The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Ed. 1 Thursday, March 1, 1990 Page: 3 of 6
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Thursday, March 1, 1990/THE J-TAC/Page 3
Ex-smoker admits having anger toward old habit
Ben Tinsley
So you quit smoking.
Yeah. Yeah, I did.
How's it feel?
Well, what should I tell you?
What do you want to hear? Do
you want to hear about the
chemical changes in my body
after 10 years of puffing on cigs?
Do you want to hear about how
much my appetite has increased
since I've kicked the habit? Do
you want to know how hard it is
for me to even sleep at night
since I've stopped?
Or do you want me to tell you
that I feel great and that
everything is just peaches and
cream since I've quit?
Just tell me the truth,
Everyone knows that it's
tough to quit smoking,
I know that. Everyone likes to
talk about how tough it is. But
most of the people talking don't
understand what tough is.
Tough isn't simply doing
without something you want
while there's a nearby audience
applauding your efforts.
Tough is when there's nobody
around to applaud.
When all you can do is bite
your pillow and stifle the urge to
jump out of bed, grab your wallet
and run down to the nearest
tobacco store.
When you don't know if
you're coming or going emo-
tionally because your body hasn't
done without nicotine in 10
years.
That's what tough is.
That's how long you've
been smoking? 10 years?
Yes.
You were 13 years old
when you started?
, Yes.
Why'd you quit?
Because I was sick of waking
up every morning coughing up
chunks of lung.
Because I was sick of having
people turn away from me
because I stank of cigarette
smoke.
Because I had no real sense of
smell.
Aside from the withdrawal
probiems, what benefits
have you reaped from
quitting?
Well, I can smell again.
(Laughter) And it feels good. As
a matter of fact, I was' sitting in
my government class yesterday,
and I was sitting in between two
smokers. Of course, they didn't
tell me this, but I could tell. Both
of them were virtually surround-
ed in a cloud of solid smoke.
They stunk. And I didn't.
What, if anything, did you
learn from quitting?
How wrong I was.
What do you mean?
You see, back when I was
smoking, I had no idea of the
discomfort I was putting people
who had to sit by me through.
When I'd light up at a restuarant,
when I'd smoke in a car, when
I'd smoke around my friends
who didn't smoke...it was a
revelation to those — especially
friends at THEJ-TAC, - who'd
have to smell and breathe my
smoke when we were putting out
a paper back when I was Editor.
Sometimes I feel like running
out and begging the world's
forgiveness because I polluted it
with dangerous smoke. Smoke
that no one but me wanted to
inhale.
I made everyone around me in-
to a sidestream smoker. And
that's a feeling of guilt that I
won't be getting over anytime
soon.
So how do you feel now?
Are you a "smoker who
can't smoke," or a "non-
smoker?" y
Good question. Like I said, it
seems like I never get to sleep at
any semblance of a reasonable
hour these days, nor does it seem
like my appetite is matching my
exersize level... I've added 25
pounds since January. (He laughs
nervously)
I guess you could call me a
"smoker who can't smoke" right
now. But I'm trying to get the at-
titude. I'm honestly trying to
become a non-smoker. And I
' honestly think I will.
I mean, I know I'm not going
to relapse. That's not an option.
Some alcoholics like to call this
kind of problem a "dry drunk,"
-- when you crave what you've
given up so bad that you
sometimes feel like you've done
it anyway. I call this a "dry
smoke." (Laughter)
Can you stand being
around it? Smoking, I mean.
No, I can't. And there's
something about not being able
to stand being around smoke that
bugs the heck out of me.
Something that makes me aware
of how repulsive smoking must
be to non-smokers, as well.
What?
You know that area in between
the front entrance to the
Humanities Building? The little
foyer where smokers congregate
in between classes?
Yes.
Well, I'm sorry, but I think
that smoking in that area is rude,
insensitive and harmful for our
fellow Tarleton students.
I know that every smoker has
his or her rights. I'm an ex-
smoker. I should know.
But forcing everyone who
walks through that area to inhale
that smoke is outrageous. And
understand me, I used to do it
myself. That's why is outrages
me so much now.
So what are you saying?
Do you think that the smok-
ing area should be moved
elsewhere? ;
Yes, I do. I think that it should
be moved somewhere — not a
closed off area — where no one
runs the risk of accidentally in-
haling the smoke. Asking
everyone who walks through that
area to hold their breath is
ridiculous.
Understood. (Looks at
watch) We don't have much
time left. Is there anything
else you'd like to add?
Yeah, there is. One more
thing.
People who Want to give up a
habit shouldn't have to feel afraid
to, just because of peer pressure.
On the other hand, giving up
smoking when you really don't
want to is not solving the pro-
blem, It's just postponing it for
a while.
If someone really Wants to,do
something, then there is nothing
in this world that is going to stop
him or her. Smoking, alcohol,
drugs, you name it.
And fortunately, there are
enough people in this world who
care about this to make help and
emotional support possible.
