Why are people on benefits demonised in the British media?
In the UK there is quite a large antisocial behaviour problem in the form of what is locally known in England and Wales as Chavs (spides/steeks in N.I.). These people are, rightly or wrongly, associated with the benefits system.As such, many in media see people on benefits as an easy target to blame the countries antisocial and economic problems on. It plays into a hatred that already exists but gives people a means to 'fight back' in the form of cutting benefits or at the very least gives people a new reason to hate.However this issue plays into another in the form of left versus right and I'd like to make the case that in this instance both are wrong.The right want to paint everyone on benefits as Chavs; lazy, violent and generally a burden on society. As such they want to reduce benefits left, right and centre, with little thought of the consequences felt by the people who receive them (after all they are the enemy, why should we care?).The left however can be just as bad. Painting the benefits system as some holy grail that can't possibly be changed or improved, and attacking any proposed change as 'war on the working class'. Claiming that everyone on benefits is Jack Monroe (COOKING ON A BOOTSTRAP by JACK MONROE ) and that every example of a Chav on benefits is just propaganda drummed up by the right. While many will say they are just countering the rhetoric of the right; they actually end up fuelling the right as they come off as being out of touch with the working class and totally unaware of what's going on up and down this country.The fact is that everyone that has experience with people on benefits knowns a few people from column A and a few people from column B. The benefits system does need reform but at the same time these changes need to be implemented in a way that doesn't harm those that actually need the help of benefits system. This can only be achieved when both sides agree that people on benefits are not all the same and that both need to make concessions to achieve a better system.Fair for all, including those that are paying the bill.
Why do potheads think demonizing alcohol is a good argument for legalizing marijuana?
I've never seen alcohol 'demonized' by marijuana advocates. I drink moderately and would smoke moderately if my car, job, and house wouldn't be in jeopardy. It is a valid comparison, if alcohol, which is more dangerous than marijuana*, is legal and not causing societal destruction, why not marijuana? Your bias shines brightly, btw, " other than the obvious reason that stoners can't think rationally" Does that make all drinkers raging alcoholics? In moderation with responsibility, either is not harmful and should be legal.
Why do the media glamourize drug abuse?
Which drugs?In general, stimulants tend to get more glamour, cocaine and ecstasy for example, they also tend to be more expensive and thus their users tend to be wealthier, like Carrie Fisher and Rob Ford. Of course alcohol being just about everywhere and promoted often like McDonalds ads are and connected to a lot of fun in marketing, and marijuana being the go to thing to relax and be mellow, and feeling extra creative and spiritual from hallucinogens. Caffeine is rarely thought of as a drug and while it is much more taboo than 65 years ago, smoking to some degree is still somewhat sexy, sometimes intended to be literal, with smoking a cigarette in bed passing it between a couple being a hint that they had sex.Most other drugs are things that people don’t generally think about, ketamine isn’t usually discussed or the first thing that one might think if the topic of drugs is brought up, meth is considered even too powerful, and opiates are rarely thought of as good things in the media, especially given that overdoses are everywhere, even of celebrities and the main negative side effect being addiction and dependence, the chase to get it can easily ruin a person’s image.
Is tobacco overly demonized by the media?
It's mostly about money. They tax tobacco then people quit. Then they double the tax because they became "addicted" to the tax money. Look who answered up above there! Those busy-bodies (the descendants of alcohol prohibitionists) who want to tell us all what is best for us! They love the "sin" tax. They know that Americans are intolerant of those who have different vices than them, so they bully those who are in the minority. What's most irritating about this is that anyone thinks it is their damned business if I light up a smoke, or a joint, or drink a glass of whiskey. It's MY BODY and if I want to do unhealthy things that is my business and my business alone. Why couldn't bar owners choose to have smoker bars in California? They all go smokeless instead because a worker might get second hand smoke exposure? Then don't work there! There are lots of polluted workplaces. Be a housekeeper in a hospital, get exposed to chemicals. But who deems chemicals can't be used in cleaning products? Just smoking, because the tobacco industry doesn't have the power of the chemical industry and no one ENJOYS exposure to chemicals the way smokers and chewers enjoy their tobacco! I swear these banners are same people who told their kids their hands would fall off if they masturbated. They don't like the idea of anyone enjoying their sin.
Why are cigarette smokers demonized but morbidly obese people accommodated.?
Morbidly obese people do not disturb the people around them by eating, while smokers can cause just as much damage to the people around them as to themselves while smoking. The US govt. can't stop people from hurting themselves (outside of outlawing drugs), but they can stop them fromo hurting others, hence the designated smoking areas. Plus, there is not one common factor of obesity, I mean, what are you gonna do, put a tax on Krispy Kreme?
What do you think of amy winehouse?
she passed away on the 23rd of july. they still don't know what caused her death but it was most likely drugs. what do you think of this? do you think she brought all this on herself or are you upset? i think this is her fault because if she hadn't started taking drugs she could still be alive today, although when i found out about her death, i have to admit i was very upset. just the other day i was hoping she would release a new album, because i love her songs and her voice is amazing. yesterday i found a website where you could predict when she would die, and the winner gets an ipod touch. i think that whoever set that up is disgusting and should at least take it down now. what do you think about her death?
Why are people who use drugs looked down upon in society?
I think most of the other answers are valid. As a high-functioning addict of some 30 years, I have a few additions.First, we have to amend the question: why are some drug users looked down upon in some societies today.I say “some” because while not lauded, those with dictionary-definable addictions to caffeine etc. and, to much lesser extents, tobacco and alcohol, are not “looked down upon” compared with someone who, say, is a functioning intravenously administering but otherwise healthy heroin addict (like the author William Burroughs was until his death in his 80s).I say “today” because say 100 years ago, drug use was more tolerated. See the fictional use by Sherlock Holmes and the actual use of opium by Winston Churchill. And a bit further back, the U.K. fought for the freedom to create a nation of opium addicts in China in the opium wars — and bagged a city (Hong Kong) into the bargain.For thousands of years societies have also used herbs and even alcohol as sacraments and even recreationally. Not looked down on.More recently, recreational use of LSD was widespread and not frowned upon (at least in educated circles) in the early to mid 60s before it was outlawed in most western countries. At the same time, recreational use of marijuana in some circles was more acceptable than now.All of this has to be seen in light of the other answers, which make valid points. I too have seen lives ruined by drugs themselves or the lifestyles associated with them destroyed. Some have died; some are in jail.That said, a friend of mine developed diabetes and died as he was a heavy but social drinker — but a very nice guy. No one “looked down on” him so in closing, I'd say the media and government’s demonization of the “evil scourge of drugs” for the many reasons they have to do so is another cause. And that's a whole other essay of intrigue.