Poll: Smoking

[Boba Frag]

Do you smoke? What do you prefer to smoke?
No
Why do you smoke/why did you start?[/b]

How much do you smoke? Cigarettes per day (packs per day if relevant)

Have you ever tried, or are you considering trying at some point?
I've tried it on more than one occasion. I've smoked cigarettes, cigars and rollies. Tobacco and also weed.

If you do smoke, do you enjoy it?
I really enjoyed smoking weed, as most people would, but I don't go looking to. I had my first smoke in about two years a few weeks ago. That said, I have never enjoyed cigarettes when sober. Vile tasting stuff. Cigars, on the other hand, I quite enjoy.

Do you smoke regularly? Or just occasionally?
Rarely. I avoid cigarettes.

Do you regret smoking?
Not really,although I'm wary of second smoke damage. I try to keep the cigars to special occasions only.

Do you think you are addicted to smoking?
I somehow doubt that.

Was your school education on smoking accurate to the real thing, in your opinion?
Yes and no. I believe it's fucking terrible for you, that it will do some serious damage to your health and reduce your lung capacity and increase your risks of lung cancer.
On the other hand, smoking when you're drunk is quite pleasant.
People smoke cigarettes because they've developed an addiction without realising it.

If you don't smoke, do you mind others smoking, or do you hate cigarette smoke?
I'm not too fond of the smoke to be honest, but most smokers I hang out with are very respectful so I've no problem.

What is you opinion on other people smoking? Is it their right to choose?
It's impossible to be poorly informed about the health risks, so it's really up to the individual. It's their choice.

What do you think of smokers?
I think that labelling people 'smokers' is counter productive. It's unnecessarily labelling people into one category and makes people feel ostracised.

Do you think smoking should be banned, or sales of tobacco banned, or some sort of legal enforcement to halt smoking?
I think the advertisement of it should continue to be restricted, that the public should be informed in a mature and balanced manner about the serious health risks that chronic smoking can pose, but banning it would be pointless.
Many drugs are banned, but did that remove the demand for them? If anything it created a perfect black market for criminals to exploit.

Have you previously been a smoker, and quit? How was quitting?
n/a

What's some advice you would give to a smoker for quitting?
Hang in there, I guess! Best of luck and you'll succeed if you truly want to kick that habit.

I think what we non smokers have to realise is that, yes, it's vile smelling smoke, but that human beings will ALWAYS want what they can't have. Plus, we're forgetting the social/ peer pressures that get a lot of people into it. The image of the smoker as attractive is ingrained into our culture and it's not going anywhere.
Blame James Dean and every WW2 movie ever made if you want. I think criminalising or ostracising smokers is the worst possible move to make- all we can ask is that they use an ashtray or smoke outside your house.

 

[yundex]

I've smoked for 6 years, even with a child in the house! Oh noes! It's not the only "drug" I do either.

I was 18 and pissed off, and i've heard that they calm you down. I used to smoke a pack a day until I turned to the electronic cigs, with no harmful chemicals except nicotine! I don't regret smoking at all, I loved smoking and still do. Anyone that's seriously FOR banning smoking in homes even with children should literally kill themselves, no really, you are not my fucking master.

Last note - as far as advice for quitting goes, if the smoker doesn't want to quit, they should use the electronic ones. If they DO want to quit, than they need no advice. The problem is, most smokers trying to quit do not really want to quit in the first place. -_-

Edit: humans have been smoking since the dawn of time, were not going to stop.

 

[MaxwellEdison]

Do you smoke? What do you prefer to smoke?
Nothing as of now.
Have you ever tried, or are you considering trying at some point?
Considering trying some non tobacco substances. (Damn, rules/mods make me scared to post that)
Was your school education on smoking accurate to the real thing, in your opinion?
Yeah.
If you don't smoke, do you mind others smoking, or do you hate cigarette smoke?
I honestly could not care less.
What is you opinion on other people smoking? Is it their right to choose?
Obviously, body autonomy and all that.
What do you think of smokers?
Nothing differently really.
Do you think smoking should be banned, or sales of tobacco banned, or some sort of legal enforcement to halt smoking?
NO.
What's some advice you would give to a smoker for quitting?
Don't have any, but both my parents quit.

 

[instantbenz]

Do you smoke? What do you prefer to smoke?
I smoke cigars and I prefer cigarillos. I'm not talking about Swisher Sweets here. My fave are Romeo Y Juliette as they have a distinct sweetness to the binder that I haven't tasted in other cigarillos such as non-flavored CAOs.

Why do you smoke/why did you start?
I started because I don't do drugs and I rarely drink, but I could still fit in while in such crowds. My family smokes, but everyone is slowing down how much in their old age and with how expensive they have become (still super cheap in ND 5usd a pack for cigarettes where my cigarillos are 18usd for a pack of 10)

How much do you smoke? Cigarettes per day (packs per day if relevant)
One cigarillo or cigar a week at most.

