You know those girls? They're a little taller than average, like 5'6" or so, maybe 120 pounds at most, and in early high school, say, 10th grade, everyone just wants to be them. These are the ones who started straightening their hair in 5th grade; their eyeliner matches their shoelaces; they sleep around but it's just one of the many other things they get away with. And it's not that you hate them, it's more that you have no reason to like them, and it looks like they'll be hanging around for awhile anyways so why not be at least civil?
The two girls who are the poster children for this stereotype in my high school have one flaw in their put-together life... they chew tobacco.
When I saw that, I think I threw up a little in my mouth. It's just that, these girls see themselves as the ideal of feminine. And they're chewing tobacco? You must be kidding. At first I thought the one had cake in her teeth, and then somebody else said what I was thinking, and she said "Oh, um, that's not cake," and spit on the ground.
And it's not just them.
Every guy except one on the baseball team chews, and the coach even lets them do it at practice.
The guys who work in the school bookstore chew during every free block they spend there.
That familiar wallet-line in the back of every guys pants has frequently been joined by a suspicious round tin in the other back pocket.
It's disgusting.
I mean, we've all seen the pictures of furry tongues and cancerous jaws that had to be removed, but once again it seems that health education has failed, as a new epidemic sweeps among young people.
It's not that I have the answers, but it's obvious that the current curriculum is just ineffective. Or maybe it's that young people don't understand the consequences of their decisions.
Or maybe they just don't care?
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Even if there was no bad health benefits to doing it I would still not. I tried it one time and it was the nasty thing ever. They should not be allowed to do that in school either because the way I see it if you can do that why not let others lite up a ciggerette?
I don't think 14,15 and even people who get into their 40's think about health risks. Someone could advertise all they wanted. Alot of teens now believe they know it all. Since alot of effects don't happen until after long term use many kids think well I will quit by then.
I am here to inform and help:
http://www.progressiveu.org/032913-lupus-uncureable-wait-what
Love comments? I do too!
Well they aren't allowed to. But the baseball coach, for example, thinks it really is an important part of baseball culture so he lets it slide, and they know how to hide it from other adults and administrators.
Good thoughts though. Thanks for the comment!
I was a kid when Big Leagure chew first came out, and my mom forbade us to chew it. Which made me sad, because it was the SOFTEST bubble gum. But she felt it glorified the tobacco-baseball connection (which it totally did) and my dad chewed, which she hated, so she took a strong stance against it.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
Those girls won't be so pretty when their mouths start to look like the ones on the following web page (BEWARE...these are graphic photos of the effects of chewing tobacco on oral tissue): http://www.quittobacco.com/facts/effects.htm
I can't think of anything more disgusting than chewing tobacco. Heinous.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
I've said for years I won't date a smoker because I don't want to be a widow by a cause that's preventable. But I guess I never thought about chewing tobacco as being a reality for anyone who's not a farmer and/or over the age of 45. But 16, 17, 18 year old kids? It's a great time in our lives, and I don't understand why chewing tobacco could possibly make it any better.
It's just repulsive
Ew. Usually the popular thing is cigarettes, and that's bad enough. Don't get too jealous now. They won't be pretty for long!
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Mind Control is Easier Than You Think
it's repulsive. not only when girls do it, but when guys do it. my cousin pulled out some and shoved it in his mouth. he looked like a monkey and thought he was so cool. it's definately not cool.
You mentioned that the "health education has failed." That could be true. But when it comes to teens, smoking isn't the only issue here. There are simply too many issues that teens deal with nowadays. Whether it be chewing to cheerleading politics, from sex to self esteem issues, from drugs to dating... there is simply not enough room in the conversation to go down the road. Yet for all these issues, it's impossible to have designated educational programs to help these teens through this.
The good news about this? It's that we all have our own guidance program-its free, its accessible, and its called "Parents" . For some people it extends to other family members. The bad news is parents don't always know how to be a parent. Those girls mentioned above are most likely enjoying the tobacco for the "cool factor". Because like you say, everyone wants to be them so they need to be doing something that stands out. Fact is, it's really not their fault and you can't blame those girls wanting to something thats so disgusting and detrimental to their health. Those of you who all surpassed your teen years can most likely reminisce and think of a list of things you did that you were told was bad but still did anyways. I know I sure can...
When you're a teen, those slogans from campaigns and posters inside the walls of your high school really don't do much. It's really what happens with in the walls of your household that shape who you'll become and what you're going to end up doing. Unfortunately, the parents of those teens had better things to do than to check if their children were chewing their life away and making their way to teen pregnancy. Oh yea, and with those budget cuts hitting schools lately, good luck finding decent programs and teachers to help teens in need.