Smoking in Moderation

[BENZOOKA]

I started out as a social smoker when I was 14. Not really smoking on other times than when I was drinking & partying.

At 16 I moved to a dorm and began to have a few cigarettes on random social occassions, and then I soon grew custom to smoke a cigarette after each school day, which then escalated to smoking a few in a day; after meals, before & after school and so on. Some time after that, I was smoking a pack of 20 in two-to-four days. I was definitely hooked by then, but I managed to not smoke during most weekends from 16-19 years, because I didn't want to give bad influence to my then-girlfriend's younger siblings.

I'm 23 at the moment, so I've smoked a bit over seven years (that's a bit depressing statistic), and I've been smoking about a pack a day for the most part of that time. On one summer I had the dullest job with averaging 15h work days, where I smoked two packs a day. Also, when I'm drinking (or completely bored or driving for long) I do tend to smoke a lot more than just a pack a day.

My parents were smokers, so I guess that has had an influence. As well as a somewhat addiction-oriented personality. About a year ago I realized the full effects of my smoking. The (actually not all that major) physical effects being more or less evident, the mental and other effects have been quite vast.

I had a few half-assed attempts to quit smoking, not long after I was hooked, and it goes without saying that nothing came out of those. At best, I quit for a week, went on to run a few kilometres, coughed my lungs out during it and got back to smoking after that run. The last time I tried, I went cold turkey and couldn't continue after three days. I went through such massive amounts of anxiety, followed by awful restlessness and depression that I couldn't handle it. That's when I decided to not try the next time, but to go through it only more time, and quit.

I know a relative couple who only smoke the 0-5 cigarettes a day, and have done that for years, or for a bit short of two decades, and they've got no problems with it. Whereas that's only been my addiction's constant bargaining while trying, or just planning to, quit.

So, OT: some odd people can do it, but definitely not everyone. My attempts for moderation have not worked in the slightest in practice, even though it's a rather simple idea.

I have a quite unorthodox job, which I'll stop to have some free time prior to going back to school in a few weeks, and I've already decided early this year, to quit smoking, as soon as this work thing and living in hotels is over. No I've only got to stick to it, find heaps of more motivation and to try every trick in the book.

Smoking is bad mmmkay. I sure as hell wouldn't have been doing it for the last couple of years unless quitting weren't so fucking difficult.

 

[Mr Thin]

And for the record, neither fat people nor smokers are doing anything wrong. If they are not hurting others then there is nothing for them to feel guilty over and anyone who disagrees is a just a complete and utter **** who more than likely just gets off on mocking others to cover their own inadequacies.

With regards to smokers, when smoking has absolutely zero benefit and a host of negative side-effects, it is inarguably a bad thing. As in, the opposite of good.

With regards to fat people, I can't imagine where you got the idea that they aren't hurting others.

For example, when a police officer fails to chase down a suspect because they're too overweight to put up a chase [http://www.fox40.com/news/headlines/ktxl-news-goodcopfatcop,0,5546852.story]... they're doing something wrong.

Or when a different officer sues his department for firing him because he got too fat to perform his duties [http://www.livevideo.com/video/ACA26C424E0E42539EB79F322576D56B/fat-cop-sues-for-firing.aspx]... they're doing something wrong.

Or when people claim government money [http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/fat-people-addicts-paid-by-government-to-stay-at-home/story-e6freuy9-1226055955717] and get paid to stay home because they're so fat, they can't work... they're doing something wrong.

But what do I know, I'm just a complete and utter **** who more than likely just gets off on mocking others to cover my own inadequacies.

 

[funguy2121]

What's everyones thoughts on smoking (tobacco) without an addiction? Is it possible? Can it be safe if you have the willpower to control yourself? What do you think the chances of medical issues are later in life if you only smoke one a day for example?

