Jumping quickly on my high horse - but I just don't get why people in this day and age still smoke???
I know life is a terminal disease, but smoking just seems so dumb that I now look down on anyone I see smoking. I think people that smoke are just one notch lower in the intellectual stakes. Was queuing just now in the supermarket behind a woman buying 40 Marlboro and my instant thought was "moron".
It's a dodgy argument as I am a few kilos overweight (so could be argued that is a self-inflicted danger) and drink a bit occasionally (also a self-inflicted danger), I ride a motorbike etc, but I consider these as extensions of natural human actions.
I am just being forced to ponder existence a bit this week as I have 2 people I know well in the UK in hospital (one won't see Friday), and life is a dodgy game at the best of times without sucking on cancer sticks.
So stop now people!
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Why do people still smoke?
Are they barking mad?
If drinking is an extension of normal human behaviour, how can smoking not be?
Its a drug. I smoked all my life (from 16). Its dumb. I stopped in December and felt really good about it. Went out with a TTer last night and sucked down 3. Felt like a twat this morning. It is the only completely illogical thing I do in my life and I HATE MYSELF TODAY FOR HAVING GIVEN IN TO MY WEAK SIDE LAST NIGHT.
I know I am on rocky ground, but I still think its proper dumb.
I think it's dumb too, but you can't preach about how dumb smoking is if you don't do the same for the other vices people indulge in
Nope. You're right. Dumb is the word.
QUOTE (Johnny English @ Mar 20 2007, 2:19 pm) 
It's a dodgy argument as I am a few kilos overweight (so could be argued that is a self-inflicted danger) and drink a bit occasionally (also a self-inflicted danger)
Is there any compelling evidence that being slightly overweight or drinking (reasonable amounts of) alcohol has any serious negative health consequences? Not that I know of, at least...
Rebellion. Makes you look cool. Addicttion. Some people actually like smoking. Myriad of different reasons - who knows?
I smoke ocassionally and also think it's dumb. Actually that's why I only do it ocassionally now, before I used to smoke between 20 and 40 fags a day. Wayyy tooo much. The ultimate goal is not to ever smoke, but when you are at the pub and having a few cold ones a fag somehow goes ok with it.
Drinking is something you can do in moderation without harming yourself. I don't think the same can apply to smoking, plus one cigarette and you still smell like an ashtray.
Still, a good cigar every now and then. Dumb I know, but I also like eating Smarties by the fistfull.
Still, a good cigar every now and then. Dumb I know, but I also like eating Smarties by the fistfull.
The thing about smoking as opposed to drinking and over eating is that, if I'm drinking, that is my choice and I'm not endangering anyone else's life by making them watch me drink or eat to excess. Smoking, on the other hand, endangers everyone around you because you have to breath that stinking filthy air. It's a selfish addiction.
Well red wine has been proven to aid against heart disease - but not excessive drinking and ideally with food.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1719675.stm
Not sure about the fat bit - might help if you get stuck on a desert island!
@Batson Creek - you get a bit of extra sympathy as according to your profile you have been smoking for 34 years, since the early 70's, and I don't think the message was quite as clear in those days as it is now.
But smoking is just expensive, stinky, and dangerous - I just cannot see the upside?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1719675.stm
Not sure about the fat bit - might help if you get stuck on a desert island!
@Batson Creek - you get a bit of extra sympathy as according to your profile you have been smoking for 34 years, since the early 70's, and I don't think the message was quite as clear in those days as it is now.
But smoking is just expensive, stinky, and dangerous - I just cannot see the upside?
QUOTE (kitkat64 @ Mar 20 2007, 3:29 pm)
if I'm drinking, that is my choice and I'm not endangering anyone else's life by making them watch me drink or eat to excess. Smoking, on the other hand, endangers everyone around you because you have to breath that stinking filthy air. It's a selfish addiction.
so is drink and driving or an alcohol addiction.
what addicition is not selfish?
Just quit a couple of weeks ago and it can be an absolute nightmare, especially when everyone around you still smokes...
QUOTE (planetmoni @ Mar 20 2007, 2:32 pm)
so is drink and driving or an alcohol addiction.
what addicition is not selfish?
what addicition is not selfish?
When you drink wine in a restaurent with your family and go home by your own, it harms no one else.
