# maybe cynicism is like smoking **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 29, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-cynicism-is-like-smoking/645523 "2012-12-29T21:53:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-cynicism-is-like-smoking/645523/1 "2012-12-29T21:53:00Z")
It makes you look badass, it delivers a primal _oomph_ to the nervous system, and it keeps a restless mind occupied. But it makes you stink, it makes everything around you stink, and it slowly poisons you and leaves you rotting inside. - **BoD** , recovering cynic ---
**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:** [December 29, 2012, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-cynicism-is-like-smoking/645523/2 "2012-12-29T21:55:06Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > recovering cynic Do they make a patch for that? ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-cynicism-is-like-smoking/645523/3 "2012-12-29T21:57:51Z")
I wish. Maybe I should cook up a metaphor for that, too. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-cynicism-is-like-smoking/645523/4 "2012-12-29T22:12:44Z")
[Buying New Soul](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9OLIzr66us), eh? ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-cynicism-is-like-smoking/645523/5 "2012-12-29T22:21:37Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > It makes you look badass, it delivers a primal _oomph_ to the nervous system, and it keeps a restless mind occupied. > But it makes you stink, it makes everything around you stink, and it slowly poisons you and leaves you rotting inside. > > - **BoD** , recovering cynic Yeah, yeah, that’s just what a “recovering cynic” _would_ say. It allows you to feel morally superior, I suppose.\ ---
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-cynicism-is-like-smoking/645523/6 "2012-12-29T22:31:58Z")
Oh, but snarky is so much fun. snark·y /ˈsnärkē/ Adjective (of a person, words, or a mood) Critical; cutting; testy. > **[Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words](https://www.dictionary.com/)** > > The world's leading online dictionary: English definitions, synonyms, word origins, example sentences, word games, and more. A trusted authority for 25+ years! ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-cynicism-is-like-smoking/645523/7 "2012-12-29T22:41:40Z")
Snark is fun as long as it’s _in_ fun, and not meant as some flaming-turd-in-a-bag statement about reality. ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-cynicism-is-like-smoking/645523/8 "2012-12-29T22:52:41Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > Snark is fun as long as it’s _in_ fun, and not meant as some flaming-turd-in-a-bag statement about reality. I absolutely agree with this statement. There is an “art” to it and not all can pull it off. Many people cross the line between “in fun” and just being plain jerks. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-cynicism-is-like-smoking/645523/9 "2012-12-29T23:03:04Z")
Yep. These are the ones who, when called on it, get butthurt and try to spin it as “honesty.” ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-cynicism-is-like-smoking/645523/10 "2012-12-30T00:33:15Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > [Buying New Soul](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9OLIzr66us), eh? I read that as _Burying_ New Soul. I think I like your way better. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-cynicism-is-like-smoking/645523/11 "2012-12-30T03:05:39Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > - **BoD** , recovering cynic But is there some kind of palliative treatment available for _terminal_ cynics? (Need answer fast!) ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-cynicism-is-like-smoking/645523/12 "2012-12-30T03:08:58Z")
[Cat videos.](http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cat) They’ve done me a world of good, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-cynicism-is-like-smoking/645523/13 "2012-12-30T03:09:10Z")
I’m three years on the wagon but smoking gave me infinitely more satisfaction than cynicism has. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-cynicism-is-like-smoking/645523/14 "2012-12-30T03:26:24Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > [Cat videos.](http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cat) They’ve done me a world of good, anyway. With due apology and respect, not a cat person here. Dog and dolphin person. I hang out at the local dog park a lot. 🆒 ETA: There’s no nearby dolphin park in this town that I know of. ☹ I don’t know where people in this town would go to walk their dolphins. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-cynicism-is-like-smoking/645523/15 "2012-12-30T04:21:30Z")
I always liked the smell of tobacco smoke. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-cynicism-is-like-smoking/645523/16 "2012-12-30T09:05:43Z")
Is this about quitting smoking? I don’t think so. It’s about a bad-ass attitude and how far it can get you before it gets you down. Cynicism blooms in the perfume of crushed dreams. You need a new experience. Let’s go live on a junk house-boat for a while and jump off the side. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-cynicism-is-like-smoking/645523/17 "2012-12-30T13:37:35Z")
A _little_ cynicism is good and right, too much makes you a prick. That’s one of the major lessons one learns in process of not becoming a prick. Congratulations: Lots of people never make it that far.