# Poll for tobacco smokers **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 10, 2009, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-tobacco-smokers/502584 "2009-07-10T17:21:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-tobacco-smokers/502584/21 "2009-07-10T21:09:52Z")
1. How long have you smoked? I smoked for about 18 years, quit for two, smoked again for three, quit for seven, smoked for two. Currently not smoking except when I drink (2 or three times a month), but I’m still addicted and chew nicotine gum all the time. This has been going on for a number of years. 1. Do you prefer cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, or some combination? Cigarettes 1. How much do you smoke in a typical day–that is, how many cigarettes, how many pipe refills, etc.? Again, I only do it when I drink. I generally have four beers and go through 1/2 to 3/4 of a pack in that time. I chain smoke. When I was a regular smoker, I’d smoke 1 - 1 1/2 packs a day. 1. Why did you start? Some friends did. I messed around with it, liked the feel of it, ended up addicted in short order. 2. Do you currently see yourself smoking out of habit, out of a desire to relieve stress, out of addiction, or for some other reason I have not, in my ignorant innocence, thought to name? Depends. A lot of the time I was smoking, I just did it because of addiction. You don’t get any sort of high when you smoke regularly, but cravings kick in after 4 - 4 1/2 hours. It’s an unpleasant feeling very much akin to hyperventilation. You smoke to, as heroin users put it, “get well.” When you decide to quit cold turkey, it’s just amazing how many gyrations the mind will go through to get you to smoke. I never had any success before nicotine gum came out, and I am not an undisciplined person. I could fairly easily wean myself from the gum at this point; it’d probably take two weeks. But the occasions when I do smoke are so thoroughly enjoyable that I don’t bother. One very curious thing is that my addiction is somewhat tied to the source of the drug. After an evening of beer and cigarettes, the last thing I do before going to bed is have a piece of nicotine gum! It’s like I haven’t had a legitimate fix without it, even though my body is awash in nicotine. The mind is an odd thing. Mine anyway. 5[sic]. Have you ever tried to quit, and if so how many times? See above. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-tobacco-smokers/502584/22 "2009-07-10T21:20:30Z")
> [@Enfant Terrible](#): > > By the way, **Skald** , if you’re still doing the story research, a cigarette generally takes about six or seven minutes to smoke, so if your character is really distraught, maybe she goes through four in a half hour, maybe _five_ if she’s really huffing them down. If it takes 6-7 minutes to smoke a cigarette you aren’t doing it right. Given today’s basic smoking scenario (run out the back door, into the alley, in the rain and finish before anyone notices you’ve left your cubicle) 3 minutes is about right. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-tobacco-smokers/502584/23 "2009-07-10T21:20:31Z")
1. How long have you smoked? Ten years 2. Do you prefer cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, or some combination? Cigarettes 3. How much do you smoke in a typical day–that is, how many cigarettes, how many pipe refills, etc.? About half a pack, or 10-14 cigarettes per day 4. Why did you start? I wanted to try it because I was always fascinated by it. 5. Do you currently see yourself smoking out of habit, out of a desire to relieve stress, out of addiction, or for some other reason I have not, in my ignorant innocence, thought to name? Habit and addiction 6. Have you ever tried to quit, and if so how many times? Once, during the summer for a couple of months. I did good for a while and then I just started craving them like mad. I gave in. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-tobacco-smokers/502584/24 "2009-07-10T21:24:03Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > If it takes 6-7 minutes to smoke a cigarette you aren’t doing it right. Given today’s basic smoking scenario (run out the back door, into the alley, in the rain and finish before anyone notices you’ve left your cubicle) 3 minutes is about right. It matters little, but in the story in question, the narrator comes upon the chain-smoker sitting at her kitchen table with an ashtray full of butts in front of her, and it’s her own house. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-tobacco-smokers/502584/25 "2009-07-10T21:30:08Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > 1. How long have you smoked? > 2. Do you prefer cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, or some combination? > 3. How much do you smoke in a typical day–that is, how many cigarettes, how many pipe refills, etc.? > 4. Why did you start? > 5. Do you currently see yourself smoking out of habit, out of a desire to relieve stress, out of addiction, or for some other reason I have not, in my ignorant innocence, thought to name? > 6. Have you ever tried to quit, and if so how many times? > > Obviously former smokers can answer as well. If you want to specify gender and approximate age you can, but I’m not data mining and so don’t really care. 1. About 18 years. I’m now 37. 