Phillip Morris has to pay $28 BILLION in damages

[Guest meanmaisch]

I would think that South Carolina would be more clueless than California.

[Guest Ozymandias]

There's really nothing left to say. You're an illiterate because you can't read the perfectly clear facts that have been placed in front of your nose.

Don't you think it's a bit sad to call someone "illiterate" when you don't even vaguely understand the word's true meaning?

 

And WHAT facts? You haven't presented ONE GODDAMN fact. Assumptions aren't facts. That's ALL you have.

Or were you referring to the FACT that cig companies claimed their product wasn't unhealthy? Or how about the FACT that they publicly lied about the effects of cig smoking for a decade or 2? Or the FACT that the natural nicotine levels of tobacco are raised to such an INCREDIBLE amount that people still smoke on their death beds? Oh wait, those facts all prove you're full of shit.

 

You're a weak-willed whiner because you subscribe to the find-someone-to-sue liberal philosophy as a panacea for everything that can possibly go wrong with a person's life

 

No, I don't and I never claimed to. This is a special case. This isn't someone suing because they spilled coffee on themselves. This is about someone being lied to for decades by an industry who made it so she COULD NOT STOP smoking, even when they KNEW it could kill her.

 

and you believe it's the government's job to protect people from their own vices.

 

When did I say or imply this? Don't tell me what I believe in, ugly.

 

You're a liar because you stated that this submoronic woman didn't know cigarettes would kill her.

 

In 1955 she probably didn't. Back then cig companies ran ads with phony "doctors" endorsing cigs. That's pretty fucking conclusive proof that there was a VERY good chance she had no clue cigs would kill her. What the fuck makes you "know" otherwise?

 

Anyone with any sense at all has always known that cigarettes cause cancer - not for decades, but for centuries.

 

Where the fuck do you get off saying what people "knew" before you were born? You know NOTHING. People by and large DIDN'T know that cigs caused cancer. That's reality. You can't wish things different.

 

BTW- Cancer has existed for centuries?

 

But suddenly, like the 450 lb obscenities "discovering" that fast food will make them fat and worthless, a bunch of pathetic, money-grubbing smokers are "discovering" that cigarettes cause cancer.

 

What is your obsession with fat people?

 

Forgive me if I'm slightly skeptical. Here's some free advice for you: you're a cancer yourself. You want to excuse everyone's actions and refer them to invented villains, so that suing someone else for your own failings and your own stupidities becomes an acceptable substitute for actual work.

 

You are dumb as mud if you infer from my stance in this case that I believe in those things.

BTW- I have a job where I do real work. And not an imaginary "government" job I pretend to have in order to impress strangers on a message board.

 

You think someone deserves $28 billion for indulging in something that obviously brought her pleasure for 47 years

 

What makes you think it brought her pleasure? If someone doesn't quit it doesn't mean that they are content, it might mean they can't stop.

 

when it's blindingly obvious that she's acting out of pure greed. Did she sue when it finally seeped through her thick skull that cigarettes really do cause cancer?

 

What's the difference? You would have still reacted with the same contempt for her regardless. Besides, what could she have sued for? Nothing, which really WOULD have made her case frivolous. Nice try, lard-ass.

 

Unless she's been in a coma for the past two decades, I find it difficult to believe that she just happened to make this momentous discovery at the exact same time she herself was diagnosed with cancer. She saw her illness as a way to make a quick buck. And the drivelling idiots in California promptly obliged her.

 

Have you EVER once stopped to wonder why EVERY jury - people who actually have been presented with ALL the facts - always rule in favor of the plaintiff? You can't blame it on a "liberal region" because this isn't something that happened once in Cali. Nor in Massachusettes or New York. This isn't a phenomenon sweeping liberal areas, it is happening EVERYWHERE in the country and there is no fucking way that all these juries nationwide - made up of Americans of every kind - all are making mistakes. Any reasonably sane person presented with the facts would have NO choice but to rule against the tobacco industry. And that is why every court case is a victory.

 

Reality time dumbass, the tobacco industry claimed that cigs were NOT unhealthy (!!) for years; then lied and covered up the truth about its lethal effects for decades (don't give me your "everybody knew that anyway" lies, because they didn't); and increased nicotine levels that made it virtually IMPOSSIBLE for a large percentage of smokers to quit. I repeat: They made it impossible for people to stop taking a product that they KNEW would kill many of them. That is reality, little girl. Accept it or don't, but don't think you can just bullshit your way out of it.

