So... why start smoking?

[Verlander]

I love how all of the smokers are claiming that the non smokers are ignorant, and "proving" this by espousing their own ignorance.

The truth is:

Smoking has just as many cosmetic problems as it does health problems. Wrinkly lips, yellowing skin, browning teeth, and no, it doesn't require years of chain smoking to achieve.

Smoking doesn't make you look cool. A cigar every now and then? Fair enough. That's kinda cool. A pipe definitely has a charm to it. Little white cigarettes? No, they look poncey and shit.

Something to do with your hands? Are you kidding me? Carry a bag, or get an iPod and hold it. Stupidest thing I've ever heard.

Smoking is only social amongst smokers. Non smokers vary between "don't mind" and "absolutely hate" being around smokers. I doubt that there are many, if any non smokers who "love" being around smokers.

Also, unless you do already, soon smoking will be banned from inside public places. It will happen. That social aspect, of standing outside kinda gets lost when it's cold, raining and you need your fix. Sure, you might meet a lovely smoker girl, and you can enjoy your shorter lives together, which is grand, but seeing as more and more people are quitting rather than taking up smoking, that social group is becoming more and more of a minority.

And, y'know, here's the thing... if you want to go outside and chat to someone who is smoking you don't have to be smoking yourself. There is no prerequisite, there is no entry exam. Walk outside and talk. I ahve smoking friends, and when we're at the pub, and I need to talk to someone outside, I go outside. Magic.

And the big one:

There are varying degrees of addiction, based on the chemical and the person. Nicotine is on there, higher than you might think, maybe not in the same leagues as the big boys, but still pretty strong.

Riddle me this: When other things are found to be life threatening like asbestos or whatever, people are happy to replace them, despite all of the benefits they got from asbestos. So, when found out just how damned dangerous smoking is, to the smoker and the surrounding people as well, why haven't they been banned in a similar fashion? Tax money goes some way to explaining it, but really? It's because smokers love those little cancer sticks, to the point of... addiction!

As a former smoker, I have to say, I gave up smoking quite easily, but then I'm like that. I've known people, health nuts or whatever to have the hardest time of it all. I've been there with friends throughout the throwing up blood stages, and such like.

Smoking in moderation isn't ok, but probably wont affect you much, and it's silly to condemn someone who smokes every now and then. Same with marijuana. It's not really a health issue. Smoke more than 5 a day and you are going to need to sort something out.

Oh, and to the people saying it "focuses your mind"... that's called a chemical imbalance. It's the same as the people who can't function without caffeine. Purge your body of the drugs and then suddenly everything will be better.

 

[Frankydee]

For me it was just a matter of having a shitty week. Almost lost my job, girlfriend wanted to break up, end of the school year with exams and shit, parents being all depressed for god knows why.

now almost 24 and I'm an on and off smoker. Not that i'm trying to quit or anything but some days I just don't want to and that can carry for a week or so. I'm almost on two weeks now.

[small]course it helps thatI've switched over to Snus as well which helps those sudden urges. It's cheaper and I only need like one or two of em' a day.[/small]

 

[Azaraxzealot]

To relax and gives me an excuse to take a breather(irony at any time ever:
Too crowded in a bar/venue? "going outside for a smoke",
Need an extra break at work? "going on smoko",
Something in a game pissing me off? go outside to cool down and have a reason to be there,
Get stuck talking to someone you don't know/like? "I'm gonna duck out for a smoke",

So yeah it's a great get out of jail free card and a quick easy way to relax.

Although I only go through a pack a week, 1-2 packs a day would be crazy, but thats morer addict territory or just people with addictive personalities. And yes, smoking that much will cost you through the yellowy brown stained teeth you now have.

Plus the obvious one, you look cool. Haters gonna hate.

i never understood the statement "smoking makes you look cool"

is it because it makes people think "damn, he/she's so badass he/she doesn't even care about his/her health!"

i don't like my loved ones smoking because i want them all to DEFINITELY outlive me. I would rather die surrounded by people i love than outlive them and be alone

 

[Chrinik]

There is obviously no good reason to "start" smoking...most smokers I know, including me, don´t remember when or why they started.
I think it was peer pressure...I smoked my first over a decade ago, and if you realize that I am only 21, you can guess I started because it "was a cool thing to do" or something.

Don´t start smoking, it´s the best advice I can give ya...on the other hand, don´t give me shit for smoking, it is my choice. This goes out to all, not just the OP.

