to go. I believe...in freedom of the individual and not the power of the government.

Im guessing Hitler.

That is not using my logic. Brief pleasure(i wouldnt even consider it pleasure) is not worth the risks.

if you want to relieve stress do a few pushups or something. Have sex with your wife. Go on a bike ride. Take a nap. Drink a smoothie. None of those are unhealthy and they reduce stress.

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"if we were forced to choose just one, there would be no way to deny that Judaism is the most important intellectual development in human history."

- David Gelernter, Yale University Professor

This thread has taken a slight turn from whether or not smoking should be illegal to whether or not smoking is a good idea. The underlying dilemma behind the original question is whether or not the government should protect its individual citizens from themselves. I would answer "no."

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My enduring personal, original quote: Many mistake what should rightly be called "passivism" for pacifism. Pacifism and passivism are COMPLETELY different.
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Ronald Reagan was not the only one to suffer from Alzheimer's Disease. America did, too.
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"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." --President George W. Bush.
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Los Angeles voters=dumber than rocks.

No. I said in my first post in this thread I don't think suicide should be illegal. I also don't think it's immoral. Do I think we as human being should try to prevent it? Yes. Do I think we should make it illegal? Hell no! People have the right to end their life if they want. It's their (*)(*)(*)(*)ing life!

Which is my point. I'm not trying to say smoking is good!

In fact Daniel started with me by asking what I thought was beneficial to ME about smoking, when all I was saying was that it shouldn't be made illegal. So I explained what he wanted and then he continually tried to point out how bad smoking was and I tried repeatedly to bring it back to the simple fact that people should have a right to do whatever they want with their bodies and lives.

For the record, I understand smoking bans in public places. Being that second hand smoke might be dangerous, I can support these laws somewhat. But the government telling people they can't smoke is just wrong. They have no right to decide what one does with their own life or body as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else. Should we continue to inform people about the dangers of smoking? OF COURSE! Should we not allow them to make the decision for themeself? OF COURSE NOT!

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Educate Yourself... See Both Sides of the Issue:

against: http://www.dhmo.org/

for: http://www.armory.com/~crisper/DHMO/

What an absurd idea. They made hookahs illegal here a few months ago and not a man in the country payed attention and the law was impossible to enforce. That's the only way to deal with government prohibitions. Now the ban on hookahs in public places has been lifted.