Smoking...

[The One]

[color=darkred]I have noticed that the threads in Otaku Lounge are getting relatively boring (Who Are You? as an exception as that was pure genius). I thought that I could contibute to making it a 'better', more 'interesting' place to be o,O;;

Well, I was thinking about smoking and wondering what the OB community think (as you do). So I went to the search utility and found zilch, nothing, nata...and thus have begun this thread in search of opinions. I don't often venture out of Art and Design (they lock me in there :)) so this should be a unique experience.

To me it seems that everyone know the terrible effects of smoking. But those who start, don't stop. This is due to them either being 'hooked' or 'not caring'. I smoke and so do most of my friends, and we are the 'not caring' sort, though I know, and can admit, that I am hooked, and will most likely stay that way.

I know all the facts and figures about smoking, but for some reason I just don't want to quit. I have tried to, and managed it for about a week. It's not that I didn't have the will power, I just wanted to do it. I know that I could stay quit if I wanted to, it's just that I don't.

Out of every 1000 young male adults in England and Wales who smoke cigarettes, on average:
1 will be murdered
6 will be killed on the roads
250 will be killed before their time by tabacco.

Now, the thing is, I would never, EVER joy ride. But that brings about less fatalities than what I'm doing. However, I still do it, being well aware of the risks.

Is smoking like bungy jumping? Do we do it because we know we can and there is a risk involved? It is a proven fact that humans live for a rush. People love to be close to danger, but will never admit it.

What is everyones view on the situation? Why do [i]you[/i] think that people start and continue? Do you smoke? If so, how much, and what? How old were you when you started? Do you plan to quit?

I did this to gain peoples views, not to get a lecture about smoking. So those of you who plan on doing so, can always PM me and leave this thread clear of irrelevancy :D.[/color]

[GinnyLyn]

[color=royal blue]While there is no real moral implications held in the issue (you surely won't be "damned to Hell" if you smoke), it's still a black and white case for me.

I'm quite allergic to cigarette smoke. So much so that the managers have to always make sure that I am in a nonsmoking section when I serve at my store. Once, I had to train in a smoking section, and got pretty sick, headache and nausea wise. This kills the "oppurtunity" of me ever being addicted.

I have a manager I care about a lot...and he smokes. He knows it's wrong. I'm pretty sure he wants to quit, too. But, being a high strung sort, it's his way of relaxing. A lot of the servers argue that point, too--they smoke because it calms them down after a shift, or it helps them make it through the day. Sounds like addiction to me.

Anyways, there's my two cents.[/color]

[Dan L]

I believe that smoking is abusing the body.. but then much of what people do these days is. I'm not one to condemn, though. Do what you want, just don't get me into it.

Sorry for the unusually short post.. I just wanted to get to the point..

[Semjaza]

I don't smoke, won't smoke and considering smoking to probably be one of the biggest turn offs imaginable. I won't date a girl whatsoever if I know she smokes regularly.

The only other problem I have with it are the jerk people downtown that ash their cigarettes high up while they are walking... so it flies into your face... Bleh.

Otherwise, if people want to smoke... fine. They should know the risks by now, and they can make up their own minds.

[The One]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by GinnyLyn [/i]
[B][color=royal blue]But, being a high strung sort, it's his way of relaxing. A lot of the servers argue that point, too--they smoke because it calms them down after a shift, or it helps them make it through the day. Sounds like addiction to me.

Anyways, there's my two cents.[/color] [/B][/QUOTE]

[color=darkred]It is addiction. Smoking doesn't actually bring your stress levels down, it just takes away the stress that comes from being dependent on Nicotine. When you finish your cigarette, everything is just the way it was before, just you have quenched your thirst for Nicotine.[/color]

[Justin]

Well, honestly, smoking is really dumb. I mean, you put something on fire in your mouth and inhale the products of the burning. However, I'm really just the freshly-cleaned pot calling the still-dirty kettle black...or something like that. I used to smoke, so I know exactly what happens the first time someone takes a puff...a burning throat and a horrible after-taste. Why I kept on after that first experience is beyond me.

