The look into smoking

[McHanhan]

The other day I just started thinking... why the hell do people start smoking? With alcohol, you get drunk... and that's appealing to have a good time at parties or whatever. I don't drink, but I guess I understand the appeal. People smoke weed or do other drugs at least partly because of the effects. When it comes to tobacco though.. I just don't understand it. The only reason I could come up with (and it sounds cheesy since they drilled this peer pressure thing into us when we are in school) is that they want to fit in... or they like how people look with them, and they want to look like that. Do people really start smoking for those stupid reasons? Now that we are more educated on the terrible effects tobacco can have on a person, why would they start smoking? I don't understand how people can sacrifice years of their life to start something that their friends do and they will be addicted to the rest of their lives. I guess a lot of people just don't think like that or don't care.

Maybe I'm just looking at this the wrong way and need a wider view. Why would anyone start smoking besides "peer pressure"?

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

I guess its the psychoaddictive properties of nicotine, but it probably differs from person to person. I had smoked two packs last month and havent touched a cig since. Also stress relief but that's in two parts; some smoke to overcome the stress of not smoking, the others to overcome general stress.

 

[Jedoro]

Not sure, I smoked a cigarette once and didn't find the appeal. There's supposedly stress-relieving properties from smoking, but I never understood it.

 

[Nincompoop]

You get a small kick from it the first few times.

 

[nolongerhere]

Isn't it obvious? Smoking is cool. [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SmokingIsCool]

 

[Rockatansky]

I was an insufferable, very vocal, anti-smoker in my teenage years. Both my parents smoked heavily and I hated the smell of stale smoke in the house, the nicotine tinge to the ceiling/walls and the sight of overflowing ashtrays.

At 16 I smoked weed with my friends now and then, this was before I ever smoked cigarettes, I think that's how I got into cigarettes, I got used to smoking so they crept in through the back door. I'd have the odd joint now and then in early twenties but lost interest as I got older, however, I can still smoke cigarettes like a demon when the mood takes me.

I don't smoke at home, in work or in front of my son but if I'm out with friends having a beer I love to smoke, despite not being able to smoke in pubs anymore.

I don't smoke month to month now so don't consider myself addicted, I can take it or leave it BUT nothing beats tearing the film off a fresh pack of Chesterfields, taking a sip from your first (of many) frosty pints of Peroni and settling down for a good session in the boozer with friends. Good times.

 

[ReincarnatedFTP]

1)It can be seen as "cool and edgy" when you're young.
2)The first few times it gives a relaxing buzz. Depending on how much you smoke, and how your body tolerance is you can keep that buzz. For example, wait a few weeks or months after a smoke, or pick a particular brand and it will get you buzzed. If you have really low tolerance it will always give you a buzz. Those who don't do it once in a while, and are full on smokers, do it because they need it, not because of the buzz though.
3)Some cigarettes/cigars come in special flavors that are just interesting and fancy. Ever heard of chocolate flavored cigarette? They exist.
4)Nicotine addiction, but this is only a factor after you've started smoking for a long time or if you shoved three down your throat the second you started. Believe it or not there are many smokers who only do it periodically. No, it's not nonaddictive, it's not marijuana. It's just those people can do it, there are people who don't get addicted to cocaine either.

If all else fails, I'll let these guys explain. (Yes, it's sarcastic)

 

[dmase]

For me its the buzz, i like the taste(no cheap cigs for me), when i need a pep up it helps me stay awake, when i need to relax it relaxes me(yes it relaxes and peps you up depends on mood and person tho), and.... It makes me look cool(btw thats a joke).

 

[Ellstar1987]

I started smoking because my friends were, wasnt really pressured into it though just wanted to try it, helps me relax and is something to do when im bored, wouldnt advise anyone to start though it's quite an expensive habbit, i will stop when i stop enjoying it.

 

[FallenJellyDoughnut]

They do it because A. it feels good going down your throat after you've had some practice smoking and you don't violently cough anymore and B. you get a small kick out of it.

Although I still don't like it and wish my sister would stop (I got that info from her)

 

[ribonuge]

The other day I just started thinking... why the hell do people start smoking? With alcohol, you get drunk... and that's appealing to have a good time at parties or whatever. I don't drink, but I guess I understand the appeal. People smoke weed or do other drugs at least partly because of the effects. When it comes to tobacco though.. I just don't understand it. The only reason I could come up with (and it sounds cheesy since they drilled this peer pressure thing into us when we are in school) is that they want to fit in... or they like how people look with them, and they want to look like that. Do people really start smoking for those stupid reasons? Now that we are more educated on the terrible effects tobacco can have on a person, why would they start smoking? I don't understand how people can sacrifice years of their life to start something that their friends do and they will be addicted to the rest of their lives. I guess a lot of people just don't think like that or don't care.

Maybe I'm just looking at this the wrong way and need a wider view. Why would anyone start smoking besides "peer pressure"?

As a smoker I think my opinion is valid here.

(1) Marijuana - I had tried cigarettes before but only properly started smoking due to smoking weed literally ten times a day. The tobacco in the splifftar got me addicted.

