Do you smoke? Could you explain this thing?

[SonicWaffle]

1. Do you smoke?

On and off since I was 15, so...Christ, ten years. Fuck me, I'm old :-(

Currently one week without as of this morning, though!

Okay, so what made you decide on the brand and particular flavor you use?

Different factors every time. As a kid I smoked rolling tobacco, Drum was my brand - it was cheap - but when the price went up I ditched it because it was foul. I usually wavered between Cutter's Choice and Golden Virginia for taste, GV being nicer for a cigarette but Cutter's making the better joints. When I did buy straights - usually during the winter, when it was too cold to roll - I went for Richmond Superkings as they were cheap and you got longer ciggies for your money, though for preference I went Marlboro Red.

Most recently when I got into smoking again, I didn't want to, it's just that every **** I hang out and go drinking with smokes so it's very easy to be drawn back into the habit. So I started buying packs of Marlboro Light, because they're not as harsh and an easier smoke, plus I could lie to myself and pretend that it wasn't really smoking, like the guy who gets a foot-long Subway but tells himself it's healthy because he got lettuce in it.

Currently, I'm on the 10motives brand of electronic cigarettes, because they kill the cravings as well as giving something to do with the hands.

2. And how many other brands and flavors have you tried?

Practically all of them. When you're a kid you'll smoke whatever is available, and when you don't have a cigarette you'll happily bum some shitty Arabian import made of twigs if it'll get you your fix. I swear, when some guy brought back a load of duty-free in college, I think I smoked cigarettes that were full of sawdust.

I was also lucky to have a tobacconist in my town, who would sell various flavoured tobaccos and varieties from around the world, so I've smoked just about every domestic shop-bought variety and many from exotic lands too.

3. Is it true that smokers always order the same kind of cigarettes?

Yes and no. If you're on the dole, you'll smoke whatever you can afford. However, most of the time when people can afford it, they choose a brand and stick with it.

4. Why? Isn't it more fun to try something new once in a while?

Fun doesn't enter into it. It's mostly about getting the fix. Once you've been smoking for a few years, you come to the inevitable conclusion that fags are horrible, and that you don't actually enjoy smoking, you just keep doing it from habit/addiction. Every single smoker I know (which is actually about 80% of the people I know) has reached the point of disgust, but very few of them can stop doing it.

 

[generals3]

1. Do you smoke? Okay, so what made you decide on the brand and particular flavor you use?
2. And how many other brands and flavors have you tried?
3. Is it true that smokers always order the same kind of cigarettes?
4. Why? Isn't it more fun to try something new once in a while?
Thing is, I don't smoke, and I don't plan to start, so I'm curious about all of this.

I'm a special snowflake when it comes to smoking. I actually love trying out new brands/flavors however in general i always end up liking my usual ones the most. For example when lucky strike came out with their additive free cigarettes i couldn't resist trying them out and while they weren't bad i decided to stick with Camel natural flavor. I even remember one time on holiday i saw a sparkling pink pack of cigarettes and while i knew i would regret it i just couldn't resist buying a pack to try them out.

 

[SonicWaffle]

You think they're expensive over there?! Lemme ask you a question, how much does a pack of 20 cost? In Sunny UK, they cost $5 FFS!

You can't be serious...

Anyway, I gave up smoking (as in regular habitual/chain-smoking) about nine years ago

...ah. That would explain it. If you've not smoked in years you probably haven't noticed, but a 20-deck is edging up close to 8 notes these days, with a 10-deck usually costing over 4 (for some reason my keyboard won't produce pound signs, so just imagine they're there )

Really, the prices being charged these days are insane.

 

[Angie7F]

1. Do you smoke? Okay, so what made you decide on the brand and particular flavor you use?
used to, not any more. Marlboro Menthol Lights.

2. And how many other brands and flavors have you tried?
American Spirit, Kool, Seven Stars, Black Cherry... And any other brand that any one happened to have on them.


3. Is it true that smokers always order the same kind of cigarettes?
I think so.


4. Why? Isn't it more fun to try something new once in a while?
Because I like the taste. I have tried some other brands but it didnt feel right to me.

 

[GoldenFish]

You think they're expensive over there?! Lemme ask you a question, how much does a pack of 20 cost? In Sunny UK, they cost $5 FFS!

Wait, are you serious? In NZ where I live a pack of 20 will put you back around $22 (haven't checked the price recently though, this is just from memory as I don't smoke). That works out to be something along the lines of 18 USD and 11 UK pounds.

 

[srm79]

In Sunny UK, they cost $5 FFS! So yeah, I'm with you, I only smoke once every so often and only really when I'm not the one paying for them (I'll buy alcohol in return... not that it's much cheaper, if at all).

