Sek Yi, RIP

Sek Yi, a Cambodian tiger hunter who was believed to be the world's oldest person, has died in his sleep at the age of 122. He attributed his longevity to prayer and smoking. He is survived by his 108-year-old wife, Long Ouk, who likewise credits her long life to piety and tobacco.

Comments

[Anonymous]

You guys would poke fun at the law of averages? You must be bored.

[Ian]

How are they poking fun?

[joe]

See, it is possible to safely have a career that brings you in close proximity to tigers. You just have to kill them.

[mike]

He was probably giving the tigers cigarettes.

[david]

Woot! Lemme see...pack-n-half per day for 22 years so far...at this rate, I might even BEAT this Sek Yi guy!

[Anonymous]

Cambodia?!?

What were IN those cigs?

[Anonymous]

It's funny how you guys will cite anecdotal evidence when it suits your argument, but then ridicule people (e.g., Rosemary Ellis and the Montana study) for doing exactly the same thing.

Great science, guys. Judging from your three year-old "Annual" Report, Philip Morris is getting their money's worth.

[Brian Hawkins]

Anon @ 3:37

I don't read anything in the post that suggests CPF is commenting one way or another on any connection between smoking and longevity...he's merely relaying what the old folks themselves attributed it to.

[WLC]

Anon,

I thought one exception to a theory proved it wrong. Back to the drawing board, eh?

Oh, that's right--the evidence is "anecdotal", that is qualitative, not quantitative.

[Jason Ligon]

I would REALLY like to see this guy show up in the Crazyville ad campaign ...

[Jason Ligon]

Anon:

"It's funny how you guys will cite anecdotal evidence when it suits your argument, but then ridicule people (e.g., Rosemary Ellis and the Montana study) for doing exactly the same thing."

Which argument is that? That busybody nanny-state thugs should stay out of my personal decisions?

[Wild Pegasus]

You know, I might be way off-base here, but I think referencing the smoking and prayer line is Reason's editors having a little bit of fun, especially with all the anti-smoking hysteria.

- Josh

[joe]

Yes, Jason, that's the one. "I have the right to kill myself with cigarettes, but cigarettes are harmless" ranks right up there with "I did not kill her, but if I did, it was because I loved her too much." Not exactly winning awards for honesty or principle.

[a pirate]

Joe, why do you give a shit if a smoker believes they will kill him or not? Does it hurt you? Does his purchase of a pack of smokes deprive you of life, liberty or the pursuit of happiness?

and before anyone brings up the 'second hand smoke' monster, please show me a case of 'second hand' smoke killing someone that isnt one of those anecdotes.

I always laugh at some guy in Los Angeles telling me about second hand smoke. HELLO, ever flown into Los Angeles, that big ass black cloud hanging over your city didnt come from smokers, and your breathing lung fulls of it every minute... much worse then second hand smoke...

[Anonymous]

One thing is clear. Anti-smoking zealots have no sense of humor.

[Jason Ligon]

joe:

"Yes, Jason, that's the one. "I have the right to kill myself with cigarettes, but cigarettes are harmless" ranks right up there with "I did not kill her, but if I did, it was because I loved her too much." Not exactly winning awards for honesty or principle."

I haven't heard anyone say that cigarettes are harmless. I have heard that 400,000 is an absolutely absurd manufactured number that still gets thrown in my face every single day.

The correct statement of the argument is, "I have the right to assume the risks of cigarette use, especially since such risk are dramatically exaggerated by the worst published epidemiology in modern history."

[C.P. Freund]

"You know, I might be way off-base here, but I think referencing the smoking and prayer line is Reason's editors having a little bit of fun, especially with all the anti-smoking hysteria.
- Josh"

Josh wins.
btw, chris mooney doubts the guy was 122:
http://www.chriscmooney.com/blog.asp#381

[a pirate]

"btw, chris mooney doubts the guy was 122:
http://www.chriscmooney.com/blog.asp#381"

I say we just cut off his leg and count the rings... should clear that question right up....

[R. C. Dean]

My, my. Question the nanny state pieties, and some people get all in a huff.

[Jon H]

Tiger Hunter?

What's Cambodian for "Crikey he's a big one! Looka those teeth!"?

I'm sure an all-khaki wardrobe also contributed to his longevity.