Fed Spends $33G to Find Out if Same-Sex Couples Live Close to Tobacco Shops

Photo courtesy of stad.com.tr

I have a lot of questions about this "study".

What exactly was the point? Simply to satisfy a curiosity? And what, if anything, do they propose we do to make sure same-sex couples don't live close to shops that sell tobacco? They certainly can't place a ban on same-sex couples moving into housing because tobacco is available nearby. And, if a shop wants to open a store and sell tobacco, are they going to canvas the neighborhood to make sure there are no same-sex couples living nearby? If so, can there be no same-sex couples in close proximity, or is there a threshold that can't be surpassed? What if the same-sex couple isn't at home when someone comes by to ask if they are heterosexual or homosexual? And ... this one's a biggie ... wouldn't it be considered both rude and intrusive for a stranger to knock on your door and ask that question?

Another thing that comes to mind is that since heterosexual couples outnumber homosexual couples, it stands to reason that there would be at least an equal number of heterosexual couples living in the same area ... and likely more. Did this study take into consideration the number of heterosexual couples who do and do not smoke living close to tobacco shops? Did they also take into consideration the number of homosexual couples that do not smoke that live close to tobacco shops?

$33,000 is a lot of money to spend on on a study that, from start to finish, has no clear objective. I have a feeling the real purpose of this study was to line the researchers pockets.

(You can read the full article here.)