I don't smoke, but I've known many people that have smoked for decades, including some who have died from smoking-related cancers.
Many of the claims these illustrations make are heavily exaggerated. For example, see the absurd claim about acne.
Why not just focus on what's actually true, which is that smoking causes lung cancer (as well as bladder cancer in women), and that these cancers are not likely to become curable in the future? It's straightforward to explain that smoking cuts decades off of lives in many (but not all) people that do it.
On smoking (and anything else, for that matter), there is no need to propagandize; the plain truth is enough.
These sorts of exaggerations are common, unfortunately. Try finding good information on the effects of occasional smoking and you'll find a lot of stuff saying, "You cannot smoke occasionally; it is impossible. And, anyway, it is as bad as smoking a pack a day, even if you could manage it, so do not attempt it!"
Similarly, non-intravenous-drug-using high-school kids having only vaginal intercourse are scared into thinking they have an equal chance of getting HIV as any other group. Nobody wants to appear to be condoning risky behavior so they lie to strengthen their point.
I agree. There's not much more that needs to be said than, "Smoking makes you smell bad and slowly kills you."[1]
What I don't get is why e-cigs haven't taken off among smokers, as they're much healthier than cigarettes. I've brought up the topic with friends and family who smoke. Most of them think e-cigs aren't cool. One of my uncles said, "I'm not gonna look like a fag smoking on a glowstick."
1. I believe I first heard it put that way by Douglas Crockford.
I didn't look too closely, but I'm assuming one side is the smoker and the other is the non-smoker. Knowing that I don't smoke, and how my own physique compares to these photos, I'm forced to conclude that smoking will cure my acne, flatten my abs, and give me a nice tan. I'm going to go out and buy a pack right now!
Apparently smoking changes the size and location of your eye orbits. I am assuming the skull remodeling is for dramatic effect but it is too bad that the site does not provide references for some of the claims made in the descriptions of the effects.
Many of the claims these illustrations make are heavily exaggerated. For example, see the absurd claim about acne.
Why not just focus on what's actually true, which is that smoking causes lung cancer (as well as bladder cancer in women), and that these cancers are not likely to become curable in the future? It's straightforward to explain that smoking cuts decades off of lives in many (but not all) people that do it.
On smoking (and anything else, for that matter), there is no need to propagandize; the plain truth is enough.