Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site pegasus.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!ihnp4!pegasus!avi
From: avi@pegasus.UUCP (Avi E. Gross)
Newsgroups: net.misc,net.med
Subject: Re: Request for reasons and ways to quit smoking
Message-ID: <985@pegasus.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 23-Feb-84 20:04:20 EST
Article-I.D.: pegasus.985
Posted: Thu Feb 23 20:04:20 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 24-Feb-84 03:01:07 EST
References: <241@heurikon.UUCP>, <174@sjuvax.UUCP> <281@pyuxss.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Information Systems, Lincroft NJ
Lines: 25

Sharon Badian (pyuxss!sebb):
  S		One of my friends managed to quit smoking by applying
  h	a well-known psychological fact in a unique way. She decided
  a	that she would use a little negative reinforcement in her
  r	fight against the nicotine. Being a liberal, on her way to
  o	radical, she naturally hated Jerry Falwell. She had a little
  n	can in her room. Everytime she lit up she would deposit $1
  -	in the can and this money would ultimately go to Mr. Falwell's
  B	crusade. And I never saw her smoke another cigarette.....

This reminds me of a fat-farm that would make you sign a blank check when you
entered which was made payable to the organization you hated the most.
Examples would be the government of South Africa, the PLO, the KKK, the
Republican party, your ex-wife, you get the idea. Then, for each pound below
goal you come in, they would fill in another increment (such as $100) and
MAIL the check without giving you the opportunity to cancel.

Needless to say, this worked wonders. I have heard that this has been
applied to smoking, alcohol and other drug-related treatments. The major
difference between the above and the story Sharon tells is that you could
not CHEAT!!! You couldn't just empty the jar and put the money back in your
wallet. I wonder which organization I would choose to send my money to?
-- 
-=> Avi E. Gross @ AT&T Information Systems Laboratories (201) 576-6241
 suggested paths: [ihnp4, allegra, cbosg, hogpc, ...]!pegasus!avi