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Originally Posted by yacapo  Kids need to grow up, plain and simple. |
Yacapo, kids grow up at their own rate and in their own time. In the meanwhile, they're vulnerable, not because they're stupid, but for a lot of other reasons that have to do with nature and nurture. Big corporations are able to exploit that vulnerability to their very great profit by studying and understanding the soft spots kids have. The corps understand that if you get a consumer young, you've got 'em for life.
I don't think blaming and shaming these vulnerable targets is going to do much to help them say no to smoking (or big macs, or count chocula). John Wesley's right, it is natural for kids to be curious and rebelious, and I think it's harmful for Big Money to exploit that. It's those companies that need to be blamed and shamed and punished (and boycotted), not their victims.