# Are you or have you ever been a smoker? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 28, 2012, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-or-have-you-ever-been-a-smoker/642342 "2012-11-28T03:32:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-or-have-you-ever-been-a-smoker/642342/21 "2012-11-28T06:09:27Z")
I checked “I’ve never smoked, ever,” but that isn’t quite true. I’ve smoked two cigarettes in my entire life. Once, to see what it was like, and the second time for a part in a (amateur student) movie. (I was “Hans, The Nazi,” in a WWII movie. I also got to biff the heroic American pilot in the jaw, and kidnap the cute French farm girl. And the movie never got finished, so I never got the comeuppance that the script called for! Mwooo ha ha!) ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-or-have-you-ever-been-a-smoker/642342/22 "2012-11-28T06:17:31Z")
For a few years in and around college, I was a “social smoker”, but it’s been years since I last had a cigarette. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-or-have-you-ever-been-a-smoker/642342/23 "2012-11-28T06:26:15Z")
I started smoking rather late in life compared to most smokers (23 maybe?). I was never a heavy smoker though. In grad school I might have smoked 4-5 a day, unless we were out drinking or I had a particularly difficult paper to write. In the past couple of years I cut down to 1-2 a day, sometimes not even - except, again, if I’m drinking. Recently my boyfriend quit. He started much earlier than I did and smoked a hell of a lot more as well, plus the doctor said his lungs were not in the best of shape. In order to not tempt him to start up again I’ve pretty much quit myself (honestly, that was my main motivation). I still have the odd cigarette if I’m drinking with other people that smoke. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-or-have-you-ever-been-a-smoker/642342/24 "2012-11-28T06:27:12Z")
Smoked a pack a day until I quit 11 years ago. I will smoke an occasional cigar. One a day while I was in Iraq but usually I will go months in between cigars. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-or-have-you-ever-been-a-smoker/642342/25 "2012-11-28T14:35:02Z")
I’ve never smoked, ever. Some of my friends used to sneak out and smoke when I was a teen but I just never had an interest. It’s not like it was a secret that it was bad for you. I had enough troubles in my life already. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-or-have-you-ever-been-a-smoker/642342/26 "2012-11-28T14:35:08Z")
I used to be a heavy smoker (up to 3 packs a day), but quit through self-administered desensitization therapy. I haven’t had a cigarette for over 33 years. Or wanted one. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-or-have-you-ever-been-a-smoker/642342/27 "2012-11-28T14:43:27Z")
Smoked a pipe and cigars when I was a teenager. Pretentious little git. Took up cigarettes while in college. Continued to smoke fairly heavily until I turned 30, when I realized I did not want my children to associate the scent of tobacco with anything “normal” or comforting. This was three years after watching my father take a hell of a long time to die from stomach cancer, which I blame on his cigar and chaw habits. Twenty years later I still fight the urge on occasion. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-or-have-you-ever-been-a-smoker/642342/28 "2012-11-28T14:54:26Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > Never tried even a drag. I grew up with parents who smoked. I always thought it was gross. This is me, 100%. My mother thought it was funny when I was a child to hold me down and blow smoke in my face. I hated cigarettes with a passion. And after watching them kill my grandpa and dad, I hate them even more. I’m with **Siam Sam** - I wish smoking was illegal. It not only harms the smoker but those forced to inhale the second hand smoke. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-or-have-you-ever-been-a-smoker/642342/29 "2012-11-28T14:59:55Z")
I smoked cigarettes from the age of 14 to my mid 50s and quit. I didn’t smoke at for 15 years and went back to cigars. I hate myself. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-or-have-you-ever-been-a-smoker/642342/30 "2012-11-28T15:05:27Z")
I’ve smoked a cigar on two or three separate occasions, but that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-or-have-you-ever-been-a-smoker/642342/31 "2012-11-28T15:08:08Z")
I’ll have 1-3 cigars/year, though I don’t remember the last time I had one. I’ve never smoked a cigarette. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-or-have-you-ever-been-a-smoker/642342/32 "2012-11-28T15:15:23Z")
Smoked around a pack a day for perhaps 20 years, quit cold turkey about seven years ago. Every one said that “Oh, I quit ages ago and now I can’t stand the smell of cigarettes…” Not me. I’d happily light up right now if it were consequence free. But it’s not and I need to consider my wife and kids so I don’t. Still miss it though. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-or-have-you-ever-been-a-smoker/642342/33 "2012-11-28T16:00:15Z")
Militant non-smoker married to an even worse militant non-smoker. I did smoke in my younger days and when I found out smoking can cause cancer I quit that day. Threw my partial pack of Winstons away and never lit up again. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-or-have-you-ever-been-a-smoker/642342/34 "2012-11-28T16:19:23Z")
Non smoker. Grew up in a family of smokers and it was pretty torturous and left me with allergies. Was fairly militantly anti smoking for a long time. I’ve lightened up a bit. I now think smoking isn’t bad per se, it’s just something that should be recontextualized. Instead of a daily habit like coffee, people should view it as an occasional indulgence like fancy chocolates, or situational thing like celebratory champagne or peace pipe ceremonies. I still think cigarettes are nasty though. Cigars, pipes, hookahs, etc are much more pleasant smelling and often have less added crap. Even those tend to leave an annoying after-odor on things, and can be tough on people with allergies, so I think smoking is best done outdoors except for ecigs. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-or-have-you-ever-been-a-smoker/642342/35 "2012-11-28T16:20:57Z")
I quit 1 year and 9 months ago but that’s different from “long ago” so I put “1 year or less.” I’ve smoked 2 cigarettes since then. Last weekend I was losing my mind with stress so I borrowed my dad’s e-cig and enjoyed it too much, so I sent it back to his house. I can’t be trusted. I consider myself a smoker who no longer is smoking. I still love smoking but I hated being a smoker. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-or-have-you-ever-been-a-smoker/642342/36 "2012-11-28T16:24:42Z")
I quit cigarettes, less than a pack a day, after 17 years. Why? I’d meant to for obvious health reasons, and no better time than when I got married. My wife was never a smoker, so why should she have to kiss one? ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-or-have-you-ever-been-a-smoker/642342/37 "2012-11-28T16:49:27Z")
I smoked lightly from college until the age of 40, quitting completely while gestating or nursing an infant. Why didn’t I quit after the first baby? Who knows. But even though 19-39 is a long time span, I probably wasn’t smoking for about half that. When I finally quit for good 10 years ago I was smoking like 5 cigarettes a day and it was no problem to quit. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-or-have-you-ever-been-a-smoker/642342/38 "2012-11-28T16:51:38Z")
I smoked a cigar once. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-or-have-you-ever-been-a-smoker/642342/39 "2012-11-28T16:59:08Z")
I tried my first one in grade 7. I smoked until I was 21 or 22 and then quit for a few months, upon which I turned to social smoking, in bars, etc. I did that for about 10 years and then stopped, although I have on very, very rare (read drunk) occasions had one, as recently as last summer. So no, I don’t smoke, unless you count one or two a year. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-or-have-you-ever-been-a-smoker/642342/40 "2012-11-28T17:01:01Z")
I don’t see an option that describes my experience. I tried smoking cigarettes, twice, and it made me so sick I was never tempted again. However, in my 20’s I used to affect a pipe, and occasionally smoked cigars, neither of which I inhaled. It’s been over 35 years since I did either of those things. So while I self-identify as “never smoked, ever” that isn’t strictly true. Roddy [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-or-have-you-ever-been-a-smoker/642342.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-or-have-you-ever-been-a-smoker/642342.md?page=3)