£7.50+ is the norm now for 20. I don't know exactly what the exchange rate is at the moment, but I suspect that's somewhere north of $10.

 

[SonicWaffle]

I know where you´re coming from and technically agree with you but I still have to tell you to please go fuck yourself.

Liiiiittle bit blunt there

People oversimplify smoking so often. Most of us know exactly what the consequences are and we know we´re idiots about it. We continue because we´re addicted. I was an idiot for starting, correct, I did so in a weak moment and have regretted it ever since, but quitting is not such an easy thing to do for heavy smokers such as myself. You can quit for a while but whenever you´re in a bad place and you just don´t give a fuck about your health or your finances (and I have quite a few of these moments) you´re going to start again. It´s easy for some people to quit or only rarely smoke, for others such as myself it feels near impossible. Just pisses me off to constantly be called an asshole for something I´m doing my best to quit.

Thing is, while I do agree with you to an extent, it probably does help to be reminded all the time. I don't know any smokers who actually pay attention to the warnings on packs - after a while, they become invisible, easily ignored - and if we weren't constantly being reminded that cigarettes are really fucking bad for us, I think most people would try and shut the information out in mental self-defence. Human beings tend to do that with things we don't like to think about.

It can be good to have that constant niggling reminder that says "this is super dumb", because it means you'll never forget and in the long run it will probably help you quit. I'm trying to cut down alcohol consumption, and whenever I think about it I hear my key worker's voice telling me quite bluntly that "if you keep drinking like you do, it will literally kill you, and soon". Without that thought in my head reminding me, I think cutting down would be so much harder.

 

[SonicWaffle]

Amber Leaf (I actually almost wrote Amber Queef, it's what everyone calls it)

If you're associating Amber Leaf with vaginas then you probably need to work on your foreplay, because no fanny should ever be as dry as Amber Leaf! It turns to dust practically the second you open the pouch

 

[Vicarious Reality]

I tried eating ni... chewing nicotine gum and only got mildly poisoned several times, no fun
I assume it can not be the sole reason why people smoke

 

[Loonyyy]

I know where you´re coming from and technically agree with you but I still have to tell you to please go fuck yourself.

Liiiiittle bit blunt there

People oversimplify smoking so often. Most of us know exactly what the consequences are and we know we´re idiots about it. We continue because we´re addicted. I was an idiot for starting, correct, I did so in a weak moment and have regretted it ever since, but quitting is not such an easy thing to do for heavy smokers such as myself. You can quit for a while but whenever you´re in a bad place and you just don´t give a fuck about your health or your finances (and I have quite a few of these moments) you´re going to start again. It´s easy for some people to quit or only rarely smoke, for others such as myself it feels near impossible. Just pisses me off to constantly be called an asshole for something I´m doing my best to quit.

Thing is, while I do agree with you to an extent, it probably does help to be reminded all the time. I don't know any smokers who actually pay attention to the warnings on packs - after a while, they become invisible, easily ignored - and if we weren't constantly being reminded that cigarettes are really fucking bad for us, I think most people would try and shut the information out in mental self-defence. Human beings tend to do that with things we don't like to think about.

It can be good to have that constant niggling reminder that says "this is super dumb", because it means you'll never forget and in the long run it will probably help you quit. I'm trying to cut down alcohol consumption, and whenever I think about it I hear my key worker's voice telling me quite bluntly that "if you keep drinking like you do, it will literally kill you, and soon". Without that thought in my head reminding me, I think cutting down would be so much harder.

It also has the strange effect of making the person advocating not smoking sound like a judgemental, self-righteous jackass, and making them hated by smokers, or people who hate judgemental, self-righteous jackasses. If the warning images wear off, I'd suggest that people nagging them wears off, but it's not all that relevant. My mum took up smoking. We nagged at her, destroyed her cigarettes, hid her lighters, and all it would take is one bad day at work, or one drink too many and she'd be wanting them again. And her reaction to being told for the millionth time that it was dumb was not pleasant. "Shut the fuck up, I know it's dumb." To be fair to us, if you're an asthmatic mother, with 2 chronically and 1 mildly, asthmatic children, smoking is being a massive asshole. And it didn't work.

I don't smoke OP, never really picked up the habit. But I'd guess it as the same reason people eat the same food or buy the same drink: You find what you like, and stick with it to get the quality that you like. I'm a bit of a drinker, so I tried a few brands of cider and vodka. I usually stick with Mercury or Strongbow, because they're a good enough strength, and I like the taste. Vodka's odd to experiment with, since most of it's shit, and tastes like drain cleaner smells. Rule of thumb where I'm from is "Don't get anything cheaper than Smirnoff". Words to live by. Tried some Artika once. Worst experience. Tasted like bleach, felt like drinking absinthe, and wasn't all that strong. People generally don't like feeling like they've wasted money.

