# SonOfArizona is an idiot (as are all people who smoke their 1st cig) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 15, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonofarizona-is-an-idiot-as-are-all-people-who-smoke-their-1st-cig/207645 "2003-10-15T20:41:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonofarizona-is-an-idiot-as-are-all-people-who-smoke-their-1st-cig/207645/21 "2003-10-15T22:17:47Z")
You know, right now you could probably find an easy dozen threads where people are bragging about how much they had to drink last night, will have to drink this weekend, or are currently drinking as they post. Hell, any dopefest thread you open eventually turns into a bragging contest over who can drink the most beer. We’ve even got a mod named **UncleBeer**. But some guy wants to start smoking, and all of a sudden it’s a national tragedy. We even get the obligatory “Won’t somebody think of the children?” post. Jesus. Tobacco may be the New Leprosy, but at least no one ever got all fucked up on cigars and plowed head-on into a school bus. Can we get just a smidge of perspective in this thread, please? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonofarizona-is-an-idiot-as-are-all-people-who-smoke-their-1st-cig/207645/22 "2003-10-15T22:22:30Z")
Beer is not addictive for the vast majority of people, **Miller**. On the other hand, tobacco _is_ addictive for the vast majority of people. Overindulging in alcohol is certainly dangerous, but the long-term health consequences of tobacco use are orders of magnitude more severe than the occasional drunken romp. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonofarizona-is-an-idiot-as-are-all-people-who-smoke-their-1st-cig/207645/23 "2003-10-15T22:26:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by friedo \* > \*\*Beer is not addictive for the vast majority of people, **Miller**. On the other hand, tobacco _is_ addictive for the vast majority of people. Overindulging in alcohol is certainly dangerous, but the long-term health consequences of tobacco use are orders of magnitude more severe than the occasional drunken romp. \*\* And what if we apply _occasional_ to the cigarette? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonofarizona-is-an-idiot-as-are-all-people-who-smoke-their-1st-cig/207645/24 "2003-10-15T22:30:46Z")
How old is **SonOfArizona** , for one thing? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonofarizona-is-an-idiot-as-are-all-people-who-smoke-their-1st-cig/207645/25 "2003-10-15T22:33:36Z")
> [@](#): > > And what if we apply occasional to the cigarette? Occasional smokers are about as common as Jewish popes. OK, maybe slightly more common than that. The point is that cigarettes are _addictive_. For 99% of people there is simply no such thing as an “occasional” cigarette. It’s not like smoking a joint or drinking a beer. It is something that must be done regularly at set intervals, or you feel like absolute shit. I’m not making moral judgments here. If someone wants to go and smoke cigs because they think it looks cool, convinced that they will only indulge “occasionally,” more power to them. And if they can pull it off, fine. But why take such a stupid risk that carries no hope of reward? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonofarizona-is-an-idiot-as-are-all-people-who-smoke-their-1st-cig/207645/26 "2003-10-15T22:34:02Z")
College age. 18, 19? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonofarizona-is-an-idiot-as-are-all-people-who-smoke-their-1st-cig/207645/27 "2003-10-15T22:42:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by friedo \* > \*\*But why take such a stupid risk that carries no hope of reward? \*\* What about binge drinking? Smoking weed? Eating bacon? Etc. There are a million stupid things that your comment above could apply to. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonofarizona-is-an-idiot-as-are-all-people-who-smoke-their-1st-cig/207645/28 "2003-10-15T22:44:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Seven \* > **Who cares if he’s going to smoke? Isn’t it HIS life and HIS body?** Who cares if we tell him it’s going to ruin his life? Isn’t it OUR speech and OUR knowledge? > [@](#): > > **What makes people so fucking weak in their own lives they feel the need to pit someone because they decided to smoke?** What makes you so fucking weak in your own life you feel the need to insult someone because that person decided to warn another against smoking? > [@](#): > > \*\*Some of you people need to grow up. \*\* Someone named **Seven** needs to grow up. