[quote=CA renter][quote=njtosd]I can’t tell whether people are more interested in patting themselves on the back for their good habits or in condemning those who they believe have bad habits. [/quote]

I really think that people are afraid of reality — they don’t want to consider the fact that death and dying are a reality for all of us, and we do NOT get to decide when or how it will happen. A religious belief in certain health-related rituals (eating only organic/vegetarian/vegan/calorie restriction, etc.); extreme exercising; refraining from drinking or smoking, etc. is like carrying around a “good luck” charm. If they believe in it strongly enough, they think it will become reality.

While trying to engage in healthful activities and refraining from bad habits will, in the aggregate, offer more people a better chance at living longer, healthier lives, it is still nowhere near a guarantee that they will do so.[/quote]
Amen to that :).