 

[saruman31]

1. Do you smoke? Okay, so what made you decide on the brand and particular flavor you use?
Yes. Well...the taste lol.
2. And how many other brands and flavors have you tried?
A lot.
3. Is it true that smokers always order the same kind of cigarettes?
Yes
4. Why? Isn't it more fun to try something new once in a while?
Only if i can ask one from a friend.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Amber Leaf (I actually almost wrote Amber Queef, it's what everyone calls it)

If you're associating Amber Leaf with vaginas then you probably need to work on your foreplay, because no fanny should ever be as dry as Amber Leaf! It turns to dust practically the second you open the pouch

I'm assuming it's being associated with queefing because it gives off a terrible odour and you don't want it anywhere near your face.

 

[Jfswift]

1. Do you smoke? Okay, so what made you decide on the brand and particular flavor you use?
I used to. At first I just experimented, trying out different cigarette brands, finding one with a flavor I enjoyed. It's kind of like with wine. You have sweet, dry, red, white, you get the idea. After you smoke a few cigars or cigarettes, you start to get a 'feel' for what you'd enjoy and can fine tune your tastes from there.

2. And how many other brands and flavors have you tried?
Oh, lots. I've sampled almost all major cigarette brands and several cigars over the years.

3. Is it true that smokers always order the same kind of cigarettes?
Yes. Everyone seems to favor a certain flavor.

4. Why? Isn't it more fun to try something new once in a while?
Sometimes but they're expensive and also bulky. It's a pain even carrying around two packs. I usually just went with what I enjoyed (and more often than not I was in a hurry to reach somewhere so it'd be a fast convienence store purchase).
Specifically I would break standard with camel because they always released gimicky but useful gadgets with their cigarettes on occasion or they'd offer bundle packages at discounted prices. This was also how I got into lucky strikes (filtered).

 

[SckizoBoy]

PFFFT a pack of 20 is only $5? The cheapest 20 pack where I work is $9.66 (that's with tax). The prices vary slightly depending on which store you go to, but in Manitoba (and Canada in general) cigarette prices are pretty fucking high.

Eh... shows how behind the times I am... -_-

Here it costs like $10 for a 25 pack, where I used to live it ranged from $10 to $12 for a 20 pack... Not cheap.

Not cheap anywhere, it seems... looks like I was out by a factor of three!

Really, the prices being charged these days are insane.

I have thus been enlightened... it's definitely cheaper to do roll-ups...

Wait, are you serious? In NZ where I live a pack of 20 will put you back around $22 (haven't checked the price recently though, this is just from memory as I don't smoke). That works out to be something along the lines of 18 USD and 11 UK pounds.

Y'know, I would've thought that we Brits would still have the most expensive tobacco, since the duty on it is something stupid like 70%, but seems as though everyone's got it bad...

£7.50+ is the norm now for 20. I don't know exactly what the exchange rate is at the moment, but I suspect that's somewhere north of $10.

And thank god I kicked the habit years ago... my wallet would hate me if I was still a smoker now...(!!)

-_-

 

[SonicWaffle]

It also has the strange effect of making the person advocating not smoking sound like a judgemental, self-righteous jackass, and making them hated by smokers, or people who hate judgemental, self-righteous jackasses.

I've never really found that. Then again, there's a big difference between saying "dude, you know those things are literally killing you, right?" and being the kind of passive-aggressive person who will intentionally stand beside a smoker and cough, pointedly and repeatedly, as if the fact of someone smoking in public has instantly given them the Black Lung.

One seems to be emphasising concern for the smoker's welfare, the other is just a way to emphasise that you dislike something.

If the warning images wear off, I'd suggest that people nagging them wears off, but it's not all that relevant.

It's more what you're used to. We become totally used to seeing pictures of tumours or written warnings on cigarette packs which we may pull from our pockets 20+ times a day. It's very, very easy to become desensitized, especially when all the packs use the same small pool of photos/warnings and you feel you've seen the same thing a million times before.

People who care about you reminding you that they're concerned for your health has, I've personally found, a much bigger impact. Even if all they're doing is reminding you that you ought to be more concerned about your own health. Plus you tend to hear it a lot less often than you see a cigarette pack, so it doesn't really feel so much like constant nagging that you want to block out.

My mum took up smoking. We nagged at her, destroyed her cigarettes, hid her lighters, and all it would take is one bad day at work, or one drink too many and she'd be wanting them again. And her reaction to being told for the millionth time that it was dumb was not pleasant. "Shut the fuck up, I know it's dumb." To be fair to us, if you're an asthmatic mother, with 2 chronically and 1 mildly, asthmatic children, smoking is being a massive asshole. And it didn't work.

