So, I just quit smoking...

[mjc0961]

my family is... disgusted at the fact I used to be a smoker.

Why, despite now being cigarette free (and to add insult to injury, alcohol, caffeine and drug free to boot) am I still looked upon with disgust for having given in to the foul temptress ciggie in the past? It's a phenomena I've encountered elsewhere too, others who are proud ex-smokers don't get congratulated for giving up the habit, but rather are shunned for ever having puffed on one fag*. As a species** are we simply incapable of recognising someone else's progress and preferring to remind them of their mistakes?

What? People do that? First I've heard of it. Really, that's absurd. Yes, smoking is bad, but quitting is hard. Save the scorn for people still smoking if you must have it. Come on, people.

 

[rmb1983]

I'm female.

Then colour me corrected and apologetic.

Either way, congratulations. It's a hard habit to break, and it's a constant battle from Day 1 until death.

 

[JMeganSnow]

I'd been an average (pack a day) smoker for the past 12 years, and did not especially want to quit.

A pack a day is *average*?! Oy vey.

Personally, I don't care if people smoke or not, except that people STINK when they're smoking. For some reason I'm EXCEPTIONALLY sensitive to the smell of smoke or smoke residue, don't ask me why. It's like shoving my head into a garbage can that's been sitting in the sun. The really weird part is that I'm pretty much oblivious to most other smells. I'm one of those people who can mistakenly pour an entire bottle of scent down their shirt and think they smell "good".

I don't really think people deserve particular congratulations for quitting smoking. In my experience, people smoke if they want to smoke and don't if they don't. Everyone I know who has quit just quit cold turkey one day. They decided they were fed up and dropped it. They had some physical symptoms, but they faded quite rapidly.

The people I know who have a hard time quitting smoke habitually in certain situations. They smoke on their work breaks, or to relax, or after sex--it's like me and eating while I read. Once you get that habitual association built up, it's REALLY hard to stop. I know people who don't smoke at home, or in the car, the ONLY time they smoke is at work, on breaks and lunch, and that's just because they feel weird all day if they don't go have their smoke break.

So, anyway, if you're glad you stopped smoking, good for you. Probably save you some money now and some lung tissue in the long run.

Pack a day. Ugh.

 

[Danglybits]

Smokers are not evil creatures. I hate that bullshit. Congrats, it's a tough thing to break, many have to nearly die to quit. Tell the people that are still disgusted to go to hell; you are who you are, not who you were.* This attitude toward smokers/smoking just baffles me. Smoking is bad for you -- got it! But what does that have to do with tobacco users in general?

Caffeine isn't great for you, and alcohol isn't good for you, but those are okay? Its not even an illegal addiction. People are addicted to food, but if you beat that and lose weight people are often congratulatory. Both are healthier for it. Whatever, don't let people diminish your accomplishment or make you feel bad or weird.


*which wasn't anything bad to begin with.

 

[Trippy Turtle]

Good job quitting smoking, I think cold turkey is the best way to quit stuff. Also semi-related how the hell do all the year 7-9's get them! Who in there right mind would sell them to them and how irresponsible can you get giving it to them?

 

[SoulSalmon]

I really do love it when someone manages to quit smoking, those things are DESIGNED to be hard to stop taking.

If someone is trying to quit, power to them, if someone manages to quit, a presents probably in order

Caffeine isn't great for you, and alcohol isn't good for you, but those are okay?

Now, I realise your talking about society at large, in which case stupidity is the main reason, but I wanna flesh out my personal view here:

I hate most smokers... not for the fact that they smoke (do whatever you want with yourself), but for the fact that most of them aren't considerate about it.
Sure one can be addicted to caffeine, but them having a cup of coffee nearby doesn't effect ME at all...
A lot of smokers however just blow poisonous gas right into your bloody face -.-

OP: Yeah humanity sucks, you should mostly be happy that you have that kinda willpower

 

[damselgaming]

Aweosme, a lot of people seem to disbelieve the idea that you can just stop. I started smoking at 15 and one day just decided that I didn't want to do it anymore. I didn't really find it hard, but it's been 4 years and occasionally I still sometimes want to pick one back up when I'm out at a bar/club etc. Really strange because I don't even like the smell anymore.
We live and learn I suppose!

