What's the point of smoking?

[tehbrooksinator]

I am not a smoker myself but I have realized from what smokers have said that they think it's cool and it can also be peer pressure. Lots of the smokers I know want to quit but don't have the psychological willpower to stop.

[another day]

Quote by: davedes A couple of hits are not going to get you physically addicted, let alone several full cigarettes. Some people smoke tobacco on a weekly basis without any physical addiction. It truly depends on the individual and how often they smoke. The problem I have with cigarettes is that they are commercially manufactured with the intention of getting the user physically and psychologically addicted. Because of this, I'd rather roll my own cigarettes or smoke hookah. For me, drug use as a "ritual" is the best way to fully enjoy the effects and to resist abuse.

Very good points, and nice to see because I was thinking of this exact concept earlier. I buy packs, but I was thinking about starting to roll my own cigarettes, not only because it's cheaper and it will cut down on the amount I smoke, but because of the "ritual" that you spoke of which goes along with it. I think I just may try it next time I go to get some tobacco.

[Chancellor]

Quote by: Yema I hate smoking with a passion but I suppose you have to try and emphasise with smokers. A lot of them start smoking because they think it's cool, problem is once you've had one or two drags you're hooked. I understand that it's not easy to stop smoking, but I think smokers should restrict their smoking to their own houses/gardens, instead of putting others at risk. I hate walking down the streets and having to avoid walking past smokers all the time because the smoke can affect me.

Get over it! If you don't like cigarette smoke, don't walk past cigarette smokers. If you don't like car exhaust, don't walk past cars that have their engines running. If you don't like the smell of broads wearing way too much perfume, don't walk near them.

[Sweet Katie]

Quote by: nerdvincent Why do you smoke? Isn't it a bit stupid? Spending [lots of] money to die slowly? It is a major health hazard (both for thou and the people around thou), so why do they allow tobacco and not salvia divinorum? Come on, tell me!

I've been told that tobacco is the backbone of the America economy.

[Rogue Cardinal]

I smoke. I hate it. But I do.

Sad excuse but I also drink from time to time....and nothing in the world complements a beer like a cigarette. I'm going to have to quit drinking to stop smoking perhaps! HAHAHAHA

At any rate. Smoking is one thing that kills you but there are tons of other things that people put into their bodies everyday....that sure as poop will kill them also. Just read the labels on food packages sometime and then go look that stuff up and see what it does to your insides.

Driving cars kills people in a plethora of ways. Don't see anybody stopping that process either.

[Hodge Podge]

Quote by: nerdvincent Why do you smoke? Isn't it a bit stupid? Spending [lots of] money to die slowly? It is a major health hazard (both for thou and the people around thou), so why do they allow tobacco and not salvia divinorum? Come on, tell me!

Salvia is legal, just not to sell as a food.

Also, SMOKING MAKES YOU LOOK COOL!....*Insert Non-Existent Big Shades Cool Smiley*

[Jack_Sparrow]

Quote by: Rogue Cardinal smoke. I hate it. But I do. Sad excuse but I also drink from time to time....and nothing in the world complements a beer like a cigarette. I'm going to have to quit drinking to stop smoking perhaps! HAHAHAHA At any rate. Smoking is one thing that kills you but there are tons of other things that people put into their bodies everyday....that sure as poop will kill them also. Just read the labels on food packages sometime and then go look that stuff up and see what it does to your insides. Driving cars kills people in a plethora of ways. Don't see anybody stopping that process either.

Well, it seems rediculous to try to form a parralel between driving and smoking. There are key differences, for instance how death is delivered. Smoking will mess you up, driving only does if your unlucky.

In terms of foods containing ingredients that are bad for you, I agree, systematically eating fast food and microwave food, visiting macy D's will probably cause similar bodily damage. However, it doesnt follow that either are acceptable. In the modern world, people are becomming more concious of what is in their food, and are trying to be more healthy as they know they should avoid the junk. Thus, by the same token, as time goes by the human race should stop smoking cancer sticks and find a more healthy way to feel good/relaxed

[pubmanager]

Smoking is obviously good for you, I am living proof:

It makes you run faster
- I can run faster now than before I had my first smoke

It makes you stronger
- I am much stronger now than before I started smoking

It makes you more attractive to women
- I've had infinitely more girls since I smoked

And so much more.

