Thunder196, Tulsa (8/4/2009 5:06:30 AM)

When I was in high school in Wichita, we went to the skating rink all the time, and the girls with little baskets of free samples passed out cigarettes to one and all. My twin sister took up smoking at 15. I took up smoking a little later. I finally quit in 1984 after many many attempts. My sister tried and tried to quit but always went back. She died of a heart attack, 4 years ago, all because some nice young lady passed out free samples. Is this what we want for our young people?

cobweb, (8/4/2009 5:53:01 AM)

These scumbags are all over college campuses.

my view, Sand Springs (8/4/2009 7:59:23 AM)

It's called free market, you may not agree but until tobacco becomes illegal they have a right to market their product.

Eagle 4, Tulsa (8/4/2009 8:02:56 AM)

I'm surprised there wasn't an NRA trailer passing out Russian roulette samples. Tobacco is just as deadly and should be avoided by all who wish for a healthy and unaddicted life. Beware, young 'uns!

PhoenixIX, Jenks (8/4/2009 8:04:28 AM)

"all because some nice young lady passed out free samples."-Thunder196

I'm sorry your sister died at a relatively young age.

But, to blame it(her death) on a choice She made is not reasonable.

BowlerDave, Tulsa (8/4/2009 8:24:00 AM)

"all of this at an event sponsored by State Farm, a company that provides health insurance."

Uh, yeah. Healthy people don't buy health insurance. Get 'em sick then watch 'em come in as new customers.

Duh.

FIRE GUNDY, TULSA (8/4/2009 8:24:01 AM)

The letter makes a good point.

XRmyChick, Tulsa (8/4/2009 8:25:59 AM)

my view, the "free market" wasn't the point of this letter. Of course tobacco companies can market their products whenever and wherever they can as dictated by law. Polly was calling out the State Farm CEO for being what she perceived was a hypocrite. She was also, I believe, asking corporate sponsors as a whole and event coordinators to think twice about allowing this kind of thing to occur at their events.

I think she's got a point.

PhoenixIX, Jenks (8/4/2009 8:49:31 AM)

State Farm is being no more "hypocritical" in this sponsorship that they were in their sponsorship of the "Gay Pride" festival.

That's when they became my former Insurance company.

billy8, Sand Springs (8/4/2009 9:18:28 AM)

Didn't they serve alcahol too,? that's not good either. but what fun is a concert without booze and cigarettes. We need some good old fashion weed to really get the party going.

tulsa citizen, (8/4/2009 9:19:34 AM)

I can NOT believe that an event with a presenting sponsor of State Farm would allow such a thing. Shame on them. I'm telling all of my friends and family with State Farm to cancel their insurance. What a sham. I lost my father from lung cancer. Even though he has been dead for 2 years, he still gets samples in the mail. Hoorah for Camel and State Farm - they found some new smokers!!!

Dr. Strangelove, Tulsa (8/4/2009 9:24:55 AM)

I doubt State Farm knew the cigarette company was going to be there. I think passing out free samples was a bad idea, but Dfest has every right to take on whatever sponsors they wish.

Miss T, Saratoga Springs (8/4/2009 9:49:58 AM)

I can see where it would be very easy to blame State Farm for the irresponsibility of allowing tobacco companies at an event. However, sponsorship of an event simply means that a company contributed towards making an event possible for the public, without the public having to pay for it. Onus on which vendors are there should fall more onto the event planners, and even to the tobacco companies themselves. If SF were passing out cigarettes with their logo on them, that would be different, now wouldn’t it? Shame on the tobacco companies for continuing their “Joe Camel” tactics towards addicting the next round of smokers, but I certainly don’t think SF is handing them the lighter. Spring boarding off a prior post…and as far as them sponsoring a gay pride day? Although I do not represent that particular demographic, I am pleased that I have an insurance company who respects that we are all individuals, and that not everybody fits into a cookie cutter image. Everybody needs insurance…believe it or not…even gay people. Ed Rust, Jr. runs THE largest mutually owned insurance company in the US AND takes home the lowest income of any CEO in his industry. They give away over 60M in philanthropy a year. He must be doing something right. They say good fences make good neighbors. State Farm is a good neighbor, as far as I’m concerned; I guess it could be an option for you to make a higher fence. Thank you for your time.

tulsa citizen, (8/4/2009 9:54:11 AM)

They had to know they were going to be there - Camel has been a sponsor the past few years. I guess if you smoke - you won't need their insurance for that long.

coffeelady, (8/4/2009 11:04:41 AM)

Way to go Polly! I agree with your view 100%. Let's promote health in this state for a change.

billw001, Tulsa (8/4/2009 12:26:14 PM)

Was there food served at this event? Was any of it fried??
I bet most of any food sold there was not healthy heart.
The food vendors were looking for future fatties to buy their products. ;)

52favoriteteacher, Washburn--used to be Broken Arrow (8/4/2009 12:54:49 PM)

The Blame Game---it has to end my friend

Be Responsible

Be Respectful

Be Ready and Safe

The 3 R's we teach day after day after day...

