Should I take up smoking?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’ve never smoked in my life, and I know the best way to quit is never start. But the only reason I never smoked was a disaproval of it and it’s effects on human psychology. Back then I was a right-thinking closed-minded fool. I’ve since switched to the left (it was fairly gradual) so I understand vices and the need to have them. I also think each to their own where the particular vice of smoking is concerned. So many peolple seem to do it.
My anti-smoking stance was strong enough that I’ve never smoked and I am in my middle twenties.

What is the appeal of smoking? Do you (only smokers need reply) think I should take it up?

2

Please, for the love of all that is right and good, DO NOT TAKE UP SMOKING!!!

You do NOT want to be addicted to nicotine. You do NOT want to have your breath and clothes and house and car smelling like an ash tray.

You do NOT want to be hacking crud up out of your lungs.

And the number one thing you do NOT want to do is: die of cancer.

(He said, as his smoke wafted in front of the monitor.)

I started in 1974. I quit once, cold turkey, and went back to it. I am an idiot. I’m terrified to go through that again, but I have to.

You do NOT want to be me.

3

I started when I was 15 years old, because it was cool. 18 years later it’s no longer cool, but I’m still doing it.

No, don’t take it up. There are better vices. At least with pot you get high when you smoke.

4

I beg you to NEVER start smoking! It’s a very tough habit to give up once you start!
I’m a smoker, and I know! Don’t even let the thought of smoking EVER cross your mind again! Jeez… Don’t start. Just don’t start!

5

Ahh, the appeal of smoking. That first puff, that mellow high, the way smoke burns your throat, the wonderful smell, keeping your hands and mouth busy, being all socialable with fellow smokers…It’s all good.

Of course, one morning when you wake up hacking up lung-butter, and you’re out of breath after a flight of stairs, and you get the image of a blackened-lung out of your head, and you realize you inhale more smoke than you exhale, and of course it all starts to add up as your addiction grows, on top of being completely out of control and a slave to the nictone…well, all that stuff starts to wear ya down.

Don’t take up smoking. I wish I never had a single cigarette, and every single day, I wish I had a pack on hand. I hate that feeling. I hate knowing that I’m killing myself, but not caring. I hate immediately craving a cigarette in the morning, with coffee, after lunch, after dinner, after sex, after hearing bad news, after hearing good news. I hate the feeling that I’m not in control of my own body.

It’s just not worth it. And I’ll say that now, even as I contemplate just throwing in the towel and buying another pack. We all know better now. There’s no excuse for forming a life-long addiction that will only kill you in the end.

6

If you must smoke, there’s better stuff to smoke than tobacco.

7

I know you said smokers only, but there’s just one thing I want to add that people haven’t mentioned: the cost of cigarettes is rising dramatically. All of my friends who’ve quit smoking comment on how much money they’re saving every day now.

8

I can’t decide if this is a joke thread or not. In case you’re serious, I’ll just add to the consensus and say that it’s a stupid idea to start smoking at your age knowing the risks and if you do start that makes you a stupid person. Yeah.

Honestly, though, the health problems associated with smoking wasn’t the thing to make me quit; it was all the money I was spending on cigarettes. It wasn’t a whole lot (I smoked a half a pack a day, so a carton lasted me a month plus, and they only cost around $25 back in 2000), but it was enough to make me quit. If cigarettes were free or only like a dollar a pack I’d probably start up again, because I felt a lot calmer when I smoked (yeah, I know it’s psychosomatic and any relaxing effects are caused by the fact that you’re taking away anxiety that was caused by the cigs in the first place, but really, it did calm me down like few others things since), and I like having something to do with my hands. If they came up with a cig that had all the benefits of smoking and none of the detriments, and was cheap, I would have started up yesterday. But there isn’t, so I haven’t.

9

About six months after I quit smoking, I kissed a smoker.
Oh my GOD, it tasted like licking out an ashtray.
I called every non-smoking ex with whom I was still on speaking terms and apologized.
You will taste like ASS, and women (or men, or whatever you’re trying to attract) will avoid you.
Trust me.

10

Do tobacco taxes over there go to health care? Every time someone in the US wants to raise the tax (now some are using the euphemism “fee”) they say it’s to fund health care for poor children.

So if the taxes go to health care, think of those poor little waifs. If you don’t start smoking, please tell us all why you hate children so much.

11

I wouldn’t suggest you take it up, at least full-time. Health issues aside, I remember hating the smell of stale smoke everywhere I went. Right around the time I quit, I remember washing my hands after every cigarette because the smell just got to me. Now when I smell my sister in law or other hardcore smokers, it makes me want to gag. I don’t want people to associate my presence with gagging, although it may not bother others so much.