I strongly recommend that everybody starts smoking at 12 years old, just just like I did.

[Chris the Chees]

Quote by: pubmanager Smoking is obviously good for you, I am living proof: It makes you run faster - I can run faster now than before I had my first smoke It makes you stronger - I am much stronger now than before I started smoking It makes you more attractive to women - I've had infinitely more girls since I smoked And so much more. I strongly recommend that everybody starts smoking at 12 years old, just just like I did.

I LOLed, seriously.

However, I am interested to know if the introduction of the smoking ban has had an adverse impact upon small buinsesses such as pubs; I was wondering if you could enlighten us on that one?

Chris

[pubmanager]

Times are hard for pub's in general - particularly pub companies - it's easy to blame the smoking ban but I'm not convinced (reasons for this are way off topic and a little dull so I won't elaborate here).

Good pubs & bars run by good managers, still make good money. It's the grotty little back-street boozers where people smoke 5 fags to every pint that are suffering.

Anecdotally: I am a smoker, I go to the pub just as much and I don't drink any less because of the ban. I don't know many people who don't go to bars just because they can't smoke inside.

Also my mates are huge fans of "smirting" (smoking & flirting). Before, you were just another guy - now you're an approachable person with a common interest and something to talk about.

[Rogue Cardinal]

Quote by: Jack_Sparrow Well, it seems rediculous to try to form a parralel between driving and smoking. There are key differences, for instance how death is delivered. Smoking will mess you up, driving only does if your unlucky. In terms of foods containing ingredients that are bad for you, I agree, systematically eating fast food and microwave food, visiting macy D's will probably cause similar bodily damage. However, it doesnt follow that either are acceptable. In the modern world, people are becomming more concious of what is in their food, and are trying to be more healthy as they know they should avoid the junk. Thus, by the same token, as time goes by the human race should stop smoking cancer sticks and find a more healthy way to feel good/relaxed

You missed the obvious in cars. Pollution. Cars cause pollution. A type of second hand smoke if you will. hehehehe Thus cars kill in more ways than you just being unlucky.

[ironeagle]

One of the most severe and dangerous forms of cancer is skin cancer Malanoma, caused by exposure to sunlight, or tanning. I think that tanners should be taxed $5.00 additional per tan and should have to tan in seperate buildings than salons so I don't have to be near their tanning(lol). Alchoholism causes more deaths than cigarretts via drunk driving, abuse from alchoholosm and liver and kidney failure. There is no evidence that cigaretts are any more or less deadly than all other forms of death, a mederorite could just as easily hit me in the head and kill me.Most of the statistics provided from Jel and Truth are made up and have no legitamate value. I continue to smoke because I want to and to upset the Jel members.

[Marilyn Monroe]

Quote by: The Bacon Guy No evidence that the poisons will accumulate enough to cause any damage simply from being around a smoker in an open area. The chances of being killed by sitting in a room filled with smoke with no ventilation every day are pretty small to begin with. There's no reason to believe that the risk even exists in an open space.

Is this your opinion, or do you have proof? I can't believe all the literature and banning that's been going on has been for naught. All the doctor's are yakking against it, why would they waste their time on something that has very little danger.

[The Bacon Guy]

Quote by: Marilyn Is this your opinion, or do you have proof? I can't believe all the literature and banning that's been going on has been for naught.

All the literature I've seen on the issue relates to smoke in an enclosed space and doesn't mention outdoor smoke.

Quote by: Marilyn All the doctor's are yakking against it, why would they waste their time on something that has very little danger.

Because doctors tend to be elitists who think they know what's best for people. By getting smoking banned in public places, there is a greater chance of smokers deciding to quit altogether, which would suit the doctors’ own subjective concept of what’s best for people. The world is full of people who wish to force their standards and agendas on other people, and doctors are no exception.

[Marilyn Monroe]

Quote by: The Bacon Guy All the literature I've seen on the issue relates to smoke in an enclosed space and doesn't mention outdoor smoke.

I went to the hospital yesterday, and you can't smoke on the premises. It's been banned.