2. Cigarettes and hand-rolled smokes. 3. Typically, 15 or so, but the last few weeks have not been easy, so it’s been more than that. 4. Not sure, really. I guess I tried a few cigarettes to see what it was like, and I enjoyed it. 5. I like smoking, basically. Of course, it’s also a habit/addiction. Other 5) I’ve certainly thought about it - it’s expensive and bad for my health. But I’ve never seriously tried to quit. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-tobacco-smokers/502584/26 "2009-07-10T21:32:30Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > It matters little, but in the story in question, the narrator comes upon the chain-smoker sitting at her kitchen table with an ashtray full of butts in front of her, and it’s her own house. Personally, I couldn’t smoke more than two or three in 30 minutes. I would find the third nauseating but I could probably manage it. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-tobacco-smokers/502584/27 "2009-07-10T21:33:00Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > It matters little, but in the story in question, the narrator comes upon the chain-smoker sitting at her kitchen table with an ashtray full of butts in front of her, and it’s her own house. Unclear antecedents abound. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-tobacco-smokers/502584/28 "2009-07-10T21:36:25Z")
> [@kelly5078](#): > > Unclear antecedents abound. 🙂 I’m feeling very King James Version today. Later I believe I will smite the people of Atlanta, killing every male down to the babe born yesterday and every woman who had known a man, but sparing all the hot virgins. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Alan\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Bird)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-tobacco-smokers/502584/29 "2009-07-10T21:39:04Z")
1 A little over 25 years. I’m 49. 2 Cigarettes 3 Pack and a half to two a day 4 Started in college when at the bar with smokers 5 Habit, stress, addiction and when I need to come up with a creative idea 6 Tried a few times some years ago ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-tobacco-smokers/502584/30 "2009-07-10T22:36:58Z")
\*1. How long have you smoked? \*26 years, been able to afford to smoke as much as I like for 22 years _2. Do you prefer cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, or some combination?_ Smoked filters till I was about 25, rollups since then. _3. How much do you smoke in a typical day–that is, how many cigarettes, how many pipe refills, etc.?_ Totally depends on work/play/stress/drink ratio - at a minimum fifteen to twenty rollups a day, sometimes a lot more. Lots of them aren’t smoked all the way through though, often it’s a boredom nervous thing. _4. Why did you start?_ I was 14 - to impress girls and look tough. _5. Do you currently see yourself smoking out of habit, out of a desire to relieve stress, out of addiction, or for some other reason I have not, in my ignorant innocence, thought to name?_ I’m hopelessly addicted at this point _5. Have you ever tried to quit, and if so how many times?_ Not seriously, no. ---
**Author:** ![Neverender](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/848f3c/32.png) [@Neverender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neverender)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-tobacco-smokers/502584/31 "2009-07-10T23:38:05Z")
> [@Teacake](#): > > For how many someone could smoke in half an hour: I reckon each cigarette lasts me maybe six or seven minutes, though I’m not the fastest smoker I know. You’re a VERY slow smoker! I can smoke 1 in under 2 minutes if I’m having a cig break I’m not supposed to be having, down to the filter! (I’m not bragging, just noticing that long is odd) Do you chat a lot between drags? I’d say 4-5 mins is the average smoking time. Chain smoking doesn’t have to mean 1 directly after the other, i.e. stub one out, light the next. Unless the character regularly chain smokes, her throat will be too raw by cig 4. I think between 4 and 6 in half an hour would be enough to signify the nervousness!! Also - ash tray full of stubs - an ash tray can start to look _kinda_ full with only about 10 butts in it. 1. How long have you smoked? 4 years, since I was 16. 2. Do you prefer cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, or some combination? Cigarettes. Only smoke (rolling) tobacco when I can’t afford pre-mades. 3. How much do you smoke in a typical day–that is, how many cigarettes, how many pipe refills, etc.? 10-20 cigs, depends how much I’m doing. 4. Why did you start? Just started when at work, going out for cig breaks with people, and when I was out on the town drinking. 5. Do you currently see yourself smoking out of habit, out of a desire to relieve stress, out of addiction, or for some other reason I have not, in my ignorant innocence, thought to name? All the above, mostly addiction now though. 6. Have you ever tried to quit, and if so how many times? 3, though only 2 were proper attempts. Once with gum, once with patches, once on Zyban. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-tobacco-smokers/502584/32 "2009-07-11T00:02:31Z")
