Here are the letters we got in response to my tobacco opinion article. You can read the original unedited version here: http://chrisjnelson.bravehost.com/tobacco.html. I have typed the letters exactly how they were written (meaning I didn't correct grammar, punctuation, or spelling). Letters are in italics, my responses are below in normal font:
Letter #1:
Dear Chris Nelson,
In a way I agree with you about the article on "Tobacco companies rock!" It does not necessary means if you use tobacco your stupid, with today's society kids get more pressure into doing drugs and alcohol. I agree with you that it's the person choice to smoke, but do you think it is right for television to say it is okay to smoke? I know some of the "Truth" commercials tend to exaggerate the anti-smoking a little bit. What do you think is better telling kids that smoking is wrong or encouraging kids to smoke? I did agree with some of your points, but I also disagreed with some of your other points about tobacco's company. Tobacco company are smart by selling millions of drugs that harms the body. But I think it's wrong that they are targeting kids, some of these children might not even know the harmful effect of tobacco.
-Hong Nguyen
Okay so basically, this person agrees with me on some things, but not on others? I think we can ALL agree on that since they reiterated it throughout the letter. One problem I have with this letter is the part about television saying it's okay to smoke? How is this happening? It's illegal to have ads for cigarettes on TV. Maybe you mean people smoking within shows, but if kids start smoking because they see someone doing it on television, then they're the kind of weak-minded, stupid kid I'm trying to eliminate.
Letter #2:
Dear Editor,
I totally agree with Chris Nelson's Op-Ed article on tobacco companies. Yes, tobacco companies do target kids, to get them hooked young, but it's not the tobacco companies' fault people get lung cancer. It's the fault of the people who smoke, who know it's bad for them, but do it anyway. However, people who started smoking 40 years ago didn't know it was bad for them, so it's not their fault they have poor health. When people smoke these days, they are just speeding up the process of evolution bye eliminating all the stupid people.
-Ben Levy
Love the part about eliminating the stupid people, because I'm a big fan of the idea, obviously. Also, good point about people who started smoking decades ago. You're right about that.
Letter #3:
I was pleased to see the "Tobacco Companies Rock!" article in the February issue, and I compeltely agree. My grandfather died of lung cancer because he smoked for most of his life. I loved my granddaddy, and I wish I had had the chance to know him better, but his early, painful death was truly no one's fault but his own. It disgusts me to see children my age (and younger) smoking because they want to "look good." How good are you going to look with yellow teeth, crinkly skin and a hole in your neck? It only weakens my already crumbling faith in humanity to see just how many people still insist upon slowly killing themselves by way of tobacco products, then blame it on someone else.
-Jessica Reich
I think the only difference between you and I is that I don't care if people smoke, I just think they are stupid and laugh at the results. Also, it's admirable to see someone who can be clear and logical on a subject that many people would let their emotions interfere with their thinking on.
Letter #4:
Chris J. Nelson,
I really enjoyed your article "Tobacco companies rock!" in the February edition of the Advocate. I thought it was hilarious and truthful at the same time. I mean, how can the consumers actually blame the tobacco companies when they KNOW smoking is bad for your health? Keep up the great work.
-James Case
God damn right.
Letter #5:
Dear Chris Nelson,
In responds to your apology my lunch table though it to be one of the best things in the paper. I felt sorry for the tsunami victims but sitting in the gym with about the whole school also was very uncomfortable. There was hardly a place to sit and the gym was rediculously hot. I would have done the same thing as but I wanted to get out of Mrs. Tison's class.
Your supporter, Anonymos
First of all, it took me a long time to figure out what the fuck this person was talking about. Obviously, they are referring to my blue box ad that said "I bought a blue box ad instead of helping tsunami victims." Apparently, many people took this to mean that I was talking about not going to the pep rally (money from the pep rally went to tsunami relief). The pep rally had NOTHING to do with my ad. I was just trying to be funny. It doesn't mean anything except what it says. In fact, I went to the fucking pep rally.