Personally I consider myself a social smoker, in the same way people can be social drinkers (which I also am, btw). Which means I am not addicted or dependant on cigarettes, but I enjoy them with other people that are also smoking, (not peer pressure, its just great to have a smoke and chat with someone in a way non-smokers might not understand) and occasionally light up on my own if I am feeling stressed out or upset (it calms me down, relaxes me, and gives me a temporary high for a minute or two). I have no cravings at all, and I can literally go as long as I want without smoking. I've gone over a month before without a smoke since starting, and often I go a week or two without one. Generally though I go through a pack of 25 in about a month, sometimes in 2 months.

I keep being told that I should quit, but why? Assuming I continue doing this, I will probably smoke about as much im my lifetime that the average smoker would have in a year or two (or less). How is this dangerous to my health? In moderation there are much worse things that can be much more damaging. Why should I be scolded for having a smoke every other day, when there are people who shove Big Macs down their throat every other day and will die at 50 from a heart attack caused by obesity?

You would ask an Escapist in lieu of a doctor?

There are no smokers who aren't addicted. It's a huge risk to health problems. You sound like someone in denial. Smoking is very bad for you. Also, why do you call a person expressing concern for your health a "scolding?" That's a bit melodramatic.

 

[kouriichi]

My grandfather is a "recreational" smoker.
He'll have the occasional cigar, but he is in no way an addict like so many people.

its all about will power. All humans have it. Most wont use it. I enjoy a glass of wine with my meal every now and then. But i dont need to have it every time i eat to enjoy my meal. I love videogames, but i dont HAVE to play them. Id rather spend time with my wife, watching a movie, or enjoying each other. ((I dont mean in the sexual way, but thats nice also))

Theres nothing wrong with people smoking in moderation. And anyone can do it. Just learn to control your urges, and live a better life because of it.

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

Smoking is addicting, like anything a person enjoys doing. Whether gaming, drinking, drug taking, chocolate - whatever your choice of poison is. Its just whether you have control of it or not. Thing is, who wouldnt do something they enjoy again and again? I guess anything will kill you if you do it to much. But in this day and age people know smoking is dangerous, as is drinking and over eating. Its all common information. So its down to each persons choice at the end of the day how much they smoke or not.

EDIT: Forgot. Moderation is good, but its negative moods like depression that can make you go to those things you enjoy and really screw up your health. Increased smoking or drinking or eating can happen, and moderation goes straight out the window when you do something for comfort.

 

[winter2]

I have been known to enjoy a good cigar after a good steak every now and then. Recommend trying a Partagas. Ahh... that is living.

 

[AndyFromMonday]

"How" you smoke is irrelevant. The health effects are listed pretty much everywhere and in the end it all comes down to personal choice. Still, the smoking bans are starting to get on my nerves. Apparently the government feels the need to tell private enterprises what to do and hell, if they want to ban smoking in public then they should at the very least create public areas where smokers can congregate. Also, the taxes are bullshit. The government doesn't have the right to tell me what I can and cannot do by raising taxes on something.

 

[Pearwood]

i've never met a crackhead who got dependent on purpose, just as I never met a first time smoker who was excited to embark on a lifetime of tobacco use.

Cocaine is addictive to the point where people die quitting it, cigarettes just aren't that bad in comparison.

 

[Ham_authority95]

What's everyones thoughts on smoking (tobacco) without an addiction? Is it possible? Can it be safe if you have the willpower to control yourself? What do you think the chances of medical issues are later in life if you only smoke one a day for example?

Cigarettes are harder to not stay addicted to because of the way you consume them. Having a shitload of 900 degree smoke going into your lungs is a lot more bearable when you feel like you need it. That being said, addiction happens differently with different people.

If you're an example, it's possible. My dad has several friends who smoke cigars at birthdays and such, but hardly smoke anymore. Just be totally aware that one day you might have one more cigarette than usual, then want another a couple hours after than, then another, etc etc.

I have a chip off my shoulder for smoking, mostly because of the trashy teenage social scene that does it where I live. But hey, if you can limit your smoking to 1-2 times a month at a party, lets give you a hand.

 

[Dusty Fred]

I'm 24 and I smoke a pipe once or twice a week on average. I've had a few cigarettes in my time and although the feeling is pleasent, especially if you're under a cloud about something, I could never smoke them regularly after seeing one of those before/after pictures of a long-term smoker.

