I live in an environment where people perceive smokers as bad people. They see a smoker as someone who is bad, Someone who is not loyal, someone who is stubborn and have no love in him, someone who can easily hurt others, someone who is capable of committing crime in the society. And many more I can't remember. Maybe when you read this you can add more to the list. The question is why are Smokers viewed this way in the society?
I am a Nigerian and from my culture or let me say when I was young, I was advised by my parents not to associate with smokers. As a child, I saw a smoker as a criminal, someone that is heading to domination and be someone that will not be useful in life. This mentality of my continued until I going to admission into a higher institution where I mean good with people from different background. It was when I had a friend who was a smoker but his life was decent. It doesn't steal now even involved inquiries but yet he smokes. He is very fun to be with an a philanthropist. It was at this time that my idea of smokers began to change.
I want to ask myself if my parents or my culture deceive me. But the answer is no, no didn't deceive me but rather they protected me from the menace of smoking until I grow up and I am able to decide by myself. Assuming they didn't demonize smoking, all children would have grown up in my neighborhood to become smokers