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Dots, Stars and Keys

By , About.com Guide

Updated June 13, 2006

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Definition:
Members of the About.com Smoking Cessation Forum have adopted a system of dots, stars and keys to acknowledge smoke free time. These symbols are proudly displayed in an individual's signature graphics on forum posts.

  • Dots are used to mark the first four smoke free weeks of a person's quit program. Each dot represents a week, and once a member has accumulated 4 of them, they are turned in on the one month smoke free anniversary for a star.

  • Stars signify smoke free months. Forum members collect 12 of them before trading them for a key on their one year smoke free anniversary.

  • Keys, like dots and stars, represent smoke free time of one year and beyond. People use only one key in their signature, regardless of the number of smoke free years achieved.

    See also:
  • Forum Graphics Rules
  • One Year Smoke Free Milestones
  • Explore Smoking Cessation
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