It's entirely your choice bud, but there's some wise advice been posted here so I'd at least consider it carefully.

 

[Doom-Slayer]

How can you smoke "casually" the difference between it and say alcohol is there is no gradient here. With alcohol you can have a few beers or drinks and it passes out your system entirely within several hours based on how much you drank. Smoking doesn't work that way. Theres a reason anti-smoking ads say "Every smoke does you damage" because quite simply it does, its a cumulative affect that builds up and doesn't go away without surgery.

 

[ultimateownage]

I'm sure it's possible for some to smoke without an addiction, but that's very rare. You're smoking habits will slowly ramp up, and you're addicted before you know it. It's also still very damaging to your body.
If you have no addiction, you have no reason to not be smoking those packs. Go ahead, throw them away and say no every time you want another. Either you'll feel better for it, or you'll feel worse because you were addicted.

 

[Dusty Fred]

How can you smoke "casually" the difference between it and say alcohol is there is no gradient here. With alcohol you can have a few beers or drinks and it passes out your system entirely within several hours based on how much you drank. Smoking doesn't work that way. Theres a reason anti-smoking ads say "Every smoke does you damage" because quite simply it does, its a cumulative affect that builds up and doesn't go away without surgery.

Depends on what is being smoked; although 'smoking' is a blanket term it differs similar to how beers, wines, spirits etc affect you in different ways. On occasional cigar or pipe bowlful will do little cumulative damage, much like on occasional beer or glass of vino.

I don't know if there is no gradient at all as the frequency/amount you smoke will still affect the toll it takes on your body. But I take your point that a cigarette is not neutral if consumed scarcely, it's bad for you however many you have, unlike alcohol which will do no harm if taken in moderation (I believe wine is even beneficial in sensible amounts)

Casual smoking refers to where you have an occasional smoke out of temporary inclination, rather than a regular fix because you need it. The trouble is the former state often leads to the latter; that is the danger.

 

[RagTagBand]

Smoked a fair amount for 2-3 years when I was at university, Had to give up when I moved home with my parents, and...I did so without a fuss or without any problem. Smoked a final cigarette on the 8th, quit on the 9th, haven't smoked since.

When I move out i'll probably take up smoking again because I liked it, it tastes good, it feels good.

Lots of misinformed people on this board, lots of self-righteous know-nothing know-it-alls too, so like with every thread on this forum, OP, i'd take everything said with a fair bit of salt.

Personally, I'd say you need to be aware that everyone is affected differently by Chemically addictive products. Some people can do it casually, Some people can barely smell cigarette smoke without getting cold sweats and the shakes, same goes with alcohol.

But, OP, you know the risks, you're not in a ball of ignorance, Make an informed decision and do what you want. It's your life, your call.

If it makes you happy, Do it.

 

[Mr Thin]

Smokers are only harming themselves so, if they are okay with that then your opinion is completely invalid, so they are doing nothing wrong.

When I say bad I mean bad in the most general sense, not in the morally bankrupt sense. I suspect we're mostly arguing over semantics on this particular point, and it's not important enough to push.

The cop was not harming anyone by being fat, he was physically unable to do his job but only a idiot would declare he was harming anyone by it.

Let me be as unequivocal as possible on this point; when your duty is to protect the innocent and uphold the law, and you are so bloated you are literally, physically incapable of performing this duty, you are harming people. Perhaps not directly, but if (theoretically) a police officer fails to apprehend a suspect because of his or her weight, and that suspect goes onto kill half a dozen people, are you honestly going to claim the officer is in no way responsible for that? Bullshit, bullshit and nonsense.

I guess if a cop got injured and was no longer able to chase down perps that he would be "harming" others too right? How dare he.
Or a cop who was just not fast enough even if fit, or has a bad knee, or tripped, all of them are harming others too huh?

Obesity is not an injury, it's a choice of lifestyle. The two aren't comparable.

If a healthy officer failed to apprehend a suspect, for arguments sake let's say it was through no fault of their own, well, mistakes happen. At least the officer made sure they were as capable of handling the situation as could be expected of them.

