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Let me just start off by saying that I do not smoke in real life and I don't use smoking-related items on my avatar. However, I do not feel that Gaia Online has any real reason for banning the purchase or exchange of tobacco products here on Gaia.

First of all, this site is for those over the age of thirteen. Most individuals, when they reach that age, are aware of what smoking is, why people do it, why they can't stop, and what will happen to them if they continue to smoke. As a matter of fact, I was aware of all of this when I was as young as nine or ten; we had programs and speakers in physical education class that strongly discouraged smoking, drug use, and drinking. I understand that smoking is bad for your body; it killed my paternal grandparents. I am perfectly aware of the fact that, though smoking may look sexy in advertisements or on TV, it is unsafe and that I would never do it myself. How is some item on Gaia Online going to change my mind if I am firm in my convictions and beliefs?

Secondly, it is not Gaia's job to raise someone's kids for them. If you're a worried parent and you don't like the message that you believe is being spread by the purchase or exchanging of these Gaian items, you have one of three choices: you can sit down with your child and practice some active parenting by talking to them about the dangers of smoking, prohibit your child from owning any tobacco-related items here on Gaia, or keep your child off Gaia Online entirely. But the answer is not to ban tobacco-related items on Gaia altogether; what about individuals who are mature and/or old enough to own or exchange such items? Why do you feel you have the right to tell these people that they shouldn't own a certain group of items simply because you believe that they will have a negative impression on your children? Why should Gaia Online change due to the complaints of one person, or group of people, who are clearly the minority?

Thirdly, Gaia has made a huge mistake with its users when it decided to do this. Many users are now upset or scared about what else is going to become banned in the future; several users have quit already or have boycotted the Cash Shop. This is in no way beneficial to Gaia Online. I wish Gaia Online would just explain the situation to its users; perhaps then things would become a bit clearer and there would be less hard feelings. Until then, however, we're in the dark and can only assume that such a change (after all: some of these banned items have been around for years) is the result of complaints, threats, or lawsuits.

Whatever the reason, I am very, very displeased with this.