More Hollywood Studios Say ‘No Smoking’

[King]

I hate smoking, but this kind of thing is absurd. Films need to be realistic, end of.

Making a film about the entertainment industry in the fifties without tobacco makes as much sense as making it with everyone underwater.

[DanaC]

Move to Europe... they are well on their way to a nanny state.

Europe isn't a state. At least if you're going to insult us get it right.

[eta] I'm getting a little tired of your constant sniping attacks on Britain and Europe. It's one thing to point out that something is happening over here, but every time your own country does something you dislike you point at Europe or Britain like we're fucking bogeymen to fright the children.

I post stuff I see wrong in America, and I post stuff I think that we do better. But what I don't do is make nasty sniping comments about America and Americans at every given opportunity. If a Brit were to post something negative about the Welfare state, or the NHS, I would not respond by telling them to 'move to America, where you can be as callous as them and not give a shit if your fellow citizens live or die'. That, to me, is the equivalent of your constant sideswipes at Europe and Britain.

Dana, I LOVE Europeans and Europe a great deal and can see how you feel this way.
The one thing I point out on a regular basis is the Big Brother aspect of European society, all of Europe, not just the UK and when I say State I know that you know what I mean. There is more than one definition for the word and the Euro-Union is a state in every sense of the word and all of them are doing their finest to be more Big Brother every day.
I will try to be more specific in the future.
Sorry.

Dar. I did not only make the point about realism, I made the point that the studio makes the film the screenwriter writes... a decent writer writes what happened, people smoked in the 50s, so a good one will put it in. It's called period.
Some are less literate than others... I know that... I forgot it.

[dar512]

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

Dar. I did not only make the point about realism, I made the point that the studio makes the film the screenwriter writes... a decent writer writes what happened, people smoked in the 50s, so a good one will put it in. It's called period.

Great. Make the period movie and let it have a more mature rating. We could have a discussion whether that should include PG-13, but you don't care for discussion. You like arguments.

BTW, you are not the only one with theater experience. I savvy period pieces. So don't be a snot.

[DanaC]

Rk, how can you sit in a country that operates a system of Extraordinary Rendition and then tell me my part of the world is bordering on totalitarian?

There are differences in approach to things like censorship, true, but that's not because we are becoming more censorial. There was never a time when most Euro states weren't actively censoring material in the public domain. I'm not arguing this to be good or bad, just pointing out it's not a progression from a time of greater freedoms to a time of lesser freedoms. In terms of the 'nanny-state', I don't really see we're that different to America in many ways. Your approach to drugs use is way more draconian than in Britain, for instance, and certainly than in much of Europe (with tyhe possible exception of France). That is the State nannying its citizens and telling them the State knows best. I heard a story a few years ago about a Californian woman being prosecuted for smoking and drinking whilst pregnant.

In Europe, just like in the States, there are sometimes knee jerk laws responding to a perceived social ill. I rarely agree with these moves, but they are not something that Europe has a monopoly on.

I understand how you see Europe rk, but I completely disagree with your analysis of it. Part of the problem, I think is where the emphasis lies. In America a pop star accidentally shows her nipple and all hell breaks loose: in most european states that wouldn't even cause a flicker. We attach importance differently to different things. Our cultures are different to yours in many ways (and also similar in many ways).

Is pot legal in the UK?
Great argument, LOL!
I speak out against it in the US, many do... I rarely, if ever, see it in the UK and when I bring it up I only see defense of these measures.

[DanaC]

Incidentally, since Scotland banned smoking in all enclosed public places, rates of heart disease have fallen by over 15%

[DanaC]

Is pot legal in the UK?

No. But it's classification has been reduced and possession means a slap on the wrist (if that). I've known people get caught with a room full of pot plants under sodium lights and they've come away with a non-custodial sentence.

[DanaC]

I speak out against it in the US, many do... I rarely, if ever, see it in the UK and when I bring it up I only see defense of these measures.

What? How the fuck would you know that? How much time do you spend in the UK polling people on their opinions on drugs?

There are many active groups campaigning for the legalisation of marijuana. I have been active in that campaign myself. Most polls for the last ten or fifteen years have shown a majority in favour of decriminalising marijuana. An overwhelming majority would like to see medical marijuana legalised.

I consider our laws on drugs to be outdated and damaging. Admittedly I only know what I've seen on documentaries, but from them I get the impression that being caught with a room full of pot would lead to somewhat more severe sentencing in the US?

Is pot legal in the UK?
Great argument, LOL!

Arrogant prick. Personally I prefer arguing with people who don't actually laugh in my face.

[lumberjim]

Originally Posted by DanaC

What? How the fuck would you know that? How much time do you spend in the UK polling people on their opinions on drugs?

I'm pretty sure he used to do that for a living.

I'm not talking about drug laws... I'm talking about the pedestrian attitude on "hate speech" laws, cameras on every corner recording private property, now employing "drug sniffers" to people who are just walking the street then denying them entry into bars and pubs... yeah it's just getting better every day and the outcry is deafening.

[wolf]

No smoking in movies? How will we keep track of who is cool, who is the bad guy, and who just had really great sex?

Will there be subtitles or will the characters wear decorated teeshirts?

[DanaC]

I think we will have to employ the Hat Code . Ya know, white hat = good guy, black hat = bad guy.

[Clodfobble]

Red hat = slutty extra character who is about to be killed off