When you smoke in a restaurent with your family and go home by your own, it harms everyone else including the kids!.
I sometimes feels like playing loud music with a portable steroe next to "public" smokers, just to get the point across. Ofcourse I'd be playing something they don't like to hear!!
QUOTE (Jules Winnfield @ Mar 20 2007, 2:33 pm)
especially when everyone around you still smokes...
That's the worst thing about trying to stope with it for once and for all. If people around you smoke, it's virtually impossible. I stopped for about a year, but then started frequenting some old and new friends who are smokers and fell into the abyss again.
QUOTE (DC77 @ Mar 20 2007, 3:35 pm)
When you drink wine in a restaurent with your family and go home by your own, it harms no one else.
When you smoke in a restaurent with your family and go home by your own, it harms everyone else including the kids!.
When you smoke in a restaurent with your family and go home by your own, it harms everyone else including the kids!.
Don't drink so much and you'll remember to take the family home with you.
QUOTE (kitkat64 @ Mar 20 2007, 2:29 pm)
The thing about smoking as opposed to drinking and over eating is that, if I'm drinking, that is my choice and I'm not endangering anyone else's life by making them watch me drink or eat to excess. Smoking, on the other hand, endangers everyone around you because you have to breath that stinking filthy air. It's a selfish addiction.
Ach away and boil yer heed!!
As usual...
If you don't like smoke, stay out of the pub...
I smoke because I enjoy it, simple as... I know the risks, and to tell the truth, as long as the associated dangers stay away until I am over 60, I am fine with them...
I smoke about 3 or 4 cigs a day when not in pub, when in pub, I can go through a pack and a half on a friday night...
Life is just too short not to do dumb but fun things sometimes.
And, apt for the smoking theme: It's better to burn out than fade away
What I don't understand is the pack a day habit. I'm what I call an irregular social smoker (har har), ply me with alcohol in a place where smoking is allowed and I'll suck away on dead sea scroll. Never smoke during the day though, don't smoke in our house and can't stand being in a smoky atmosphere if I'm not puffing.
And, apt for the smoking theme: It's better to burn out than fade away
What I don't understand is the pack a day habit. I'm what I call an irregular social smoker (har har), ply me with alcohol in a place where smoking is allowed and I'll suck away on dead sea scroll. Never smoke during the day though, don't smoke in our house and can't stand being in a smoky atmosphere if I'm not puffing.
QUOTE (Wee Mun @ Mar 20 2007, 2:37 pm)
as long as the associated dangers stay away until I am over 60
Profile says your are 35? Trust me fellah - when you hit 40 (as I did last year) you realise you are nearer the end than the start.
I don't think the associated dangers nicely guarantee to leave you alone until you are 60 anyway.
QUOTE (Janx Spirit @ Mar 20 2007, 2:39 pm)
can't stand being in a smoky atmosphere if I'm not puffing.
Which I guess is a very common thing among social smokers. I can't stand the smell of it either, it's only not horrible when I'm also smoking. Go figure why, it's the same crap at the end of the story.
QUOTE (Johnny English @ Mar 20 2007, 2:30 pm)
@Batson Creek - you get a bit of extra sympathy as according to your profile you have been smoking for 34 years, since the early 70's, and I don't think the message was quite as clear in those days as it is now.
The profile doesn't lie. 34 years, man and boy.
QUOTE (Wee Mun @ Mar 20 2007, 2:37 pm)
I smoke because I enjoy it, simple as... I know the risks, and to tell the truth, as long as the associated dangers stay away until I am over 60, I am fine with them...
I smoke about 3 or 4 cigs a day when not in pub, when in pub, I can go through a pack and a half on a friday night...
I smoke about 3 or 4 cigs a day when not in pub, when in pub, I can go through a pack and a half on a friday night...
Hmm...I sense a little bit of guilt creeping in here. I might have used the same train of thought a few years ago, but add on 15 years to your profile and you might change your mind, as I did. Strange thing, wanting to see your daughter married and know your grandchildren.
I think smoking is dumb too. Not everyone who smokes is stupid though.
People do a lot of dumb things, and smoking is an addiction that takes a lot of discipline and willpower to get away from once you started. That is why I never bothered to try even one cigarette. But many people started smoking when they were 15 or 16, and they wanted to fit in.
