Hi Robin!
 RB> I have smoked since I was 25. I am now 53 and still smoking. I have 
tried 
 RB> several times to get off the habit but each time have found myself going 
 RB> says "SMOKING KILLS". So what! We only live once anyway! A short life 
and 
 RB> a happy one is infinitely better in my book than a long drawn out life 
 RB> with clean living and dull habits. 
 That may be true as far as it goes.  But somehow I don't find your message 
dripping with happiness.  You aren't happy as a smoker or you wouldn't have 
kept trying to quit.  And you definetely aren't happy with your inability to 
quit, because you appear to babble on about the futility of it all.
 As for the clean living and dull habits I suspect you envy these people 
because they appear to have something you lack; they are content with what 
they have even if what they have seems to be little in your eyes.  In reality 
they are the truely happy ones because they aren't burdened down with the 
self-imposed stresses and abuses of those you call "happy", and they don't 
buy in to the "artificial" world you hate so much and are so desparate to 
escape.  You'd probably join those dullards if you could only figure out 
exactly what it is that makes them different from you.  There is hope.
 RB> The only people who seem to be so anti-smoking are the so-called clean- 
RB> living healthy types. Hi-bran and wholefood. Vegetarian 
Yes, it is much easier to dismiss the whole lot of them, but only if you can 
lump them all in the same basket, eh?   Well they DON'T all fit in one 
basket,so stop dictating "The Reality According to Robin".
 RB> We live in such an artificial society that has little reality to the
 RB> natural earth beneath our feet.
Why do you focus so much on society around you, when your problems appear to 
be within yourself?   Me thinks you are looking in the wrong direction.  Of 
course it'd be harder to put the blame on the world around you if you're 
looking only at yourself.
 RB> It's all a question of belief anyway. 
Is it?  And what do you believe, Robin?  Anything?  Everything?  You've 
jumped off in so many directions I find it hard that you believe anything 
with any certainty. 
 RB> I look forward to someone on this echo convincing me of my failings.
Do you?   I think that on the surface you are only looking for an argument 
with which you can justify and continue your current attitudes.   Maybe deep 
down you are wanting someone to convince you of something, but that can't 
happen until you become open-minded to the point of accepting things you 
don't want to believe.
Have a great day, Robin, and do write back!
-Ray
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