(2) Nicotine "buzz" - Sometimes when I wake up and have a smoke, I still get a nicotine buzz. They can be quite awesome.

(3) Peer pressue and stress - Some start due to peer pressure, in order to fit in with the quota. Some start because of stress, which is ironic because nicotine in the long run, makes you more inclined to get stressed.

(4) Or the idea of smoking can be appealing

(5) Nicotine may actually help with memory :
http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20031012195753data_trunc_sys.shtml

 

[n00beffect]

People begin to smoke out of curiousity and out of tryhardism,but if they continue to do so it soon becomes an irreversible task.People begin to get fond the taste and the calming feeling.That's practically it.. it's simple

 

[Dr. Gorgenflex]

At my highschool, nearly everyone I know smokes. I don't but I can see it truly is peer pressure.

 

[Eggsnham]

I don't really get it either.

The only credible reason I've heard to smoke is that it calms you down, but thats only because when you get addicted to it, you get jittery.

Just a waste of time and money really, I'm going to stick with nothing.

This.

Weed has been proven in several different manners (my favorite being the movie parody/documentary Super High Me) to be completely harmless. The tests the U.S. government conducted on the rhesus monkeys in the seventies(?) Have been proven to be purposely conducted to cause damage to the brain and lungs of the monkeys. Basically they strapped a mask to their faces and forced them to breath in marijuana smoke with minimal oxygen. They did this everyday for fifteen minutes for a year, it's no wonder many of the monkeys suffered mental and lung defects, they were being forced to basically not breath for an entire year. As for 'addiction' and 'overdose' it is widely known fact that cannabis cannot be lethal in large quantities OR addictive. It can be applied to illnesses such as depression, anxiety, circulation issues, cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, epilepsy, eating disorders and many more. It's also widely believed that the claims that one joint= 10 cigarettes are exaggerated and not true, on the contrary, recent studies have shown that marijuana smoke can help prevent cancer (especially lung cancer) and asthma. There have been 0 recorded deaths from marijuana usage and no reports of people having cancer of any kind due to marijuana smoke. Basically, it's harmless and even beneficial, and if you're still paranoid that the smoke will get to you, then A.) Vaporize it. B.) Make it into tea. C.) Bake it into foods or pastries, like 'special brownies'.

 

[BonsaiK]

Why would anyone start smoking besides "peer pressure"?

* They think it's cool due to glamorisation in movies etc
* Some people like the smell of tobacco
* Relieves boredom somewhat (one reason why so many homeless people get addicted to it)
* As a "grown up" activity it's a way of making a statement that you're no longer a kid
* It annoys preachy straight-edgers, and who doesn't love annoying those self-righteous people
* Some women believe that it helps them lose weight (a myth - quitting sometimes does make you gain a little weight but taking up smoking doesn't make you lose any)

Having said all that I don't smoke and never have.

 

[anthony87]

I only smoke when I'm drinking.

And even at that I only smoke cigars.

Yeah....I'm a man *thumps chest*

 

[McHanhan]

The other day I just started thinking... why the hell do people start smoking? With alcohol, you get drunk... and that's appealing to have a good time at parties or whatever. I don't drink, but I guess I understand the appeal. People smoke weed or do other drugs at least partly because of the effects. When it comes to tobacco though.. I just don't understand it. The only reason I could come up with (and it sounds cheesy since they drilled this peer pressure thing into us when we are in school) is that they want to fit in... or they like how people look with them, and they want to look like that. Do people really start smoking for those stupid reasons? Now that we are more educated on the terrible effects tobacco can have on a person, why would they start smoking? I don't understand how people can sacrifice years of their life to start something that their friends do and they will be addicted to the rest of their lives. I guess a lot of people just don't think like that or don't care.

Maybe I'm just looking at this the wrong way and need a wider view. Why would anyone start smoking besides "peer pressure"?

As a smoker I think my opinion is valid here.

(1) Marijuana - I had tried cigarettes before but only properly started smoking due to smoking weed literally ten times a day. The tobacco in the splifftar got me addicted.

(2) Nicotine "buzz" - Sometimes when I wake up and have a smoke, I still get a nicotine buzz. They can be quite awesome.

(3) Peer pressue and stress - Some start due to peer pressure, in order to fit in with the quota. Some start because of stress, which is ironic because nicotine in the long run, makes you more inclined to get stressed.

(4) Or the idea of smoking can be appealing

(5) Nicotine may actually help with memory :
http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20031012195753data_trunc_sys.shtml

I have to say I do see the points you make but at the same time it seems so vague of an addiction still. Maybe it's because I am not part of that culture or that my friends are not smokers either that I cant see how it grasps a persons life so tightly. Also I have to admit that that picture is strangely calming.

 

[SmartIdiot]

In all honesty and a moment of sheer disregard for my health I just bought a pouch of tobacco to see what all the fuss was about. But I'm only a social smoker these days, there's no need to smoke all day, I don't know how some people can. Just the odd one here and there.

 

[JohnnySex]

Well for me it was kind of relaxing but I stopped cuz it doesn't really do that much for you.

 

[YoUnG205]

Research shows that smoking temporarily increases people I.Q. plus some people like the taste.