 

[Zoe Castillo]

--

 

[Zyntoxic]

huzzah! less smokers are always good in my opinion, congratz on your success and I wish you all the luck in the world to never fall back in that horrible habit again.

I my self actually have a physical problem with smokers because of rather serious astma; I can get an episode from just standing too close to lit cigarette. this becomes a bit of a problem when waiting in line at the buss stop or walking down the street, it is in these situation people take a smoke, not really considering the effects it may have on people around them. sure, my situation is not entierly common and it constantly gets better, but passive smoking is pretty bad for any ones health.

so I personally thank you for making the world a safer and healthier place.

besides, you are now doing a good thing for the enviorment, think of all the cigarette butts you probably have thrown on the ground (if you were not a very uncommon smoker)and all the more ones you would have strewn about you if you continued smoking, and ofc all the air pollution, you are no longer responsible for further air pollution (from smoking anw)!

so congrats on being a much better person than you have ever were while smoking! ^_^

 

[Hoplon]

Girl done good!

Family be fuster cluck at the best of times, clearly this is not the best of time.

Please remember, non smokers also die /Bill Hicks.

 

[Artina89]

Congratulations on quitting smoking! I personally don't really care one way or the other whether or not someone smokes, but some people think of it as a "dirty habit" and as a result, look down on you, rather like if you picked your nose in public. That, and with the amount of information and studies done on smoking and the long term effects on smoking, I guess none smokers look upon people who smoke as rather stupid for picking up a habit that studies show can lead to cancer, emphesema etc. That's my take on it anyway.

 

[Togs]

Good for you holmes, I tried quitting but it was too much effort and ciggies are too enjoyable.
Oh and to all the self righteous pricks shouting from their soapboxes about how smoking is evil and we're evil for doing it- kindly die in a fire.

 

[Wuvlycuddles]

First of all, congrats!

I recently quit myself after numerous failed attempts with patches and gum... in the end I did it Kojak style and bought a metric shit tonne of lollys. Smoke free for nearly a month!

Also, I just want to say a big FU to EVERYONE who "looks down their noses" at smokers, to anyone who "doesn't get why you even started in the first place". Smoking is a DISEASE, how we catch it isn't important, but they do need HELP and not SCORN, you don't tell cancer patients that they shouldn't have been stupid enough to get cancer in the first place, do you?

 

[The_Decoy]

Smoking is a DISEASE

Haha it is quite possibly the most fun disease to have whilst being drunk.

I'm gonna give up in July, but right now? I'm gonna go smoke

 

[thecatsme0w]

Congrats on quitting!!! I went 2 packs a day to nothing, cold turkey 11 years ago and it was the best decision I have ever made

Side note: this asshat I met recently kept trying to tell me that if I smoke one cigarette a month when I'm deep in my cups that I can't say I quit "cold turkey". I told him that it was my life and my body so I got to define "cold turkey".

Oh and the big attraction to smoking for me was it gave me something to do with my hands. I took up knitting - a ball of yarn cost the same as a pack of smokes and it also kept my hands busy plus at the end I had a great scarf to wrap around my newly smoke-free throat

 

[Scabadus]

Think of this as a good way to tell your good friends from the random mates down the pub: the former will congratulate you and the latter will laugh at you endlessly for past mistakes.

And your family will look at you with disapointment and disgust as you grit your teeth, count down the hours until you can leave and fear the next visits at Christmas. Because that's what familys get to do.

 

[FamoFunk]

Well done mate, I wish I could give up (actually I didn't smoke for 18month, but something clicked in me and I started again)
I'm not 'ready' to stop yet, but in time I have a feeling I will... again.

 

[LuckyClover95]

I don't judge smokers - if people enjoy it then hey, whatever.
Although I wouldn't encourage it for the obvious health impact.
I'M PROUD OF YOU!
Well done!

 

[Hamish Durie]

congratulations and i hope your family realise that smokers aren't foul lizard men from the earths core wish my dad could do what you just did\

Well done mate, I wish I could give up (actually I didn't smoke for 18month, but something clicked in me and I started again)
I'm not 'ready' to stop yet, but in time I have a feeling I will... again.

I have just spent 5 minutes of my life watching your avatar

 

[Hamish Durie]

lagged sorry