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Do smoking or drinking have cultures? Do Drinking or Smoking make social settings more fun? If you’re used to having a smoke or alcohol at these situations will you not be able to have fun without them? Is there a negative stigma attached to either of these habits in the Iranian culture? How is it different in the American culture? If you haven’t taken the Iranican Poll about drinking do so and compare with results below from Esquire Annual Men’s habits Survey (2006)
How often do you drink?
40% drink occationally at a party
25% Don’t drink
25% a few drinks a week
5% have more than 2 drinks a day
5% drink daily but never more than one of two
18 comments
Listening to your show made me wonder what it is in the US that’s working with regards to cigarette smoking. In Europe we have all the boxes marked in “SMOKING KILLS” and “Smoking seriously Harms You and others around you” http://www.smokingrelated.com/menu/smoking-kills.jpg. So we know the education is there, and we all know about this resistance culture that exists against laws, and Saba referred to it here on the show, but it doesn’t explain the significantly higher smoking rates in Europe vs. the US.
I drink occasionally and I enjoy it(when it is sweet Margaritta! Not Vicky) . but I rather die to smoke! I hate hate hate smoking and unfortunately my best friend smokes and I talked to her about it once! But not anymore I just respect her choice but I am sorry for her and she is still my BFF! about ghalyoon…. I think people like me who are concern about their health….. occasionally might smoke it but it is more dangerous than cigarette.
thanks for your “barnameye bahal”
Hesaam you brought an interesting point. I believe that an anti-smoking culture has been developing in the US for years now. The fact that in most of the states here smoking is not allowed indoors in any public setting and the way second hand smoking is represented and talked about; all of these are issues that have caused a bigger effect. I walked into a college campus a few days ago and the whole campus was a non-smoking area, so are most of the parks in California these days.
But still there is much room wonder why this is, I have always perceived the level of awareness and education amongst Europeans to be much higher than that of average Americans. But there is also statistics that says only 20% of the American cigarette production is sold and marketed in the US itself and 80% of it is Exported!
Hey Hessam–
We have a smoking disclaimer, too! It’s called the Suregon General’s Warning. About 16 other countries require them on cigarette packets(including Barbados and Croatia, apparently). Ours goes something like this:
“Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, And May Complicate Pregnancy Quitting Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health. Smoking By Pregnant Women May Result in Fetal Injury, Premature Birth, And Lower Birth Weight. Cigarette Smoke Contains Carbon Monoxide.”
Rather than explicitly say “SMOKING KILLS” notice how American health officials like to suggest how a very limited number of diseases “may” effect you…it makes me wonder what their “risk analysis” of the tobacco industry is really designed to measure. The preservation of my interests? Or theirs?
In any case, your question makes me curious. If it’s not overwhelming mass resistance that is confronting the industry, and the reprimand of government officials is still all-too-soft, then you must be right. We have to look elsewhere for answers.
I think Iranican’s premise suggests that there are cross-cultural influences that impact our personal decision making. Perhaps these influnces have more of an effect over the habits we choose to indulge at any given moment, rather than the social or state interventions that create the settings in which me make those choices. Maybe not.
I’m not so sure, but I hope we’ll be able to play with the distinctions between state, resistance, and identity more in future shows. Keep listening!
Saba
When I see “SMOKING KILLS” on a cigarette packet, I feel like its a joke of a warning. It can easily be ignored. Yet when I see “Cigarette Smoke Contains Carbon Monoxide.” I wonder, what is Carbon Monoxide? Is it actually bad for my body? Oh it is? Hmm, okay. Now I’ve actually learned something about what I’m smoking. I would compare this to Bush’s black and white depiction of the world as “Good” vs. “Evil” as opposed to stating actual facts about specific groups of individuals that have done criminal acts. The latter is a much clearer path to understanding.
Hey guys,
I am big fan of your show. Something that makes your show even more interesting is the fact that you have Mahvash who thinks more Persian style VS Maral who thinks more none-Iranian. Have to say something about Ziman attitude, with all respect I have to say it might not be the relegious thing but there is something back of your head or related to your childhood that keeping you away from alchohol. Drinking is totally a personal choice but being that agresive towards towards it I doesn’t seem normal. Overall I think Maral has the most open opinion about the subject. Something that girls have to watch for tough is dating involving drinking and I think that’s something you can talk about in your show. Iman jan you r one of the best hosts in RJ and your joaks are totally funny
by the way speaking of Iranian expressions, you know what they call people like Ziman Iran ? Bache Mosbat. Ziman jan just kidding, really like the info. and news you add to the show.
