Yes I smoke.. So I'm the devil now?

[Lunar Templar]

devil? meh, not really, and the devil is hardly the most 'evil' dood out there
(humans can and have been far more evil then any demon)

but meh, its your body not mine so do what ever the hell you want to your self.
so you just keep trying to get lung cancer, and I'll keep trying to turn my artery's in bricks and we'll both be happy

 

[Private Custard]

also, if you live in a country with free healthcare, you're a drain upon society's resources.

Oh not this shit again. Once more, just like in the last thread where the militant anti-smokers got all pissy about it.

Here in the UK, WE PAY TWICE AS MUCH IN TAX AS WE COST THE HEALTH SERVICE. We actually made over £5bn for the UK economy in 2009, after expenses. You can expect those figures to be much bigger this year as the tax on tobacco has gone up even more.

Drain on societys resources my arse.

There, is that clear enough?

Edit: And before anyone says,

I know smoking's dangerous, I'm 32 and well aware of the risks.

No, I don't care, I won't live long enough to be bothered by that anyway!

Smokers don't all smell. A decent hygene regime, coupled with only smoking places where you're not surrounded by smoke, as well as a pack of smints in your pocket at all times, deals with these issues!

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Also, nothing can taste 'eloquent', that's just bloody ridiculous.

Language evolves all the time, this metaphor is applied more often to wine than tobacco:

"2006 Eloquence Late Harvest Chardonnay"
http://www.raymondvineyards.com/2006EloquenceLateHarvestChardonnay

"Scrio 2007 was the most eloquent wine of the trio that day..."
http://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-topics/bordeaux-wine-varietals-bolgheri/

"A sexy, masculine, and eloquent wine..."
http://thewinewitch.blogspot.com/2011/11/columbia-winery-merlot-07.html

But there is nothing wrong with that since everyone who is brainwashed by TV knows alcohol = sexy + fun + cool and tobacco is the devil.

Wine tasting isn't the best example to use in regards to language use, considering it's the most pretentious bastard child of elitist subculture in existence.

 

[nbamaniac]

"sure, i enjoy cocaine weekly, but then these arrogant 'morality police' offend me by comparing me to convict, boo-hoo"

cry me a river, smelly. you're helping unjust industries which destroy the soil of farmlands across the world, including my home, virginia, that could be used to make more food and lower food costs for poor people. also, if you live in a country with free healthcare, you're a drain upon society's resources. You destroy cars' and homes' value by permanently stinking the place up, and, on a related note, you smell.

Cocaine..... wow......

Thanks much for trolling.

 

[Black Arrow Officer]

I can deal with heavy drinkers since they're usually confined to bars, their homes, or are passed out, but if you feel the need to light up in the vicinity of any living creature, get the fuck away. NO ONE, I repeat NO ONE on planet earth wants to be around a smoker when they're lighting up. In fact, I think that smoking in public is the absolute rudest thing a person can do. It shows that you care absolutely nothing about anyone around you and have the audacity to ruin everyone else's day because you're addicted to murdering yourself from the inside. I don't care what crap you're doing to your lungs, just keep your disgusting addiction away from my body.

 

[WhiteTigerShiro]

I grew a lot of appreciation for smokers the more I grew up. I'll admit it, I used to be one of the people the OP described in his post. If I saw a person smoking, that was it, that was a bad person, end of story. The more I grew though, the more I realized how that mentality was specifically planted into my brain, and my resentment towards smokers shifted into a resentment towards my schooling. Specifically, at least in this case, Dare.

Honestly not sure if the program is even still around, but having grown up during Dare's heyday, I had a lot of propaganda pumped into my head, and being the gullible little 8-year-old I was, I believed every bit of it. Because hey, a teacher is telling me about it. But that's when life happened, and the more I lived, the more I learned just how horribly Dare lied to me about smoking and those who do it. Don't get me wrong, I still think it's a filthy habit, and I still count it as a turn-off when it comes to considering dating a girl. That said though, smokers are just people, and it amazes me how an officially sponsored program can be so malicious.

Don't get me wrong, I get that the idea of Dare is that smoking is bad, and we don't want our kids doing drugs. That's fine. But it's a question of the ends justifying the means, and as far as my teachings went, I feel that they went way too far. Hopefully if Dare still exists they aren't quite as bad about it, because I consider the way they taught me to be akin to statutory rape. After-all, if a minor is too inexperienced to know better about sex, then clearly Dare was taking just as much advantage of my inexperienced mind to pump such blatant propaganda into my head.