The way I see it, smoking is your choice and your business, but I wouldn't advise any non-smokers to ever start.

-Justin

[Lady Macaiodh]

[color=darkblue]i've been smoking for around 10 years. it was two parts rebellion, one part suicidal tendencies, & one part apathy. i knew it would piss my parents off (though at first i did it secretly, so it was kind of a moot point), i saw it as sort of a "bad" thing to do (growing up in the church & in christian school, this was one of the worst things you could have done at that age), i wanted to give myself cancer, etc. i was pretty self-destructive back then.

nowadays, it's just a part of life. i love it. i love taking that first drag. i hate when it's gone. it calms me when i'm stressed. it helps me wake up, it helps me go to sleep. it goes perfectly w/ beer. there are a million things. then again, it's the stupidest thing i've ever done. i'm starting to develop a smokers' cough. i get respiratory sicknesses a lot more. i throw my money down the drain. i support the tobacco industry that i hate. it smells. & i don't think i'll be quitting anytime soon, esp. considering all the crap that's happened lately.

i've tried the patch, the gum, cold-turkey, even prescriptions. i guess i'll have to wait until my willpower is stronger.

don't start. it's hard to stop.[/color]

[The One]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Lady Macaiodh [/i]
[B][color=darkblue]
nowadays, it's just a part of life. i love it. i love taking that first drag. i hate when it's gone. it calms me when i'm stressed. it helps me wake up, it helps me go to sleep. it goes perfectly w/ beer. there are a million things. then again, it's the stupidest thing i've ever done. i'm starting to develop a smokers' cough. i get respiratory sicknesses a lot more. i throw my money down the drain. i support the tobacco industry that i hate. it smells. & i don't think i'll be quitting anytime soon, esp. considering all the crap that's happened lately.
[/color] [/B][/QUOTE]

[color=darkred]Finally a smoker, lol, kidding. Anyway, yeah, those are my feelings pretty much. I wouldn't go as far as saying I loved it, but it's just something I do now.

By the way, for anyone who is interested, I'm 16.

*awaits slapping from every angle known to man*[/color]

[Rhys Mayiessen]

[color=navy]I never want to smoke. I always wonder how someone could even want to smoke with the smell that it amits. Its gross! Then the thought of dying of cancer at like the age of 50 or less just cause you inhaled some stupid thing that doesn't even look cool? NO THANK YOU. Its not even worth your life.[/color]

[Guest Zeh]

[COLOR=royalblue]I'm absolutely aginst smoking.

It's funny, the people who smoke either want to quit, or "don't care"... and the people who don't smoke are usually aginst or, or have quit, and mostly just don't like it o_O.

I agree with Semji, it's one of the biggest turn offs my crazy little mind can come up with... and usually people who smoke are jackasses when you bring it up...

Do you have atleast 5 friends (including you), or more who smoke TO?

From the specs you gave us, atleast one of them'll die...

[size=1]maybe you?[/size]

*key for wierd music*[/COLOR]

[Sui Generis]

Its odd, alot of people tell me they grew up around smoke so that stops them from smoking. I grew up with my family smoking and it only wants me to smoke more. My real dad smoked all the time and I remember the smell vividly. For some reason I've grown to love the smell. Not sure why. I'm sure some physciatrist would probably say I'm longing for a father figure in my life, and that smoking is some way to find that figure, but hey that really doesn't matter.

I smoke, when I can get my hands on a cigarette. I don't really encourage it, and I don't go out of my way to show people that I do. Its my choice to smoke. I enjoy it. It relaxes me. So yeah I smoke.

Uhm...I "started" smoking last year. I don't do it very often, at most maybe 1 a month if I'm lucky. Last time I did was in...Semptember. Although I had 5 cigarettes that month, so yeah.

