Poll: do you think smoking is attractive?

[Bellvedere]

In my view smoking is one of those things that can look really classy or really trashy depending on the situation whether the smoker is question is a lad or a lass.

I grew up in a non-smoking household and weirdly I always liked the smell. I was a regular smoker for a few years but cost and the whole "it kills you" thing means that I've all but given it up. Pretty much only do it now when drinking socially but that's mostly because I need the break, the excuse to step outside away from the bulk of people.

 

[Verkain]

To me it's not unattractive but I doubt I would ever think a woman would look better if she smoked. Right now it'd be a huge turn off for me though because a few years back I recently kicked my 22 year smoking habit and now the smell disgusts me.

 

[BathorysGraveland2]

I'm indifferent. I don't find smoking attractive at all, but it also doesn't bother me in the slightest. So hey. I'm neutral in this topic.

Edit: After reading through all the thread - wow, some people really blow smoking way the fuck out of proportion.

 

[Gennadios]

I've been a smoker twice in my life, and I've quit twice. The most recent quit date was just under two weeks ago, but it should hold as it only took me 3 days of not smoking to get into the groove last time.

Basically, it's not an attraction aspect, just something neutral while I was a smoker, no preference one way or the other.

Now that my sense of smell is starting to creep back, however, holy crap the smell is kind of nasty.

 

[Lilani]

I find it to be absolutely abhorrent. I MIGHT be willing to put up with electronic cigarettes, but only if they never touch the regular ones. Luckily my boyfriend feels the same way so we haven't had this conflict.

 

[Malbourne]

I dunno why, but the smell has always been somewhat refreshing. Not in high doses, mind you, but it's still weirdly pleasant. I'm indifferent to how smoking appears in real life, since it's meant to relieve stress and comes down to individual preference. In the world of fiction, however...

Spoiler

Mm, Bigby knows how to do it...

 

[Qwurty2.0]

While smoking used to be romanticized and seen as a sign of maturity, I tend to see it as a sign of weakness and lack of willpower.

However, it depends on their age. If they are from older generations then I don't think much of them; it was part of their culture and they're just sort of "victims" of lack of information, though I shake my head at people who deny the cons or make little effort to at least try to stop.

If you are younger (no real specific age, maybe mid-twenties to 30?) and you smoke, I can't help but lose a decent chunk of respect for them and think they are incredibly stupid. There is absolutely no benefit from smoking, and the health benefits have been around long enough that anyone who is that young and smoking is basically stupid enough to be saying "Look at me, I'm causing permanent damage to my body, weeeeeeee!".

So to get that out of the way, if you are a very infrequent or social smoker I'm not really bothered by it, but otherwise it repulses me. :/

 

[Queen Michael]

I kissed a smoker once. Tasted like an ashtray. I wouldn't say no to dating a girl just because she's a smoker, but it wouldn't be a plus.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

I don't think there are too many things more unattractive. The sight, the smell, the lack of common sense. It is a deal breaker for me.

 

[Happiness Assassin]

When ever I see someone smoke on-screen, I think to myself, "I hope those cigarettes are light." The smell is just... awful. I would rather deal with the smell of weed than heavy cigarettes and I hate the smell of weed.

 

[Zyxx]

A single whiff of cigarette smoke will inevitably give me a migraine, so... yeah, pretty insurmountable turnoff for me.

 

[Godhead]

I'm mostly indifferent about it. I smoke, but only two or three times a week and even then it's in a pipe so it normally smells nicer than a cigarette, and I make sure not to smoke when around people who are either against it or don't enjoy the smell of smoke in general. If somebody else was smoking, I wouldn't say I'd find it unattractive since I do it myself but if they didn't it wouldn't really sway me the other way either.

 

[LadyLightning]

While I myself don't smoke, neither do I have any problems with people who do~

I don't mind the smell of tobacco, and I've kissed a few girls and one guy right after they had a smoke -- it's nothing to worry about, really.