 

[Gudrests]

The only thing I would consider smoking is the occasional Cigar mainly because....
1. You look badass with a cigar if you do it right.
2. Ciggerate =/= Cigar =/= Weed and to be honest im not doing either of the end ones

 

[HapexIndustries]

I smoke because I love it. I love the act of inhaling smoke, I love the smell and taste. I love the way that I become the minority instantaneously and I have something in common with every other smoker in America, as we stand outside in the cold and the rain, sharing our enjoyment of stimulants and our refusal to bow to social and economic pressure. I fucking love smoking.

I didn't start until I was 17, which was when a friend paid me 5 dollars to smoke one. I always declined because I knew I would love it; my grandfather smoked when I was growing up and I always loved the smell of burning tobacco as he drove me home from school in his big dumb pickup truck. I knew that I would like it too much so I never even tried it. Five dollars was too much to turn down, though, and just as I thought: I loved it.

For the record, I don't smoke constantly. I consider tobacco a drug and I treat it like one, ie. I mix it with food and sex and alcohol and drugs. I don't wake up first thing in the morning and smoke, I don't even smoke in my car or on breaks at work. People say "Why don't you quit then if you don't smoke so much?" which is missing the whole fucking point. I don't WANT to stop. It's awesome.

Sure it's unhealthy, sure it might kill me someday (if the red meat and lack of exercise don't first), sure the majority of the population finds it revolting and I am ostracized socially and raped economically (10 bucks a pack right now in New York, buddy!). Shit, the same is true of cocaine and I'll be GODDAMNED if I'm giving up my blow!

I don't know if I would recommend for someone to start, but as a comedian whose name I forgot once said "I feel bad for nonsmokers. They don't know what it's like to really really REALLY want something sooooo bad... and then have it. Again and again."

 

[Kaptajn Emil Alfred Conan Swagga Benzon]

I sister said it was "to relieve stress". I called foul. Smoking causes as much stress as it relieves.
Edit: Apparently, smoking doesn't cause stress.

Bull crap it doesn't! You were right before the edit. Smokers live from one cig to another. Anxiously waiting for that work breaking. Throwing on that winter coat to go stand in 5 degree weather just so they can light up. Freaking out and begging people for a cig if they suddenly find they've run out. Hell, my own parents wont stay at my apartment longer than 30 minutes because I wont let them smoke in here.

YEAH! That sounds so relaxing.

You are a sad sad person. Why can't you accept people the way they are? Even if they're worse people than yourself because they have other habbits. I can tell you're a really col guy who doesn't judge people on whether they smoke or not. I bet you're perfect!

-.-

 

[Darkauthor81]

I sister said it was "to relieve stress". I called foul. Smoking causes as much stress as it relieves.
Edit: Apparently, smoking doesn't cause stress.

Bull crap it doesn't! You were right before the edit. Smokers live from one cig to another. Anxiously waiting for that work breaking. Throwing on that winter coat to go stand in 5 degree weather just so they can light up. Freaking out and begging people for a cig if they suddenly find they've run out. Hell, my own parents wont stay at my apartment longer than 30 minutes because I wont let them smoke in here.

YEAH! That sounds so relaxing.

You are a sad sad person. Why can't you accept people the way they are? Even if they're worse people than yourself because they have other habbits. I can tell you're a really col guy who doesn't judge people on whether they smoke or not. I bet you're perfect!

-.-

Yes being able to hear the moans of "When's break. I need a cig so bad" and being able to see the people huddled in the cold and the rain because they can't go any longer without it. I guess anyone with ears and eyes are clearly judgmental.

I don't care what you do. It's your life do with it what you want. Just don't try to BS your reasons for doing it.

 

[AntonyD]

I sister said it was "to relieve stress". I called foul. Smoking causes as much stress as it relieves.
Edit: Apparently, smoking doesn't cause stress.

Bull crap it doesn't! You were right before the edit. Smokers live from one cig to another. Anxiously waiting for that work breaking. Throwing on that winter coat to go stand in 5 degree weather just so they can light up. Freaking out and begging people for a cig if they suddenly find they've run out. Hell, my own parents wont stay at my apartment longer than 30 minutes because I wont let them smoke in here.

YEAH! That sounds so stressful.

My 2 best friends are smokers, they both started smoking because we smoked weed a hell of a lot and they developed an addiction to tobacco.

After both starting apprenticeships they gave up the pot due to random drugs test and have not touched a joint since, the reason they started is because they didn't realise what they were getting into, yet they do not regret their decision, smoking is a fantastic ice breaker anywhere, the perfect social excuse and it's hard not to look cool with a cigarette.

