Smoking

[sushi]

Hey, don't get me wrong - I loved smoking. If it didn't make me fat, make me not able to run or affect my health, I'd still be toking away at a couple of packs a day.

Understand.

A couple of packs a day is definitely a serious habit.

It's interesting how some people gain weight from smoking and others seem to loose weight.

 

[kretzy]

I tried once or twice and thought it was revolting.

If people want to smoke, then that's their choice but I really do think it's unfair on non-smokers who have to be exposed to it. I also take particular issue with pregnant women who smoke and customers (with kids) at work who will put food back so they have enough to buy cigarettes. I also find it disturbing when I see kids no more than 10-12 years old hanging around outside work with a cigarette hanging out of their mouths. Admittedly I work in a pretty "rough" part of town so it's not like it happens everywhere, still not nice though.

 

[auxplage]

Anything that one finds pleasurable is going to be worth it to that person.

That is why I do not understand the "it is an expensive habit" argument.

People go to Starbucks everyday and "waste" $4 on a cup of coffee which is less than the amount I spend on pleasure for three or four days with cigarettes since here in tobacco country (Virginia) Camels and Marlboros are "only" $3.75 a pack.

Of course to most, cigarettes are seen as unhealthy, so no amount in their opinion should be spent on them. However, cigarettes are gratifying to the smoker, so he/she will spend any amount necessary on them.

 

[iGary]

Those that have never smoked for a long time (more then 7-10 years) really shouldn't talk smack about something they don't understand at all.

Well said.

 

[Josh]

Anything that one finds pleasurable is going to be worth it to that person.

That is why I do not understand the "it is an expensive habit" argument.

People go to Starbucks everyday and "waste" $4 on a cup of coffee which is less than the amount I spend on pleasure for three or four days with cigarettes.

Of course to most, cigarettes are seen as unhealthy, so no amount in their opinion should be spent on them. However, cigarettes are gratifying to the smoker, so he/she will spend any amount necessary on them.

I hear cocaine is pretty gratifying, too.

The difference between coffee and smoking is that coffee has health bonuses, is not looked down upon by others, does not affect others in a particular radius from the user, and is most often cited as reducing the number #1 reason people say they smoke: stress.

 

[iGary]

Understand.

A couple of packs a day is definitely a serious habit.

It's interesting how some people gain weight from smoking and others seem to loose weight.

I'm fat either way, just with smoking, I can't run to keep it off, so I get fatter that way than not.

 

[iGary]

I hear cocaine is pretty gratyfing, too.

The difference between coffee and smoking is that coffee has health bonuses, is not looked down upon by others, does not affect others in a particular radius from the user, and is most often cited as reducing the number #1 reason people say they smoke: stress.

I smoked because I liked it. Didn't start due to stress, didn't continue to due to stress.

 

[yellow]

The difference between coffee and smoking is that coffee has health bonuses

I just need to point out..

Nicotine has health bonuses as well (yes, many negatives.. not to mention all the other crap in cigarettes). And caffine has plenty of health negatives.

And coke isn't a legal drug, where nicotine, alcohol, and caffine all are legal.

 

[Josh]

I smoked because I liked it. Didn't start due to stress, didn't continue to due to stress.

What was it that made you want to buy your first pack?

I've smoked a time or two as a kid, as I think all kids do, but never understood what the urge/desire/want was to actually take it on and buy a pack.

I just need to point out..

Nicotine has health bonuses as well (yes, many negatives.. not to mention all the other crap in cigarettes). And caffine has plenty of health negatives.

And coke isn't a legal drug, where nicotine, alcohol, and caffine all are legal.

All true, but absolutely miniscule in comparison. Smoking contributes to just about all of the leading causes of death in America.

Smoking has absolutely *zero* health benefits. Soda/coffee isn't good for you either, but they're not killing anyone.

 

[kretzy]

What was it that made you want to buy your first pack?

I've smoked a time or two as a kid, as I think all kids do, but never understood what the urge/desire/want was to actually take it on and buy a pack.

Yeah this is something I've never understood either. Is it just a matter of becoming addicted after trying it a few times or is it actually because you enjoy the taste/sensation/experience etc?

 

[2nyRiggz]

I don't smoke......


Bless

 

[auxplage]

I hear cocaine is pretty gratifying, too.

The difference between coffee and smoking is that coffee has health bonuses, is not looked down upon by others, does not affect others in a particular radius from the user, and is most often cited as reducing the number #1 reason people say they smoke: stress.

I understand completely what you are saying. I feel that anything, including nicotine, caffeine, and cocaine, has benefits in moderation which most smokers do not have - including me.

Caffeine is very dangerous, and some are more addicted to that than nicotine.

Not to bring out a complete bull**** argument, but smoking has been shown to help with Parkinson's disease.

 

[iGary]

Smoking has absolutely *zero* health benefits. Soda/coffee isn't good for you either, but they're not killing anyone.

Prove it.

