Poll: Smoking and your attitudes

[D_987]

I have never smoked and don't wish too, its a repulsive habit.

What I hate is someone smoking in public say at a sporting event, they'll smoke and therefore effect everyone around them, and they have no consideration for those people...

 

[gh0ti]

There are lots of ways to slowly poison oneself that I'm sure most people would find perfectly acceptable on these boards (drinking for example).

But I still dislike smoking, even though I've been known to do it from time to time. Passive smoking is a killer and I resent nothing more than people telling me it's their right to smoke around me - it's my right not to have to breathe your death fumes! And though pubs and clubs smell bad without cigarette smoke, I sure as hell don't miss the fragrance in my hair the morning after!

 

[stewart34]

It is funny because school and contries try to make you feel that smoking is bad for you, and it is but, that doesn't stop a large % of the world to continue to smoke.

 

[Kiefer13]

No, I've never smoked and I have no intention of ever doing so. My father used to be a regular smoker (he's just recently quit a couple of months ago) and I've seen how it's affected him, coughing a lot and always out of breath, and I don't want to end up like that.

That said, I'll respect the decision of anyone that does smoke, it's up to them completely and I won't have any problems with it as long as they have the common courtesy to smoke away from any non-smokers that obviously do not want to be inhaling second-hand smoke.

 

[godevit]

Never tried and never will , I really hate the smell...

 

[Lumber]

I smoke socially.. if I'm in a group of smokers only I'll take a cigarette... not because I feel left out, but the conversations flows better, I don't know why.
But I still prefer the sweet taste of the green stuff.

 

[Saul B]

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:

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"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."


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

Well, drinking, like smoking (and other things) are OK for you in moderation. I personally do not like smoking and see it as pointless although I am aware other people may find it enjoyable. I am indeed, partial to the occasional drink because I enjoy it, despite being aware of the health risks, but I am always careful to drink in moderation so as not to damage my health or indeed, the health of others.

 

[mipegg]

I dont do it and living in a country which supports you if your ill gives me a bit of a dilemma. I see it as irresponsible to, by choice, drink and smoke. Do things that are so detrimental to your health that sooner or later you are going to just be a massive drain on the NHS. That said, you could say the same thing about people who partake in extreme sports, that they had it coming to them etc (Im a climber). That said I dont think I agree with forcing people to stop either, its a tricky issue. Personal freedom vs Community Benefit.

In the end of the day I have to admit im quite happy with the current deal, people can smoke but not inside public places. So those who want can 99.999% of the time avoid walking through smoke.

 

[Agrosmurf]

I smoke for the "high" you get... helps me get through the day even if it only lasts tem minuts.

 

[Nmil-ek]

I have smoked now 4 times in my life in the last four years, dont particularly enjoy it but they helped me calm down and get through a few deaths. Not something I intend to become addicted to or make regular.

 

[reinersailer]

I'm smoking and i hate it, it's my medicin against psychical pain and i hope, in future my life feels good enough, that i can stop it.

 

[Sindre1]

Smoking proves that you are a sheep.

 

[Saul B]

Smoke what?

Doesn't matter. Tobacco, certain other plants, whatever.

 

[Mr Grey]

Don't smoke, ever. I've been trying to quit for over a year now, down to about 2 or 3 a day from 15 a day but it's hard. It's not cool, it's not fun. It makes your breath smell like dog shit and makes your lungs burn when you try and exercise. If you've never smoked in your whole life, you're a stronger person than I am.

 

[samsprinkle]

I have stress problems and so I took up smoking for like a week. I couldn't breath very well and was coughing badly. So I got rid of them.

 

[.Ricks.]

I smoke once in a blue moon, although it's never tobacco.... Except two weeks ago, I had my equivalent of a Spring Break and me and some other 6 of my classmates went to Lloret del Mar there besides smoking the obvious, there where some rare times at the disco when I was offered a cigarette I smoked. Aside from that as soon as the trip ended I cut off any smoke related activities 8D.

Using the old maxim "do as I say don't do as I do" don't smoke, although addicting to some (I am not included in this) and fun to others it's not worth it

 

[Evilbunny]

I've tried smoking a cigarette a few times while I was drunk. It's not really my thing. Hand me a joint, though, and now we're talking.

 

[Mcdouchedeluxplus]

I rarely smoke, and its usaully when I'm stressed or pissed off