Simon Chapman can actually talk sense!

Yes indeed the title of my blog post might seem ridiculous but there is some truth to this...Chapman could actually be on the mellow. Why not read on and see what you think. I must confess I could hardly believe it myself at first. I've had to go and lie down in a cool room with a warm mug of cocoa and a rich tea buscuit!

Now then - pull your pants (or panties if your a lady), up tight and listen in.

It would appear that even the most strident of anti-smoking zealots will only go so far. Simon Chapman seems to have a conscience after all. Hard to believe isn’t it? Now, the New South Wales government according to Chapman has gone way too far with its restrictive practices on not allowing psychiatric patients to enjoy the dignity of enjoying a smoke without the incessant interference of bullying authorities wanting to coerce patients into following a smoking cessation programme whether they want to or not.

A young man called Ashley Coleman suffering from schizophrenia was found dead at a nearby railway station after committing suicide because he didn’t want to submit to any smoking cessation programme rules brought in by the NSW Parliament last year. Each and every patient must now engage with the lovingly entitled ‘tobacco replacement programme’. Included in this bullying kit, are of course, the ubiquitous nicotine patches (which don’t work and never have), classes to educate the poor saps daring to smoke – and if you’re really good and you’ve eaten all your porridge – you might even get a pass to leave this hell hole for a short while. Nice huh?

Our dear Professor Chapman said that he favours ''dedicated smoking zones where people can go''. No kidding, er anything else? Wait for it – make sure you’re sitting down for this, he goes on ''There are some important and under-discussed ethical issues in depriving people of their rights,'' he said. ''But somehow, when you are a patient, your rights to do as you please are suddenly suspended - even if you are not hurting other people.'' Jesus did he really say that? Don’t know about you but I’m going to read that again! Did he talk about depriving people of their rights? This from a man who has previously oozed zealotry in bloody big dollops and doesn't believe that smokers' have rights.

A second incident took place in another Hospital’s mental health ward when an autistic and schizophrenic patient who wanted to smoke but was told he couldn’t – unfortunately gave way to an emotional outburst. He then was punished for this behaviour by being put in ‘total isolation’ for 48 hours. Great eh? Now that’s what I call humanity.

Anyway here’s real compassion from some rotting fish head called Anne Jones of Action on Smoking and Health Australia who says “mental health units were given a much longer period of time to go smoke-free and it would be a ''retrograde step'' if they returned to the ''bad old days''. They were given a much longer period to go smoke free. So what – that’s completely meaningless. Her arse goes on to say ''There is overwhelming evidence that the health and treatment of people with psychiatric illnesses is significantly worsened if they smoke - and significantly improved if they quit''. Overwhelming evidence? From where...would you like to share this evidence with us anytime soon?

Well there you have it. Chapman doesn’t suddenly see eye to eye with fellow zealots and wants to show some compassion – well I never.

Be careful Professor Chapman – otherwise you’ll find yourself on some zealot's hit list if you start turning into a real human being with compassion – and worse still you don’t have their permission.