Why are anti-smoking adds so terrible?

Question

An overwhelming majority of anti-smoking adds and campaigns are designed to frighten and bully smokers into quitting. They enforce an extremely negative message, enforce guilt and shame, and enforce fear. With the still massive numbers of smokers today it is obvious that these tactics do not work. Yet everyone seems to be overlooking this.

Everyone knows that the amount an individual smokes is often directly related to the amount of stress they are under. These anti-smoking adds and smoker-bashing attitudes cause overwhelming amounts of stress on smokers. For some people they may be enough to frighten or bully them into quitting. For most though, it only increases their stress levels and could quite possibly be making it harder for them to quit. Some people may refuse to quit simply because they do not want to feel like they are being forced or bullied into doing so. Fear tactics and bullying are not accepted well by the targets. 

Getting the message out is no longer important. In 2011 everyone, especially Americans are fully aware of the effects and potential risks of smoking. There is overwhelming evidence to support the negative effects of smoking and non-smokers have been bashing it into our brains for years. 

My question is, why are the non-smokers so narrow minded? 

Maybe if they tried positive reinforcement tactics instead, they'd have greater success. There are a lot of smokers who actually want to quit and find it too difficult. Maybe if others were more supportive and encouraging about it they would be able to quit. Sometimes things boil down to confidence and mind over matter. People do better with positive criticisms, support, and encouragement. Not by inducing fear and bully tactics.

I'm a smoker. Not a day goes by that I don't wonder how much time I have taken off of my life and if I have lung/throat cancer. Even when I'm not actively thinking about it, its always in my subconscious. I've had nightmares about the cowboy with no tongue in the anti-smoking add (you know the one),  and I'm down right paranoid about my health. I'm ashamed that I still smoke because I have children and yet I do not quit. 

I've tried many times. Last time I tried I went 1 and a half days with no smoke and I went to visit my mother. I was feeling good about myself and proud that I was doing so well. I told her that I hadn't smoked in almost 2 days and do you know what I got? A lecture about how horrible is was that I put my kids through this, how me and my children stink, and a bunch of other crap. I ended up in tears and left. I bought a pack of smokes on the drive home. I'm emotional when I go without a cigarette and it was just too much for me to handle. I can't help but think that I might be smoke free now if I hadn't went to visit my mother that day. I plan to try again soon and I will not be visiting my mother.

I guess my point is this. Why do they still use the same tired anti-smoking tactics when they obviously do not work?

Alexis · Accepted Answer

First off, the ads are so horrible because (as you said) they are designed to frighten people into giving up smoking. But all evidence shows that these ads work best on people who have never smoked at all. In other words, they see the chilling images in the ads and think to themselves "wow, I don't want that to happen to ME!" so they never start smoking at all. THEY are the ones the anti-smoking ads are most effective on (even if they are seemingly aimed at smokers).

Also, people seem to think that they kind of have to be awful to be eye-catching which is kind of annoying and seems to be a bit like intimidation.

You also asked why some non-smokers are so narrow-minded. Well I'm a non-smoker and I'm not judgemental of smokers at all. I think you should have the right to smoke if that's what you want to do and no one should have the right to judge you for it. And don't feel "bullied" by these ads, you should quit smoking only when you feel you are ready yourself. And when you ARE ready, there are lots of non-judgemental organizations and websites that can help you out.

I hope some of this will help answer your question or maybe it won't. It's all my own opinion so maybe I'm just rambling...

Anonymous · Answer

Skin care products can only undo damage if you stop the cause of the damage. Just throw the cancer sticks in the trash. Dermalogica Skin Care Products works great for me. I never smoked - but had trouble with dry skin and lines. I don't have dry skin or lines anymore - the product is expensive and worth it. I tried all the others and they were a waste of money. Hope this helps! Good Luck!!

Anonymous · Answer

> Everyone knows that the amount an individual smokes is often directly related to the amount of stress they are under. 

False.  Normal people don't smoke at all.  Therefore smoking is unrelated to stress.

> I bought a pack of smokes

Stop buying them.  Then you won't have them.

Anonymous · Answer

The thing that really annoys me is the way that nicotine replacement therapy costs three times as much as cigarettes.  I'm sure that this must be either due to vested interests or profiteering.  Especially considering that they don't carry tax like tobacco does.

ivan dog · Answer

why do the smokers keep blaming the fact that they like killing themselves and giving their children second hand smoke cancers on stress? 

you know why you ran out and bought that pack of cigarettes after your mother bashed you?  ... because you wanted to that why... not because you were all emotional or upset... thats nonsense.... you like how you feel when you have that cigarette in your mouth..and dont care about anything else

so... stop making excuses for why you havent quit... my life is hard...my mom bashed me... it relaxs me... i cant quit , i have tried... 

all nonsense

you enjoy smoking or you would have quit by now...and no ad or amount of help offered is going to get you to quit 

so..keep puffing away..and keep blaming it on whatever..

if this sounds rude to you...too bad... but i got bladder cancer from my parents smoking from the time i was born until i was in my 30's... i never once smoked myself...dont work in a area that causes cancer...i was 21 when diagnosed with cancer from 2nd hand smoke...
so... too bad if what i have said is rude... get over it

kiki · Answer

It's a battle, it always has been, probably always will be. The worst that happens is you get an ear full for about 20 seconds while trying to watch TV. We can deal...

owlxxeyes · Answer

It's a huge battle between your conscience and your body. You have to stop listening to those ads like you are doing and continue to battle cigarettes, work with your doctor, thye are horrible

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Why are anti-smoking adds so terrible?

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