So yeah... given that one side of the spectrum tried to brainwash me to the point where I saw the other side as less than human, and the other side of the spectrum has never really bugged me that much... I think I know who bothers me more.

(( though it's still a disgusting habit. ;P ))

 

[isometry]

I can deal with heavy drinkers since they're usually confined to bars, their homes, or are passed out

Yeah, except when they are killing and injuring people. And not just with drunk driving, alcohol also increases violence and general accidents.

True, it's a statistical thing and won't happen with everyone...exactly like cancer.

Edit: I forgot to add how alcohol effects families and children, it screws up people's ability to raise their kids and holds back social progress.

but if you feel the need to light up in the vicinity of any living creature, get the fuck away. NO ONE, I repeat NO ONE on planet earth wants to be around a smoker when they're lighting up. In fact, I think that smoking in public is the absolute rudest thing a person can do. It shows that you care absolutely nothing about anyone around you and have the audacity to ruin everyone else's day because you're addicted to murdering yourself from the inside. I don't care what crap you're doing to your lungs, just keep your disgusting addiction away from my body.

I disagree, people who cough, sneeze and snivel their germs in public cause far more damage to public health. Sure, I prefer not to walk through second hand smoke, but compared to inconsiderate germ factories second-hand smoke is not a big deal at all.

People who are addicted to staying up all night and not resting properly are scientifically proven to be more likely to get sick. People who have the audacity to touch their face in public without washing their hands are more likely to get sick and spread germs. And multiple days of being sick is much worse than a few moments of sub-optimal air quality.

 

[Private Custard]

You know what this place reminds me of when the subject of smoking comes up?

A Daily Mail readers convention. There's so much bile and outrage, I could drown in it!

 

[DesertMummy]

I hate cigarettes, personaly. It tastes like someone just took a shit in my mouth. I do, however like swisher sweets, and I enjoy inhaling the smoke produced by the burning of the cannabis plant. So, no, I don't look down on you, I just have different taste.

 

[Loonyyy]

I don't think eloquent means what you think it does, and your justifications for smoking are just incredibly silly. You don't need them anyway, you seem to acknowledge that it's a dangerous and disgusting habit, and you're aware of the risks.

You do an excellent job of pointing out something that I've noticed: People seem to think smokers are stupid. They aren't. They've got a compulsive and addicting habit, that they likely enjoy. The claims to morality are frankly mind-boggling. That said, I despise the habit myself.

 

[rammst13n]

Smoking is unattractive. It's like conforming to a fad which sickens a vocal majority.

If the opinions of others bothers you so much, then it seems to me that you started smoking out of peer pressure/social influence. Now that your current environment rejects smokers, this seems like a good time to quit.

frankly thats ignorant as fuck, some of my friends smoke, others are strongly against it, and the smokers dont pressure me to smoke, the non smokers pressure me to not smoke (i am a smoker), sorry but those psa's were wrong, smokers are not fiends who set out to ruin others by giving them cancer and forceing them to smoke, non smokers are way more pretentious than smokers, ive never seen a smoker glare at me for not smoking, however ive seen it the other way around

 

[davisjones1287]

"sure, i enjoy cocaine weekly, but then these arrogant 'morality police' offend me by comparing me to convict, boo-hoo"

cry me a river, smelly. you're helping unjust industries which destroy the soil of farmlands across the world, including my home, virginia, that could be used to make more food and lower food costs for poor people. also, if you live in a country with free healthcare, you're a drain upon society's resources. You destroy cars' and homes' value by permanently stinking the place up, and, on a related note, you smell.

Uhh. This is a joke, right?

Anyways, it's not the act, it's the location. I smoke in my car, my house, or completely separate from anyone who isn't smoking. I wouldn't light up in a daycare or a cancer ward.
But I have noticed a trend in the past couple years (which became extremely obvious after I started smoking) of people trying to make me feel 'evil' for smoking, and that is troublesome.

Also, I agree with the poster above me; before I smoked, my FTO smoked. He never tried to pressure me, and was always willing to hold off until we were out of the car. He never glared at me for not smoking, and never brought it up.
Once I started smoking, I started to notice the dirty glances and glaring anytime I went outside to grab a cigarette, or even the glances from people at stop lights when lighting up in MY OWN EFFING CAR.

 

[ConstantErasing]

WHAT? YOU SMOKE? GET OUT OF HERE YOU GODLESS HEATHEN!

Seriously though I am still in the position of wondering why people smoke. I would discourage people from doing it but I don't have a direct problem with it so long as the person smoking isn't anywhere near anyone else. But tell me, do most smokers bother to keep far away from any place where other people that don't want to breathe in the stuff are? No, and because of that I tend to dislike smokers as a whole. Even if you aren't in peoples' faces about it, can you really say that you have never forced second hand smoke upon a non smoker?

