<p>this topic is deviating as im very interested in people's answers to the original question. i laughed my balls off when someone actually said why do you smoke. please get on the right track and vent somewhere else.</p>
<p>not venting, just was curious... And the original smoker was being a bit two-faced about the smoking, they want to smoke, but couldn't stand the idea of getting stuck with someone who smoked more, but was planning on smoking more themselves anyway...</p>
<p>smoking a little is like being a little pregnant...you smoke or you don't...smoking just a little is still smoking. Thats the reality.</p>
<p>ps- how does one laugh their balls off, I would think that would be uncomfortable.</p>
<p>Like I said, it should be as simple as this:</p>
<p>If you smoke, get a smoking room.</p>
<p>If you don't smoke, get a nonsmoking room.</p>
<p>It isn't rocket science!</p>
<p>Hey high-and-mighty judgers, f*** off please.
I smoke b/c I lean toward self-destructive behavior physically or otherwise. Codasco and every other smoker has his/her own set of reasons. He/she wasn't asking for persecution.
If you hate smoking, don't smoke. I believe eating meat is vile and cruel, but I don't berate those who eat meat.
Each to their own.</p>
<p>i smoke about two cigarettes a month, and maybe a couple of cigars, pipes or cloves. I enjoy the taste of the latter three a lot more, but all give you a good rush, relax you, etc. I usually only smoke with friends. A good cigar or pipe cannot be beat. The tase of cloves is amazing. I think this is fine as long as its not very detrimental to my health, which its not. Just like drinking once in a while (altough im not as controlled on this) isnt the end of the world, neither is smoking. Anyway, I still consider myself a non-smoker, because I dont smoke like the stereotypical smoker. Frankly, it's not a big deal, but I just thought I'd elaborate. And if you guys have never had a Cuban, at least have a puff.</p>
<p>Ok eating meat won't kill you. Smoking is self-inflicted harm (which apparently, you like painted). And self-inflicted harm often causes concern. If someone kept slashing their wrists, you would try and stop them. Yes that has a much likelier probability of a fast death than smoking does but both can harm you and are self-inflicted. I think that is why it brings out natural concern for other to which many smokers take to be persecution because most smokers can't even stand being smokers themselves (ie don't want a chain-smoking roommate).</p>
<p>No amount of smoking little or a lot is good for you ever. It has 43 known carcinogens (such as benzene, tar, and vinyl chloride) and over 300 poisons (such as acetone, arsenic, cadmium, formaldehyde, butane, DDT, ammonia, methanol, HCN, and CO) out of 4000 chemicals of of which is nicotine, the most addicting legal substance, of which one pure drop could kill a human.</p>
<p>Smoking isn't just any choice. It is a life choice. It isn't just a personal choice either. Second-hand smoke has recently been labeled a Class A carcinogen (others include abestos, radon, mustard gas). Not only does it affect the health of those around you but it costs the country $100 billion dollars annually, $50 billion of which are direct medical costs.</p>
<p>In conclusion, this isn't a lecture, it is just presenting the facts. Any pros that a cigarette can give, can easily be overwhelmed by the cons. So I'm not high and mighty and pretending to know everything. I don't. But these are the facts and by choosing to ignore them you put your life and health at risk. Sorry to switch the forum off-topic (I wasn't going to get involved for the reason that I am biased against smoking because I watched one of my grandpas die of lung cancer and the other died of the same disease before I was born) but I felt it needed to be said to stand up for people just trying to help.</p>
<p>wait wait wait...i CAN stand being a smoker; if I didnt enjoy it I wouldnt have done it again! one smoke doesnt make you addicted. Eating red meat everyday WILL kill you if you dont watch out. We all know smoking isnt good for us, but neither is drinking, not getting enough sleep, not excercising, etc. You are also talking about cigarettes, and not all smokers smoke them. Yes, one pure drop of nicotine could kill a human, but so can a few drops of vanilla and a bit more of pure alcohol. Sure, second hand smoke is bad, but smokers have been driven out of all public places...so most of those who inhale it now are smokers themselves. Honestly, there are a lot worse things people could be doing than smoking. All in all it is MY decision what I put into MY body. , and no one has the right to govern that unless it directly and adversely effects others. Smoking does not impari your ability to drive or operate a vehicle. And while it is by no means good for you physically, it can be mentally relaxing. So many things are self inflicted harm. I mean, for God's sake, I'm sitting here with my laptop on my lap directly influencing my sperm count! When I stress my bad back playing sports its self inflicted harm. I know youre trying to "help" all of us poor, naive, uneducated smokers with what DOES amount to a lecture, but you really just dont understand.</p>
