Why do you smoke?

[Apple Of Sodom]

Smoking vs. Drinking:

1) Smokers at my place of employment take 2 smoke breaks per hour it seems, at 5 minutes a piece. No drinking, of course, is allowed on the job. They waste time.

2) I was taking a walk today and saw a group of smokers on the sidewalk. Not wanting to smell it I cut through the parking lot. Apparently I walked through the crosswind and I could smell smoke.

3) Sitting in my car on a hot day with the sunroof open can be ruined by some asshole at a red light having a smoke.

4) You seem to think cigarette butts just disappear. I see them everywhere. It is socially acceptable to throw a cig on the ground and step on it. I've never seen anyone do that same thing with a beer bottle (obviously drunks do it and it happens, but most socially adjusted people don't litter on a regualr basis.)

5) Effects of second-hand smoke. I grew up in a smokers house and to this day (I'm in my late 20s) I still have the effects of it - hacking and coughing in the morning like a smoker. That is what 18 years of smelling that shit does to you.

Fuck you, smokers. Fuck every last goddamn one of you.

 

[Apple Of Sodom]

I'm more curious as to why people _start_ smoking.

In one of Malcolm Gladwell's books (I believe it was The Tipping Point) he explored this and it was quite interesting. It starts with a strong person smoking because it is cool/rebellious. That person is looked up to by many others and essentially the "weaker minded" of them (those who want to be like said smoker) will take up the habit.

 

[SaDiZTiKStyLeZ]

I'm more curious as to why people _start_ smoking. I can understand why they'd continue, once started. It just seems an odd decision to make to me, given how unpleasant the first cigarette usually is. I mean its something you have to get used to, no?

Both of my parents were chain smokers.
Being a rebel, I would do almost anything and everything I was told not to do, out of spite.
Was stealing packs from parents cartons for about 6 months before they realized it, or decided to talk to me about it.

 

[AstroManLuca]

People start because they're young and stupid.

 

[Blackjack200]

Smoking vs. Drinking:

1) Smokers at my place of employment take 2 smoke breaks per hour it seems, at 5 minutes a piece. No drinking, of course, is allowed on the job. They waste time.

They are also probably more productive in those 50 minutes than your non-smokers are for the entire hour since smoking is a stimulant and improves mental function.

 

[bfdd]

In one of Malcolm Gladwell's books (I believe it was The Tipping Point) he explored this and it was quite interesting. It starts with a strong person smoking because it is cool/rebellious. That person is looked up to by many others and essentially the "weaker minded" of them (those who want to be like said smoker) will take up the habit.

I took up smoking because I noticed all my coworkers were getting an extra break to go smoke because our boss was a smoker. So to get more breaks I started smoking. Started off just a couple a day, then 2 packs a day, now I'm down to under a pack a day. I also use nikostop filters which are supposed to cut back around 80% of the tar and nicotine. I must say they do work because after a month of using them I stopped coughing up a lung when I woke up.

 

[Apple Of Sodom]

I took up smoking because I noticed all my coworkers were getting an extra break to go smoke because our boss was a smoker. So to get more breaks I started smoking. Started off just a couple a day, then 2 packs a day, now I'm down to under a pack a day. I also use nikostop filters which are supposed to cut back around 80% of the tar and nicotine. I must say they do work because after a month of using them I stopped coughing up a lung when I woke up.

So you did it to fit into a social circle and receive benefits from that social circle.

Do you really think the health risks, stinky clothes, stained teeth and expense were worth that extra break you get?

 

[KeithTalent]

So you did it to fit into a social circle and receive benefits from that social circle.

Do you really think the health risks, stinky clothes, stained teeth and expense were worth that extra break you get?

There was Friend's episode on this. Fairly amusing as I recall.

KT

 

[moshquerade]

They are also probably more productive in those 50 minutes than your non-smokers are for the entire hour since smoking is a stimulant and improves mental function.

BS on the "more productive" part.

Also, nicotine is not a stimulant to a smoker. They get edgy because they need a cigarette and the nicotine then actually has a calming affect for them.

 

[SaDiZTiKStyLeZ]

If not for DARE, I probably wouldn't have been as determined to do drugs, as soon as I was able to make the connects.
They said drugs make you feel good!
But feeling good is bad.
Feeling bad is bad.
But obviously feeling good is worse than feeling bad.

 

[lxskllr]

If not for DARE, I probably wouldn't have been as determined to do drugs, as soon as I was able to make the connects.
They said drugs make you feel good!
But feeling good is bad.
Feeling bad is bad.
But obviously feeling good is worse than feeling bad.

