[Alive]

Quote by: Praxius If you have no answer, then don't quote my question.

I'll quote what I wish! My point is that the answer to your question does not imply what you seem to think it implies, and that is a direct response to your question.

If you never picked up smoking as a kid from a movie, I guess that kinda proves one case of "Resisting Advertisement" as you put it.... canceling out your comment above.

Wrong. Once case means nothing. I have said this in every post I wrote on this thread. The point is only that advertising increases the likelihood that some number of people will undertake an action, not that every person does.

He is wrong because he said no? That's one of the most ignorant things I read today..... as there can be multiple reasons why they wouldn't want to change faiths..... one of which is why waste more of your lifetime to study and learn another religion all over again?

This is the "one case" argument all over again. Yes, people can spontaneously change faith. But it is statistically true that most Americans are Christian and most people in certain Muslim countries are Muslim. So chances are, born in US = Christian, born in Iraq = Muslim; culture influences what you do rather than something about you as an individual. Most likely he IS wrong, and he would have been Christian had he been born in the US.

On the other hand, 1000 years ago we could be certain that he would be wrong, as there were some places where there were absolutely no Muslims and others with absolutely no Christians. Again obvious proof of the overwhelming effects of culture over personal choice.

People don't know how they are affected by something? *snickers*

Yep. Obviously you can't argue that you know how you are affected by something because you can give an explanation for it; if it is true that you do not know how you are affected by something, then your explanation is false. There have been psychological studies which show that people often do not know what influences them to take a certain action. I can spend the time to dig these up if you tell me that you will seriously consider what they say.

Influence exists.... it's exists everywhere, but censoring and restricting one's access to some kinds of knowlege or lifestyle, be that healthy or unhealthy, just shows fear of the unknown, and the in-ability to make your own sound decisions in life based on your fear of the unknown.

Fine! Then for adults, let them have whatever knowledge or lifestyle that they choose. But for children, who are naturally more susceptible to "influence" and not necessarily mature enough to be given choice for themselves, restrict what they have access to. I am not for making cigs illegal (in fact I am for complete drug legalization), or making it illegal to show them in movies. I am only for implementing reasonable protections of children from anyone who wants to take advantage of them. When the kid turns 18, let him smoke if he wants!

Even if you do know the pros and cons.... not allowing younger generations the same knowlege and education on something as you may have had in your upbrining isn't going to make anything better.

Cigs in movies are knowledge and education? Actually, most movies are fiction, so no. :)