Hey guys,
I am big fan of your show. Something that makes your show even more interesting is the fact that you have Mahvash who thinks more Persian style VS Maral who thinks more none-Iranian. Have to say something about Ziman attitude, with all respect I have to say it might not be the relegious thing but there is something back of your head or related to your childhood that keeping you away from alchohol. Drinking is totally a personal choice but being that agresive towards it I doesn’t seem normal. Overall I think Maral has the most open opinion about the subject. Something that girls have to watch for tough is dating involving drinking and I think that’s something you can talk about in your show. Also to add what Hessam mentined, I really like it the way they do that in Canada. They put the ugliest and nastiest pictures you can imagine from smokers body parts on the packs which is shocking. Iman jan you r one of the best hosts in RJ and your joaks are totally funny
by the way speaking of Iranian expressions, you know what they call people like Ziman Iran ? Bache Mosbat. Ziman jan just kidding, really like the info. and news you add to the show.
I just listened to your show this morning. Wanted to give some comment. Actually many people smoke Hashish (grass, Weed), whatever you want to call it, in Iran especially in Sarbazi (during military service which is mandatory for boys in Iran). It’s also very cheap and easily accessible. And it’s referred to “Sigari”. Not “Sigar” but “Sigari”. so I guess what Iman heard about Kareyi in reference with Sigar was actually Sigari. So usually people ask..” Sigari dari?” and that’s completely different than Sigar.
But what people do socially is smoking Tariak (opium). It’s an expensive drug in Iran but older generation smoke it a lot when they party together. You can also tell who is Teriyaki from their voice. They say Khosro Shakibayi, a famous actor who recently passed away, was Teriyaki. He had an amazing heavenly voice (check it out and you’ll know what I mean). Also, apparently Ahmad Khomeini, Khomeini’s son, was teriayki. It’s highly popular among mullahs.
I randomly came on this website (I don’t understand Farsi), but I fell in love with the opening song. Can somebody tell me author and title?
Thanks in advance
Hi,
I am wondering if I can start new discussions in your blog? do you give that option somewhere on your website? so users can talk about the topics they find interesting?
It’s by a group of various artists that have decided to call themselves just “Khanandegan” for this song, and the title is “Hamvatan”
Thanks!
بسیار ممنون
Dear Tina,
We changed our blog’s configuration so that anyone can open a new post for discussion, we thought your suggestion will be very beneficial to us and all the other Iranican visitors, so thank you.
We are looking forward to see your new discussion topics…
P.S. Your remarks about Cigari is also completely correct. I found most of these terminologies in a dictionary of modern Iranian slangs, but it totally makes sense that the word that was meant to be there was Cigari and not Cigar!
Thank you Iman.
I am curious about the dictionary of modern Iranian slangs. Where do you get one of them? seems really funny. You know I haven’t been back to Iran since I left (6 years ago). My brother moved to US about a year ago and I sometimes can’t understand the slangs he uses. I think things changes so fast and it’s hard to know from distance.
This is my number 1 reference book:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1934369._
And “Funny” is definitely the right word for it!
Hey guys,
First of all, i love your show. it’s the BEST. I’m a second year medical student and love the subject of your show tonight. I have a cardio test coming up and have heard so much about both smoking and drinking in the past years that i’m about to loss my mind LOL
By the way, I don’t know if you guys have heard about this or not but lately there was a new research that suggested that drinking a glass of wine every night is good for your heart so we have been hearing many clam this research as their reason for drinking. However, the most recent studies showed that even that one glass of wine every night has so much of a potential damage on your liver that basically it just does not worth it !!! so you might do soething else to help your heart and save your liver !
I tried calling you guys and talk to you about these subject, but for some reason it did not work. anyways, I wish you all the best of luck and keep making these amazing shows.
Best wishes,
I know exactly what you mean. I’ve been a smoker for decades and although I know it’s killing me I don’t have the willpower to quit. But I found these new, “healthy” cigarettes that let me get my fix without damaging my lungs. Check out my blog!
I introduced myself to smoking when I was really young. It was the biggest mistake I’ve made. Now I am 45 years old I have found quitting is extremely difficult. I attmpted all of the quitting tricks but not one helped. Then I heard about the electric cigarette. The e cig uses a nicotine juice that contains nothing but nicotine. No poisons at all. They have luckily improved my life. No longer breathing in smelly smoke feels stupendous!