When people have a bad habbit like eating too much, or drinking or even having unprotected sex, they always seem to get defensive and try to justify it when you call them on it.
But whenever I talk to smokers, I am hard pressed to even come up with one person that hasn’t basically told me, “Yeah it’s a bad habbit, it costs too much money and I’d love to quit, but I’m hooked.”
It seems to me all the smokers I’ve met agree that smoking isn’t a good thing and they’d like to quit. I’ve never run across the same defensive answers I get with other types of similar behaviors.
Basically no one ever has said to me “but I like to smoke,” "it’s always “I’m hooked, help me quit.”
I was a light smoker and really enjoyed the 8 or 10 a day I had. When I was at the pub on a Friday night I’d smoke a pack but that just went right along with all the beer. Yep, I liked my smokes.
It depends on the circumstances for me. After a meal, a smoke is very pleasant, as are those acompanying a cup of tea or a pint. Quite often when just having a random one I find myself thinking “What did I light that for?”, and just leave it in the ashtray. I smoke rollups so I can just relight it later on.
As to the expense, I get 50 grams of Golden Virginia from Belgium from a shady backstreets dealer for 5 pounds, and that does me for a week. Plus obviously a pound or something for papers.
Weird… I loved smoking. I loved everything about it (except for the cost and the coughing and dying part), and most smokers I knew would say the same thing.
I’m guessing that you don’t smoke and most smokers are not interested in listening to another sermon on the evils of smoke, and so will tell the average non-smoker whatever it takes to get them to go away. “Yes, I know it’s bad, I’d sure like to stop” is going to end the conversation much faster than “Yeah, but I like smoking”.
When I am smoking, I think that I actually enjoy the cigarette, especially while drinking or in good conversation. I tend to do it out of boredom and do not smoke when off of work or not out. So, in those moments I 100% love smoking and enjoy the moment I am in.
However, when in deep thought about it and thinking about the long-term effects (dying younger) and putting my family through a premature death that I am causing, I wish I did not smoke.
I used to love smoking, and I told people that when they asked why I didn’t quit. It was very relaxing and also a good social outlet (I met a lot of people when I was out in the “smoking areas” at different functions/locations that I wouldn’t have otherwise struck up conversations with). After a big meal, it was simply heavenly. It was also very soothing when I was stressed out (even when not from lack of nicotine.)
The physical act of smoking - of course I like it. I like it so much that I think about it when I’m not doing it. I make provisions so I can do it. I spend a lot of money on it.
I don’t like the side effects, the cost, the smell, or even the bit of anxiety that comes from craving.
So I don’t like the fact that I am a smoker but I DO like smoking. I think bobtheoptimist nailed it.
Put me down as one who enjoys smoking. Both the physical aspects, short-term relaxation and just watching the smoke, and feeling it warm up my lungs on a cold day; long-terms aspects, not so good, but I should live so long…, and the social aspects.
I have mixed feelings about if I wish I ever started though. Part of me wishes I hadnt for some reasons, other part is happy with the status quo. I also started late - age 19.
I wish that it was easier to stop, and one day I might, but I dont want to right now.
I smoked for years but the only pleasure I got from it was the relief of the first puff after I’d been craving a cigarette. The rest of the cigarette, and all the others in between, I just smoked out of habit. I know that sounds like evangelical ex-smoker, but it’s true.
I really think if you’re going to get addicted to something you might as well choose something that actually makes you feel good. Heroin, maybe, or coke or alcohol. They’re fun, I hear. But tobacco? Complete waste of time.
I’m another “I enjoy it” smoker. I wish I didn’t, because I would probably be more likely to quit. I know it is bad for me, but I do it anyway because I like it.
I quit smoking in 1989, after having smoked for 27 years. I thoroughly enjoyed smoking. I miss it. However, since my father and my best friend both died of smoking-related causes, I’m willing to do without the cigs, since I thoroughly enjoy living, too.
My mother-in-law used the words “…but I LOVED smoking!”.
Granted, she said that after she’d quit* and even after she knew of TWO bouts of cancer my father fought and that he died when I was only eighteen.
*When I’d remarked to my mother-in-law how proud I was that she’d quit, she told me that she’s just not smoking right now. Though, I know she’s been without a cigarette for over five years now.
I’m a light smoker (maybe 5-6 a day, unless I go drinking), and yes, I do enjoy it. I like the taste of a cigarette with coffee, alcohol, or after I’ve had a big meal. And like ZipperJJ, I enjoy the actual act of smoking as well. Maximum pleasure, baby.
I loved it, and would still be doing it now were it not for the health concerns and the cost. I enjoyed the taste of a cigarette, the feel of it going down my throat, watching the smoke–even the smell, which when you’re actually smoking, is not that bad to you. (In fact, I miss smoking when I’m in bars partially because when I smoked, the ambient smoke didn’t bother me. :P)
If tomorrow they came out with a way to make smoking 100% safe and healthy, or even significantly safer than it is now, then I’d probably be first in line to light up again. And I’ve not completely ruled out the occasional cigar; I still have my pipes. Even a -very- occasional cigarette might make it to my lips. But for the most part, it’s just too perilous.