What was it that made you want to buy your first pack?

I was addicted at that point. I wanted to avoid withdrawal, so if you want to call that stress, fine.

 

[Josh]

Prove it.

Prove otherwise.

There is not an arguement that can be made as to why people should start smoking.

 

[auxplage]

Prove it.



I was addicted at that point. I wanted to avoid withdrawal, so if you want to call that stress, fine.

If anyone saw the movie Thankyou for Smoking, iGary makes a good point.

We all accept everything as fact and swallow what we have been told. It is good to do research on one's own. Studiest are always interesting.

 

[iGary]

Prove otherwise.

There is not an arguement that can be made as to why people should start smoking.

That's the point isn't it? Caffeine, artificial colors, preservatives...you can't single them out as a cancer cause, can you, but anyone in their right mind wouldn't deny that pumping your body full of chemicals over 30 years isnt detrimental.
Smoking is easy to single out because you have almost a 100% chancve of getting sick if you do it long enough.

Where did I say that people should start smoking? You're the one that said that there is no harm in consuming a quart of chemicals a day.

 

[auxplage]

Prove otherwise.

There is not an arguement that can be made as to why people should start smoking.

The arguement: I live in a free society, so I am able to do smoke cigarettes if I am eighteen. If I want the effects of smoking, both good and bad, then I should start smoking.

 

[yellow]

I'm not trying (too hard) to defend smoking, I just cannot stand self-rightous anti-smokers who never smoked for an extended period of time. If you've been there and done that, then you can preach at me all you want about it's evils. Otherwise, you're just a soapboxer with no perspective that interests me.

As a former smoker, I'm more than happy to tell people about it's evils and encourage them to quit. I feel like having been a longtime smoker, it's OK for me to do so, because I understand exactly where a smoker is coming from and can easily prove that life after smoking is possible.

 

[Josh]

Where did I say that people should start smoking? You're the one that said that there is no harm in consuming a quart of chemicals a day.

I did? Where?

Without putting words in my mouth, what you might have read was the coffee has more benefits than smoking (which is easy, as smoking has none).

And no one should have to "prove" to anyone that smoking is more negative than positive, if that already isn't known, then...

 

[yellow]

has more benefits than smoking (which is easy, as it has none).

Again, I say nicotine has benefits to certain individuals. (of course, this can be gained w/o smoking)

 

[kretzy]

The arguement: I live in a free society, so I am able to do smoke cigarettes if I am eighteen. If I want the effects of smoking, both good and bad, then I should start smoking.

I agree, but what about non-smokers in this "free society"? They often don't get a choice.

 

[yellow]

I agree, but what about non-smokers in this "free society"? They often don't get a choice.

In the US, at least, there is finally a significant amount of legislation in favor of the non-smoker.
In many major metropolitian areas, many (all) bars/restaurants and even public places are smoke-free.
Even here in the tabacco belt.

Let's, instead, talk about honest ways that you quit or want to quit smoking and how you feel about smokers' rights and such.

I thought that this could be interesting.

You know, when I moved to NC for school in 1990, I was AMAZED at how cheap cigarettes were. That in and of itself was a big contributing factor to making my smoking much heavier than it had been (from ~3/4 of a pack/day to 2 packs per day). I bought a carton of premium smokes for $12!

 

[iGary]

I did? Where?

Without putting words in my mouth, what you might have read was the coffee has more benefits than smoking (which is easy, as smoking has none).

And no one should have to "prove" to anyone that smoking is more negative than positive, if that already isn't known, then...

Coffee is chock full (no pun intended) of pesticides and other chemicals.

Why do you think that everyone here is trying to defend smoking?

I am not trying to defend smoking as a viable choice over coffee, but when you try to imply that coffee is just dandy, that's just just...well it's not true. The first thing a doctor will have you do is dump caffeine the minute you have any cardiovascular or renal issues. Period.

Whatever, why are we even talking about coffee? Smokings bad, no doubt, but what really gets me is when people try to sound like they do not do anyting harmful to their bodies...

Eat things with preservatives? Artificial colors? Stimulants? Drink alcohol?

While none of those things are as dangerous as smoking (as far as we know), no one would argue that they are GOOD for you right? I doubt you would be trashing alcohol if we started a thread on that - would you?

 

[kretzy]

In the US, at least, there is finally a significant amount of legislation in favor of the non-smoker. Many bars/restaurants and even public places are smoke-free.

Similar here, particularly over the last few years. However that doesn't really help children whose parents perhaps smoke.

I'm not trying to be all "smoking is evil", but I just think that in certain circumstances people need to be more responsible for their smoking behaviours.

 

[iGary]

Similar here, particularly over the last few years. However that doesn't really help children whose parents perhaps smoke.

I'm not trying to be all "smoking is evil", but I just think that in certain circumstances people need to be more responsible for their smoking behaviours.

I think people forget what it was like 20 years ago. non smoker had ZERO rights.