On the other end of the spectrum, my nan has just started giving up smoking after 45 years, she started because it was hard not to when all her friends did. She said that whilst raising 3 kids and then me and my brother, which took up 38 years of her life, she says it was the best way to take a short break and to relieve stress and now that her and my granddad are near retirement there is little in the way of stress, my granddad used to smoke cigars for roughly the same amount of time, however he is clean now, his reason for starting, it was the 50's and that's what everyone just did.

I have been surrounded by smokers my whole life, And throughout those 20 years I've tried it myself and to this day I don't feel the crave. People seem to think smokers smoke cause they want to and not because they have to.

 

[Kaptajn Emil Alfred Conan Swagga Benzon]

I smoke because I love it. I love the act of inhaling smoke, I love the smell and taste. I love the way that I become the minority instantaneously and I have something in common with every other smoker in America, as we stand outside in the cold and the rain, sharing our enjoyment of stimulants and our refusal to bow to social and economic pressure. I fucking love smoking.

I didn't start until I was 17, which was when a friend paid me 5 dollars to smoke one. I always declined because I knew I would love it; my grandfather smoked when I was growing up and I always loved the smell of burning tobacco as he drove me home from school in his big dumb pickup truck. I knew that I would like it too much so I never even tried it. Five dollars was too much to turn down, though, and just as I thought: I loved it.

For the record, I don't smoke constantly. I consider tobacco a drug and I treat it like one, ie. I mix it with food and sex and alcohol and drugs. I don't wake up first thing in the morning and smoke, I don't even smoke in my car or on breaks at work. People say "Why don't you quit then if you don't smoke so much?" which is missing the whole fucking point. I don't WANT to stop. It's awesome.

Sure it's unhealthy, sure it might kill me someday (if the red meat and lack of exercise), sure the majority of the population finds it revolting and I am ostracized socially and raped economically (10 bucks a pack right now in New York, buddy!). Shit, the same is true of cocaine and I'll be GODDAMNED if I'm giving up my blow!

I don't know if I would recommend for someone to start, but as a comedian whose name I forgot once said "I feel bad for nonsmokers. They don't know what it's like to really really REALLY want something sooooo bad... and then have it. Again and again."

You said it brother! Though it's not only americans as you imply, but smokers almost all over the world who have to stand in he freezing cold. But when it's summer...

Also I recall playing in a band in which there wwas one guy who didn't smoke, so he stayed inside when we went for a fag.. We really bonded, but almost never really talked to him. Suddenly he was just there, and not really a part of the tight group we had become. One of the greatest things about smoking is the social part of it. I can't count how many people I've met because of smoking. Many of them became very good friends of mine. Plus if I didn't smoke, my best friend (now) and I wouldn't have had anything to talk about when we first met, and we probably wouldn't be friends. Today we're like brothers.

All those anti-smokers (anti, not just non-smokers) are simple beings who believes more in the propaganda and hate, than the people they can see and talk to. And that's just sad.

 

[Azaraxzealot]

one thing that REALLY surprises me is that even when presented with hard, inarguable facts that there are minuscule to none to detrimental effects to smoking people will still shrug it off as "relaxing" and "social"

non-smokers (most of the world and growing) usually don't like to be around smokers (kind of kills the "social" part a little)

and the relaxing feeling is you fulfilling your body's addiction, it could have been from caffeine, a video game, or anything else you can be addicted to, but at least that other stuff won't make you grow cancer or give others cancer and kill you or them.

plus it just kills you, and if you have loved ones then why put them through the whole cancer ordeal?

 

[Kaptajn Emil Alfred Conan Swagga Benzon]

I sister said it was "to relieve stress". I called foul. Smoking causes as much stress as it relieves.
Edit: Apparently, smoking doesn't cause stress.

Bull crap it doesn't! You were right before the edit. Smokers live from one cig to another. Anxiously waiting for that work breaking. Throwing on that winter coat to go stand in 5 degree weather just so they can light up. Freaking out and begging people for a cig if they suddenly find they've run out. Hell, my own parents wont stay at my apartment longer than 30 minutes because I wont let them smoke in here.

YEAH! That sounds so relaxing.

You are a sad sad person. Why can't you accept people the way they are? Even if they're worse people than yourself because they have other habbits. I can tell you're a really col guy who doesn't judge people on whether they smoke or not. I bet you're perfect!

-.-

Yes being able to hear the moans of "When's break. I need a cig so bad" and being able to see the people huddled in the cold and the rain because they can't go any longer without it. I guess anyone with ears and eyes are clearly judgmental.

