Happyninja42 said:
Actually it only calms your nerves because you have developed a need for the nicotine to be calm. You develop an agitated sense of anxiety if you go too long without a smoke, and smoking just resets you back to zero state. Though I'm assuming you are talking about people you know who have a smoking habit? And not just like a cigar every few weeks when out with friends kind of smoking?
Science disagrees with you there, at least partially.
http://ijnp.oxfordjournals.org/content/4/4/371.long Indicates that it reduces anxiety, depression and stress in females.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090423193946.htm indicates less likely to retaliate when faced with provocations and also a decrease in brain metabolism.
http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/news/20001107/think-smoking-calms-your-nerves-think-again This article agrees with you, but it deals with long-term effects rather than short-term effects.
A non-smoker (preferably female) smoking a ciggarette would possibly feel less stressed when smoking a ciggarette. A smoker not smoking would get stressed.
CrimsonBlaze said:
Growing up, I was a picky eater: obviously, I didn't eat just unhealthy stuff, but for the most part, I was comfortable with things that I could eat everyday and did not like there to be any form of complex seasons, sauces, etc. in my food. As I got older, and become more adventurous with exotic foods, I was more open to different cuisines and everyday foods that I avoided simply because I could. I found that there were many great dishes that I didn't immediately joy, but found them delicious. So I would moderately order those same dishes/foods and over time, I came to love them, without any other form of additives other than they were legitimately delicious.
This is really the most important aspect of acquired taste. I was also a picky eater growing up, but I have challenged myself with foods over the time and there are several aspects why aquiring the liking for something is a great idea. School trips, business trips, seminars, courses, parties, dinner with friends, these are all events that most of us will encounter where we generally don't get to choose the exact menu. Now I enjoy most food and drinks so I am very comfortable at these kind of events. I can enjoy some great meals, some decent wine, beer, soda, juice, cocktail spirits etc. and it's great. Now the biggest downer at this kind of events is the picky eater, the one who has never been challenged to try different kinds of food, the one who insists on ordering the pizza with cheese and tomato sauce, the one who does not want this or that spice in the sauce or not this topping, or Indian food, or Chinese food or spicy food. My sister is my complete opposite in this and my mom always hates cooking for her when she's visiting because she always need to take special care when preparing meals. So my first point is that an acquired taste is practical because you can always find something you like. Second it's important to fit in (kinda like peer pressure I guess). Third it's fun. I can experience lots of different tastes because I took the time to try things more than once and thus I will never get tred of eating things. I can choose from a huge variety and it's really enjoyable. Food, wine, beer, candy, deserts, music, anime, comedy. It's all an acquired taste. Some things are so bad that you can't force it, but at least you tried it and decided it's not for you.