I don't honestly see anything wrong with it. If you make a choice to do it, whats anyone elses business to tell you not to? I know thats kinda of a selfish thing to say, but hey its my opinion. Like it or not o.O> Wow that sounded mean. Oh well.

So yeah I'm a 14 year old that smokes whenever he can get his dirty little hands on a cigarette.

I mainly smoke Marborol (sp) Lights, but I'll do anything.

Yeah wow that was fun!

You know what. The odd thing about it is. Everyone says their first time they coughed and their throat burned. It didn't for me. I guess you could say it came naturally for me. I didn't cough or anything. So yeah. Go me o.O I guess

[BabyGirl]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Tasis [/i]
[B][COLOR=royalblue]...and usually people who smoke are jackasses when you bring it up...[/COLOR] [/B][/QUOTE]

[color=deeppink][i]Some[/i] of them can be, but in my experience, 'full time' smokers have always been polite about it. Of course, it really depends on what you think they're jackasses about, but I've never had anyone be stupid about smoking around people who don't want to [i]have[/i] smoke around. Whenever I have smokers in my car, they always ask if they can smoke first, and they always roll the window down. It really doesn't bother me at all, but maybe that's because no one has ever been rude about it to me.

I actually think it's the opposite...I smoke occasionally, far less than I used to, and whenever I mention it to non-smokers they'll say something to the effect of, "Eww, that's so gross! Why do you do that to yourself?" It's like, come on, it's my choice, you need not condemn me for something that I'm fully aware I'm doing.

Yeah, that really gets to me...I wish some non-smokers could just relax about it [though most of them are cool with it]. We just don't all need to be preached to ;)

As I continue rambling, I think it also really depends on age. So many of the younger members here are SO against "bad" things like driking and smoking, which, admittably, is a good thing if you have the willpower to never do those things. However, you don't need to think that you're going to be damned for all time if you try it once. Maybe it just makes me feel ridiculously old [even though I'm not!] when I talk about the things I do and everyone else comdemns them :shifty:

Blah blah blah, I think I've said enough for now ^_^[/color]

[The One]

[color=darkred]The thing is, I used to be well against smoking. I forced my mom to stop, and now she wants to kill me for starting o,O;;. Can't blame her really. I too used to find it a turn off. Not saying now that I consider it a turn ON but it just doesn't put me off anymore. I used to say the exact same thing Semji. That I wouldn't go out with a girl who was a smoker. I have completely changed.

Tasis, yes, I have about 20 friends who smoke. So yes, there is a high chance of me dying, though it may be to do with cars or murder o,O;;.

Just to tell you, I don't thin I could stand being over 60, so there is a high chance of me killing myself at that age anyway Rhys. Oh, yeah, and it's 'emits' not 'amits'.

Baby girl, I agree totally. Thank you for posting that, I couldn't quite find the words to explain some of the things I felt, and you have managed to do it for me. ;)

'Marlboro lights' It actually turns out that the word light is being banned when being used to describe cigarettes. It makes people think they are better for you than the others hehe. Yep, I'll cmoke pretty much anything but usually Lights, Lucky Strikes, Davidoffs, Ziganovs, Reds, Silk Cuts. The other types have been Cigarones, Sobraines etc etc.

Also, people are being a bit judgemental. Granted, it's your point of view, but it just feels like I'm being got at for bringing this up. I admire a lot of the people who have already posted, but I'm thinking of deleting it due to it's extremely controversial nature. *ponders* I'll wait :D.[/color]

[Frankie]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Lalaith Ril [/i]
[B]

So yeah I'm a 14 year old that smokes whenever he can get his dirty little hands on a cigarette.

I mainly smoke Marborol (sp) Lights, but I'll do anything.