Because doctors tend to be elitists who think they know what's best for people. By getting smoking banned in public places, there is a greater chance of smokers deciding to quit altogether, which would suit the doctors’ own subjective concept of what’s best for people. The world is full of people who wish to force their standards and agendas on other people, and doctors are no exception.

I agree with you there. I'm not really against people smoking. I know how hard it is to quit. I'm more wanting to look out for those who can't look out for themselves, or just the innocent.

Some doctors are elitists, but not all. My doctor isn't, at least not yet. She's a very smart Indian woman, but I think the Indians tend to be smarter, let's say they use their intelligence to the fullest.

I think as long as cigarettes are legal, smoker's should be allowed to smoke in designated areas. I think that in buildings there should be a smoking room. I know I've sounded like I'm totally against it, but that's not the complete truth.

To answer the thread topic, I think people smoke cause (bottom-line) they enjoy it. If they could come up with a safe cigarette, I'd go back tomorrow to the habit. I felt better when I smoked, and some things were easier to tolerate. I think smoking has actually saved lives, cause it's kept people from killing their spouses, and children. Instead of arguing and fighting, they might just sit down and light one up.

[Chancellor]

Quote by: Marilyn Monroe To answer the thread topic, I think people smoke cause (bottom-line) they enjoy it. If they could come up with a safe cigarette, I'd go back tomorrow to the habit. I felt better when I smoked, and some things were easier to tolerate. I think smoking has actually saved lives, cause it's kept people from killing their spouses, and children. Instead of arguing and fighting, they might just sit down and light one up.

Yes, it really comes down to one thing: We smoke just because we want to. I enjoy my cigars and I don't give a rat's behind what anyone else thinks about it. If you (not you specifically) don't like my cigars, get over it! However, if private property or business owners want to ban smoking on their property or in their place of business, that's their right and I have no problem with it. I do, however, object to government presuming to usurp for itself power the Constitution does not give it: power to dictate to citizens what substances they may ingest.

[The Bacon Guy]

Quote by: Marilyn Monroe I went to the hospital yesterday, and you can't smoke on the premises. It's been banned.

Sure, because hospitals are run by doctors who generally want to get people to quit smoking by any means.

Quote by: Marilyn I agree with you there. I'm not really against people smoking. I know how hard it is to quit. I'm more wanting to look out for those who can't look out for themselves, or just the innocent.

No one is incapable of avoiding harmful cigarette smoke. If they choose to breathe the smoke by whatever means, it's their business and theirs alone.

Quote by: Marilyn Some doctors are elitists, but not all. My doctor isn't, at least not yet

Sure, but most are.

[Brian]

Smoking is dangerous for sure but so is driving a car or skydiving or even swimming. Smoking could eventually kill you, but the latter could kill you instantly. If you see the negatives in everything, then why live, it is only going to suck. Smokers are weak and they smoke because they see the negative. Mathematics says that two negatives makes a positive and that is true in some cases, but what would be better in this case is to provide smokers with a healthy alternative. Due to ignorance and an absorption in negative media, I am not sure of the healthy alternative to smoking. This is something that should be researched and the light should be distributed to all who smoke. If you really cared, you would help us not tell us how wrong we are in smoking.

[Yema]

Quote by: Chancellor Get over it! If you don't like cigarette smoke, don't walk past cigarette smokers. If you don't like car exhaust, don't walk past cars that have their engines running. If you don't like the smell of broads wearing way too much perfume, don't walk near them.

I can't exactly cross the street to get away from smokers when there are more smokers across the street. ::]

I just think that people who smoke just to look cool are basically ruining their lives just to look cool. Like I said once you're hooked you're hooked, and I understand it's hard to stop. But smoking kills, and I don't think that's cool one bit. Do you?

[Chancellor]

Quote by: Yema I can't exactly cross the street to get away from smokers when there are more smokers across the street. ::] I just think that people who smoke just to look cool are basically ruining their lives just to look cool. Like I said once you're hooked you're hooked, and I understand it's hard to stop. But smoking kills, and I don't think that's cool one bit. Do you?

Maybe some people do smoke to look "cool" (whatever the hell that means). I smoke cigars simply because I enjoy them. You said "smoking kills." Well, life kills. It is 100 percent fatal. Shall we do away with life just because it kills people?