The Tobacco Industry Sends You Strong Messages, Submit comments via e-mail to Professor Jackler () |
Comments from Exhibit Viewers at the Stanford Lane Library in 2007: |
"What strikes me about these advertisements is how skillfully they reinforce the information that smokers wanted to believe. Smokers in the 50's and 60's did not want to have to give up their cigarettes their style, or their nicotine. I grew up in the 50's. My father was a doctor, and a smoker. Gradually in the 70's and 80's, the smokers in my family gave up cigarettes as the health problems related to smoking became more widely discussed. All except my father, who died before he could quit. He died of arteriosclerosis, he was 58 years old. I was a freshman in college." |
"My grandfather arrived in New York in about 1889. That day's newspaper front page listed the names of 300 New Yorkers who had died of caner recently and attributed their death to smoking. No one in my family that I knew about ever smoked. It has been known for centuries by them that such things are detrimental to well being. We believe that boredom, a euphemism for frustration causes oppressed people to seek immediate relief or deadening their senses." |
"My father smoked cigarettes beginning at age 14. He died from emphysema March 2006 (age 84), after many years of coughing, gasping for breathe and carrying around an oxygen tank. It was a slow agonizing death which was sorrowful for him, his family, and friends. His mind was alert and active to very end which added more frustration to him, since he was very active and ... to his failing body which couldn't get enough oxygen; he couldn't do what his mind and heart wanted to do. He fought in WW II and was a Pearl Harbor survivor. It seemed the majority of soldiers smoked during that time and the military didn't discourage it. Also, many of these ads were constantly "brainwashing"... people. I hope the military is doing its part by discouraging smoking now. Also, I wish the movie industry would stop the smoking in movies too. " |
"My grandparents were rigorous smokers who smoked for many years and influenced my aunts & uncles into smoking, but never my mother. My uncles and aunts stopped but without suffering. My grandparents continued smoking until a few years before I was born. When my grandfather was diagnosed with lung cancer in one of his lungs; it became such a problem that he had it removed, then he lived with his remaining lung until it became cancerous and he died after enduring horrendous agony. When I was 3 months old, I never got the chance to really know him and all of my relatives tell me it is such a shame because I am so much like him. This opportunity has been denied of my self, 4 sisters & 15 cousins and our children. And this is just 1; man, imagine how many more people suffer both directly & indirectly thanks to smoking. Please if there is any humanity & compassion left in this cruel world, stop producing & selling cigarettes. It will save our future from destruction." |
| "The cigarette companies enticed my mother to smoke in the 30's—it made you look a lady to have a cigarette in your hand & they encouraged her to keep smoking during each year the rest of her life when she was assured that Virginia Slime light cigarette were more healthy than other brands. She died of lung cancer Jan 9, 2006 after 50 years of smoking." |
| "I'm in awe at the shameful and regrettable history and future prospect of the tobacco industry. I'm equally ashamed at the history of using physician endorsed facades that subdued American consciousness. As a physician this marketing campaign has resulted in my witness of unnecessary loss of life. I hope for a healthier world without this deception I'm afraid it may never come." |
"Our center has been involved in tobacco control for many years. During this time a question kept recurring and it was a question I have always wanted to ask anyone who worked in the tobacco industry. It was "How do you accept the moral and ethical inflictions of year participation in the tobacco industry?" Did your children know what you were doing? Did you go to church on Sunday? How did you feel in your quiet moment?" |
| "I can't believe that people would be fooled by those commercials! Since people get sick from it, I'm surprised that others would still buy it. Those companies know that they're lying." — ESM age 9 |
"My father smoked (rarely) 35 years out of the mere 52 that he lived before collapsing on the kitchen floor leaving drops of blood on the tile from a heart attack. He began smoking as a teen while growing up in Southeast Asia in a developing country. He was brilliant a top 25 national scholar earning a full scholarship to medical school. Making his way from a poor country where clean water is scarce and dirt road common paths to school and work. My father trained as a physician in the states practiced for ... established a family got me to Stanford and died before seeing any gratification of his labor. His heart failed because of the ... cigarette he smoked. Even as a well trained physician with loving family and community. Addiction to nicotine... his ... and all of ours. I miss my daddy. Something needs to be done to stop tobacco companies..." |
| "...it is interesting to note that very few of my patients smoke. I believe this is because not many smokers survive to be eligible to join my practice. Excellent exhibit and a reminder of how easily doctors can be ... in the past by cigarette companies passing out free cartons ... now by drug companies giving free samples/gifts/education/food ... congratulation to Stanford for banning these practice here. " |
"...the ads were that implied that something was part of the failure of society reaching into all sectors - family, sports, entertainment, high society, and the hallowed halls of medicine. The socially accepted thing that do..." |
"Like countless other soldiers, my grandfather began smoking during WW II while serving for the British army in North Africa. Thankfully he managed to quiet before the cigarette had done obvious damage. It was a decision and commitment that I admire more highly than almost any other effort made by my family members. Cigarettes are ... — smokers not only endanger themselves, but also their family, friends and anyone who happens to be exposed to their second-hand some. ... P. S. My mother was so happy with the impact of her having metastasic lung cancer because "finally I am thin!"... |
