My overarching theory, as pointed out in my original post you mentioned, is that this was the start of the "dumbing down" of the west. It's still moderately acceptable to smoke in public in most eastern countries. But it's all been vilified in the west. So now, we're all losing out on the neurological benefits of nicotine.

As some other people pointed out in my post, the rise of vaping throws a wrench in this entire narrative. Vaping has ALL the benefits of smoking, without any of the drawbacks, but it also has the added benefit of actually clearing out your lungs and sinuses of any congestion you may have via the literal super heated water vapor you're breathing in.

Someone else mentioned the Tobacco Master Settlement, which is basically one of the largest ponzi schemes in the world. Big Tobacco companies pay states for the harm inflicted to smokers in their states, and the states have been borrowing against these fund for decades to the point they've spent all of this money years in advance. So there's the corrupt financial incentive as well, at least in the USA.

Overall, I'm utterly convinced this is just yet another cabal tactic to manipulate our health for their social and financial benefit.

My overall arching theory, as pointed out in my original post yo mentioned, is that this was the start of the "dumbing down" of the west. It's still moderately acceptable to smoke in public in most eastern countries. But it's all been vilified in the west. So now, we're all losing out on the neurological benefits of nicotine.

As some other people pointed out in my post, the rise of vaping throws a wrench in this entire narrative. Vaping has ALL the benefits of smoking, without any of the drawbacks, but it also has the added benefit of actually clearing out your lungs and sinuses of any congestion you may have via the literal super heated water vapor you're breathing in.

Someone else mentioned the Tobacco Master Settlement, which is basically one of the largest ponzi schemes in the world. Big Tobacco companies pay states for the harm inflicted to smokers in their states, and the states have been borrowing against these fund for decades to the point they've spent all of this money years in advance. So there's the corrupt financial incentive as well, at least in the USA.

Overall, I'm utterly convinced this is just yet another cabal tactic to manipulate our health for their social and financial benefit.