 

In closing I would just like to say that you are one of the worst human beings I've ever had the misfortune to speak with. Your hatred for all things different from you, your lust for death and mass-murder, and your contempt for fellow human beings is nauseating to an indescribable degree. You are a disgrace to your species, your country and to existance itself.

 

 

I'm done with you.

[Guest Cancer Marney]

Don't you think it's a bit sad to call someone "illiterate" when you don't even vaguely understand the word's true meaning?

Main Entry: il·lit·er·ate

Pronunciation: (")i(l)-'li-t(&-)r&t

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin illiteratus, from in- + litteratus literate

Date: 15th century

1 : having little or no education; especially : unable to read or write

2 a : showing or marked by a lack of familiarity with language and literature b : violating approved patterns of speaking or writing

3 : showing or marked by a lack of acquaintance with the fundamentals of a particular field of knowledge

synonym see IGNORANT

 

You fit every definition.

 

And WHAT facts? You haven't presented ONE GODDAMN fact.

Tobacco has been smoked for centuries. Pamphlets dating from the 1500s speak of its dangers. A book published in 1859 by Surgeon John Lizars enumerates health risks and links smoking directly to cancer: "Here I may remark, how many narrow escapes of having cancer of the tongue must every smoker have had, when we consider that every one with a disordered stomach has had one or more pimples on his tongue, which, had they been irritated with pungent tobacco smoke... would in all probability have ended in ulceration, becoming cancerous, and ending fatally." The text contains numerous further details of biopsies confirming the link. Just hit Ctrl+F and type "cancer."

 

Or were you referring to the FACT that cig companies claimed their product wasn't unhealthy? Or how about the FACT that they publicly lied about the effects of cig smoking for a decade or 2? Or the FACT that the natural nicotine levels of tobacco are raised to such an INCREDIBLE amount that people still smoke on their death beds? Oh wait, those facts all prove you're full of shit.

No, those facts just prove that the people you're defending are as weak and morally bankrupt as you are.

 

This isn't someone suing because they spilled coffee on themselves.

That case had merit (read this thread to discover the facts, something you're rather short on). Suing the tobacco industry does not.

 

This is about someone being lied to for decades by an industry who made it so she COULD NOT STOP smoking, even when they KNEW it could kill her.

BS. Her doctor told her it would kill her. She could have stopped at any time and no information was concealed from her. She has only herself to thank for her disease.

 

When did I say or imply [that I believe it's the government's job to protect people from their own vices?]

Every single time you defend absurd awards to weak-willed whiners.

 

Assumptions aren't facts...

Don't tell me what I believe in, ugly...

Nice try, lard-ass...

an imaginary "government" job I pretend to have in order to impress strangers on a message board.

Three assumptions right there. First of all, some people on this message board aren't strangers, and have met me in person. Second, some people have seen me on national television. I'm not ugly, I'm very far from fat, and my job is real.

 

In 1955 she probably didn't. Back then cig companies ran ads with phony "doctors" endorsing cigs. That's pretty fucking conclusive proof that there was a VERY good chance she had no clue cigs would kill her.

It's pretty conclusive proof that she's a liar, an idiot, or both. That's about it. See these polls for evidence that the overwhelming majority of Americans knew well before 1955 that smoking was harmful.

 

Where the fuck do you get off saying what people "knew" before you were born?

Because I can read. See above.

 

BTW- Cancer has existed for centuries?

Uh, yes. Cancer has existed since life began. It's a perfectly natural disease which many people, a rather small percentage of which are smokers, get as they age. Tobacco-caused cancer has probably existed since man discovered fire.

 

What is your obsession with fat people?

I find them repulsive.

 

What makes you think it brought her pleasure?

The fact that no one held a gun to her head and forced her to start in the first place. Nor did anyone force her to continue.

 

Besides, what could she have sued for [before getting cancer]? Nothing

False advertising is a crime under Title 15, Section 52 of the United States Code. Section 54 specifies that "if such violation is with intent to defraud or mislead, [the person, partnership, or corporation is] ...guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than $5,000 or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment." It further specifies double that limit for a recidivist. By that standard the award is approximately $27 billion too high.

 

You can't blame it on a "liberal region" because this isn't something that happened once in Cali

I certainly can and I do. Liberalism is a nationwide problem. The carcinomas are simply more concentrated in California.

 

Your hatred for all things different from you

"Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies."

- Psalms 139:21-22

your lust for death and mass-murder

My job is precisely to prevent such things.

your contempt for fellow human beings

I am contemptuous of the weak, the cowardly, the querulous, the opportunistic, and the liars, yes.

You are a disgrace to... existance itself.

"Existence." See what I meant about illiteracy?

 

I'm done with you.