Yeah wow that was fun! [/B][/QUOTE]

Yeah well i know its your choise but you know what bryan

I care alot about you
and you know what

You could get lung cancer
And i know you prolly alredy know that

im just RE TELLING YOU

dont make me go all the way over there to slap the crap out of you....

which i wouldent do... i dont slap...
i yell
hahahah

Anyways i......... erm...... did smoke...

baaad flora bad *hits self* :blackeye:

Yeah... DID... key word.. i quit...

i started when i was about...11... quit when i was about...13

no one ever found out.. till now... since im telling the entire message boards

*wanders off to add somehting to the list*

[BabyGirl]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by The One [/i]
[B][color=darkred]I admire a lot of the people who have already posted, but I'm thinking of deleting it due to it's extremely controversial nature.[/color] [/B][/QUOTE]

[color=deeppink]Nah, don't do that, you should stand up for your views even if others don't agree with them. It enlightens them to the ::gasp:: dark things of the world! :eek:[/color]

[Sui Generis]

Ah don't delete it. No topic is truly a topic untill it has contraversy. Contraversy is what makes the world go 'round. And of course I probably spelled it wrong. Oh well....

BACK TO THE TOPIC!

I think its amazingly rude when people go "EWWW SMOKING GROSS!" They're entitled to their own opinion, but going out of their way to point out that you're smoking and they think its wrong is just plain rude. What happened to common curtosy. I mean if you don't want the person next to you to be smoking, just ask them politely to stop. And if worst comes to worse and they are being complete jackasses about it, just move. It won't hurt you to exercise abit.

I mean I can see where people are coming from. Its rude for someone to automatically assume that you're ok with smoking and then they just "light one up" in your car. I think thats totally un-called for.

People just need to be more curtouse of eachother thats all! :)

*gets smacked by Flora* I knew that was coming o.O

[The One]

[color=darkred]Hehe, thanks BG and LR. I editted my post after I saw yours'. You put into word what I couldn't, thank you.

I apreciate having people who understand what I'm doing and know how it feels...God that sounds pathetic.

I'll leave it for now. but if it gets stupid, like a slagging match between the smokers and non-smokers, bye bye thread.

Oh yeah, I am not a jackass. o,O;;[/color]

[Semjaza]

Leave it open. After the thread I did in here, I think you'll find that you'll mostly get good reponses :).

As for me... I don't know how my post came off. I have nothing against people who smoke. I don't judge people that do. People thing some things I like to do are really stupid (although I'd say they don't have a chance of hurting me), so given that I kind of try to stay open to everyone else's wants and opinions.

If people tell me they smoke, I don't get disgusted or get preachy on them. I think, "Bleh, I don't know why people do."... but that's it. I'm certainly no higher authority on the subject.

However, I personally can't handle being around smoke for even short periods. My parents used to smoke a lot, and I had horrible bhroncitus (or however that's spelled). My mom quit, my stepdad cut back and I've not had it since. That's one of my bigger reasons for not doing it.

I've smoked about twice, and it did nothing for me. It's not like weed, where people claim you have to do it a few times before it gets you high... (Which brings up the whole "acquired taste" thing. Everyone says that for stuff that I think is digusting. Beer is an acquired taste, etc. I'm sure if I drank piss everyday I'd like it eventually too... heh.) I think people after a while just associate the feeling of filling their nicotine cravines with actual stress relief... which is understandable. Cigarettes did nothing for me. They tasted bad and made it feel like something was clawing in my throat.

Years back, due to various things, I decided that I was not going to do these sorts of things. I only smoked twice, never actually drank more than twice and smoked up once. I just saw all the people (older) that I knew that did this stuff, and while I loved them and everything... I didn't want to [i]be[/i] like them. That was my main motivation, but certainly not the only one.

I'm not like elitest. People should make up their own minds. Like I said before, people that smoke now [i]have[/i] to know the risks after all those lawsuits. If somehow the good outweighs the bad in their mind for it, then cool with me. Just don't puff it in my face and we're cool :D.

