Digitally Born

Continuing on with an interesting conversation (and blog post). I would like to mention a counter point. A counter point to my previous point.

The topic was smoking. Specifically, the justification of my own smoking. I don’t smoke like I used to, but, despite hating to admit it, I am smoking. Even if only one a week, or 3 a day.
Previously, I argued the point that it wasn’t a big deal that I was smoking. That simply because I smoked, doesn’t mean that I will get sick and/or die. This is true. I also argued that there is a pattern in those who smoke and those who die from lung cancer, but that the numbers weren’t statistically sound. This may or may not be true. I honestly haven’t researched this. Chalk it up to a little bit of bullshit used during a discussion (you should have called me out on it!).

Now, I will argue a very different point. I will argue FOR safety. For self preservation.

For me, smoking gives me instantaneous benefits. Occasionally, I’ll get a nicotine high. Most often then not, it is to pacify a craving. An addiction, whether physical, mental, or behavioral. I also gain the benefit of being able to step out of whatever building I happen to be in, and away from whatever task that is in front of me, and take two seconds of the day and give it to myself. To reflect, think, or even argue with one of the many people in my life, or at least their imaginary representative in my mind.

Other then quenching my own addiction, these are real and meaningful benefits to me. However, are they worth the risks involved? Why do I take the risk?

To determine if they are worth the risk, I will need to quantify the benefits and estimate the possibility of negative result. This is very difficult to do, as the benefits are entirely subjective and I am not learned enough to estimate the statistical likelihood of negative result. So, what’s a dumb white boy from the streets to do? Stop being dumb or be dumb in the smartest way possible.

Taking into consideration that I’m too lazy to stop being dumb on most topics (cancer researching being on the top of my list of things to be put off until tomorrow), I will take my usual route of being dumb, but hopefully in a smart way. How will I do this? Usually, I side with caution. Obviously, I don’t always, otherwise I wouldn’t have started smoking to begin with, but hopefully I’m getting better about this. I will have to listen to people more wise then myself. I will have to admit that there are apparent health risks involved with smoking. Let’s say I do get sick (and don’t die). One of the nasties. Obviously, my quality of life is shit poor. Does the benefit gained now out weigh the benefit lost then? What if I live with this illness for 10 years. Do I think it is worth 10 years of near misery just to get out of the office twice a day? No. It isn’t. I can take those same breaks without putting a cigarette in my mouth. I could simply take a walk. That would have the added benefit of bettering my health.

Why do I take the risk? This is easy. There are two conceivable reasons: I’ve never really explored this chain of thought, and I’m a complete moron, which actually explains why I’ve never gone through the exploration.
Quality of life is very important. True quality of life, for me, is all about balance. A good rule to live by, that I just recently read in “An Atheist’s Handbook” and found interesting, “Self-Discipline in everything. Moderation in all.” rings very true. I have always tried to find a very middle ground in everything. A good balance will go a long way, and should be the ultimate yardstick by which all decisions can be measured.

Now, it’s really late. I can’t wait until I read this tomorrow and realize all the silly claims and grammatical errors I’ve made.
This was written while I watched “What the #$*! Do We (K)now!?” on borrowed cable.