About Ashmob
There are four key beliefs to Ashmob:
- 1. Tolerance - At core, smokers and non-smokers are the same. We are all human beings with beliefs, hopes, desires, and the inalienable right to do as we want to, without hurting anyone else. Therefore, we fully support the right of non-smokers to not be obligated to inhale second-hand smoke as much as we support the right of smokers to enjoy tobacco in a way that doesn’t hurt anyone else.
- 2. Freedom of thought – The ability to make independent, informed judgements is a very important part of being a rational human being. Therefore, educating someone of the dangers of smoking is to do them a favour, as it provides information useful in making a decision regarding smoking. However, to use the media as a tool to stigmatise them into stopping smoking is not only to underestimate their ability to make the best choices for themselves, but also to unfairly poison society’s minds against them.
- 3. Fun – Life should be fun. The media might like to portray smokers as craven nicotine-addicts, hands shaking as they give in to their self-loathing and light another cigarette, but Ashmob know that there are some people who smoke not because they have to, but because their lives are enriched through the enjoyment of doing so. Ashmobbing’s focus on being as fun as possible is to remind everyone that there is pleasure involved in smoking.
- 4. Community - In the face of society’s demonisation of smokers, smokers should not allow themselves to be alienated, but instead to be brought together as part of a community alongside open-minded non-smokers. Anyone who’s ever stood outside a theatre for a cigarette during intermission will know the warm camaraderie that can come from being part of a group of smokers. Rather than suffering in isolation, we should come together with those who agree with us to help each other.