In fact, what's unappealing to me is people who judge someone else just because she smokes. Shame on you

 

[FPLOON]

Nope... and not because of my asthma, although it is the reason why I never like hanging around those that smoked around and/or near me... For me, whenever I see someone smoke, all it does is remind me of all the negatives that comes with just smoking in general, thus making me, at times, forget how the smoker in question could be attractive if they weren't smoking at that time...

Granted, I have nothing against smokers in general, but still... *sighs* My asthma is one hell of a "cockblocker" for smokers, though...

 

[masticina]

Ah smoking, never really done that. I tried of course but it tasted horrible.

Anyhow smoking, yeah well lets say my mom smokes, she still does. And has for many many many many years. My father stopped smoking cigarettes somewhere around when I was 4.

Lets say one thing when visiting my parents house one thing hits me that smell. It just smells bad in the house because of all that smoking, it just pulls itself into the fabric where it can. And it is horrible. Hell if I go out and I don't mind others smoking there I return smelling like an ashtray. Really ugh!

But worst about it is smoking in the train. Ah yes nowadays dutch trains doesn't allows for smoking anymore. But they used to and then they began to make smoke free areas and then they kinda herded all smokers into one fucking area.

And guess what where my mother wanted to sit. And guess what I weren't going to sit.. yes the smoking area. Where she is now, she is in a carehouse due to being in a wheelchair, there is a smoke room. No I won't enter that hell hole.

So now you understand my position no I don't find smoking attractive. I don't mind it in a film noir or a western movie it is kinda part of that time. But in a modern movie setting or a movie situation.. no! I wouldn't mind writing it into a story if the time and situation is right for it.

To me the setting matters. And no I just don't like smoke.. ugh it stinks.

 

[GabeZhul]

For starters, the only reason smoking was linked with "attractiveness" in the public conscious is because of aggressive ad-campaigns by the tobacco companies. The rationale is simple: if you advertise your product as stress-relief, it turning your lungs back is something that would make people reconsider whether they want to do it or not. If you advertise it as something "mature" and "cool", once society internalizes you message peer pressure will ensue that people won't care about sacrificing their lungs for the sake of following the crowd.

If you do a little research, it's insane just how many of the trends we take for natural today are all results of aggressive ad campaigns originating in the early 20th century. For example, the entire stigmatization of human odor was literally invented by the guy who made the first antiperspirant. The thing didn't sell, so he hired an ad agency to make people ashamed of their odor. Similar thing happened with the shaving of armpit-hair and leg-hair of women, which originated from an ad-campaign by razor manufacturers.

So yeah, while I am ambivalent about the rest of the examples I just gave, since they are not really hurting anybody beside wasting their money, I downright hate the idea that smoking (or any other addictive substance) is "cool" because it just leads to teenagers getting addicted at a young age while trying to follow the herd and then waste themselves by adulthood because of it.

 

[tofulove]

If they where smoking pot then yes ;p tobacco is a big no.

 

[Kolby Jack]

My grandmother, who I loved dearly, died from lung cancer 7 years ago due to a lifetime of smoking. That's not what's turned me off in terms of attractiveness, it's that for most of the time I knew her she was gaunt, thin beyond belief, and all around very unhealthy looking even for her age. And she was also coughing these nasty phlegm-y coughs. I can't help but remember that stuff when I see people smoking because she was the most prominent smoker in my life for quite a long time. It doesn't help that I find the smell of cigarette smoke very unpleasant.

 

[laggyteabag]

No, I don't. I hate the smell, I hate the look, and I hate the money sink. I tend to lose some respect for someone if I find out that they smoke, and it is a complete turn off. I just hate it. Pot/ Weed/ Marijuana is in the same boat for me too.

 

[major_chaos]

Jesus h. christ, the level of judgmental condescension is off the charts in this thread.

OT: wouldn't make a difference either way to me. I like the smell but not enough to find it "attractive" and there is nothing about the image that specifically appeals to me. That said one the the most common things my core group of friends does when hanging out is smoke hookah, so she would certainly fit in better with my existing friends if she enjoyed that. As for my own habits, I smoke occasionally (like 1 pack every 1-2 months) because I like the taste/smell of the tobacco and the effect of the nicotine, but I would stop if a girl I really liked asked me to. Or if they ever legalize pot for that matter.