I still smoke socially; however since I am not often in such a position, I haven’t had a single cigarette in about 6 months. Amongst friends, drinking, whathaveyou, I like to have a few puffs.

The biggest appeal to me was having something to do with my hands, as well as my face. Seriously. It’s hard to look thoughtful and absorbed without a cigarette for me.

Naturally, of course, nicotine is very addictive, and the majority of people cannot smoke only on a social basis. I only know of one other person who can manage it. My husband cannot smoke even socially or he’s on that slippery slope.

I don’t know what the taxes on tobacco are like in the UK, but it’s damn expensive, here. Lot of damn expense to hurt yourself.
I’m sorry, I gave you way more information than you wanted. :slight_smile: And no, I don’t recommend you take it up. I got lucky - I woke up one morning and simply did not want to smoke anymore. Just like that. That lightning out of the sky stuff doesn’t happen often. I am 24 by the way, and started smoking when I was 13. I quit when I was 21.

[cautionary tale of woe]
My grandpa just got out of the hospital for his emphysema. He’s out of breath when he’s lying down. He is 85 years old. He is on many medications. He has been smoking for about three quarters of a century. He’s damn lucky to still be alive. Most people aren’t so lucky. Yes, he’s still smoking, despite doctor’s orders.

He is why I’ll never take it up on a habitual basis again. My grandparents were really damn happy when they found out I’d quit, and I could never risk disappointing them by taking it back up. I feel guilty the next day when I DO have that social cigarette.
[/ctow]

12

Ah. Pretty much the replies I expected. So I won’t take it up.

In posting, I did wonder, as someone who enjoys heavy drinking, if smoking had an equivalent appeal. It seems it doesn’t.
So I’ll stick to a life cut short by only the vice of drinking. And if I am lucky I might be able to stop even that and extend my life. But as a believer in karma I’m not sure how I can have a long and full life. It seems to me a life can either be long or full. Not both.

13

Everything they said, and there are way less expensive dumb habits to pick up! Ask any older smoker how much a pack was when they started versus now, and while increasing taxes provide the final ammunition for a few to quit, the majority just keep paying.

Find out what a pack costs at your nearest convienence store. (Tell yourself you’d never pay that much because you’d buy them cheaper by the carton online, then realize that no system is perfect and that indeed is what you’ll pay sometimes.)

Last I heard they were averaging £5 a pack.

1 pack a day is considered average, and although I have every faith that you’re an above average individual in every other measure, let’s go with 1 here for the simpler math. We won’t even figure in how much quicker a pack goes at the bar, or parties, nah, I like simple maths.

1 pack X £5 X 365 = £1825 a year. Are you willing to light a match to £1825?

14

whoa… sooooo many replies since I clicked ‘reply’
It wasn’t a joke thread. I looked at the fact that there seem to be a heck of a lot more smokers than non-smokers and wondered why. I wondered why they do it. I buy a costa real ground coffee before work, and eat a tasty meal, and drink after work because I enjoy doing so. I hypothesised that almost all my collegues nip out for a fag (brit slang for cigarette) for the same reason - they enjoy doing so. So I wondered exactly what form the enjoyment takes.

15

I never understood the angle of talking about the money. Non-smokers waste some appreciable sums on useless stuff, too. You can’t put a price on the satisfaction of a heater with your beer. And darn it, I just love the act of smoking. I don’t think anybody likes the smell, that’s why you open the windows, go outside, or buy a good air cleaner. :slight_smile:

16

I like the smell. I always have, despite opinions to the contrary.

17

I smoked about 30 per day,when i was young and pretty fit…pretty good at golf and a reasonable amateur boxer and soccer player…i dont drink,oh last july at 9-30 am i took a massive pain in my left arm,and i was on holiday,lucky the hospital was just less than 5 minutes away,how i got there, i don’t know;Next thing i remember i was on a helicopter being taken to another hospital,operated on immediately.Next day i was fully conscious,but remembered nothing,except the cardiac consultant saying to me STOP SMOKING you were lucky this time ,in fact i dont know how you made it,you should be dead.oops so no cigs since thats 9 months ago and i’m doing well.

thats all i can say,but the decision is yours,but your missing nothing
so lad get it out of your head…

18

Don’t Take That Crappy Shitty Habit Up. The Tobacco Monster Had Me Hooked For Years, And Kicking It Was Pure Misery.

Don’t Do It!!!

19

And you still smell terrible. It. does. not. get. the. smell. out. Smokers cannot smell it. Non-smokers can walk into the cleanest smokers house and still know, instantly.

20

Wtf I can’t do all caps now?