I never felt the need to fit in so bad that I would put my own health in danger, and aside from that my friends all don't smoke. I think at my age, whether you smoke or not, often depends on how many people in your social circle (or your social circle when you were a teenager - mine in Munich is still the same as when I was 16) smoke.
Another thing is, I'd rather waste my money on things other than cigarettes. It is too expensive a habit to start for me.
Plus, second-hand smoke already bothers me a lot, I don't think I would really enjoy smoking.
Alcohol is a drug like nicotine, but far less addictive. Alcohol can be just as harming as nicotine (but in different ways) if you don't know where to draw the line, but most people do!
People do a lot of dumb things, and smoking is an addiction that takes a lot of discipline and willpower to get away from once you started. That is why I never bothered to try even one cigarette. But many people started smoking when they were 15 or 16, and they wanted to fit in.
I never felt the need to fit in so bad that I would put my own health in danger, and aside from that my friends all don't smoke. I think at my age, whether you smoke or not, often depends on how many people in your social circle (or your social circle when you were a teenager - mine in Munich is still the same as when I was 16) smoke.
Another thing is, I'd rather waste my money on things other than cigarettes. It is too expensive a habit to start for me.
Plus, second-hand smoke already bothers me a lot, I don't think I would really enjoy smoking.
Alcohol is a drug like nicotine, but far less addictive. Alcohol can be just as harming as nicotine (but in different ways) if you don't know where to draw the line, but most people do!
QUOTE (Batson Creek @ Mar 20 2007, 2:22 pm)
Its a drug. I smoked all my life (from 16). Its dumb. I stopped in December and felt really good about it. Went out with a TTer last night and sucked down 3. Felt like a twat this morning. It is the only completely illogical thing I do in my life and I HATE MYSELF TODAY FOR HAVING GIVEN IN TO MY WEAK SIDE LAST NIGHT.
I hope you manage to get back on track!
QUOTE (Wee Mun @ Mar 20 2007, 2:37 pm)
Ach away and boil yer heed!!
As usual...
If you don't like smoke, stay out of the pub...
As usual...
If you don't like smoke, stay out of the pub...
Well, that would be a plausible response if smoking was limited to just pubs...
QUOTE (Mariposa @ Mar 20 2007, 2:48 pm)
I never felt the need to fit in so bad that I would put my own health in danger,
Once again non smoker takes the moral high grounds and shites on smokers who clearly have never had friends and were soo desperate to get some they began smoking..
QUOTE (Johnny English @ Mar 20 2007, 2:19 pm)
(...) life is a dodgy game at the best of times without sucking on cancer sticks.
I'll drink to that JE. And sorry to hear about your friend's fate.
QUOTE (Mariposa @ Mar 20 2007, 2:50 pm)
I hope you manage to get back on track!
So long as I don't spend too much time with the bugger I went out with last night! Not his fault, to be fair.
QUOTE (Johnny English @ Mar 20 2007, 2:19 pm)
Jumping quickly on my high horse - but I just don't get why people in this day and age still smoke???
More worrying, is that if you're are man, smoking causes clogging which can block the blood vessels at the bottom of your todger...
Nothing a bit of Viagra can't fix though as long as you don't get a heart attack after taking it
Meh. Don't sweat the small stuff, who wants to live forever anyway?
I quit smoking but now I'm carrying a extra weight around, I'm probably not a heck of a lot healthier than when I was a smoker.
I quit smoking but now I'm carrying a extra weight around, I'm probably not a heck of a lot healthier than when I was a smoker.
QUOTE (planetmoni @ Mar 20 2007, 2:32 pm)
so is drink and driving or an alcohol addiction.
what addicition is not selfish?
what addicition is not selfish?
Drink and driving is not something the average person would do. And that is something you get in legal trouble for if you get caught.
For smoking you don't.
Addictions are selfish, but I think most people don't choose to be addicted. They choose to start, but once they are addicted, often they canot simply choose to stop.
Officially I gave up *counts on fingers, runs out of fingers, feels old* 11 years ago.
Now I can smoke a couple while blootered because I think it is a good idea, hate the black bogies and awful pong, cough up half a lung and then not touch a cigarette for ages.
Never want one sober. Never.
