I do find it interesting that even in today's world of knowledge of smoking that so many well educated people are still willing to take the risk. Can't fathom that they get that much out of it. "It'll never happen to me" is at the crux of everything.
Unfortunately, some people need to reach a point of desperation in order to realize the magnitude of the risk. Sometimes it takes something like cancer to make a person quit.
Again, that's very unfortunate, but our brains are designed to learn more from experience than internalizing the advice someone else gives us.

How do we utilize this knowledge? We seriously consider the validity of others' advice, and we think of things in terms of thier long-term and ultimate effect, as opposed its momentary effect. Think about not only yourself but others, and think about not only your momentary interests but your long-term interests. Realize that many people have had many experiences and have likely learned from them so they may have advice you can use. What they say
may be valid, and
may save
you trouble...and yield you benefit.
