...Smoking?

I guess the only positive thing I can say about smoking is that you’re helping the economy of some third world country out there. Really, is there anything positive to say about this really bad habit?

Chain smoking is no different from alcoholism or a drug addiction. Chain smokers are compelled to smoke. They need to. How often have you heard someone say “I need a smoke” after facing a hard time? It gets them through the hard times. It’s a fix. Just like how alcohol drowns your sorrows and drugs takes you to the worry-free zone.

As if paying for your food isn’t expensive enough, chain smokers have to increase their daily expenses buying packs of cigarettes. They’re literally burning away their money. A pack of cigarettes costs about $3.00. Imagine spending that amount per day or every two days for the rest of your life. The problem of world hunger could have been over right there.

IMHO, if you smoke on a regular basis, you are one or a combination of these things:

1.Not very health conscious:
Let’s face it. It’s a proven fact that smoking causes cancer. So why are you spending money to destroy your lungs? I was told that about the differences between two types of cigarettes. There was one type that had some bits of sharp stuff that cut your lungs so the effect kicks in faster. Then there’s the regular type that doesn’t do that. Well, it doesn’t make any difference to me. You’re still going to damage those lungs no matter what you smoke. The only variable is when.

2.Insecure about Your Self Image:
Marlboro does an excellent job of portraying the cowboy image as the epitome of coolness. They’re playing on the fact that every American as a kid growing up wanted to be a cowboy. People love the badboy aka badass image. Famous actors/actresses and musicians smoke too. That makes it look acceptable and cool, doesn’t it? If you think smoking is a great way to pick up chicks, you’re greatly mistaken.

3.Victim of Peer Pressure:
(NOT) Everybody’s doing it. The people we associate and hang out with play an important role in shaping who we are. If you were thrown with a bunch of kids who smoke, for a prolonged period of time, chances are you’d end up smoking too. Most smokers begin smoking as a result of being introduced to the habit by a friend.

4.Slave of an Addiction:
If you’re finding yourself having an urge to smoke, you’re addicted. I’ve heard that smoking has a very calming effect. Well, so does smoking weed. Being enslaved to smoking will cost you not just in the monetary sense, but also socially. Not all addictions are negative, however. Get addicted to reading, breathing in fresh air or better still, Jesus.

It’s obvious that you’ll never catch me dead smoking. Not only because I cant possibly smoke while I'm dead of course. The closest I got to smoking was picking up a cigarette and acting like I knew what I was doing with it. It was just to scare my friends into thinking that this “goody-two-shoes” was going to actually smoke a fag. You should have seen the anticipation on their faces. Haha. Of course they never got me to try. I’m smarter than that.

...The Lack of Male Confidants?

I’ve been wondering for a very long time now about the reason why I find girls to be much better confidants than guys. I know for a fact that it’s just not me, but many of my guy friends have told me that it’s easier to open up to someone of the opposite sex. It’s strange when you’d think that someone who is more similar to you would understand you better. But is it a matter of understanding you better or is it a matter of feeling comfortable about being transparent?

I remember the time when I was in high school. If you had this crush on a girl you’d be the dumbest dinosaur to walk the earth if you told one of your classmates. Not only would the word spread like wildfire, you’d be teased mercilessly. I feel that guys at that age aren’t very good at helping you out when it comes to relationships. Most of them are content at pointing fingers and poking fun at you.

Girls on the other hand are more supportive. The way girls double team to help one of their girlfriends out is simply amazing. You’re minding your own business and one day an admirer calls. “How did you get my number?” you ask. “A friend.” Next thing you know, she goes to the same tuition center as you do, knows your birth date, digs your favorite color, etc. She gets all this information when you have never uttered a word to her before. Ask a guy for help with a girl, he’ll probably laugh at you in the face and probably set you up to make you look foolish in front of your other friends.

Fortunately things have changed since I left high school. People are more mature about relationships as it’s a very real and relevant issue right now. In high school, getting into a relationship was like heading into alien territory. Not that many people were into relationships and it probably wasn’t taken as seriously as it should have been. Nowadays, people don’t tease as much as they did in high school and guys are generally more supportive, which is a big relief.

Back to the issue about females being better confidants, the only explanation I can find is that girls generally are more in touch with their emotions. They probably know better when it comes to issues involving the heart. That could be the reason why we guys find it more reassuring to talk to a female when we’re faced with emotional problems.

Don’t get me wrong, but guys can be great counsel too. But I find that there’s this mentality going around that if you open up to a guy, or you become really close to this one guy and share your thoughts and all, you two are going to be pretty gay in the eyes of society. There’s this male inhibition that we shouldn’t show our softer side in front of our male counterparts. It’s a sign of weakness. Yes, it’s a male ego thing, like never stopping to ask for directions. It’s not a myth.

So is there anything wrong with seeking the counsel of someone from the opposite sex? Of course not. But check your motives. If it’s all a ploy just to make yourself seem like the shy, sensitive, emotional guy that girls swoon over, then you can bury yourself in six feet of ashes. I’ve seen many of such cases and it just irritates the crap out of me.

Disclaimer: Everything discussed here is based on men and women in general. I am fully aware that there are exceptions to whatever I’ve mentioned above. I am also not trying to single out anyone in particular. Remember that everything stated here is in general terms.

...Questionable Advertising?

Have you ever questioned the validity of the advertisements you see on TV? I’m sure everyone has from time to time. I’ve been in America for about three years now and advertising in America is like no other.

Here, you can actually run an ad for Fab and say that it’s actually better than Cap Harimau! No need for a comparison with some obscure brand, typically called Cap X. I was really surprised when the advertisers could actually make their brand look better than their competitors, even specifically naming the brand in their ads. It probably ties in with the first amendment (freedom of expression), but personally I don’t think it’s a very professional way to make an ad.

Also, note than American Advertising is saturated with fine print. When you watch an ad, just try to read the fine prints as best you can. It's silly when they only allocate about 2 seconds for you to read a whole paragraph of terms and conditions regarding financing that new Honda. Also, for ads featuring LCD displays like digital cameras and plasma screens you'll very oftem come across "*Display on screen simulated". What the heck? We see an ad for a TV or digital camera, we WANT to know what the display really looks like!

Who can forget those ads for medicine. The list of side effects for some of them and really just outright terrifying. For example, "Side effects include: Vomiting, Nausea, loss of appetite, stomach discomfort, etc." To make matters worse, they also include a "RESULTS MAY VARY" disclaimer. I think I'll battle my flu on my own, thank you very much!

I believe that the most deceptive of advertisements are the ones that have to do with hair products or skincare. In those ads, you see beautiful men and women, showing off their perfect complexion or their silky smooth hair. But did you stop for a moment to think that they’re really models hired from some agency for the advertisement? There’s no proof that those people really use the products! Maybe they do, but what are the chances of getting an actress that actually uses the same shampoo brand that hired her for her advertisement?

Advertisements are even more deceptive when established actors and actresses are involved. For goodness sake! These people are PAID to ACT for a living. And people actually believe them that Neutrogena has the best facial wash, Pepsi is the best soda, or Sony has the coolest digital camera around. Can you actually be convinced by them?

Maybe I’m reading too much into it. Yes, start power does create a lasting effect on your memory. Advertising with established celebrities will definitely work by grabbing your attention where it hurts. But when it comes to the really important issues like choosing a car insurance policy, are you going to believe what Dennis Haysbert says about AllState?