a question for smokers...

[TehCookie]

I will go with the time honoured answer that non-smokers refuse to accept: I enjoy it.

What do you enjoy about it? The smell? The smoke going into your lungs? That feeling of suffocation that makes you lightheaded?

I'm not sure what you're asking here. Are you accusing him of lying? Because unless every smoker I know is part of some sort of conspiracy, some people really do enjoy smoking!

Just because you don't enjoy something, doesn't mean that no one does.

No, I asked him to elaborate on his answer. Going because I like it is a shallow answer. Going I like it because this reason gives a better understanding.

Where did you get the idea I was accusing him of lying? People enjoy things for different reasons. Just because two people are smokers doesn't mean they like it for the same reasons. I've met smokers who hate how it smells but enjoy the high. He likes the smell and smoke. Some people think it looks cool. Only saying that you enjoy it is too broad of an answer.

 

[romxxii]

you have all heard the warnings, you've seen the labels and you all know the potential fatal risks of smoking.

So why do you continue?

Because it's really hard to quit. The habit-forming hand-to-mouth action, combined with the addictive elements of nicotine, make it difficult to give up cold turkey. My dad went through serious withdrawal symptoms for two weeks when he did. I didn't have the same amount of willpower, so I tricked my body with e-cigarettes and vaporizers. It kinda worked, but I developed chronic respiratory issues throughout my vaping days. Now smoke (and vape) free for more than 6 months now, and I still get the occasional craving for a puff or two. I just keep telling myself that once I start again, it'll be even harder to quit.

 

[Hazy]

I smoke because I don't know what else to do with my hands

"I figured out what to do when I was in my high school production of Grease: I kept them in my pockets. I took them out only to hand jive."

 

[Iklwa]

I enjoy it. To me, it tastes good, it feels good, and it helps keep the memories of a certain godforsaken desert wasteland at bay.

 

[Dascylus]

Passive-Aggressive suicide...

And because I need something to do while waiting for unreliable busses...

It's a great way to show how great the sex was...

It's a "get out of conversation" clause when I meet uppity people who patronisingly ask questions like this and clearly don't understand that it is as simple as enjoyment.
"Excuse me, I just have to step outside for a smoke" and the snooty fuckers will rarely follow.

Oh and if you're all concerned about our health then think about this... For every 10 smokers here who have taken the time to answer at least 3 of them finished their response then thought to themselves "that reminds me, time for a smoke".
Think how many lives you have shortened by the mere act of a polite question.

Speaking of which... See you in 10 minutes.

 

[Jenvas1306]

My father is a smoker, he used to be a heavy chain smoker, even when I was a small child. I grew up in that blueish smoke and couldnt really smell it until my parents got divorced. My father has MS, diabetes and had two strokes and yet he still smokes, even its less than in the past.
Looking at how most smokers hurry to get their dosis, standing in the cold if necessary, they do not look like they enjoy it, it looks more like they must do it.
If you wanted enjoyment you wouldnt smoke that cheap crap, you might go for a cigar or a cigarillo for actual flavor besides the smoke. we have shisha bars around here and I find that the smoke from those is way less offending and I actually understamd how someone can enjoy that easily.
But normal cigaretts seem like the lowest of the addictions, minmal gain and the only reason to do it seems to stay addicted.
I dont smoke, and dont drink. I just dont like it. drunken folks are often violent idiots and id prefer to have them high on MJ.
It has happened more than one that I had to give up my seat in a b us, tram or train b ecause someone was sitting close to me who just bathed themselves in smoke and that cloud was taking my breath.
I find smoking disgusting on so many levels... but if you do it and have the decency to be a little considered about the people around you, then I dont mind.

 

[MrHide-Patten]

you have all heard the warnings, you've seen the labels and you all know the potential fatal risks of smoking.

So why do you continue?

Because it's addictive as fuck. I tried giving up caffeine to the extent I was ingesting it and I wanted to punch a baby by day 2.

Personally I'd be be more interested in asking how people get into it, you know considering all the crap that's associated with the stuff. But as Dylan Moran once said; "I have little sympathy for people who get messed up by drugs. You'd think that by now they'd have heard something bad about it."

 

[DeepReaver]

First i will start off by saying i am not a heavy smoker, i smoke a pipe to help relax and trust me when i say it does really help one relax. There is nothing better than sitting outside on a nice autumn day with a glass of apple juice, smoking a pipe and reading a good book. Also i feel for those who think 'i am not a heavy smoker' means i still smoke quite frequently due to addiction i should elaborate. I smoke once a month at most, it is a reward to myself, a relaxing afternoon.

 

[Unsilenced]

you have all heard the warnings, you've seen the labels and you all know the potential fatal risks of smoking.

So why do you continue?

Because it's addictive as fuck. I tried giving up caffeine to the extent I was ingesting it and I wanted to punch a baby by day 2.

Personally I'd be be more interested in asking how people get into it, you know considering all the crap that's associated with the stuff. But as Dylan Moran once said; "I have little sympathy for people who get messed up by drugs. You'd think that by now they'd have heard something bad about it."

I got offered cigarettes a few times at parties. Decided I liked it and started doing it on my own. It's been an off and on sort of thing for me though. I only smoke once or twice a day, so I doubt I'd be considered typical in that regard.

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

I smoke a pack a day. I started because it is enjoyable, I continue because I am addicted and don't care much about living to be old.

