It All Depends on Where You Look

Everywhere I look for statistics "they" tell me that most Americans don't smoke cigarettes. According to the American Cancer Society the percentage of smokers is only around 21%. That means that 4 out of every 5 people do not smoke. (I am one of those four, by the way.)

But as I sit in my neighborhood Caribou Coffee (a free plug) it appears to me as of that number is reversed. I see more smokers than non-smokers. I can think of a few reasons for that, not the least of which is the Minnesota law that prohibits smoking indoors in public places. That means that the people I see standing around the front of the nearby hospital or nearby restaurants have to come outside to smoke.

Or if I sat outside a local AA or NA meeting the number of smokers in that group would probably be well over 50%.

It is hard not to let perceptions- and perspectives- skew things.

Nothing more to add. Just a thought as I sat watching people walk by the other night.