<p>Do NOT take this to think that I dont think smoking is a problem...I do, especially when it happens for the wrong reasons. But I really resent when all smokers are cast as terrible, misguided people who dont know what theyre doing to themselves, and when we are equated with SUICIDAL people...not all of us have psychological disorders. And you know what...every once in a while (two to four times a month total) the PROS do outweigh the cons.</p>
<p>P.S. there is a HUGE difference between heavy smokers and light smokers, and believe it or not, we can stand ourselves. The original poster was a LIGHT smoker if that...lumping people together like that is the same as saying that the guy who watches the game with his buddies and a couple of brews is the same as the alcoholic.</p>
<p>If you don't know, don't talk.</p>
<p>My advice is to tell the truth -- yes, you smoke. A person who is a nonsmoker really doesn't want to be stuck with a smoking roommate. Even if the roommate doesn't smoke in the dorm, the smoke will still stick to the smoker's clothes and breath, and that is very unpleasant and offensive to many nonsmokers. If a nonsmoker is allergic to smoke, even being around a person who has smoked can lead to health problems.</p>
<p>I smoked some "recreationally" in the 70s and checked, "no smoking" on my dorm application. Very dishonest thing to do and I had to apologize to my new roommate pronto, whose father by the way was the head of the American Cancer Society in a big city. I also apologized to her at my 10th reunion, at my 20th reunion and so on as I aged up, and many decades after I quit smoking entirely. She was a perfectly nice person. All I have heard for the last 25 years is how obnoxious I was re smelling bad, smoking in the stairwells (never in the room! ha), etc and this was before smoking was seriously frowned on by peers. It was not as politically incorrect as it is now. My next roommate loved me as a friend but was a vocalist and of course I also was a bother to her need for fresh clean air just coming indoors if I had smoked outside. I guess what I am saying is number one, nicotine is incredibly addictive (I know, I know) and I recommend you eliminate it from your life and find other more healty substitute crutches, and number two, smelling bad is going to annoy your friends no matter how much you would like to pretend otherwise or say you are "limiting" smoking to just a party or whatever. College is also stressful and a night of nicotine really does lead to cravings and that "one" cig the next day until you are smoking more than you care to admit. If you are not going to quit, then it is only fair to room with someone else that has the same habits, and believe me you might regret that. If you can't quit based on fear of cancer think of vanity...it prematurely ages you and will also keep some friends from wanting to be around you.</p>
<p>i just find it interesting that people would choose to participate in an activity that makes their teeth yellow, their breath stink, their clothes stink, and where they need to stand outside in the cold and rain to "enjoy" a cigarette. When non smokers stand next to smokers, even who aren't smoking at the time, the smell can be disgusting. </p>
<p>My husband can go out with friends, and if one person in the group is smoking, the smell on my husband is really gross. Many non smokers can't ride in a smokers car, even if noone is smoking, because of the smell. Ever go into a hotel room where someone had smoked? Its too bad smokers can't smell themselves.</p>
<p>I had a friend whose parents smoked. She would give my D her old clothes. After two or three washings, we still couldn't get rid of the smell and had to toss the clothes.</p>
<p>What happens is the smokers nose doesn't smell as well. Taste buds are numbed. And smokers wrinkle faster. </p>
<p>And I am sure the smokers don't litter their butts. Nope, never see cigarette butts all over the ground. Those smokers are very responsible when it comes to their garbage.</p>