Have you ever tried, or are you considering trying at some point?
I do smoke.

If you do smoke, do you enjoy it?
I think there's a sense of sophistication with cigars in a similar manner as fine wine.

Do you smoke regularly? Or just occasionally?
Weekly seems occasional to me.

Do you regret smoking?
Not at all.

Do you think you are addicted to smoking?
No, with cigars I don't inhale so I get the effects and the style I want without as much damage to me.

Was your school education on smoking accurate to the real thing, in your opinion?
Yes I knew of the dangers.

If you don't smoke, do you mind others smoking, or do you hate cigarette smoke?
NA

What is you opinion on other people smoking? Is it their right to choose?
Chain smokers seem wasteful to me, especially when I know of their financial situation, but it is their decision, however foolish.

What do you think of smokers?
Nothing different than myself as I am one.

Do you think smoking should be banned, or sales of tobacco banned, or some sort of legal enforcement to halt smoking?
No, in fact I think the banning of smoking in so many places is ludicrous.

Have you previously been a smoker, and quit? How was quitting?
NA

What's some advice you would give to a smoker for quitting?
DONT explain the health problems as they've heard it before. DO tell them about how hard it hits their back pocket, as money can be tight for anyone.

 

[Yopaz]

Never tried it. I got asthma so I wont. My lungs are good after years of exercising, I wont throw it away for a cigarette every now and then. I don't mind people smoking, I don't think it should be outlawed. I think it's good that there's a legal drug that doesn't hurt that much. Sure it may cause cancer and it will cause lung problems, but those are old news. Let people smoke if they feel like it.

 

[Monkfish Acc.]

Do you smoke? What do you prefer to smoke?
Yes. Cigarettes.

Why do you smoke/why did you start?
Why the fuck not.

How much do you smoke? Cigarettes per day (packs per day if relevant)
I get through a pack in like three days. How much per day varies.

Have you ever tried, or are you considering trying at some point?
Clearly.

If you do smoke, do you enjoy it?
Yes.

Do you smoke regularly? Or just occasionally?
Regularily.

Do you regret smoking?
No.

Do you think you are addicted to smoking?
That is kind of the point, so yes.

Was your school education on smoking accurate to the real thing, in your opinion?
They didn't actually teach us anything, just bunged a bunch of posters up saying "IT'S BAD AND YOU'RE BAD IF YOU DO IT."
Much like sex education, really.

 

[The_ModeRazor]

Smoked one cigarette. The only reason I could imagine someone would take up smoking is because it looks cool. But I don't look cool doing anything, so there is no reason for me to smoke.

 

[Siifer]

If you don't smoke, do you mind others smoking, or do you hate cigarette smoke?
I don't smoke but I don't mind others doing it - that is so long as they do
it in their damned basement or something. I hate when people smoke in public,
I really don't see why that would be OK. I have asthma and i care about my body.
They can destroy themselves but i want to live.

What is you opinion on other people smoking? Is it their right to choose?
It is everyones right to choose, that's why it's madness smoking in public.

Do you think smoking should be banned, or sales of tobacco banned, or some sort of legal enforcement to halt smoking?
No. Prohibition doesn't work. People should choose for themselves.

What's some advice you would give to a smoker for quitting?
If I smoked, and really wanted to stop i'd watch a frikkin' marathon of documentaries
that show the dangers of smoking. I'd probably watch slideshows of bodies badly
damaged from smoking.

 

[curintedery]

I don't smoke on a regular basis, but I keep a pack in my car because sometimes I get very stressed. I smoke probably about 1/2 packs a year, so not enough to really do my any damage, but not enough to claim to be a non smoker.

I'm not addicted, at all. Never will be, because I simply don't do it enough.

And my school mentioned very little of it, not that it would have affected me much. There are big health warnings on them, I just ignore them. Like I said, not enough to mess me up anytime soon.

 

[BlueberryMUNCH]

Do you smoke? What do you prefer to smoke?
Not regularly. Whatever I can get my hands on.

Why do you smoke/why did you start?
Social reasons. Only smoke when I get offered; would never go out of my way to.

How much do you smoke? Cigarettes per day (packs per day if relevant)
Once a month would be an exaggeration.

Have you ever tried, or are you considering trying at some point?
Yes.

If you do smoke, do you enjoy it?
When I do, yes I do.

Do you smoke regularly? Or just occasionally?
Very occasionally.

Do you regret smoking?
Nope.

Do you think you are addicted to smoking?
Not at all.

Was your school education on smoking accurate to the real thing, in your opinion?
Er...I guess so?