The idea is much more attractive than the practice for me. Lost count of the amount of cigarettes I've lit then put out.
And the amount of cigarettes I have bought but not smoked (I must have over 200 cigarettes in my flat).
Mind you, I have been known to passive-agressively smoke cigars to drive away fervent anti-smokers whom I do not like ha ha.
Think I started smoking at college because I thought I would drink less beer.
This was stupid as I soon learnt how to do both interchangably.
Also thought smoking would stop me using my hands to molest unsuitable chaps.
This also did not work.
Barking mad? No comment.
Sorry to hear about your pal Johnny. My best thoughts to you.
Now I can smoke a couple while blootered because I think it is a good idea, hate the black bogies and awful pong, cough up half a lung and then not touch a cigarette for ages.
Never want one sober. Never.
The idea is much more attractive than the practice for me. Lost count of the amount of cigarettes I've lit then put out.
And the amount of cigarettes I have bought but not smoked (I must have over 200 cigarettes in my flat).
Mind you, I have been known to passive-agressively smoke cigars to drive away fervent anti-smokers whom I do not like ha ha.
Think I started smoking at college because I thought I would drink less beer.
This was stupid as I soon learnt how to do both interchangably.
Also thought smoking would stop me using my hands to molest unsuitable chaps.
This also did not work.
Barking mad? No comment.
Sorry to hear about your pal Johnny. My best thoughts to you.
I agree on most of the comments on smoking but again quoting Kurt Russell from Poseidon: There's nothing fair about who lives and who dies
I am so sorry about your friend, JE. My grandpa died of a smoking related illness at 64 and never saw six of his grandchildren.
I stopped smoking exactly two years ago and quickly gained 10kg, but I am much happier schlepping them around than getting short of breath after two flights of stairs due to reduced lung capacity. I can lose weight, if I try, but I cannot replace lung tissue. I knew all along that smoking was bad for me (and others) but never thought I could stop cold turkey, which is the only way, until Scogs got pneumonia and I got bronchitis.
So now when we go pub crawling we can watch people around us smoke without looking like a whipped terrier at their cigarettes and wishing for one, but also without scolding them and trying to convince them to stop. I wouldn't say that we were dumb to start and continue smoking, but I would apply the adjective "unreasonable" to our behavior.
I stopped smoking exactly two years ago and quickly gained 10kg, but I am much happier schlepping them around than getting short of breath after two flights of stairs due to reduced lung capacity. I can lose weight, if I try, but I cannot replace lung tissue. I knew all along that smoking was bad for me (and others) but never thought I could stop cold turkey, which is the only way, until Scogs got pneumonia and I got bronchitis.
So now when we go pub crawling we can watch people around us smoke without looking like a whipped terrier at their cigarettes and wishing for one, but also without scolding them and trying to convince them to stop. I wouldn't say that we were dumb to start and continue smoking, but I would apply the adjective "unreasonable" to our behavior.
QUOTE (Wee Mun @ Mar 20 2007, 2:37 pm)
If you don't like smoke, stay out of the pub...
That might just turn out the other way round, even in Germany.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/13/news/smoke.php
So they cannot ban smoking 'cos of Adolf. What a crock of shit.
QUOTE
BERLIN: Smokers and their allies in Germany won a reprieve Wednesday after the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel backed away from supporting a ban in one of Europe's last bastions of tobacco freedom.
The reprieve for smokers came after Merkel's coalition government of conservatives and Social Democrats discovered that its modest proposals to ban smoking in public places like restaurants, bars and nightclubs might run up against the federal Constitution.
Forcing restaurants to allocate a section for nonsmokers would fall to the länder, or states, the government belatedly realized.
Other countries, including Britain, Ireland and Italy, have banned smoking in public places and France plans to do so next year. But Germany, along with two other heavy smoking countries, Denmark and Luxembourg, continues to hold out on the protection of nonsmokers.
Lawyers said the case in Germany was unique because of the complicated federal system established by the Allies after World War II.
They devised a Constitution that delegated significant power to the länder to prevent the re-emergence of a strong and centralized state like the one that allowed Adolf Hitler to come to power.
The reprieve for smokers came after Merkel's coalition government of conservatives and Social Democrats discovered that its modest proposals to ban smoking in public places like restaurants, bars and nightclubs might run up against the federal Constitution.