I am no longer a smoker, but I figure I can still answer the poll. I do still occasionally smoke a cigar or pipe, but cigarettes are gone from my life for good. It’ll be 6 months tomorrow. > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Anyway, here’s the questions: > > 1. How long have you smoked? I smoked on and off for something like 10 years. I smoked “seriously” (more than a half pack a day) for about 4. By the time I quit I was up to almost 2 packs a day. > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > 1. Do you prefer cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, or some combination? I smoked all of the above. I still do smoke pipes occasionally (though not often anymore) and even less often I will smoke a cigar. > [@](#): > > 1. How much do you smoke in a typical day–that is, how many cigarettes, how many pipe refills, etc.? Almost 2 packs a day. Usually 1 or 2 pipe fulls a day too. Maybe a cigar a week. > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > 1. Why did you start? Cigarettes? No good reason. I would have one or two because my friends smoked. I started smoking more reguarly than that in college. It just sort of snuck up on me. The pipe smoking was a more concious decision. I really liked pipe smoking, I never really liked smoking cigarettes. I started that in college too, because I was directing a play that had a pipe smoker in it and it sparked my interest. > [@](#): > > 1. Do you currently see yourself smoking out of habit, out of a desire to relieve stress, out of addiction, or for some other reason I have not, in my ignorant innocence, thought to name? I smoked cigarettes out of habbit. Because I needed one. I smoked a pipe to relax and a cigar to be social. > [@](#): > > 1. Have you ever tried to quit, and if so how many times? I tried to quite 3 times before it took. I finally was able to actually quit using Alan Carr’s The Easyway to Stop Smoking. It worked for me as advertised. ETA: Also, I would say no more than 5 cigarettes in a half hour. You could smoke more, but most people wouldn’t, particularly not if they don’t regualrly smoke that heavily. What would be more likely would be a cigarette was lit, then put out after a few puffs, a new one was lit etc. That’s how I smoked when I was stressed. Smoke a bit, throw it out, decide it was a mistake to throw it out, lite up again rinse and repeat. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-tobacco-smokers/502584/33 "2009-07-11T01:31:43Z")
1. How long have you smoked? I started around the age of 22. I’m 27 right now. 2. Do you prefer cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, or some combination? Just cigarettes. 3. How much do you smoke in a typical day–that is, how many cigarettes, how many pipe refills, etc.? Depends. Some days I go without smoking at all, others I’ll smoke half a pack (if I’m drinking). I’d say an average of about 5 a day. 4. Why did you start? Best friend picked it up during her exchange year abroad. We worked near each other for awhile, so we’d meet up for drinks pretty often. I started smoking only when I hung out with her, to keep her company. 5. Do you currently see yourself smoking out of habit, out of a desire to relieve stress, out of addiction, or for some other reason I have not, in my ignorant innocence, thought to name? I only crave a cigarette in certain situations - drinking alcohol or coffee, after a full meal, or after some intense mental task (like writing a paper). If I avoid these triggers I don’t really think about wanting a cigarette. Also I can go for several days without smoking and be fine (like when I’m visiting my parents). So I guess the answer is that I lack the self-discipline to deny myself a cigarette if the situation is convenient. 6. Have you ever tried to quit, and if so how many times? I’ve never tried to quit. I wasn’t really a regular smoker until I started grad school, which was when I was 24. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2009, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-tobacco-smokers/502584/34 "2009-07-11T10:16:10Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > 1. How long have you smoked? > 2. Do you prefer cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, or some combination? > 3. How much do you smoke in a typical day–that is, how many cigarettes, how many pipe refills, etc.? > 4. Why did you start? > 5. Do you currently see yourself smoking out of habit, out of a desire to relieve stress, out of addiction, or for some other reason I have not, in my ignorant innocence, thought to name? > 6. Have you ever tried to quit, and if so how many times? 