Do Hobbits get Lung Cancer?

[Alfirin]

Originally Posted by Eönwë

THey wouldn't get lung cancer. I don't thing Old Toby was like Tabacco. Also sometimes they smokes athelas (or Kingsfoil) which was a healing herb. And Gandalf does cough a bit from smoking in Minas Tirith in the extended edition of the return of the king. Also Gandalf smokes and Saruman copies him, so it must be a good sign, no?

*smirks to self as I notice that in the fellowship of the ring movie, saruman goes "Your love of the Halflings leaf has clearly slowed your mind"*

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"Old Toby, the finest weed in the South Farthing" Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!

There's actually a bit of subtext in that line. Somewhere (I think it is in the Unfinished tales,) there is mention of the fact that during one of the Councils in which both Gandalf and Saruman played a part, Gandalf took out his pipe and smoked. Saruman was irritated by this, and criticized Gandalf for playing with "toys of fire and smoke" at such a weighty affair. I think that this is why Saruman insults the pipeweed and also why he conceals the fact that he himself smokes (As I recall even when he is treating Gandalf cordially he never smokes in Gandalf's presence or offers him pipeweed, as Frodo does automatically.) To do otherwise would be to admit Gandalf was right and he was wrong and Saruman's pride would never allow that!

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

You know, in the EE of FotR Merry and Pippin sounded quite drunk singing there bar song and also later as well in the movies. But I'd say that they probably wouldn't after all you peoples have said, because well lets take Bilbo for example he lived to be 131 in Middle-earth (not counting the years he probably lived in Valinor) and he smoked for a long time, there didn't seem like a very big effect on him, but of course the ring might have done something too!

[Gwathagor]

Like I said, hobbits are just oo tough in the fiber.

Many smokers do live to a ripe old age even these days. And if you take into consideration the fact that they probably smoked much less than your average modern-day smoker and that they smoked pipes, it isn't hard to believe that they could live so long. Anyway, Hobbits are not humans. They are a different race. Therefore their life expectancy is probs not based on their amazing healthy habits but instead on the amount of time it takes for their species' body to grow old and fail.

[Elmo]

Originally Posted by Mithol

Many smokers do live to a ripe old age even these days. And if you take into consideration the fact that they probably smoked much less than your average modern-day smoker and that they smoked pipes, it isn't hard to believe that they could live so long. Anyway, Hobbits are not humans. They are a different race. Therefore their life expectancy is probs not based on their amazing healthy habits but instead on the amount of time it takes for their species' body to grow old and fail.

No they are humans, just small ones with hairy feet!

[Witch-king of Angmar]

As an avid pipe smoker I should say that hobbits don't have too much to fear from dying of lung cancer. Consider that pipe smoke is usually not inhaled but kept in the mouth before being blown out, which makes the the threat of getting lung cancer considerably less than should our furry-footed little friends be smoking cigarettes.

[Laurinquë]

Originally Posted by Witch-king of Angmar

As an avid pipe smoker I should say that hobbits don't have too much to fear from dying of lung cancer. Consider that pipe smoke is usually not inhaled but kept in the mouth before being blown out, which makes the the threat of getting lung cancer considerably less than should our furry-footed little friends be smoking cigarettes.

Well I for one am very glad that those Hobbits wern't smoking cigarettes, we might have never gotten to see them in LOTR, they may have died earlier if what the Witch King of Angmar says is true.