[Guest Zeh]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Tasis [/i]
[B][COLOR=royalblue][u]usually[/u] people who smoke are jackasses when you bring it up.[/COLOR] [/B][/QUOTE]

[COLOR=royalblue]Well, I'm in that younger age group... and most of the people who smoke are jackasses... I personally don't care if people smoke, it's their choice... with things written all over the packs, all them commercials, and everything else, they obviously know what they're doing.

If they're willing to put up with their choice, who am I to stop them or care? (not to sound rude ^_^) [/COLOR]

[The One]

[color=darkred]Agreed Semji. And for the record, I do stupid stuff aswell, hehe. Tak Bush Diving for example. Find a bush, jump into it. *sigh* so simple yet so fun.[/color]

[BigCajones]

Well I personally think around my area young kids and yobs just smoke for an image. It classes them as 'cool' supposely, but I think it's plain stupid. You try it, because of peer pressure and to fit in with mates, then your hooked ... What do you do now? Your life's expiration date closes in when you smoke and there are plenty of problems with it. I'm hoping to never smoke nor do drugs and I'm doing good so far! :) I like my life the way it is and I don't want to waste my money on cigarettes when I could be buying things I much rather would want! If that means not being 'cool' then oh well I would prefer to get somewhere in life to be honest.

That's my opinion anyway ...

[Sui Generis]

Tasis has a point. Most people I know around here [b]are[/b] really rude when it comes to smoking. I remember I was hanging out with a friend, and one of my friends and I had a cigarette. The other friend had asthma and we completely forgot, so he kindly asked us to put them out. I had no problem with it, I don't have the right to make someone else uncomfortable but the other friend went balistic.

Thats kinda how it is period. Alot of people I guess think of their cigarettes as idols or something. I don't know how to describe it. Did that even make sense!?

[quote]Well I personally think around my area young kids and yobs just smoke for an image. It classes them as 'cool' supposely, but I think it's plain stupid. You try it, because of peer pressure and to fit in with mates, then your hooked ... What do you do now? Your life's expiration date closes in when you smoke and there are plenty of problems with it. I'm hoping to never smoke nor do drugs and I'm doing good so far! I like my life the way it is and I don't want to waste my money on cigarettes when I could be buying things I much rather would want! If that means not being 'cool' then oh well I would prefer to get somewhere in life to be honest.

That's my opinion anyway ...[/quote]

You know what the funny thing is. Here its the exact opposite. You are "un-cool" if you smoke. Go figure o.O Probably because I go to a catholic school though. Oh well

[The One]

[color=darkred]Yeah, it made sense. But it's just that no-one I know is a Jackass about smoking. I've seen a couple of guys on the street, but to say everyone is kinda generalising. But it may be just from personal experience that you're saying this Tasis, so perhaps it's just the smokers that you've encountered.

I'm glad I didn't delete this topic, it's gotten to some good discussion and has revealed things about people that would have otherwise been kept underwraps. I like it when we get to find that little more about the people we chat to. :)[/color]

[Guest Zeh]

[COLOR=royalblue]I said usually they're jackasses ^_^

See, coming to this forum, i'd have guessed VERY few of you were smokers, just from my encounters with them, none of you seem like them whatsoever...

Up here, if you smoke you're in a "gang", and if you don't you're either a Nerd, a Prep or something...

I guess it's just the age group too, most of the older people i know that smoke, aren't anything like that o_O [/COLOR]

[Sui Generis]

Yeah I see what you mean Tasis. Some people tend to generalize that smokers here are Punks and Skaters where people who don't are the cool people.

I find it really annoying, but hey thats ok....

The whole thing about it is, I think ALOt of people do smoke to be cool, but then they get addicted to it. I think its kinda funny when that happens. Maybe cigarettes were put here for a different reason.

To teach us all a lesson....

[b]CONFORMATY SUCKS!!![/b]

Well ok maybe thats a stretch but you get the idea!

*looks around* I expected more people to post o.O.