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 Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 5:06 pm
I'd like to apologize about my outburst over the nicotene related sprites. I did NOT mean to flame you guys so. redface
You deserve to know why I commented without thinking.
IRL I had a cousin. Her name for the sake of this post will be "Helena".
Helena used to role play on some flash related site that had sprites that promoted drinking and smoking. I don't remember the site, but it was NOT Gaia.
Helena started playing in 2004, her avatar was of a historical figure from the 1890's, who smoked and drank. She based it off of some movie she saw with our uncle. Alot of her friends said the sprite looked JUST like her.
So to match the sprite better, she took up smoking during Halloween of 2005.
At first it was only one drag. One cigarette. Once a month, tops. But then it escalated to two a month, then three, then she was going through a pack a week.
Then site she was on either went down, or deleted her account. I can't remember which, but it devestated her. She really loved that sprite of her smoking. I tried to tell her not to smoke anymore, that there were other things she could do with her time. She agreed. So she started drinking.
My aunt and uncle didn't see a problem with that, since she was already over 21, and she only drank with them.
But then she started getting sick. She had a hard time concentrating on her work at McDonald's, so her boss suggested she go see a doctor.
Helena was diagnosed with a lung disorder, caused by the 8 months of smoking. She also has a liver problem caused by the drinking, even though she only had a few drinks.
Helena these days is wheelchair bound. She's on alot of different pills just to stay alive, and she has had three surgeries. She's only a few years older than me, but she's on more medications than our grandparents!
That's why I freaked out over the cigarette sprites. It brought me right back to Helena's struggles. I don't wanna see anyone go through that again. You guys seem too good for that.
I'm sorry for the outburst. crying
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Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 5:18 pm
I can sympathize. I've got a few family members who fell through the cracks. Some of them sobered up, and some haven't.
To be honest, I was dismayed that Gaia put those sprites back. I don't think Sailor Senshi need to be seen with cigars or anything like that.
(Unless it's chocolate.) So I can understand why you'd be upset.
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Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 5:25 pm
I believe my grandpa developed fatal emphysema due to my grandma's smoking.
I was unhappy to see the tobacco-related items back as well.
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Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 5:29 pm
I can understand why you felt angry at Gaia for bringing back the cigs, and I'm sorry if you felt like I may have offended your or anything.
I was only angry at the fact that Gaia pulled off a lame stunt like that with no good explanation or warning.
It's sort of like if they all of a sudden took away all the skirts and magical girl oufits from Gaia (even though that would be alot item compared to a few drugs xD) because they considered the items to be inappropiate. I know it's a big example but you can guess why alot of people would be angry, right?
But now things are a bit different, people are now more aware of the dangers of smoking now then a few years back. n-n
I guess a pixel can influence someone to do certain things but we can't blame it all on the pixel.
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Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 6:29 pm
It takes a lot of courage to give out such information. How brave and kind of you to share that story with us. And as far as flaming goes, I think that which has past, is past, and should not be dwelt upon. Well done Chibiusa. ^_^
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 9:58 am
Didn't the prototype for makoto smoke in the Sailor V manga? I could be wrong. just a random musing.
One of my mom's best friends just got diagnosed with last stage lung cancer (a year after the father of her other best friend did), after going to the doctor for a COUGH (no joke, and I saw a House episode that had a similar incident in it).
Sadly, it's spread everywhere very quickly and they can't even get her strong enough for any sort of treatment. D=
So I am another person who understands your concern.
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Last_Time_Lord_The_Doctor
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:10 am
GS Apollyon Didn't the prototype for makoto smoke in the Sailor V manga? I could be wrong. just a random musing. Yeah, she did. Quote: One of my mom's best friends just got diagnosed with last stage lung cancer (a year after the father of her other best friend did), after going to the doctor for a COUGH (no joke, and I saw a House episode that had a similar incident in it). I saw that episode too >.> Anyway, my grandfather died of lung cancer seven years ago. He smoked since he was, like, 13. So I can understand the kind of uproar that can get started over this.
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 1:47 pm
Quote: Helena used to role play on some flash related site that had sprites that promoted drinking and smoking. I don't remember the site, but it was NOT Gaia. Promoted? Did they carry around little signs that said "Smoking is cool!"? Quote: Helena started playing in 2004, her avatar was of a historical figure from the 1890's, who smoked and drank. She based it off of some movie she saw with our uncle. Alot of her friends said the sprite looked JUST like her. So to match the sprite better, she took up smoking during Halloween of 2005. So what happened was that your friend had self-esteem and identity issues, so she chose to model herself on an identity she perceived as more glamorous than her own. I'm sorry, but pixel cigarettes didn't destroy your friend's life. If she didn't have underlying issues already, she wouldn't have decided to create a new identity for herself based on a fictitous character. People who are mentally healthy with their emotional needs being met do not turn to abusing drugs and alcohol just becuase it's available. Read: Rat Park and Other Children's StoriesQuote: That's why I freaked out over the cigarette sprites. It brought me right back to Helena's struggles. I don't wanna see anyone go through that again. You guys seem too good for that. Oh, it could happen, but not because Gaia has pixel cigarettes.
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Swashbuckling Conversationalist
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 2:28 pm
Ah, I don't think the tobacco items are promoting anything. Gaia's supposivly a PG13 or something site, so it's assumed that its users and/or parents would be smart enough to make "better" decisions when it came to things like this.
Though, I wholehearted understand everyone's concern regarding it. There are smokers in my family even though I don't know any directly dieing from it. I'm just as happy & more healthy being a non-smoker *peace sign*
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 9:11 pm
Don't worry Chibi Usa, you have a valid reason, and that takes a lot of courage to post for all of us to see.
I can sympathize with you, as my grandfather died (next door) in his bed due to lung cancer. It just got worse and worse, until he passed away.
voicing an opinion is not bad at all, so do not worry. Like pluto said, what is the past is the past, and you can not change it. All you can do now is go forward.
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