I'm sorry to hear that, but for some people it just seems to be that way. It's incredibly hard to quit for some people, because the addiction gets its hooks into them deeper than most. Though I would say that all of your methods - hiding lighters, destroying cigs, constant nagging - seem kinda aggressive. Why not try to get her onto patches, or take her to one of the NHS clinics? Personally I've just quit again (one week today!) and I'm using the electronic cigarettes. Even down the pub surrounded by friends smoking, I can just puff on that, because it feels a lot like smoking. You get your nocitine hit, it has the same rough shape and feel of a fag, and you even breathe out a little puff of water vapour. Since it feels so much more like a cigarette, without any of the negative parts, it makes it a lot easier to say no to proper cigarettes even when you're half-cut. Worth a try, maybe.

I'm a bit of a drinker, so I tried a few brands of cider and vodka. I usually stick with Mercury or Strongbow, because they're a good enough strength, and I like the taste.

Internet fistbump, yo.

You can probably guess my drink of choice from my avatar

 

[SonicWaffle]

Amber Leaf (I actually almost wrote Amber Queef, it's what everyone calls it)

If you're associating Amber Leaf with vaginas then you probably need to work on your foreplay, because no fanny should ever be as dry as Amber Leaf! It turns to dust practically the second you open the pouch

I'm assuming it's being associated with queefing because it gives off a terrible odour and you don't want it anywhere near your face.

...what a thing to read right before lunch :-(

 

[Stampede]

1 - Well, what makes anyone decide on any kind of brand when it comes to consumption - taste, price-range,... hell, the color of the package/pack, name, design... I, personally, like my smokes heavy, dense and saturating. I also like to smoke after or during certain activities, so I like my smokes long and drawn-out (that's the 100's for ye non smokers), so I've been sticking with the good old-fashioned Marlboro 100's Filter Cigarettes.

2 - Practically everything that's been available for purchase where I live or during my travels. I was rolling my own for a while, then I got patriotic and stuck with the local blends for a while. I've tried cigars, a pipe (which is awesome, but I figure later on when I am older, have a great big beard and a lot of stories to tell... right now I am just too young to smoke a pipe), electronic... I made it a point to try any brand that I could get my hands on, because if you're gonna do something, you might as well do it thoroughly.

3 - If by order you mean "buy from the shop" - most of the time, yes, i guess... It's a habit and unless you have it in your mind to try something new you'd stick to what you know you like. Kinda like gaming - you'd try that shiny new shooter, maybe even like it for a while, but when you get bored or see that it's not better than your preferred one or you've just gotten so used to the old one, you get right back in there. Or maybe the new shooter wins you over and you decide to play that from now on.

4 - I guess I already explained that. To put it simply - once you find a brand you like there is little reason to keep experimenting.

 

[Doitpow]

1. Do you smoke? Okay, so what made you decide on the brand and particular flavor you use?
2. And how many other brands and flavors have you tried?
3. Is it true that smokers always order the same kind of cigarettes?
4. Why? Isn't it more fun to try something new once in a while?
Thing is, I don't smoke, and I don't plan to start, so I'm curious about all of this.

1.Yes. Mainly price, mediated by strength.
2.Pretty much all the common ones.
3.nope, not even close in my experience.
4.Yeah I guess.

 

[Doitpow]

You think they're expensive over there?! Lemme ask you a question, how much does a pack of 20 cost? In Sunny UK, they cost $5 FFS! .

Shit you must live in the country. In central london you're lucky to find them under £7.

 

[blackrave]

1. Do you smoke? Okay, so what made you decide on the brand and particular flavor you use?
2. And how many other brands and flavors have you tried?
3. Is it true that smokers always order the same kind of cigarettes?
4. Why? Isn't it more fun to try something new once in a while?
Thing is, I don't smoke, and I don't plan to start, so I'm curious about all of this.

1A.Not anymore apparently. Had a break for 2 months, yesterday had one cig from my roommate, damn that was disgusting. I'm considering dropping smoking entirely. I usually stick to L&M Silver or One (lightest ones), maybe that's why it was so bad.
1B.The taste mainly. Price wasn't that big of a deal, because at a peak I smoked pack in a week and such rate isn't money consuming.
2.Plenty, when I go to store there isn't any brand I haven't tried at least once.
3.Yes, most do.
4.Once and a while yes. If I see someone with different brand of smokes I haven't tried yet, I'll ask one or barter it. But buying whole pack of unknown cigarettes is just dumb. Because they are expensive and if you don't like them, then you are forced either finish that pack (and torture yourself in the process) or throw it out (another way of taking 5$ bill and lighting it up). That's why when you're buying you don't want to gamble and stick to what you know is good.