If you don't smoke, do you mind others smoking, or do you hate cigarette smoke?
I mind when people smoke regularly, and when they smoke indoors or around children.

What is you opinion on other people smoking? Is it their right to choose?
I think addiction is stupid, but it's not their fault if they don't have the willpower. I think, if they know they aren't strong enough to resist it, they should never do it in the first place.

What do you think of smokers?
That it's a stupid habit.

Do you think smoking should be banned, or sales of tobacco banned, or some sort of legal enforcement to halt smoking?
In a perfect world, of course. But it's impossible to happen.

Have you previously been a smoker, and quit? How was quitting?
N/A

What's some advice you would give to a smoker for quitting?
...shit's prolly gonna kill you someday.

 

[tunderball]

Do you smoke? What do you prefer to smoke?
Yes I smoke rolled cigarettes because its cheaper and I think they taste better

Why do you smoke/why did you start?
I started when I went to University as sort of a communal thing, gradually I started finding it relaxing and began smoking on my own and now I use it to cope with the amount of work I do

How much do you smoke? Cigarettes per day (packs per day if relevant)
Probably around 10 cigarettes a day

If you do smoke, do you enjoy it?
Yes to all the above

Do you smoke regularly? Or just occasionally?
Regularly

Do you regret smoking?
I do I've tried to quit before but to no real success, I've realised that I've got too much stressful work to do at the moment and that quiting would just add too much to that. So yeah I finish Uni in a few weeks and I'm going to look into quitting properly

Do you think you are addicted to smoking?
Yes

Was your school education on smoking accurate to the real thing, in your opinion
Yes

 

[Drakane]

I think I fall in between sometimes and used to I quit. I can't remember the last time I bought a pack but if I go out to the bars with people that smoke I will occasionally bum 1 or 2 from them. This happens about once every 3-6 months.

When i bought smokes, always Marlboro reds.
I started when I was real young and don't really know why... probably brother and dad influence
I use to smoke 1 to 1 1/2 packs a day. Depending on what I was doing and how much I chewed
Smoking sometimes sounds amazing now, but normally just ends up tasting and smelling like shit.
I regretted it enough to stop, mostly because my dad got throat cancer from it.

 

[dosp5]

I come from a family of doctors, so as a kid I heard a lot about how bad smoking was for you. " If it was discovered today that you could smoke tobacco it would definitely be outlawed"

 

[daftalchemist]

I'm pleased to see so many non-smokers on the poll. Hooray for healthy Escapists!

 

[runnernda]

I have smoked marijuana, but not cigarettes. I don't mind that, but I don't do it terribly often. If I want to get high, I prefer it in brownie form.

Cigarettes...I don't understand it. It's bad for you, it smells terrible, it ages you prematurely, turns your teeth yellow...where's the upside? Not to mention, it's frakking expensive! If you want to slowly kill yourself, why are you paying for it? I have a lot of friends who smoke, and I tell them straight-up that they're dumbasses. With all the information available about it today, why would you even start?

I don't think banning tobacco would do anything. I mean, they banned alcohol, and look how effective that was. If you want to quit, just do it. Don't put it off. Get the patch, the gum, whatever works. Just think about your family and your friends and your future. It's worth it.

 

[Sangreal Gothcraft]

I used to then i started coughing blood, So i was like "Bleh, no more for me!" and cigarettes cost like 13$ in NYC

 

[DustyDrB]

I used to occasionally smoke a pipe with friends. The tobacco smelled awesome. People loved being around us when we smoked because of that. But cancer runs in my family (two grandparents and both of my parents). I really don't want to do it any favors. I quit and gave my pipe to a friend.

 

[Amberella]

Never smoked in my life and I'm never going to either.

 

[Conza]

Do you smoke? What do you prefer to smoke?

Why do you smoke/why did you start?

How much do you smoke? Cigarettes per day (packs per day if relevant)

Have you ever tried, or are you considering trying at some point?

If you do smoke, do you enjoy it?

Do you smoke regularly? Or just occasionally?

Do you regret smoking?

Do you think you are addicted to smoking?

Was your school education on smoking accurate to the real thing, in your opinion?

If you don't smoke, do you mind others smoking, or do you hate cigarette smoke?

What is you opinion on other people smoking? Is it their right to choose?

What do you think of smokers?

Do you think smoking should be banned, or sales of tobacco banned, or some sort of legal enforcement to halt smoking?

Have you previously been a smoker, and quit? How was quitting?

What's some advice you would give to a smoker for quitting?

No. Long Beach Silver (huh? I'll get to it, don't worry).

I started because of its enhancements on alcohol, as you may know it limits oxygen to the brain, so coupled with alcoholic content making the blood thinner, gives you an incredible high.

I ust to smoke about a pack a month (30-40 on average, maybe 5-6 on a heavy night of drinking with friends).

Yes, obviously tried.

