Poll: Smoking and your attitudes

[Parallel Streaks]

You know what I hate? People who persecute smokers because they decided they liked something that made them feel good, then slowly got addicted. Do you know how painful it is to stop smoking? Pretty damn difficult, mkay? When you have to give up something that you're addicted to you can go on long winded diatribes about how they destroying themselves, but deep down you'll always know you're a hypocrite, because you were once like that.

Gubbye!

 

[BringBackBuck]

The reason I don't like smoking and want you to stop is not because i care about your health or want to take away your rights. i don't like it because you take away my right not to smoke. "just don't go where the smokers are" doesn't really work. People smoke when they walk along the street, people stand outside my work and smoke. If I chose not to smoke, should I not walk the streets or go to work?
Do whatever you like to yourself, but I would rather you sat next to me at the trainstation dropping LSD or mainlining heroin. As soon as you decide to smoke, you decide that i am going to smoke too, and so are all of the people around you, and that is just not fair.

 

[AGNGoo]

What's the difference between the poll options 'Yes, frequently' and 'Yes, often'?

When I smoked once an hour and my current chain smoking status.

Seriously, it's a terrible habit, don't start. I only do it to keep my anxiety down.

 

[seidlet]

i smoked heavily for about five years - mostly cloves & nat shermans - and LOVED it for all but the last year or so. The last year it was just too expensive, and i had a terrible cough most of the time. I miss smoking from time to time, and I might do some social smoking in the future, but I doubt I'll ever smoke anywhere near as much as I used to - I was up to three packs a day at one point.

 

[Willwillwritehiswill]

When i'm drunk, i occasionally smoke. I also engage in, *ahem* smoking for a different purpose but my lungs are very sensetive and get fucked up easily.

 

[Droids_Rule]

I'm only 16, I've never smoked, no one in my immediate family does, and I don't ever intend to. I'm fine with other people smoking; you killing your body from the inside out isn't any of my business. But what I think is incredibly selfish is smoking in the presence of other people, because you're endagering them as much as yourself.

 

[Neonbob]

I don't smoke, and I don't plan to. If other people want to pay to degrade their health, that's their business, and I won't interpose my ideals on them.

 

[Droids_Rule]

*bleh, double post*

 

[Droids_Rule]

*Wow, Escapist is seriously lagging. Triple-post *

 

[garfoldsomeoneelse]

I smoke for two major reasons:

1) The cathartic release.

2) To spite you pretentious cocksuckers that cry nonstop about health in general and piss and moan about my personal decisions, because they have no other causes to champion. Seriously: cry more, fuckers. I only smoke alone, and around other smokers. I always ask if my friends are okay with me lighting up when I give them a ride or when I'm just hanging out with them. Also, I never give cigarettes to my friends who are interested in "just trying one", because smoking is a bad habit and I'm not about to be the one to get them hooked.

I'm courteous enough to keep you from being involved in my habits. Show the same courtesy by staying the fuck out of them.

I personally hate it and have no idea why people would basically slowly poison themselves for a ridiculous price,

Because they are weak and stupid.


Basically.

 

[JenXXXJen]

Never say never, but I don't particlarly want or plan to. Kind of weird really, half the people in my family, including my parents, are total pot-heads; if I ever really wanted to try, it wouldn't have taken much effort, I've just never been interested.

I suppose you could say it doesn't bother me, though I'd prefer they didn't, what with the health risks and all. Y'know, my dad's the only person I know to have got cancer and not even reduce it.

 

[Oinodaemon]

man, pot's no big deal. I live in the motherfuckin meth capital of the US, and pot gets passed around like candy (albeit expensive candy) i can say i've never smoked meth,though, and that really is an accomplishment here. i live in cali, btw.

 

[Saul B]

I'm just wondering about people's attitudes towards smoking. I personally hate it and have no idea why people would basically slowly poison themselves for a ridiculous price, when they could just buy some rat poison. Sorry, but that's my viewpoint. If you disagree, then fine, everyone has a right to their own opinion.

I dare bet you drink, though. And alcohol is also a poison. No harsh feelings though :3

(And sorry if my presumption that you drink alcohol, would be wrong)

Yeah I do drink... A little... I suppose I shouldn't really. For some reason individuals and culture as a whole seems to think that drinking, no matter what the quantity, is infinitely less harmful than the odd ciggy.