Forcing restaurants to allocate a section for nonsmokers would fall to the länder, or states, the government belatedly realized.
Other countries, including Britain, Ireland and Italy, have banned smoking in public places and France plans to do so next year. But Germany, along with two other heavy smoking countries, Denmark and Luxembourg, continues to hold out on the protection of nonsmokers.
Lawyers said the case in Germany was unique because of the complicated federal system established by the Allies after World War II.
They devised a Constitution that delegated significant power to the länder to prevent the re-emergence of a strong and centralized state like the one that allowed Adolf Hitler to come to power.
So they cannot ban smoking 'cos of Adolf. What a crock of shit.
That article's a bit outdated, though.
I actually lost weight when I stopped smoking. During the years I was smoking regularly and in large quantities, from 21 to 27, I was also not leading a very healthy life in general. When I came here I decided I wanted to change a lot of things on that matter so I stopped smoking, started doing a lot more physical exercise than before and improved some eating habits. That's what helped in staying away from it for almost a year. But later on a few things changed here and there and now I'm somewhere in between working on the way back to zero smoke and healthier life.
QUOTE (Wee Mun @ Mar 20 2007, 2:37 pm)
If you don't like smoke, stay out of the pub...
If I were addicted to masturbation and beer, I would have the decency not to come all over you just because you fancied a drink!
I am pretty sure that wanking, unlike smoking is banned in most german hostelries, mind you, maybe you could try one of those dodgy swinger places, they may even thank you for it...
I just smoke to please amazingly wise 40 year olds. I don't enjoy it, don't value it, it doesn't mean anything to me whatsoever... I just want to give myself cancer really, really badly so more thuper-intelligent people can 'tsk tsk' knowingly and feel self-satisfied that they made different choices to me. No other reason.
If I make it to 40 I hope other people will do the same for me. Morons.
Growing old is expensive, stinky and dangerous.
If I make it to 40 I hope other people will do the same for me. Morons.
Growing old is expensive, stinky and dangerous.
QUOTE (Wee Mun @ Mar 20 2007, 3:13 pm)
I am pretty sure that wanking, unlike smoking is banned in most german hostelries, mind you, maybe you could try one of those dodgy swinger places, they may even thank you for it...
Just wait some more time, and smoking will be banned too.
As I see it, I have to drink liquid as a matter of course, generally from some form of vessel, or I dehydrate and eventually die. That liquid may or may not have some alcohol mixed in with it. I can understand this.
I also have to inhale air as a matter of course or I asphyxiate and die. No vessel or any other medium involved this time. I can't understand sucking poisonous, carcinogenic air through burning embers. Only a cunt could have thought that one up.
Sadly, most of the people I know who smoke started at school because they wanted to look cool and are now stuck with the addiction.
I also have to inhale air as a matter of course or I asphyxiate and die. No vessel or any other medium involved this time. I can't understand sucking poisonous, carcinogenic air through burning embers. Only a cunt could have thought that one up.
Sadly, most of the people I know who smoke started at school because they wanted to look cool and are now stuck with the addiction.
I want to commit hara kiri but dont have the stomach for it, this was a good alternative.
Well I smoke to slowly kill all the moaning non smoking cnuts who complain about my smoking
QUOTE
The central conclusion of this report is that cigarette smoking should be understood as a manifestation of nicotine addiction, and that the extent to which smokers are addicted to nicotine is comparable with addiction to 'hard' drugs such as heroin or cocaine.
Royal College of Physicians of London
I rarely have met a smoker who told me otherwise
Like WeeMun said, I think we are basically closet asassins and suicide bombers!
Like WeeMun said, I think we are basically closet asassins and suicide bombers!
Why do people still smoke? Because they're addicted, duh. If you can just walk away from smoking you should count your blessings, for the rest of us it's not nearly so easy. I quit almost ten years ago now. Hardest thing I've ever done, bar none.
Also? It occurs to me that some people just don't like being told what to do, especially by strangers. But I'm sure there's nobody like that here on Toytown.
Also? It occurs to me that some people just don't like being told what to do, especially by strangers. But I'm sure there's nobody like that here on Toytown.
I started when I was 12 so now 31 years down the road it isn't that easy to give them up. But just let it be said that there is more to giving them up than just will power.
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