1. I smoked for about four years. 2. Cigarettes, with the occasional cigar. 3. I averaged a third to half a pack per day. 4. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Against the advice of my peers, I tried it, and I really liked it so I kept on smoking. 5a. Most people don’t mention this, but it _feels really good_. I’d also smoke to help keep calm during times of stress, but mainly I’d smoke for the delightful intoxication and the fun of it. 5b. I only made one sincere effort to quit, last year. I haven’t had any nicotine in over 14 months. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-tobacco-smokers/502584/35 "2009-07-11T12:49:02Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Full disclosure: this began as a question for a story I’m writing. In the story, the narrator enters enters a room and notices that her girlfriend is chain-smoking, something she only does when emotionally upset; I originally intended to ask how many cigarettes someone might smoke in half an hour in such a circumstance. But I changed my mind because I’m curious about smoking in general. Rhymers thirst for all knowledge. > > Anyway, here’s the questions: > > 1. How long have you smoked? > 2. Do you prefer cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, or some combination? > 3. How much do you smoke in a typical day–that is, how many cigarettes, how many pipe refills, etc.? > 4. Why did you start? > 5. Do you currently see yourself smoking out of habit, out of a desire to relieve stress, out of addiction, or for some other reason I have not, in my ignorant innocence, thought to name? > 6. Have you ever tried to quit, and if so how many times? > > Obviously former smokers can answer as well. If you want to specify gender and approximate age you can, but I’m not data mining and so don’t really care. It’s YOUR survey, of course, but you should have included a very important, fundamental question: Do you LIKE smoking? ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-tobacco-smokers/502584/36 "2009-07-11T15:06:01Z")
My boss, by the way, is the fastest smoker I have ever seen. He can kill an entire Marlboro Light in about two minutes. When I mentioned it to him once he simply said, “I don’t play.” No thanks. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-tobacco-smokers/502584/37 "2009-07-11T15:27:18Z")
Former smoker here. Answers are past tense. 1. Seven years 2. Cigarettes 3. 2 packs 4. Everyone (and I mean _everyone_) else did 5. Habit, stress relief 6. Quit once, successfully, in 1983. Haven’t smoked since. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-tobacco-smokers/502584/38 "2009-07-11T18:22:09Z")
1. 36 years (started @ 16, now 52) 2. Cigarettes, cigar on rare special occasion 3. Around a pack a day 4. I was a 16-year-old HS senior and started to try to fit in. 5. Partially out of habit, partially out of enjoyment (yes, some of us actually _enjoy_ smoking!) 6. 2 or 3 times–actually stopped for 2 years when I was 25. ---
**Author:** ![SmashTheState](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@SmashTheState](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmashTheState)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-tobacco-smokers/502584/39 "2009-07-11T18:30:35Z")
I’ve been smoking about six or seven years. I smoke a pipe, casually, and for pleasure. I am not addicted, since I often take breaks of six months or more where I just don’t feel like smoking, followed by periods where I’ll smoke three or four bowls a day – and enjoy every single one. I suffer from severe clinical depression, and I’ve found smoking helps to give me a little pick-me-up which, if the episode is not especially bad, can help alleviate the condition. It’s not a surprise to me that more than 80% of people with debillitating mental illness smoke, and that clinical studies are now being done on the efficacy of using nicotine to combat depression. I also use snus occasionally, just as a treat. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-tobacco-smokers/502584/40 "2009-07-11T18:53:31Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > It’s YOUR survey, of course, but you should have included a very important, fundamental question: > Do you LIKE smoking? :smack: You’re right. Everybody answer again! 😃 I’m not a smoker, except that when I was in college I bought one pack of cigarettes a year, and smoked one cigarette out of it, on the day of the Great American Smoke-Out. But that was mostly just to be a jerk. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-tobacco-smokers/502584.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-tobacco-smokers/502584.md?page=3)