Wow! No new posts since I was here last night. Lots of readers though!

I think we are all getting a little burned out on this issue. The media is still repeating the same trash over and over and over again.

We are not brain dead, we are just tired of using logic and getting nowhere.

Society has always needed something or someone to be against. The drug companies and the government are doing their best to convince the consumers/citizens that they are deficient and need supervision and treatment.

Since race and creed are now off limits for contempt we are now against life style.

Government and the medical industry will save us, if we only pay them.

Sometimes people just need to step back, take a breath, re-energize. I know I do. I reach a point just before total burn out, where I have to turn around and breath something different just to re-charge myself.

I get quite discouraged with all the negativity on smoking.

I tend to repeat that I feel what really is needed are large amounts of members. I think possibly peer pressure is pushing smoker's into the closet and I have a feeling it might be the same with these forums.

People won't join because they are afraid of what people might think. I would like to see one board, category, or whatever on this forum that draws all active members in a discussion about how to recruit members.

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whatever on this forum that draws all active members in a discussion about how to recruit members.

Now and then the subject has come up, asmoker123 -- pleased to meet you BTW. I might bring it up again myself some day, but you can as well. Why not? Just put it under discussions, tidbits, whatever.

As for the slow down, Smallbird, my take is that it started right around Thanksgiving. Do you think it was the turkey? You don't eat turkey, do you, Smallbird? That would be gross.

Converting guests to members will not happen unless we as a group can come up with solutions.

Guests have questions and want answers.

Things have been slow since last spring. We have each spent the summer alone outside and in relative comfort, but the cold has returned.

As I spent this Thanksgiving with family I reflected on the fact that my solitary smoking in the cold is becoming more common. I fell lucky to be invited to anyone's home for the holiday. I find other smoking members of the family isolating themselves and considering drastic measures to quit smoking. I am afraid many are considering and using Chantix and it scares me to death, not that they want to quit but how many have no idea what smoking does to the brain and how this drug works. The manufacturers know, but very few doctors giving it to patients have any idea what it can mean to an individual's wellbeing.

Most smokers enjoy the pleasure but do not know what depriving their minds of it can do. They do know there is a period of withdrawal and want to avoid it. The pleasure of smoking is NOT the only pleasure they will miss.

I am in fear for my family and friends pressured into quitting smoking for purely political reasons. Is the treatment worth the cure? What are the long term consequences? Death is smoke free.

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Converting guests to members will not happen unless we as a group can come up with solutions.

This statement from Bruce says exactly what I have been trying say. We need to discuss issues to stay informed, but to get any real results we need to get people. A large number of people can move mountains.

I am not going to say smoking is good for anyone for any reason. I only feel that it should be a choice, smoker's shouldn't be treated like outcasts, nor should they be taxed as heavily for a legal substance.

I am old school and was raised basically when smoking was accepted.

Maine mentioned on the news that it is getting way less then the predicted revenue from cigarettes. It is also has some of the highest taxes on cigarettes with a relatively low income compared to many states. I would hope they make up the shortfall by other taxes instead of more cigarette taxes, but it probably won't happen. If it did the cost of all the things people want would be spread around and not just put on the smoker's.

I have been insulted mentioning I have a site which I tried to recruit members. It is very easy to say, "just join this one", well I did and I think it is the best to post on. I started one as I feel that the more sites there are the more chances to find interested people. I also feel that if we get enough people, combine members of all sites under one leader, then we might have a chance to really be noticed.

Other similar forums have excellent news on bans, taxes, and the like. I think most or at least many will agree that the media, as in tv, radio, newspapers, etc. have the upper hand in getting word around. They also have big money telling them what to say.

Smoker's basically have the internet.

Closet smoking is very common. Insults are getting more and more common.

Prohibition did not work. As this anti-smoking cycle continues I don't think it will get people to all stop smoking. I think the politicians and big business know that or they wouldn't keep adding taxes on cigarettes because nearly everything is done for the dollar.

As a member, I would ask that every member, get one friend to join this forum. In turn, the new member get just one member.

The penny per day doubled would overload the server.

All I really wanted to say is let's share ideas and see if we can't build a real membership. I think we all know that 5 figures is good and 6 might actually do something. I don't see that as impossible because there are still a fairly good percentage of people that smoke.

If the length of this bothers anyone please have admin delete it. I don't want to offend anyone. It is just that this whole deal is getting depressing. The government forced me to stop smoking once, I don't want them to do it again. I can explain that in a personal message, not posting it here, at least not at this time.

Have faith about this, though its actually quite frightening.

You can quit smoking, but anti-smoking won't quit you.

The forces behind anti-smoking are after every form of solace and enjoyment that one might have. These forces hate freedom, hate individuality, hate pleasure, hate humanity and many of the individuals probably even hate themselves.

Notice that I didn't say that individual anti-smokers necessarily hate these things, but the driving force, the impetus that made anti-smoking such a powerful force, hates all of these things.

I hope that everyone knows that we've passed the point of no return on the smoking issue. Smoking, in and of itself, has little or nothing to do with it. Speakeasy forum may as well become "Meateaters Forum" or "Alcohol drinkers forum" or "I want to turn my heat on when I feel like it forum".

I am absolutely, 100% convinced at this point that the trend, the larger force will have people huddling in the dark for fear of the light. If that sounds crazy, well then I'm crazy, but that's my promise.

We can all run, but none of us can hide. I'm telling you, many of these people are f***ed in the head. The lunatics are running the asylum.

We're living in some 1950's science fiction movie at this point.

First I really enjoyed your post.

Second, I don't think your crazy, I think you are right on.

At this poing I hesitate to message you but would like to hear from you.

I can see what you're saying. I have felt that presently we are little better than the serfs and nobles of Old England.

Nothing more than a disposable workforce for the rich to play with.

I am working on a blog. I will probably fail like all the other attempts to get people to open their eyes just a little bit, but the masses are sucking up the propaganda like a sponge.

I agree that smoking is a dead issue because what was needed was or might still be some type of organization. Bantering on whether smoking is good or bad really seems to go nowhere from what I see on the sites.

Unless smoker's, overweight, and all other monorities get together and tell the government we want our liberties back, it appears we are on a fairly steep downhill run.

If you have time, Mr. Smith, drop me a private message as I would like to tell you about a site. You have probably seen it, but your last post indicates we have at least a remotely similar feeling.

Asmoker123,

I'll be glad to discuss something with you privately, I'm not sure though why I'd PM you to me? If you'd like to PM me, I'll be sure to read it. I don't mind taking a look at your site. Thanks.

I am tired of feeling like a cat in room full of rocking chairs, I am looking for a haven, something on the order of the "New World". I have begun to respond the additional smoking ban articles that the people who are against smoking have many havens and economic opportunity exists for those areas who welcome smokers.

It is getting to the point that such a place will not be allowed to exist on this planet. As the government continues to lower standards for the air, water, our weight, and our bodies in general, we are against a wall.

Fewer and fewer of us qualify as worthy of existence.

I am trying to get a couple sites going. Strange but the last one, a wordpress blog already has one mention of the NWO or New World Order.

I lack the information to really add much to it at this point.

It is a hobby only but it is also a test to see if I can actually get a few people just like this site.

I still think the computer is here. It is a shame so many use it just to scam people or shop. It could be the greatest communications media the general working person ever had. We certainly can't compete big money to get on tv and other forms of media.

I like this site better than the other smoking forums I am on. I just wish more would join.

If anyone from newbie to admin gets upset about any post I make, please let me know. I like to think sites like this are here to share opinons even if we don't always agree.