I can enjoy them alone, but only crave a cigarette after a few drinks, so since I don't buy them anymore, I can usually stand the craving (although I had a dream the other night I succumbed and smoked one, which was weird).

Mostly on a drinking occasion.

Not really, I would if I were heavily addicted, developed any form of cancer, or had money issues and addiction, but as it stands, I estimate I've probably only lost 5% of my lung capacity, and I'm not totally convinced that?s gone for good.

Partially, it was irrelevant at one stage since I'd buy a pack a month anyway.

2 of 3 of my schools students smoked, and I never remember any particular education on the subject.

I don't smoke anymore, and I do mind if I'm strolling the streets before an interview and I smell of cigarette smoke thanks to passersby, I wish smokers would be more courteous.

Of course it's their right, it was introduced and legalised, what? A century ago? And now we have people addicted, to immediately illegalise cigarettes would be very harsh, as it stands, limiting their advertising, taxing them enormously, putting out campaigns to help people quit, is all in the right direction to eventually not having them at all.

Rare in some locations, prominent in others, smokers are usually people who've just had some back luck as teenagers and got addicted and now can't quit.

No, see above.

Not difficult at all for me, I just threw my empty packet away one day, and that was basically it, had one relapse after drinking a lot of scotch, and I stole (asked) a friend to have one of his, but I shared that cigarette with another friend anyway, and it wasn't my brand, so I didn't like it that much.

Can't really advise them, I guess out of sight, out of mind, for me the addiction is heavily linked with the consumption of alcohol, so when I drink and get the cravings, I try to resist the urge to rush out and buy them.

 

[Verlander]

Do you smoke? What do you prefer to smoke?

Nope

Why do you smoke/why did you start?

-
Have you ever tried, or are you considering trying at some point?

I have, on multiple occasions

Was your school education on smoking accurate to the real thing, in your opinion?

I didn't really get a school education on smoking, outside of "it's bad, and will kill you". I don't think that school education will treat this issue, I think the vastly reduced influence of having less older smokers around, as well as less of it advertised on television and suchlike, are doing far more to stop smoking. It's one of those things that needs to stop due to lack of demand, and the smoking ban in the UK is helping with that

If you don't smoke, do you mind others smoking, or do you hate cigarette smoke?

There are common courtesies that need to be observed by everyone, smoker or not. If you blow anything into my face, that's rude. If it's smoke, that's very rude. I live in the UK, so I can separate myself from smokers when I need, and I have no problem being with smokers outside. I don't think I could date a smoker though, it's not massively attractive to me.

My biggest beef with the whole thing, is the crowds of people who block doorways into bars, clubs and restaurants. Get out of my fucking way, go smoke around the corner or something. On the plus side, a lot of nightclubs in London have had to create open air sections for smokers in their buildings, which are much needed for a bit of "fresh" air halfway through the night.

What is you opinion on other people smoking? Is it their right to choose?

Oh yeah, and I don't think they should be banned either. That's not helpful. People need to kick them out of their lives themselves. Various things, like chewing tobacco and snuff, have almost completely disappeared from existence (at least in this country), and cigarettes will follow suit.

What do you think of smokers?

Well, they aren't all the same person. I don't immediately judge people because of this habit, but it probably affects the way I treat them sometimes (as a direct, physical relation to the actual habit). Especially women

Do you think smoking should be banned, or sales of tobacco banned, or some sort of legal enforcement to halt smoking?

There are loads already in my country, and I think they've done all they can. Tobacco shouldn't be banned, because that will only increase it's appeal to a certain mindset. In banning tobacco, you're taking away the choice to reject it, and so are damaging a lot of the work that's already been done.

I think that smoking cafes and suchlike, where children and food are not allowed, should be set up, and that in the near future we should look towards legalising marijuana as well. Contain it, there's a lot of revenue to be made here, and ultimately, people need to be able to choose. Like dirty mens clubs and suchlike, it shouldn't be advertised as anything special, or attractive to children.

Have you previously been a smoker, and quit? How was quitting?

I've been with friends who have quit, and it's not nice. Coughing up tar and blood, getting the shakes really bad, nicotine poisoning from nicotine patches... it's all bad. People who are dependant on anything are not nice while they are trying to remove that independence, and the chemical nature of cigarettes mean that it's even worse, as there is the physical aspect to it.

What's some advice you would give to a smoker for quitting?

Don't do it alone, and use those plastic nicotine sticks. They look stupid, but they really help. Start drinking a lot of water whenever you get the urge, it keeps you occupied, it's good for you, and you always need to go to the toilet. Also, stay away from other smokers. That's a pretty big one, but in the UK where smoking is banned indoors, try and go to pubs, and test your willpower at staying inside when others go out. Don't snack, that will make you fat, and lower your self confidence.