"Obscene! The deception propagated by the tobacco industry shows the worst side of human selfishness and greed!" |
| "It was a lucky strike for us when the anti-smoking movement was born! Here's a toast to you! You've blown away the smoke screen that kool people light up. You've run rings around the craven tobacco industry and blown them away! You've filtered through the garbage they spread. While they talk through their noses you strike your blows for truth and justice. Congratulations on a great exhibit!! " |
"My uncle died from smoking. And I don't remember him. That's sad. I'm happy this exhibit is here because maybe some other kid will remember their uncle cause he didn't die from smoking ." |
| "Excellent demonstration of the power of clever advertising, Shifting its tone and concept as government becomes more ... It continues today in foreign countries and to a mild degree in this country, ... addicting our youth. The tobacco industry must find another use for its product. Until its ..., lung cancer and other tobacco related diseases will continue to affect the human population." |
| "Thank you for sharing this exhibit with the whole community." |
"For HERSZ, |
"Behind all the deceit & temptation, all you are doing is shortening others' lives for your own profit. Addiction is hard to kick. Do the right things & stop profiteering at the expense of people's lives." |
"Age 2—My first word. Age 11—My first school dance. Age 13—My first cigarette. The only influence from friends or family at that age were my parents, whom you successfully hooked when they were considered kids. Looking back, I'm not surprised I started—there was at least a carton in the house most the time. That year I had my first cigarette, I was wearing a retainer and hadn't completed puberty. Age 13—Smoking became a hobby. My friends, nor any kids my age started smoking yet—so I gave dozens and dozens of middle school kids their first cigarette. This caused the worst chain reaction I have ever experienced. Kids my age had used me to validify smoking cigarettes; soon it became younger kids as child after child smoked cigarettes. I introduced hell into these kids—I contaminated people's lives with addiction. How could I not see that my buddies would pass it on to others, then they would pass it on to others! Age 17—I went to rehab. You have pulled many covers over my eyes, but one truth is still hiding—cigarettes, not weed, is a gateway drug. I've met addicts from across America, and its safe to say cigarettes began usage of other drugs—cigarettes were inhaled before joints, It's an unwritten crime, the B. S. you people have pulled. I was looked down upon for using your products, in contrast to the...? look you've advertised for decades. Age 17—rehab. Age 17—REHAB! I missed my senior year, my prom, and my comfortable life due to cigarettes. At age 17, I didn't smoke for 8 months, and hadn't felt so good for years! On the day I'm released, and see my parents for the first time in months, I smoke another cigarette, half way across the country from where I first started. I invited hell back into my life, the first day I was released. Sadly, I have a pack in my pocket right now. Age 19—I create this passage. There are many more years to suffer. Perhaps going to work everyday to assist killing people, you should collect your profits and live lavish lives that others can't, due to you. Bring some cigarettes home and have your 13 year old kids smoke them, you bastards. Its easy to be on your end, but try coping with your children becoming addicts and killing themselves. Cigarettes make families deteriorate and suffer, not just lungs." |
"A superb exhibit to remind me of my childhood, having... in a house where smoking was the accepted ... for all males And to bring to surface the fresh memory of a brother-in-law working (and smoking) himself to death (literally), working for a tobacco company in Africa, focusing on the new and growing market of ... people, women and children/youth especially. He was only 40 years old, and leaves behind a wife and 3 high school daughters." |
"Growing up I knew smoking was wrong, but when social life became important, people I knew were drawn to it. I have seen many friends get sucked into it. It is just wrong and tobacco companies need to see first hand what it is doing to us, kids? |
"My father, a smoker since college, died of lung cancer. Had you not capitalized on him, a human being, for your economic benefit, he would have lived another decade. I would have liked that." |
| "You killed four people I cared deeply about." |
"You hooked me as a 14 yr. old girl. Shame on you! I couldn't find the strength to quit until I was 41. It is hard not to hate you." |
"Recommendation: Blow up into 5x5 signs the Red Notes you have on tobacco & post them along the walkway where smokers are |
| "Cigarettes are terrible. They harm us, and no one knows the truth better than The cigarette companies. Every individual & every organization should have a sense of moral responsibility to their fellow human being. Every life is as important as yours; be truthful about the impact of cigarette smoke." |
| "Wonderful exhibit! As I looked at the photos with my friends I heard someone say 'those pink cigarette are cool.'? I can see how those sorts of things can attract people with little common sense. I also think its weird how on some advertisements the women are ugly! Why would people smoke something that makes you ugly? Good exhibit! Showed me a lot." |
| "Good show! I'll continue to not smoke!" |
| "This is one of the most reveling exhibits I have ever seen...." |
| "I wonder how many of the celeb. Endorsers died of lung caner. That'll teach 'em! Great exhibit." |
| "It was an interesting exhibit! Very informational but kind of amusing at how stupid we are. I know there are many advance in the 21st century but many things are just unknown or we really don't care. It's kind of sad." |
| "Great exhibit. 1. Lungs are breathing. Tobacco is pulling... 2. teenagers are smarter than tobacco giants." |
| "Wonderful exhibit." |
| "No corporation should be able to have such power over its consumers." |
| "Tobacco companies are a bunch of liars!" |
| "We want truth and we will get it!" |
| "This is only the tip of the iceberg..." |
| "I wonder when it was a fact that smoking caused cancer. How could they use us, children, in their ads." |