That way, you'll have a 90
percent chance of doing what's
best for you.
Ben Tinsley is Assistant
to the Editors of the J-TAC.
High school students help Editor understand
Pmanuel Alvear
What should go into THE J-
TAC, and, what should not?
Which stories should run, and
which should be filed away?
What limits should I place on
the Opinions Editor concerning
which columns or editorials she
should run?
When; I am stopped while
walking' across campus and at-
tacked or congratulated for what
has been printed, these questions
come to mind.
I found s<j>me of my answers at
a High School in Ft. Worth. 1
^heji J recently went to a
Society of Professional Jour-
nalists (SPJ) meeting in Ft.
Worth, I was confronted by my
fears and concerns. I had to draw
a line between sensationalism and
censorship.
On this night the SPJ chapter
met with the adviser and student
staff of Arlington Heights High
School in Ft. Worth which has
been the focus of much of the at-
tention of regional professional
journalists.
This school's newspaper, THE
JACKET JOURNAL, has recent-
ly been the victim of censorship.
THE JOURNAL conducted a
survey on homosexuality to pre-
sent information on student opi-
nion concerning the subject.
The staff we met with con-
sisted of the Editor, the: Opinions
_ Editor, Managing Editor, and the.
, Business manager. Three young
women (note: I didM)7say girls)
from this newspaper who came
to present their case. The prin-
cipal of the school was invited
but declined.
These women told of having to
sit quietly and listen to their prin-
cipal question the profes-
sionalism of the students and the
advisor. From the arguments he
apparently presented, he ob-
viously did not care about free
press or the presentation of stu-
dent opinion.
The students did.
They understood that the most
important responsibility of a
newspaper is to expose the
students to various views of the
world.
Possibly the most important
view presented are, the student
opinions presented, in columns
and letters to the,editor. These
women believed in the impor-
tance of honest representation of
reader opinion of resisting
censorship.
Had they listened to their prin-
cipal and quietly gone on their
AIDS
What is AIDS?
AIDS is a disease caused by a virus known as Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This \firus jbreaks down the
body's immune system. The immune system protects the body
from getting sick.
How do people get AIDS?
Having sex with an infected person
> Sharing drug needles and syringes with users of
heroin, cocaine and other illegal drugs
Babies can be born with the virus if the mother has
been infected
You CANT get the AIDS virus by:
> Shaking hands.
Eating in restaurants.
> Swimming in public pools.
Going to a public event.
> Being bitten by an insect.
Working with someone with AIDS.
How can you protect yourself from AIDS?
> If you have sex, use a condom. Also, use a spermicide
with Nonoxynol-9 for extra safety. Don't let blood, semen
or vaginal fluids enter your body.
> If you use drugs, never share needles. If you do share
needles, always use bleach to clean the needle and
syringe between uses.
For more information, call the AIDS Information line
1-800-342-AIDS
BE INFORMED, GET THE FACTS
!„r 1
nfnrntatinn
way, they would have lost much
more than this one battle. If they
had let the principal have final
say concerning what was ' 'pro-
per" for students to read, the
paper would have become little
more than a propaganda
machine.
Politically, it was an unsound
move. They became ostracized
by some members of the student
body and faculty, and cheered on
by a more silent majority. They
received phone calls at home, not
from parents or students, but
from unhappy faculty members.
But - through-their; adversity,
they did not give1 up) their
professionalism.
They stood and fought, where
many others would not have.
They stood firm and grew from
the experience.
Hearing these women speak, I
could hear the calm, professional
tone of their voices and knew that
they had learned much and come
out on top as friends.
Their Editor, 18 years old and
preparing to go to college to ma-
jor in Journalism, said she didn't
want to make anyone angry. She
wanted to show students that
their opinions mattered and that
they could take a stand on the
Opinions page of an uncensored
paper.
They refused to paint a pretty
picture for their administrators.
They.,would accept nothing less
• than a true picture of their world.
"'Theiif! goal is a window, not a
painting.
They all admitted to being
shaken by the events, but all I
saw was how professionally they
handled themselves.
A person will stop me on cam-
pus and tell me they enjoyed THE
J-TAC, and I feel good. They tell
mp it made them think, and I feel
great.
Another person will confront
me and tell THE J-TAC is jour-
nalistic garbage, and I feel sad
that I dissappointed them, but I
examine my mistakes and usually
(not always) determine that I
made the professional and pro-
per decision.
I don't place limits on what I
accept as student opinion.
Students will have their say, right
or wrong. 9f
These young women have
become near heroines to md
because they understood the
ethics of professional journalism.
I would be ashamed if I could not
do the same.
Pmanuel Alvear Is Editor
In Chief of THE J-TAC,
1 M UST .
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March 15, 1990
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The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Ed. 1 Thursday, March 1, 1990, newspaper, March 1, 1990; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth141726/m1/3/?rotate=90: accessed May 21, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Tarleton State University.