My Two Cents: Rejecting the tanning bed temptation a good choice indeed
Kate Barker
Issue date: 10/13/09 Section: Opinion
I will say, I've been proud this semester. An odd comment, to be sure, but one I feel comfortable standing by.
Well done to Loyola for becoming a university, but that has nothing to do with this new feeling.
And I couldn't be more pleased about the Phillies "three-peating" with another division championship, but that is a topic for another column.
No, my happiness has something to do with another "p-word," unrelated to my hometown baseball team.
The one I'm thinking of is "pale." It's a description that for the first time in my four years feels applicable for this campus.
And it's not entirely surprising that this is the case. We have grown up in a decidedly bronzed age. Self-tanning lotions, sprays, and creams, hours spent frying on beaches because sunscreen was left accidentally-on-purpose back at the house, and tanning beds.
Lay down beds, stand up booths, super, premium -- when it comes to tanning, the customer can pick their poison -- quite literally. For those of you who may have missed the "little" study released this summer, allow me to explain. In July, The International Agency for Research on Cancer placed tanning on the same level as mustard gas and arsenic in terms of cancer causing potential. "After class do you wanna get food and then go mustard-gassing?" doesn't have quite the same ring, does it?
It shouldn't. Because as enjoyable as a December tan may very well be, I'm not sure a future's worth of chemotherapy sessions is a fair exchange.
And while some might be lucky enough to avoid the actual disease, I struggle to imagine this group offering thanks for their severe, premature wrinkles.
Consider this for a second: when I was eleven-years-old, I spent (as many of us do) an incredibly earnest year of D.A.R.E (Drug Abuse Resistance Education).
To culminate nine months of watching videos about peer pressure, acting out fake drug deals, and wearing special goggles that simulated drunkenness (wipe outs galore on the gym's hardwood floor), we were planning a "graduation ceremony."
Well done to Loyola for becoming a university, but that has nothing to do with this new feeling.
And I couldn't be more pleased about the Phillies "three-peating" with another division championship, but that is a topic for another column.
No, my happiness has something to do with another "p-word," unrelated to my hometown baseball team.
The one I'm thinking of is "pale." It's a description that for the first time in my four years feels applicable for this campus.
And it's not entirely surprising that this is the case. We have grown up in a decidedly bronzed age. Self-tanning lotions, sprays, and creams, hours spent frying on beaches because sunscreen was left accidentally-on-purpose back at the house, and tanning beds.
Lay down beds, stand up booths, super, premium -- when it comes to tanning, the customer can pick their poison -- quite literally. For those of you who may have missed the "little" study released this summer, allow me to explain. In July, The International Agency for Research on Cancer placed tanning on the same level as mustard gas and arsenic in terms of cancer causing potential. "After class do you wanna get food and then go mustard-gassing?" doesn't have quite the same ring, does it?
It shouldn't. Because as enjoyable as a December tan may very well be, I'm not sure a future's worth of chemotherapy sessions is a fair exchange.
And while some might be lucky enough to avoid the actual disease, I struggle to imagine this group offering thanks for their severe, premature wrinkles.
Consider this for a second: when I was eleven-years-old, I spent (as many of us do) an incredibly earnest year of D.A.R.E (Drug Abuse Resistance Education).
To culminate nine months of watching videos about peer pressure, acting out fake drug deals, and wearing special goggles that simulated drunkenness (wipe outs galore on the gym's hardwood floor), we were planning a "graduation ceremony."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 13
Alison F.
posted 10/16/09 @ 9:59 AM EST
This is a statement of a college student posting an uncredible and uneducated opposition to tanning.
This is only a opinion....
If Kate had researched and educated herself on the topic, before stating her opinion, she would have come to the conclusion that the IARC was wrong to release this misleading information. (Continued…)
Tracie
posted 10/16/09 @ 10:19 AM EST
Funny that you mention smoking, because they were the biggest contributors to the American Medical Association before we found out that cigarrettes cause cancer. (Continued…)
Eric OLson
posted 10/16/09 @ 11:07 AM EST
This article is so ridiculous. Why dont you look up the facts on the subject. If one was to go by this article, they would never get out of bed for fear of the sky falling on them. (Continued…)
Melissa
posted 10/16/09 @ 11:16 AM EST
Are you aware that oral contraceptives are also in the same category as arsenic and mustard gas? Are you going to write an article suggesting women stop taking them? Alcoholic beverages is also on the list. (Continued…)
Jeff
posted 10/16/09 @ 11:17 AM EST
I agree with the other comments. Moderate Sun exposure is key. Tanning in a controlled enviornment is a smarter decision vs. outdoors as it is monitored and calibrated to only emit a total of 4 Meds per session, can't say that about outside. (Continued…)
Lemmy C.
posted 10/16/09 @ 4:10 PM EST
So now we know who's going to be infecting the masses with the H1N1 when she gets it with her weakened immune system thanks to her low Vitamin D levels thanks to the lack of sunlight in her life because her personal perception is for some reason more important than good health and now she'll be breathing on her pale friends with weak ass immune systems in the name of saving a couple bucks and some phony idea that the sun is bad for you. (Continued…)
Mr Science
posted 10/17/09 @ 2:01 PM EST
"It shouldn't. Because as enjoyable as a December tan may very well be, I'm not sure a future's worth of chemotherapy sessions is a fair exchange."
What are you talking about? Skin cancer is 98% treatable as in the most treatable of all cancers. (Continued…)
j
posted 10/23/09 @ 2:50 AM EST
So now we know who's going to be infecting the masses with the H1N1 when she gets it with her weakened immune system thanks to her low Vitamin D levels thanks to the lack of sunlight in her life because her personal perception is for some reason more important than good health and now she'll be breathing on her pale friends with weak ass immune systems in the name of saving a couple bucks and some phony idea that the sun is bad for you. (Continued…)
Kate has a point
posted 10/27/09 @ 11:44 AM EST
It's just unfortunate that most of you who commented angrily above, in your haste to jump down her throat over what she was saying, never grasped the major idea of her article. (Continued…)
Analytical essay
posted 10/28/09 @ 2:57 PM EST
The main idea of its articles clearly stated. Kate, you wrote a great article. It's a pity that it is not clear for all!
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