Popagandhi

In the last couple of days, one hardcore smoker after the next around me - all friends of mine, naturally - have renounced smoking. Why this, why now, and why so many of them at the same time?

I didn’t think it had anything to do with the increasingly influential anti-smoking camp, though I couldn’t think of any other explanation.

Then it hit me over dinner - it’s that time of the month. When everyone is broke.
An exchange student related an extraordinary event to me today: she was on campus, outside the library (an area which functions as a meeting ground for all students, due to its central location), when a lady turned to her and said, please put that out, this is a non-smoking campus.

Puzzled, the exchange student replied: “Is it?”
The lady: “Well…. isn’t it?” And she wasn’t sure anymore.

When I related this to other students, the response among smokers and non-smokers alike went something like “Since when?” “How come nobody ever told us?” “No that can’t be.”

We’re just so used to lighting up, walking between classes, ashtrays at open areas, and all. Studying, cigarette in hand. Such that when 7-Eleven opened a few days ago, we found it strange they didn’t sell cigarettes or beer.

“What kind of 7-Eleven is that?!”

Now let’s hope the second 7-Eleven due to open on campus, less than 200 metres away from the first, will do something to correct this.
I’m not a smoker. I don’t care much for smoking: I could live without a cigarette for weeks, months, and not think about it, ever. But I do have a problem with moralistic, didactic people who should really go out and smell the fresh air, instead of staying in and accusing us of polluting it.