1. You think people are finally getting sick of smoking? It's people like you everyone is finally beginning to get sick of. I came across this blog as I have just heard of the death of Beverly Sills -- a great American woman. I am sick and tired of hearing about non-smokers getting lung cancer while all you can do is beat up on smokers. You point to secondhand smoke, of course, because that's how you get paid. I can assure you, even before it became fashionable to do so, opera singers always avoided being around smoking as well as any and ALL other potential irritants. I can remember the 1980s -- the glory days of people like Beverly Sills -- when there were people like her everywhere advancing the arts in this country. At that time, I can remember thinking that by now there would be music and art everywhere, and people would be singing and dancing in the streets. Instead we've got smokers in the streets, arts organizations folding right and left for lack of funding, and people like you raking it in with your unrelenting scare-em-up-for-money talk of cancer. Mark these words, the tide is already turning, and you are the ones who will be soon out in the streets. At least then there will be theater -- comedy, that is -- as we all line up to laugh our heads off.

Posted at 12:07AM on Jul 3rd 2007 by Rich Lady

2. Rich, you admit to just finding this blog, yet you somehow have the depth of knowledge of it that lets you comment authoritatively on the motivations and even the financial arrangements of the bloggers. Most of us who read this blog do so because it provides information, a forum for our thoughts, and it is presented in a refreshingly commerce-light agenda compared to most health-related sites. We are cancer patients, survivors, their families and friends, looking to increase our knowledge of a very complex subject. We don't need "scare tactics"; we have enough to be scared of already, thanks. The readers of this site, and IMO its contributors, are here because of our common interest in seeing a day when we, and everyone, no longer have to perish of cancer like Ms. Sills did. It's a shame you feel the need to express your sorrow over her passing by reaching out and punishing strangers.
Regards,
Richard Day Gore

Posted at 7:51AM on Jul 3rd 2007 by richard day gore

3. I smoke quite a lot. It's an outlet for stress, one gets used to doing it. The problem of course is the stress not all those people smoking. Chasing people around for smoking doesn't seem comforting. It would be better if we would all grab and hug a smoker, explain them about the good things in life and why they need not to panic. hehehe

Posted at 4:31PM on Jul 3rd 2007 by gaby de wilde

4. I have a question to all of you cancer patients, survivors.

do you know what was the root cause of your cancers?

from what I am reading form all these blog sites you all are needing a escape goat and blamming all your cancers on tobacco and smokers. even though genetics plays a major roll of cancer.

Posted at 2:35PM on Jul 3rd 2007 by Jem