MaintenanceMan, Tulsa (8/4/2009 2:13:00 PM)

Let's outlaw fried foods, cigarettes, beer and loud music at every event...Its all bad for you anyway. I'm just kidding here, for all who would really consider this or any part of it.

MaintenanceMan, Tulsa (8/4/2009 2:13:46 PM)

I mean how else are we going to keep Insure Oklahoma going without tobacco use?

LadyG, (8/4/2009 2:38:39 PM)

Are you seriously comparing tobacco to fried foods? Tobacco use kills 1,200 Americans a day!
The Tobacco companies are trying to get our children addicted to their product because they cannot stay in business unless kids start smoking or dipping and replace those that DIE every day!
This is a quote from U.S. Tobacco: “Cherry Skoal is for somebody who likes the taste of candy, if you know what I mean.” … Who do you think they mean??? Your kids and mine! Big Tobacco is marketing towards youth with candy flavored cigarettes, fruit flavored Chew and so many more new “cool” products.

We need to start setting better examples and NOT let smoking or dipping be socially acceptable!

Bullhead, Nicut (8/4/2009 3:09:12 PM)

Parents could 'use' the tobacco trailer as a visual tool, "Look kids, that's what killed your grandfather." and point to the trailer.

Tobacco is bad. We pound that into our kids' heads every single day. All we can do besides that is pray they don't take up the habit. It's too hard to break. Instill this in your child.

upperclass, Bixby (8/4/2009 5:40:06 PM)

Thank you State Farm for sponsoring this event. I personally didn't even see the tobacco trailer but why not place blame on the tobacco company. They are the problem. Or better yet, next year all of the people complaining here can become a sponsor and place a smoking kills booth up at Dfest. The more sponsors the better.

parksport, (8/4/2009 8:56:42 PM)

The writer made a key statement when she wrote "I'm just hoping events like Dfest will do what's right for Tulsa and the health of our kids, by refusing to take any more money from tobacco companies". The Organizers of Dfest had the responsibility of deciding what vendors they allowed at the event, and Polly should direct her comments to them. It would seem more effective then singling out State Farm, which I am guessing got top billing because they gave the most money. I am sure none of the other sponsors intentionally promoted smoking. They included: U.S. Cellular, Bud Light, Cox, Tulsa Convention and Visitors Bureau, Avest Bank, Kum and Go, Cherokee Casino, Tulsa Community College, American Airlines, New Dominion, New Media, Jakprints, Oklahoma Film and Music Office, Whole Foods, Nonni's, Oklahoma Lottery, Oklahoma City University, Coca-Cola, Vitamin Water, Fuze, SSI Technologies, Oklahoma Foundation for the Music Industry, iRok Radio, Guitar Center, RexPR, and Staar Solutions. I also agree that maybe next time a smoke cessation trailer or information booth would be a good idea.

Astro1, (8/5/2009 2:57:10 AM)

Miss T, "..sponsorship of an event simply means that a company contributed towards making an event possible for the public, without the public having to pay for it." Those who attended the event DID pay for tickets to attend, although the Camel trailer was not in an area restricted to ticket holders.

I stood in line to go into the Camel showcase, becuase I wanted to see just why it took a triple-wide trailer to promote cigarettes. A lady at the door asked if I was a smoker. When I told her I wasn't, she said, "I'm sorry, but I can't let you in. This is a promotion for current smokers only." Of course, anyone could have lied to get in if they weren't smokers but wanted to start (and get free samples,) but how many people like that are there? And yes, they were checking IDs if someone looked like they could be underage.

I hope that Dfest fans who are non-smokers will express their concerns to the promoters about the Camel trailer.

MaintenanceMan, Tulsa (8/5/2009 10:40:14 AM)

Cars kill more Americans than cigs so lets get rid of them too!