 

[Unsilenced]

I smoke a pack a day. I started because it is enjoyable, I continue because I am addicted and don't care much about living to be old.

But what about the money? I swear I could never smoke that much. My wallet would cry.

 

[lunavixen]

I'm not a smoker but my parents are, part of it is:
Addiction to nicotine
People enjoy it
It's helps some relax
For others, it's just habit

The list goes on.

Everyone has some sort of vice, even if they don't call it that.

 

[Murais]

I smoke a pipe. It's classy as all get out, it tastes great, it smells great, and it's an awesome conversation starter.

Also, I really like the feeling of lounging and having a smoke/blowing smoke rings. Makes me feel relaxed.

 

[Murais]

First i will start off by saying i am not a heavy smoker, i smoke a pipe to help relax and trust me when i say it does really help one relax. There is nothing better than sitting outside on a nice autumn day with a glass of apple juice, smoking a pipe and reading a good book. Also i feel for those who think 'i am not a heavy smoker' means i still smoke quite frequently due to addiction i should elaborate. I smoke once a month at most, it is a reward to myself, a relaxing afternoon.

Hey, do you mind if we be friends forever? Because yes to all of this.

(Though I often substitute the apple juice for scotch. Both are good, though.)

 

[DeepReaver]

I smoke a pipe. It's classy as all get out, it tastes great, it smells great, and it's an awesome conversation starter.

Also, I really like the feeling of lounging and having a smoke. Makes me feel relaxed.

Ah Ha it is good to have a fellow fan of the pipe.

Hey, do you mind if we be friends forever? Because yes to all of this.

(Though I often substitute the apple juice for scotch. Both are good, though.)

Yes this sound like a great plan, we will sir it up.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Saying false equivalence doesn't make it a false equivalence. You have to explain why it is a false equivalence.

No, being a false equivalency makes it so.

You aren't addicted to food - it is required for your survival. Food does not have "withdraw symptoms" - hunger is an entirely different biological function and in no way associated with addiction or withdraw. They are entirely dissimilar from a biological perspective, which is what we're talking about here.

Thus it is a false equivalency to say that hunger ~ withdraw, which you did, which started this whole thing.

Note: That ~ is supposed to be one of those wavy equals signs that means equivalent rather than equals.

Edit: Oh, almost forgot.

OT: Nicotine kinda smells nice. Well, before it gets smoked anyway. I used to think cigarette smoke smelled sexy, but that was mostly due to positive association (my first lover smoked) rather than the actual smell being good.

Note2: I do not smoke, but I have had several friends who did. I say did because I think all of them have since quit (or gone electric).

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

I smoke a pack a day. I started because it is enjoyable, I continue because I am addicted and don't care much about living to be old.

But what about the money? I swear I could never smoke that much. My wallet would cry.

Cigarettes are my biggest expense other than necessities, but beyond tobacco and one other smoking hobby I don't care to do many things requiring money, so the cost doesn't bother me.

I would have about $40 extra a week without cigarettes, but I generally would rather have the 140 cigarettes.

 

[Jaythulhu]

I smoke because I don't know what else to do with my hands

You could masturbate

And how would one explain that to the boss? "I'm just going to nip out the back for a quick wank"?

As someone who's smoked since early teens (early 90s, back when it was still cool), I can say that I still smoke for 3 main reasons:

1) I enjoy it.

2) After the latest batch of arsebandit fucksmear customers at work, the relaxing effect of the nicotine is a gawd-send.

3) I enjoy it. I may have already mentioned that, but since it's such an important point I think it's worth mentioning twice.

That said, I certainly wouldn't encourage people to start, just because in Australia it's fucking retardedly expensive (tax, tax, tax, tax, tax and more tax. in fact, the government ups the tax whenever it thinks it needs more money to give to rich people and the scumbag lobbyists they employ). It's cheaper to smoke half an ounce of weed a week than it is to smoke a pack of cigs a day for a week.

 

[Tallim]

I will go with the time honoured answer that non-smokers refuse to accept: I enjoy it.

Do that many people really refuse to accept that answer? I am a non-smoker, aside from the very rare cigar. And that answer seems perfectly valid to me. It's the same reason I drink pop, eat junk food etc.

Most people don't really care as long as you aren't an ass about it. It's the more "militant" anti-smokers that seem to have a major issue with it. I used to live in a place where there were a lot of people like that so I used to get asked questions about smoking a lot.

 

[MetalMagpie]

I will go with the time honoured answer that non-smokers refuse to accept: I enjoy it.

What do you enjoy about it? The smell? The smoke going into your lungs? That feeling of suffocation that makes you lightheaded?

I'm not sure what you're asking here. Are you accusing him of lying? Because unless every smoker I know is part of some sort of conspiracy, some people really do enjoy smoking!

Just because you don't enjoy something, doesn't mean that no one does.

No, I asked him to elaborate on his answer. Going because I like it is a shallow answer. Going I like it because this reason gives a better understanding.

Where did you get the idea I was accusing him of lying? People enjoy things for different reasons. Just because two people are smokers doesn't mean they like it for the same reasons. I've met smokers who hate how it smells but enjoy the high. He likes the smell and smoke. Some people think it looks cool. Only saying that you enjoy it is too broad of an answer.

I think it was just that you seemed to have quite a negative tone. Sort of like the way some people say to me "What is it you actually like about going to the gym? Getting all hot and sweaty? Running on a treadmill for hours?"

Sorry if I read that wrong. It's hard sometimes without having someone's expression or tone of voice.