<p>^ that is one of the worst parts - do smokers (sure not all, but it seems like the vast majority by the number of butts on the ground) think they are not littering when they throw their butts on the ground??! ARGH it drives me insane sometimes.</p>
<p>Sorry, repeat, I said early on my message that I do feel passionate about not smoking (president of the anti-smoking group in high school) and it would probably **** off most smokers. Actually, I have plenty of smoking friends and I don't find them evil or insane. I just ignore the fact they smoke. Their problem, you're right. I don't think smokers are "naive," I just try to present facts. And about smoking no amount is good no matter what anyone says, "light" or "heavy." (And yes you can get addicted after one b/c nicotine is almost as addicting as many illegal substances [but addiction can vary like anything else].) I just explained why most people felt it right to "reprimand" the young smoker.</p>
<p>There is a reason most smokers get defensive and it is usually because they know they are paying a lot to lead far less healthly lives. Yeah it'll relieve you're stress now but when you can't walk up a flight of stairs without huffing and puffing maybe it'll add some, or when you're strapped to a respirator (a lot less likely if you're a light smoker of course).</p>
<p>Maybe all of these arguments stem from the fact that I, along with many others, don't understand with all the information people have about smoking nowadays why it is still done.</p>
<p>Finally (here comes the lecture just warning ya), You're don't have mental problems at all but remember 2-4 times a month you are decreasing the size or your arteries and raising your blood pressure through the roof.</p>
<p>I have never littered with cig butts in my life and I always make fellow smokers pick their's up if they threw it on the ground.
I hate these sterotypes. A smoker is one who smokes. Don't hate and alienate your fellow man. A smoker does not = criminal, imbecile, self-hater,etc</p>
<p>Just to keep it simple for those who ask why people smoke, (though I know not all smokers agree with this analogy) why do people do drugs in general? Be it nicotine, pain killers, pot, or cocain, it's all rooted in the same reasons on some level.
(okay, fellow smokers can feel free to attack me for making that comparison)</p>
<p>here in MN in hte past week we have had serveral serious brush fires and a nasty car crash because of people throwing butts out of thier windows.</p>
<p>Those things are everywhere...even if people cant smoke anywhere but their own car (and watch the resale value fall apart), we still have to see thier crap.</p>
<p>Maybe we should put a deposit on the butts like some states do with cans.</p>
<p>Its amazing how those nasty cigarete butts walk their way out of the trash and onto the sidewalks in the thousands. Millions really. And ps- whenever I see a smoker smash out their butt on the ground, never once, not once, have I seen them bend down and pick it up. It sits there. THe evidence is right there on the ground, in our plants, in the gutters, on our sidewalks. Its not stereotype. Its what we see everywhere. I am glad you pick up your butts, but most of your fellow smokers do not. No denying it.</p>
<p>And I never said smokers were crazy, bad, self haters, I said they smell bad and have yellow teeth and wrinkle early.</p>
<p>if you want to smoke, just go outside............ there's no need to poison your neighbor with your cardon monoxide fumes.</p>
<p>I have a better idea for all you guys who want a nicotine rush but don't want lung cancer: nasal snuff. It's the safest form of nicotine (and fairly safe in general), and you won't stink! Go to <a href="http://www.howdydave.com/snuff.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.howdydave.com/snuff.html</a> for more info on it.</p>
<p>Nicotine helps to combat Alzheimers, Parkinsons and Tourettes syndrome. also, nicotine improves short term memory, but its the smoke that kills. Why not use nasal snuff? No yellow teeth, no bad breath, no stinking clothes, and the same nicotine buzz.</p>
<p>btw, the reason its safer than moist snuff (Skoal, Copenhagen, etc.) is because they have less additives and the tobacco doesn't come in contact w/ saliva (which causes many of the problems of "dip" snuff)</p>
<p>Well...the anti-smokers on the board will be glad to know that I have had to give it up (well, for a while). I have pretty bad spring allergies which leads to mild asthma. It's hard enough breathing as it is!</p>
<p>Boy oh boy, I go so many places with that info, but since you are suffering already, I won't!! ; )</p>