 

[Saul B]

What's the difference between the poll options 'Yes, frequently' and 'Yes, often'?

Ummm... I think I meant 'Frequently' meant you smoke regularly in larger quantities and 'often' meant that you smoke regularly, but perhaps only 1 or 2 per day. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Bonde]

I am allergic to smoking myself, but a lot of my friends smoke a half to a whole pack every day, but I don't find the smell annoying, because it's in so small quantities that I am not affected by it. Actually I enjoy when my friends smoke, and I let them smoke in my car. and other places. I will never begin myself, because it is really dangerous to my health, but if I wasn't I might start smoking a single cigarette once every while. I dislike drunken people smoking, because they smoke so much that it start bothering my health if it's indoors, and I can feel the burning sensation even though that I'm drunk.

 

[Manic Overkill]

look guys i'm smoking and looking so cool!
well... no I don't think that it's even worth trying as there are so many health risks!

 

[Vlane]

Tried it once and never did it again. It's way too expensive anyway.

 

[sneak_copter]

I had to stop for college, as money was tight as hell. I also think i've kicked the addiction, too, so I don't think i'll start again.

 

[Socdk]

Yes I'm a regular smoker.

I'm aware that it is stupid and expensive, so shut the fuck up about it. What did you think? That we didn't know? Oh so THAT's whats been eating away my wallet and makes me cough gray mukus!? Thanks for informing me, I must quit now. MIND YOUR BUSINESS.

I can appreciate if you are annoyed by public smoking, but honestly stop bitching about smokers being smokers. Most of us start early because it's supposedly 'cool' because 'es FORBIDDAN!'! It's unfortunate yes but nicotine is addictive. It's not that easy to stop once you get into it.

Seriously that's my business. I don't see why non-smokers constantly feel the urge to oppose smokers. It would be like me commenting on the amount of pale virgin dorks on this site. How people chose to live is their own decisions.

 

[snakesvsplanes]

i basically created an account just to reply to this thread.

i'm sure that 90 - 95% of the people in this thread who talked down on smokers are, in fact, drinkers.

let's look at some college drinking statistics for just a moment, to compare smokers to drinkers.

QUOTED FROM A LEGITIMATE NEWS SOURCE:

***

"Death: Including drunken driving crashes, nearly 1,400 college students pass away annually in accidents stemming from alcohol related incidents.

Injury: Besides the nearly 1,400 college students killed annually, over half a million persons between the ages of 18 and 24 suffer unintentional injuries while drinking alcohol.

Assault: When assaults occur amongst people aged 18 to 24, nearly six hundred thousand of the incidents involve alcohol.

Sexual Abuse: In the average year, above 70,000 college students ages 18-24 become victim of date rape or sexual assault involving alcohol.

Unsafe Sex: When alcohol is involved in college student’s sex relations, nearly half a million students reported having unprotected sex, and of those, nearly one hundred thousand students related they were too intoxicated to know if they consented to the sex.

Academic Problems: Nearly a quarter of college students relate they have had academic failures and shortcomings due to their drinking including exam failure, lack of attendance, and falling behind in courses.

Health Problems/Suicide Attempts: Of all college students, almost one to one and a half percent of students cite they have attempted suicide due in part to their alcohol or drug usage. Nearly 150,000 students begin to feel the effects of alcohol related health issues while in college.

Drunk Driving: An estimated over two million college students operated motor vehicles while under the influence of alcohol in the year 2001.

Vandalism: Over ten percent of college students who drink alcohol reported having vandalized property while under the affects of alcohol.

Property Damage: Property damage is a moderate to major issue at colleges, as over half the schools with heavy drinking levels report these issues.

Police Involvement: Annually, over one hundred thousand students are arrested for alcohol-involved crimes. Nearly five to four percent of college students are also simply involved with police or campus law enforcement as a consequence of their alcohol consumption.

Alcohol Abuse and Dependence: According to self-reporting questionnaires, college students reported extreme levels of alcohol abuse, and in fact, over thirty percent of the students polled would receive a diagnosis for alcohol abuse and over six percent suffered from alcohol dependence."


***

so, i'm going to finish my cigarette happily, and look forward to my two year anniversary of having kicked the booze habit.