You're nothing but a bigot, one trying to justify a truly disgusting attitude because you lack the courage to hate targets society has declared protected. 50 years ago you would have been looking for excuses to justify hating black folks, 20 years ago it would have been homosexuals. You would be pulling up a case where A black person attacked someone or A homosexual spread HIV to justify hating them all.

Being black is not a choice. Being homosexual is not a choice. Being obese is a choice. You don't just wake up one day, look in the mirror, and go "Oh shit! Where did those chins come from!?".

That you would even compare being judged for something you have no control over to what is essentially the result of laziness + greed + apathy, is ridiculous.

That you would compare being black, something which has no impact on whether or not you can do a job properly, to being obese, which does, is offensive.

So we are done. If there is one thing I hate more than bigots is cowards.

I just hope you one day you are in a position where you are the odd one out and have others tell you how they are better than you for arbitrary reason X.

Being 19 years old and weighing 45kg has ensured I am the odd one out pretty much wherever I go, and I have quite frequently been reminded, by others and by myself, why other people are better than me. Often justifiably so. I have accepted responsibility for my own failures, and I do not try to excuse them by claiming "at least I'm not fat!".

 

[floppylobster]

I will say what I say to all smokers (the same sort of advice applies to me as a drinker). It's not when you die, or how many years it will take off your life - it's how you will die that will make the difference. If you're happy spending your last waking minutes gasping for a breath that your lungs won't let you take, then go ahead and smoke (I'll be sitting in agony as my liver shuts down (hopefully drunk)).

Everything you do in life will slowly kill you, and is slowly killing you, particularly after you are 25. So balance it with how much enjoyment you really get out of it. What you must prepare yourself for is the manner of death you will meet. Preferably we might die peacefully in our sleep. If you smoke or drink - don't count on it.

 

[wilsontheterrible]

OT: The chances of you being in the (most likely) tiny percentage of people who can smoke socially without becoming addicted is ... unlikely. A lot of people start of smoking 'casually' or 'socially', and then when the signs of addiction start popping up, they deny them, sticking to the idea that they are in that 'tiny percentage'. Then, by the time they realise they should stop, they are addicted to the point where quitting is incredibly difficult.

I've been doing it for years. My uncle gave me my first cigar when I was 14 and I've been smoking 2-3 a month ever since. I've also picked up the pipe and shisha and I've accumulated a nice collection of specialty lighters, cutters, tamping equipment, and I've even tried my hand at cigar rolling. But I still only smoke infrequently.

Some situations are just better with tobacco whether its with a cigar in hand, chewing on the stem of a pipe, or even with a cigarette.

Quit if you feel your health is at risk or if you desire to, I don't allow others to dicate my actions and neither should you.

 

[TehRandom1]

I'm sorry but there's no way I could approve of smoking in any way, shape or form. Studying case reports of smokers with COPD (COAD for you foreigners) receiving powerful and expensive intravenous drugs during their rather frequent hospital stays are expensive for hospitals (which are in turn mostly funded by the government in any decent country). Taxpayers should not have to pay for people who choose to damage their own bodies like this.

 

[AndyFromMonday]

don't count on it.

Cancer, heart disease, liver disease, DVT, COPD and all the other diseases associated with using drugs can also kill you in your sleep. It's funny how life works, you know. Everything enjoyable will also slowly kill you. Hell, even if you manage to avoid all vices you'll still eventually die due to some sort of illness and whether you do drugs or not that won't change the fact that dying in your sleep is highly unlikely. Either way, life's short. Do whatever makes you happy because at the very least when you die you'll be content with having experienced most of life's intrigues.

 

[evenest]

As the body acclimates to the level of the addictive chemicals in the cigarettes, the body craves more and more. I imagine there are some people who can ignore the siren's call, but far too many end up in a lifelong battle to quit the cancer sticks.

For the life of me, I don't see the lure in yellow fingers, stained teeth, bad breath, and that terrible odor that follows smokers, not to mention the fact that it affects your ability to taste food.

Just for the record, I don't smoke, but my wife, two brothers and two sisters smoke.