I don't care what you do. It's your life do with it what you want. Just don't try to BS your reasons for doing it.

I'm going to quote myself from another post here:

"You said it brother! Though it's not only americans as you imply, but smokers almost all over the world who have to stand in he freezing cold. But when it's summer...

Also I recall playing in a band in which there wwas one guy who didn't smoke, so he stayed inside when we went for a fag.. We really bonded, but almost never really talked to him. Suddenly he was just there, and not really a part of the tight group we had become. One of the greatest things about smoking is the social part of it. I can't count how many people I've met because of smoking. Many of them became very good friends of mine. Plus if I didn't smoke, my best friend (now) and I wouldn't have had anything to talk about when we first met, and we probably wouldn't be friends. Today we're like brothers.

All those anti-smokers (anti, not just non-smokers) are simple beings who believes more in the propaganda and hate, than the people they can see and talk to. And that's just sad."

You have no reason to be an ass. Learn to respect people with a different view on life than your own.

 

[bdcjacko]

I sister said it was "to relieve stress". I called foul. Smoking causes as much stress as it relieves.
Edit: Apparently, smoking doesn't cause stress.

Bull crap it doesn't! You were right before the edit. Smokers live from one cig to another. Anxiously waiting for that work breaking. Throwing on that winter coat to go stand in 5 degree weather just so they can light up. Freaking out and begging people for a cig if they suddenly find they've run out. Hell, my own parents wont stay at my apartment longer than 30 minutes because I wont let them smoke in here.

YEAH! That sounds so relaxing.

You are a sad sad person. Why can't you accept people the way they are? Even if they're worse people than yourself because they have other habbits. I can tell you're a really col guy who doesn't judge people on whether they smoke or not. I bet you're perfect!

-.-

Speaking as a smoker, I do not live from cigarette to cigarette. That being said, I must not be a real smoker then.

 

[mikeysnakes]

Smoke hookah or cloves and then you've found your answer. I'm not a smoker, for health reasons obviously, but I enjoy a nice molasses drenched tobacco hookah every now and again, and there's no real addiction to it besides the mental one of "oooh this is nice". That being said, even though I smoked my share of (delicious) cloves, I never went full on. But I guess if I stopped giving a shit I could have easily started smoking them often.

 

[Kaptajn Emil Alfred Conan Swagga Benzon]

I sister said it was "to relieve stress". I called foul. Smoking causes as much stress as it relieves.
Edit: Apparently, smoking doesn't cause stress.

Bull crap it doesn't! You were right before the edit. Smokers live from one cig to another. Anxiously waiting for that work breaking. Throwing on that winter coat to go stand in 5 degree weather just so they can light up. Freaking out and begging people for a cig if they suddenly find they've run out. Hell, my own parents wont stay at my apartment longer than 30 minutes because I wont let them smoke in here.

YEAH! That sounds so relaxing.

You are a sad sad person. Why can't you accept people the way they are? Even if they're worse people than yourself because they have other habbits. I can tell you're a really col guy who doesn't judge people on whether they smoke or not. I bet you're perfect!

-.-

Speaking as a smoker, I do not live from cigarette to cigarette. That being said, I must not be a real smoker then.

Would you care to elaborate? I'm afraid I don't really understand the meaning of your post.

 

[michael87cn]

Because it's very easy to fall prey to things like cigarettes.

The world is full of stuff that is deadly to the human body, but marketed as perfectly safe.

Take Coca-Cola, it's so sugary sweet and tasty, right? And oh, the fizz just makes you smile when you take that first sip. But did you know that it eats away at your stomach lining, gives you acne and can cause diabetes over a long period of time? If you take it like this, it's just as bad as cigarettes, and yet young children can buy and consume it.

I know this because I'm only 24 and I have had to stop drinking it. My parents always bought it and we consumed it often, but now I'm paying the price. Stomach ulcers are NOT fun. That's all I'll say.

 

[Darkauthor81]

I sister said it was "to relieve stress". I called foul. Smoking causes as much stress as it relieves.
Edit: Apparently, smoking doesn't cause stress.

Bull crap it doesn't! You were right before the edit. Smokers live from one cig to another. Anxiously waiting for that work breaking. Throwing on that winter coat to go stand in 5 degree weather just so they can light up. Freaking out and begging people for a cig if they suddenly find they've run out. Hell, my own parents wont stay at my apartment longer than 30 minutes because I wont let them smoke in here.

YEAH! That sounds so relaxing.