I've heard that before from you. I didn't believe it then, and I don't believe it now. Because, as I've stated, you are a liar.

 

And a very ignorant and silly person.

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

"I would think that South Carolina would be more clueless than California."

 

Now now, South Carolina has me going for it. Don't discount that part.

 

Kotzenjunge

Brightest Part of South Carolina

[Guest EricMM]

What I don't understand is that this woman is TERMINAL.

 

She isn't going to recover. She will soon die, because she chose to smoke. This is all fine and dandy.

 

So what the FUCK does she need 1 billion dollars for? 28 billion!?

 

What is she going to do buy 1234125 yachts?

 

 

 

And another thing. Does it not SAY on the sides of cigs that smoking cigs is harmful to your health? Does it not say that quitting smoking will lower your chances of getting cancer etc.? Anyone, ANYONE who claims that they were unaware that cigs are bad for you is lying, unless they are from another country or they are mentally retarded. Americans have been bombarded by anti-cig stuff since the 60's.

[Guest Cancer Marney]

Yeah, what Eric said. I have nothing against sane compensatory damages, but no punitive damages should ever be awarded to any plaintiff. If the court wants to punish a criminal corporation by fining it, that's okay, but give the money to a third party - like the ACS or the state or federal government. Use it to fund hospitals or schools. Or set up an independent fund with the money to provide charity or something. Chrissakes, $28 billion? I'll wager this woman and all her extended family wouldn't earn that much in ten lifetimes.

We should cut the tort crap already and stop encouraging these shameless parasites, prostituting their misfortune for a quick buck. It's simply disgusting.

[Guest Samurai_Goat]

I'd like to take a moment to point out various quotes from Cletus the Bloody

 

"do you really think ANYBODY would be impressed by your Grade School insults when its obvious that you have NOTHING left to say..."

"are you just going to make vague insults and hope people buy it?"

 

Some other examples:

 

"Don't tell me what I believe in, ugly."

"You are dumb as mud"

"Nice try, lard-ass."

"you are one of the worst human beings I've ever had the misfortune to speak with. Your hatred for all things different from you, your lust for death and mass-murder, and your contempt for fellow human beings is nauseating to an indescribable degree. You are a disgrace to your species, your country and to existance itself."

"Free advice: you're a fucking dummy"

"Seek therapy, cunt."

 

Yeesh, whatever happened to Do unto others? Leading by example? Sheesh.

[Guest Cancer Marney]

Consistency isn't a characteristic of hypocrites, Samurai. Shrill indignation, demagoguery, lies, rationalisation, and ignorance, on the other hand, are.

[Guest Ozymandias]

I'd like to take a moment to point out various quotes from Cletus the Bloody

 

"do you really think ANYBODY would be impressed by your Grade School insults when its obvious that you have NOTHING left to say..."

"are you just going to make vague insults and hope people buy it?"

 

Some other examples:

 

"Don't tell me what I believe in, ugly."

"You are dumb as mud"

"Nice try, lard-ass."

"you are one of the worst human beings I've ever had the misfortune to speak with. Your hatred for all things different from you, your lust for death and mass-murder, and your contempt for fellow human beings is nauseating to an indescribable degree. You are a disgrace to your species, your country and to existance itself."

"Free advice: you're a fucking dummy"

"Seek therapy, cunt."

 

Yeesh, whatever happened to Do unto others? Leading by example? Sheesh.

My comlaint was that that was ALL she was saying. If you're going to be rude and nasty to someone you could at least have something relevant to say instead of just showing up, calling someone names, and leaving without even saying anything on the topic at hand. That's all.

 

I try not to lead by example because I'm a pretty bad role-model. The things I said were more a matter of trying to communicate with someone who can't communicate with anything resembling civility. I never initiated any of these bitch sessions or felt a need to participate in them, but if you want to talk to someone you have to speak their language.

 

But I see your point. I shouldn't lower myself to the level of trolls. Point well taken

[Guest Cancer Marney]

at least have something relevant to say instead of just... calling someone names... without even saying anything on the topic at hand

Yeah. God forbid you learn to read or get an education in the subjects you pontificate about. Or that you ever stop whining because someone on a message board called you a mean name and made you cry. </eyeroll>

 

I try not to lead by example because I'm a pretty bad role-model

No kidding?

 

I shouldn't lower myself to the level of trolls

No, don't ever cite concrete examples like Gallup polls, original sources from the 19th century, or medical statistics to prove your point. Don't ever stop lying. And never forget to say "I WIN!" at the end of every post. It would destroy who you are.

[Guest meanmaisch]

Sorry Kotz.