" I think you smoking supporters are missing the point.
Smoking in movies is indeed a well-known and oft-used vehicle for showing stress in a movie. It's the same as a scene in which a girl would see a guy down the hall whom she's attracted to, and she makes sure to steal a glance in the mirror to check herself, and then you realize that she's interested in that guy.
As such, it sends a signal about what constitutes a "normal response" to a stressful situation. Kids see that, and it registers, whether consciously or subconsciously.
Additionally, in movies about asocial loners or anti-establishment heroes,--sheer enchantment to some teens--the anti-hero is often portrayed rebelliously pulling a drag with turned-up collar, looking "cool" and "rebellious", ala James Dean.
If you don't think kids are affected by and influenced by portrayals like that, then I suggest that you don't know kids... "

" I'm happy this issue is receiving such attention. The history of tobacco in Hollywood, current film industry practice, scientific research, and policy solutions are all outlined in detail at a web site maintained by the University of California-San Francisco's Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education. Search once-secret tobacco industry documents and read full-text of research studies:

http://www.smokefreemovies.ucsf.edu

The evidence linking exposure to on-screen smoking to teens' starting to smoke is as strong as the evidence that smoking causes lung cancer. The R-rating is the most effective, least-intrusive policy solution yet proposed. Is the current rating system censorship? The film industry itself would disagree with you. "

" What a funny place to meet, AJ!

I did order it, let me see if it has arrived....

Not yet -- ordered on 28 Jan, but not yet rec'd. I think I'll ask for a notification as soon as it comes in.

Thanks for the reminder. "

" pinging FG
pinging FG...

FG, I was wondering if you rec'd and had a chance to look at Naomi Wolf's book, and what you thought of it. I remember you said you were going to order it if I am not mistaken.

take care

"

" Leon, for once we can agree on something!

"

" jpolansky, just because it is not necessarily enforced by the government does not make it not censorship. I really think you need to take a much closer look at this. "

" Show me this survey that cigarette smoking by teenagers is caused by watching people smoke. Everyone quotes a survey but this one doesn't fly. Common sense invalidates your survey stupidity. I think you don't give teenagers enough credit for decision making. I am sure that smoking by their family members and peers has the only influence on them smoking. Everyone has a survey. You ask 3 of your friends a question and you have a survey. Albeit a useless survey. "

" This isn't censorship! The movie rating system is run by the studios, not by the government. The studios calibrate sex, violence and language routinely to achieve the rating they want for marketing purposes.

Next the online nits who get beer money from corporate PR firms for every online blurt will start claiming that stopping a mercury polluter violates "freedom of commercial havoc."

The research showing that exposure to tobacco imagery in movies leads kids to smoke is as solid as the research that says smoking causes lung cancer. (Of course, the tobacco industry spent years ridiculing that, too.) And the movie research just confirms what the tobacco industry already knows — it's spent millions to get its product on the movie screen, since it can't advertise on TV.

These young people are seeing through the corrupt, cynical manipulation that hooks one in five of their friends to smoke. Give them some credit and get the facts before your knee jerks.


"

" Oh Goodie - I can see it now!!!

This film has been rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America due to unhealthy eating habits depicted in the film which may lead to obesity and heart disease. (Ha, Hh, Ic, Ff, Eg, Tw, Sd, Pc, Ck)

Legend:
Hamburgers
Ho Hos
Ice Cream
French Fries
Eggs
Twinkies
Soda
Potato Chips
Cookies

"

" I think it's great these kids want to get involved and do something with a noble goal, but I believe that if someone starts smoking because they saw it in a movie, they have a bigger problem than cigarettes. "

" I first want to say that I am a smoker and I don't work in the tobacco or film/media industries.

Tim Haskins, Ashley Cifaratta,
and Niomi McNabb, this is obviously a noble goal, but a dangerous and woefully misguided one, imho.

Civil liberties are under extreme attack as it stands, and now you want to tread on a Constitutionally guaranteed right of free speech?

I think the creators of media have the right to make their product as they see fit, with the following caveat \wrt smoking - I might draw the line at gratuitous cigarette use influenced in some way by the tobacco companies themselves. (I don't believe the tobacco companies should enjoy free speech as individual rights since they are not "Real" people.) And besides, cigarette smoking is a fact of life, and you'll never eradicate it by shoving it under the rug. You may end up burning the house down if you try.

You're advocating going down a more slippery slope that we are already on. Maybe you should work on education outreach? I don't think though you'll find it too difficult to notice that info relative to the health effects of smoking is already abundant, and that the rate of smokers diminishes each year and is now at its lowest level ever as a result( < 30% now vs >60% in the 50's - 80's, roughly )

I am against violence, but I would not advocate censoring violence in movies.

Free Speech should not be tampered with and there are other things you could do to acheive your goals.

You seem to be very conscientious and apparently involved young citizens. which is highly commendable, and I hope you continue to be. I also hope you rethink this issue and view it in a broader perspective which takes free speech into account, and put your energies more productive efforts. Democracy depends on this.




"

" Did "Schindler's List" cause children to murder Jewish people? Did the movie "Glory" cause our children to hate Black americans and murder persons that live south of the Mason Dixon line? Our children know that movies are not real life. Movie stars should lead a better example in their true lives and not have to worry about their film personnahs. "