This is also my favorite letter, because at the top it says "John Crider" and he signed it "Anonymous." Funny shit.
Letter #1:
Dear Chris Nelson,
In a way I agree with you about the article on "Tobacco companies rock!" It does not necessary means if you use tobacco your stupid, with today's society kids get more pressure into doing drugs and alcohol. I agree with you that it's the person choice to smoke, but do you think it is right for television to say it is okay to smoke? I know some of the "Truth" commercials tend to exaggerate the anti-smoking a little bit. What do you think is better telling kids that smoking is wrong or encouraging kids to smoke? I did agree with some of your points, but I also disagreed with some of your other points about tobacco's company. Tobacco company are smart by selling millions of drugs that harms the body. But I think it's wrong that they are targeting kids, some of these children might not even know the harmful effect of tobacco.
-Hong Nguyen
Okay so basically, this person agrees with me on some things, but not on others? I think we can ALL agree on that since they reiterated it throughout the letter. One problem I have with this letter is the part about television saying it's okay to smoke? How is this happening? It's illegal to have ads for cigarettes on TV. Maybe you mean people smoking within shows, but if kids start smoking because they see someone doing it on television, then they're the kind of weak-minded, stupid kid I'm trying to eliminate.
Letter #2:
Dear Editor,
I totally agree with Chris Nelson's Op-Ed article on tobacco companies. Yes, tobacco companies do target kids, to get them hooked young, but it's not the tobacco companies' fault people get lung cancer. It's the fault of the people who smoke, who know it's bad for them, but do it anyway. However, people who started smoking 40 years ago didn't know it was bad for them, so it's not their fault they have poor health. When people smoke these days, they are just speeding up the process of evolution bye eliminating all the stupid people.
-Ben Levy
Love the part about eliminating the stupid people, because I'm a big fan of the idea, obviously. Also, good point about people who started smoking decades ago. You're right about that.
Letter #3:
I was pleased to see the "Tobacco Companies Rock!" article in the February issue, and I compeltely agree. My grandfather died of lung cancer because he smoked for most of his life. I loved my granddaddy, and I wish I had had the chance to know him better, but his early, painful death was truly no one's fault but his own. It disgusts me to see children my age (and younger) smoking because they want to "look good." How good are you going to look with yellow teeth, crinkly skin and a hole in your neck? It only weakens my already crumbling faith in humanity to see just how many people still insist upon slowly killing themselves by way of tobacco products, then blame it on someone else.
-Jessica Reich
I think the only difference between you and I is that I don't care if people smoke, I just think they are stupid and laugh at the results. Also, it's admirable to see someone who can be clear and logical on a subject that many people would let their emotions interfere with their thinking on.
Letter #4:
Chris J. Nelson,
I really enjoyed your article "Tobacco companies rock!" in the February edition of the Advocate. I thought it was hilarious and truthful at the same time. I mean, how can the consumers actually blame the tobacco companies when they KNOW smoking is bad for your health? Keep up the great work.
-James Case
God damn right.
Letter #5:
Dear Chris Nelson,
In responds to your apology my lunch table though it to be one of the best things in the paper. I felt sorry for the tsunami victims but sitting in the gym with about the whole school also was very uncomfortable. There was hardly a place to sit and the gym was rediculously hot. I would have done the same thing as but I wanted to get out of Mrs. Tison's class.
Your supporter, Anonymos
First of all, it took me a long time to figure out what the fuck this person was talking about. Obviously, they are referring to my blue box ad that said "I bought a blue box ad instead of helping tsunami victims." Apparently, many people took this to mean that I was talking about not going to the pep rally (money from the pep rally went to tsunami relief). The pep rally had NOTHING to do with my ad. I was just trying to be funny. It doesn't mean anything except what it says. In fact, I went to the fucking pep rally.
This is also my favorite letter, because at the top it says "John Crider" and he signed it "Anonymous." Funny shit.
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