 

[davisjones1287]

WHAT? YOU SMOKE? GET OUT OF HERE YOU GODLESS HEATHEN!

Seriously though I am still in the position of wondering why people smoke. I would discourage people from doing it but I don't have a direct problem with it so long as the person smoking isn't anywhere near anyone else. But tell me, do most smokers bother to keep far away from any place where other people that don't want to breathe in the stuff are? No, and because of that I tend to dislike smokers as a whole. Even if you aren't in peoples' faces about it, can you really say that you have never forced second hand smoke upon a non smoker?

I guess you need to quantify how far away is 'far enough.' I used to smoke in my squad car (can't anymore) but never when there was another person around. I smoke in my house, because I live alone. I smoke in my car, but never if I'm driving someone who doesn't smoke.
I don't smoke in restaurants, even those that allow smoking, I don't smoke in bars, and I don't smoke in airports.
This isn't an isolated incident, either; anyone I know who smokes follows the same etiquette.

What, in your mind, is the correct distance?

 

[gambler778]

Why? What the fuck does that have to do with anything? Does anybody here give a shit if I jump in front of a train? No. So they shouldn't give a shit that I smoke.

You jumping in front of a train doesn't affect me. You smoking around me does affect me. See the difference?

I haven't smoked around you. Even so, if you got to where I am, you have some kind of means of getting there. So, get lost Problem solved.

If you don't want to move away, well then screw you I guess, because if I'm still there and I'm smoking, I was there first.

I'm not saying you personally, it's figurative. I'm saying that a stranger jumping in front of a train does not affect me, but people smoking where I can't get away does affect me. And you don't have to worry about me standing next to a smoker, I have no interest in being near their disgusting habit. If you want to pay a company to slowly kill you, be my guest but I will have no part in it.

 

[Alumit]

I don't smoke but I have no qualms with people who do. It's not a personal thing, but I'm ALWAYS intimidated immediately by people who smoke or do drugs and such. It's kinda like judging a book by the cover but experiences (talking to people who smoke then saying I don't then getting immediately treated like a douchebag for speaking my own personal choice) on multiple occasions has given me a bit of a bad taste about smokers as if they are often the self - righteous people who think that if I don't smoke I'm immediately a douchebag but must bow to whatever their habits are. -.-

No, I have no problem with smokers and you seem quite respectful to those who don't smoke. However, I can't get over that edgy feeling smokers instill in me.

 

[rammst13n]

I can deal with heavy drinkers since they're usually confined to bars, their homes, or are passed out, but if you feel the need to light up in the vicinity of any living creature, get the fuck away. NO ONE, I repeat NO ONE on planet earth wants to be around a smoker when they're lighting up. In fact, I think that smoking in public is the absolute rudest thing a person can do. It shows that you care absolutely nothing about anyone around you and have the audacity to ruin everyone else's day because you're addicted to murdering yourself from the inside. I don't care what crap you're doing to your lungs, just keep your disgusting addiction away from my body.

seeing a smoker ruins your entire day? maybe the problem isnt smokers but overly whiny people...and honestly passing by smokers ISNT second hand smoke, that is being with a heavy smoker CONSTANTLY, which i can tell you arent because any smoker wouldnt tolerate being around you for even a second with your self righteous pride

 

[Dogstile]

Just going to put it out there that no, no you don't look like a legend, more along the lines of "oh that old man is smoking a pipe, he must have some interesting stories" or "the hell is that kid smoking a pipe for? He isn't 70".

Pipes can have much longer filters. Its actually preferable to smoke out of a pipe if you only smoke on special occasions as it'll preserve your health a bit more. I realise its sort of besides the point but if its traditional for you to have a smoke with your family at a wedding, you might as well do it safely.

The more you know

You know what this place reminds me of when the subject of smoking comes up?

A Daily Mail readers convention. There's so much bile and outrage, I could drown in it!

<3 to you good sir, I haven't laughed that hard throughout this entire thread. You'd think a site where the users pride themselves on their intelligence would, you know, actually know more about the stuff they actually hate. I hated smoking until I tried it and then realised... Hey! This isn't my thing but its not that bad. I smoke when i'm drinking now, but that's it.

Hell, its even funnier when the so called "intelligent" members of the escapist think they can start a fight and automatically win because the other person is a smoker (see, page one). I mean come on guys, really? That's just being ignorant and ignoring a whole lot of variables.