You are a sad sad person. Why can't you accept people the way they are? Even if they're worse people than yourself because they have other habbits. I can tell you're a really col guy who doesn't judge people on whether they smoke or not. I bet you're perfect!

-.-

Yes being able to hear the moans of "When's break. I need a cig so bad" and being able to see the people huddled in the cold and the rain because they can't go any longer without it. I guess anyone with ears and eyes are clearly judgmental.

I don't care what you do. It's your life do with it what you want. Just don't try to BS your reasons for doing it.

I'm going to quote myself from another post here:

"You said it brother! Though it's not only americans as you imply, but smokers almost all over the world who have to stand in he freezing cold. But when it's summer...

Also I recall playing in a band in which there wwas one guy who didn't smoke, so he stayed inside when we went for a fag.. We really bonded, but almost never really talked to him. Suddenly he was just there, and not really a part of the tight group we had become. One of the greatest things about smoking is the social part of it. I can't count how many people I've met because of smoking. Many of them became very good friends of mine. Plus if I didn't smoke, my best friend (now) and I wouldn't have had anything to talk about when we first met, and we probably wouldn't be friends. Today we're like brothers.

All those anti-smokers (anti, not just non-smokers) are simple beings who believes more in the propaganda and hate, than the people they can see and talk to. And that's just sad."

You have no reason to be an ass. Learn to respect people with a different view on life than your own.

.... HA! AHAHAH HA HAAAAAAA! Oh God! That's funny! Because in my group it was just the opposite. The one guy who smoked had to vanish every 30 minutes to go outside or to a designated smoking area. Sometimes we'd even forget he was there. Not maliciously but he wasn't really part of the group. We didn't need to drop everything every 30 minutes to get a fix so he just got left behind. On those times when we HAD to wait up for him he was a complete pain in the ass.

 

[Ulvai]

helps me think. Nothing better to get through some tricky coding then to light a cig.

 

[HentMas]

Wait. Wait! I'm not trying to hang shit on smokers here. I ask purely out of curiosity.

So... I understand why people continue to smoke once they have started. Granted, my understanding is only theoretical since I have never personally touched a cigarette, but I understand the basic mechanics of chemical addiction.

perfect, but you have to understand also that not everyone smokes out of addiction, people like to smoke, and "cigarrete" addiction isnt that "bad" in the addiction scale, but as we like to smoke, we dont try to quit

But what I do not understand is why someone who is not addicted would start in the first place.

I've asked several real life acquaintances, but they all just shrugged it off or said something like, "I was young and stupid." But those don't strike me as satisfactory answers.

thats because its not true, i doubt anyone told you that straigt ahead after you asked, but if indeed someone else told you that, he was either trying not to get you interested because we do know its harmfull and not everyone is as resiliant to cancer as other people, or he is genuinelly stupid to continue a habit he didnt liked in the first place.

See, if a person started smoking any time in the last 20 years they likely would have known exactly what they were getting into. So long as they were over the age of twelve, they would have known that smoking is addictive. They would have known that cigarettes are expensive. They would have known that they are harmful.

oh! I started when I was 18, I´m 25 years old now, I have always loved the smell of tobaco, when I got my first smoke, I coughed, but I enjoyed the feeling in my throat so I continued to smoke, and about the "harmful" symptoms, hehe, i have always felt that i am super man, and Cancer will never hurt me, it sounds stupid, but i genuinelly believe i cant get cancer because of smoking, i know people do get cancer, but I know i wont... i am invincible!!! (does that make sense?? ask again if you didnt get this point) oh! and i HATE living in fear, the united states of america are experts on implanting fear on the hearts of their inhabitants, but come ON,a smoke is not going to kill you!.

Furthermore, people I know who smoke tell me that the first time they did it, it made them feel sick. Some of them said that they threw up afterwards. Now I would have thought that would be a pretty clear sign that something isn't doing you any good. If I ate some food that made me feel ill I sure as hell wouldn't go back for seconds.

And yet, people still take up smoking.

Why?

again... people are lying or you dont know anyone that smokes and are just referencing TV shows and other stuff, the only way someone can "throw up" after smoking is if they smoked a full "cigar" or if they tryed to smoke more than 5 cigarrets in a ROW for the first time, its like the first time you taste a beer, either you like it or you dont, and if you drink 5 beers in a row you are going to throw up, its that simple

if you take one smoke out of the blue, you will probably feel dizzy and a warm feeling in your lungs, you will cough some times, but you will endure it, IT WILL MAKE YOU WANT ANOTHER ONE, untill you finish your cigarrete, then you will light another and another, untill you throw up, same principle as alcohol.