You'll take the drugs you're told to take, and you'll like it. Drugs are only good when companies can make a lot of money from you. Tobacco is the exception. That's only good when the government can be supported through egregious taxes.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Currently, I smoke because I'm addicted.

Originally, I smoked because I was drinking with friends, and friends got me to try them.

Last time I started smoking again after I had previously quit for a year or so was to deal with a very very very stressful situation.

 

[DesiPower]

I am not addicted at all, I smoke about 2 3 a week. Just having fun with friends... over a coffee break at work. Never had any outside of work for the last 7 years.

 

[ShockwaveVT]

Answer or die!

Nah, just looking to fulfill a statistics project.

None of your choices address why I smoke the occasional cigar.

My reason: I like getting high on nicotine. I don't want to get addicted so I only smoke one cigar every 4-6 months.

 

[us3rnotfound]

I smoked for 3 years then I basically felt like I had asthma...probably did. I quit right there, I literally could not continue with it. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise.

 

[phoenix79]

Cause I like BBQ

 

[Blackjack200]

BS on the "more productive" part.

Also, nicotine is not a stimulant to a smoker. They get edgy because they need a cigarette and the nicotine then actually has a calming affect for them.

lol, it's a stimulant to everyone; though smoker may have more tolerance and won't notice it as much. It's psychoactive effect is also the opposite of it's physiological effect: smoking give you a relaxing sensation even though it's speeding up your heart. In terms of productivity, I guess YMMV

Tobacco smoke consists of thousands of compounds including nicotine. Many constituents have known toxicity to the brain, cardiovascular, and pulmonary systems. Nicotine, on the other hand, by virtue of its short-term actions on the cholinergic system, has positive effects on certain cognitive domains including working memory and executive function and may be, under certain conditions, neuroprotective.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17690985

Not that all the harm from smoking is worth it. I just like to point it out when people complain about their co-workers smoking.

 

[bfdd]

So you did it to fit into a social circle and receive benefits from that social circle.

Do you really think the health risks, stinky clothes, stained teeth and expense were worth that extra break you get?

No I don't give a fuck about any of that shit because I've always like the smell of tobacco smoke and I found out I like the taste. There's health risks for everything and if it gets to bad I'll just off myself.

 

[Xaijin]

Thank you all for the responses.

 

[SparkyJJO]

It's something to look forward to during lunchtime. Also, it is the same reason people drink or smoke weed. I hate how everyone looks down on smoking but they have no problem drinking a beer or two.

A beer or two every so often does not have negative health risks (obviously drinking too much does). Even if it did, it doesn't stink, and that one or two beers that you drink won't hurt anybody else.

Smoking does have health risks from day 1. Not just to yourself, but to others around you breathing the second hand smoke.

While I voted against the law that Ohio passed to ban smoking in restaurants and such (I believe it is up to the owners of the place to decide, not the government), in a sense I do not mind that it did get passed.

 

[Mr. Lennon]

Smokers are weak people.

 

[shortylickens]

Dont.
And despite the fact I am a giant asshole, I consider myself pretty decent for never having picked up the habit. Its smelly and nasty and these days its fucking expensive. Not to mention the troubles of addiction and withdrawal, especially since you cant smoke in too many places.

 

[Mr. Lennon]

I took up smoking because I noticed all my coworkers were getting an extra break to go smoke because our boss was a smoker. So to get more breaks I started smoking. Started off just a couple a day, then 2 packs a day, now I'm down to under a pack a day. I also use nikostop filters which are supposed to cut back around 80% of the tar and nicotine. I must say they do work because after a month of using them I stopped coughing up a lung when I woke up.

 

[Freshgeardude]

i put i dont smoke, but once every few months I do hooka/ nargila with friends.


no addiction at all, just for flavors

 

[BUTCH1]

No I don't give a fuck about any of that shit because I've always like the smell of tobacco smoke and I found out I like the taste. There's health risks for everything and if it gets to bad I'll just off myself.

Please, take this advise from me, if your not addicted yet, stop. 27 years of smoking have taken their toll on me, in the AM hours I sound like "hack-a-sorus", my addiction costs me $150/mth, my boss has an unhappy look on his face whenever he sees me smoking and my lung function has gone way down. Takes a lot of balls to "off" oneself, usually you just go on living with a greatly reduced quality of life. Tried to quit 3 times, best I did was 4 months off, am planning another attempt this fall, wish me luck, I'll need it...