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonofarizona-is-an-idiot-as-are-all-people-who-smoke-their-1st-cig/207645/29 "2003-10-15T22:46:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by friedo \* > \*\*Occasional smokers are about as common as Jewish popes. > > OK, maybe slightly more common than that. The point is that cigarettes are _addictive_. For 99% of people there is simply no such thing as an “occasional” cigarette. It’s not like smoking a joint or drinking a beer. It is something that must be done regularly at set intervals, or you feel like absolute shit. > > I’m not making moral judgments here. If someone wants to go and smoke cigs because they think it looks cool, convinced that they will only indulge “occasionally,” more power to them. And if they can pull it off, fine. But why take such a stupid risk that carries no hope of reward? \*\* Yeah, tobacco is addictive. So is alcohol, in case you haven’t heard. And the risks attached to alcohol addiction are _far_ worse than those attached to cigarettes. Cigarettes can kill you, sure, don’t cause you to beat your spouse, neglect your children, lose your job, or end up living in a cardboard box. Sure, most people who drink, even most alcoholics, won’t end up that badly. But why take such a stupid risk that carries no hope of reward? ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonofarizona-is-an-idiot-as-are-all-people-who-smoke-their-1st-cig/207645/30 "2003-10-15T22:47:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by newcrasher \* > \*\*If you don’t smoke and take your 1st drag, you are an idiot. \*\* I had a 1st cigarette once. I was a bit drunk and curious as to what it was like. Fortunately it wasn’t so amazing I couldn’t live without a 2nd. I never have since. Now as it happens I am an idiot :D, but I really don’t think that makes me one. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonofarizona-is-an-idiot-as-are-all-people-who-smoke-their-1st-cig/207645/31 "2003-10-15T23:01:28Z")
I’m gonna start smoking, get a devil tattooed on my neck, and wear a bone in my nose. Cool huh. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonofarizona-is-an-idiot-as-are-all-people-who-smoke-their-1st-cig/207645/32 "2003-10-15T23:08:28Z")
you are not an idiot for smoking the first cigarette. The second one… ---
**Author:** ![Matchka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Matchka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Matchka)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonofarizona-is-an-idiot-as-are-all-people-who-smoke-their-1st-cig/207645/33 "2003-10-15T23:20:50Z")
OK. I’m a Jewish Pope. I smoke when I’m in mosquito-infested areas (and I eat match heads too–I swear ta Golly that it annoys the little bugz). I smoke when I’m drunk at a bar (maybe once or twice a year if I’m “lucky.” I’ll bum one off someone maybe every other year just to get a cheap buzz at work. Lost a few friends to Mr. Cancer and misc lung/heart disorders associated with too much smoking. I have NO intention of taking it up as a hobby/addiction. But, depending on where you like to hang out, it comes in mighty handy sometimes to know how not to sputter and gag on a smoke offered to you out of friendship. But I have to take a side: if you think you’re just not getting enough tar & nicotine and you want to start smoking, I have to assume you have as much sense as unhelmeted motorcyclists, unbelted drivers, unsheathed promiscuous persons and grizzly bear stalkers. Yeah it’s a lifestyle choice that, thankfully, we all have the freedom to make for ourselves. I only get offended when, as has been mentioned, kids/family are forced to look on while you continue to risk your life just because you “can.” ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonofarizona-is-an-idiot-as-are-all-people-who-smoke-their-1st-cig/207645/34 "2003-10-15T23:27:27Z")
**Miller** , are you seriously that fucking dense? Did you bother to actually read anything I posted here? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonofarizona-is-an-idiot-as-are-all-people-who-smoke-their-1st-cig/207645/35 "2003-10-15T23:28:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*What about binge drinking? Smoking weed? Eating bacon? Etc. There are a million stupid things that your comment above could apply to. \*\* None of which are virtually guaranteed to form a lifelong habit. Not that I condone binge drinking. But bacon is _good_. ---
**Author:** ![lurksfromwork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@lurksfromwork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurksfromwork)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonofarizona-is-an-idiot-as-are-all-people-who-smoke-their-1st-cig/207645/36 "2003-10-15T23:32:47Z")
Think of the money that it costs… Think of how many girls WON’T date you cause you stink… Think of not being able to perform cause your lungs are fucked…if you get a girl. Think about sweating profusely after climbing three stairs, not three flights of stairs… Think about having yellow fingers that smell like ass… Think about your parents feeling like they’ve failed… Think about that all encompasing panic that sets in when you can’t get a cigarette… Think about the fact that you would probably let satan ass fuck you with an echidna for a smoke when you can’t get one… Think about having a mouth that feels like carpet after a session out on the town… Think about the compound effect that you get with a hangover and smoking a pack and a half at the pub last night… Think about the fact that you are a druggie… Think about the only reason that it is a legal drug is the taxes the government gets from your addiction… Think about being a hypocrite when you tell your kids not to smoke…if you have any. Remember that it is killing you! Why do any of us smoke? Why didn’t i realise all of this sooner? Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disk players and electrical tin openers, **you can afford them alot sooner if you don’t smoke** … Choose good health, low cholesterol and dental insurance. Choose fixed-interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck u are on sunday morning **by yourself cause you are a stinky smoker that no self respecting female non-smoker would ever date and that is about 70 % of the population**. choose sitting on the coach watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing junk food into your mouth **in a living room that smells like a bar while your heart palpitates like a butterfly because your lungs are inefficient and your oxygen bottle is running low**. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pishing your last in a miserable home nothing more than an embarassement to the selfish, fucked-up brats you spawned to replace yourself **because you are addicted to giving money to a souless corporation that is ultimately profitting from your suffereing while trying to kill you**. Choose your future. Choose life. **Don’t choose smoking!!** but why would i want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life: I chose something else. And the reasons? there are no reasons… **except peer pressure**. Who needs reasons when you’ve got heroin or cigarettes? **Don’t they make you look cool.** Lurksfromwork…obviously a reforming smoker that hates the bastard creations. Hail zyban…kill all tobacco companies!!! On a scale of addiction from 1-100 nicotine is at the top, number 100…along with heroin. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonofarizona-is-an-idiot-as-are-all-people-who-smoke-their-1st-cig/207645/37 "2003-10-15T23:36:01Z")
The only point of posting anti-smoking items to that original thread is to convince him not to continue smoking. Which is admirable, I suppose. OTOH, calling him an idiot doesn’t seem like it will help, does it? And I know when I was a college student, maudlin tales of dead grandmothers really inspired me too. Or I guess people could just be villifying him for the heck of it. Because they just don’t like smokers, and he’s a nice easy target. But no one here would do that in GQ of all places, would they? ---
**Author:** ![Matchka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Matchka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Matchka)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonofarizona-is-an-idiot-as-are-all-people-who-smoke-their-1st-cig/207645/38 "2003-10-15T23:44:50Z")
\*\*lurksfromwork[B/} I LOVE “Trainspotting!” Now I gotta pick it up on the way home. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonofarizona-is-an-idiot-as-are-all-people-who-smoke-their-1st-cig/207645/39 "2003-10-15T23:55:09Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by lurksfromwork \* **Think of the money that it costs…** Not much if you are a social smoker \*\* > [@](#): > > Think of how many girls WON’T date you cause you stink…\*\* A huge problem for college students of course. \*\* > [@](#): > > Think of not being able to perform cause your lungs are fucked…if you get a girl.\*\* I never knew anyone that had the problem you speak of. \*\* > [@](#): > > Think about sweating profusely after climbing three stairs, not three flights of stairs…\*\* This being a result of _years_ of smoking. In fact I know many social smokers that will smoke a few on the weekend, and go to the gym during the week. \*\* > [@](#): > > Think about having yellow fingers that smell like ass…\*\* Wash your hands. \*\* > [@](#): > > Think about your parents feeling like they’ve failed… \*\* Your child experimenting with cigarettes = Failed upbringing? \*\* > [@](#): > > Think about that all encompasing panic that sets in when you can’t get a cigarette…\*\* Not all people experience this. \*\* > [@](#): > > Think about the fact that you would probably let satan ass fuck you with an echidna for a smoke when you can’t get one…\*\* Doesn’t seem to be a problem for many of the social smokers I know. \*\* > [@](#): > > Think about having a mouth that feels like carpet after a session out on the town…\*\* Eat a Tic Tac \*\* > [@](#): > > Think about the compound effect that you get with a hangover and smoking a pack and a half at the pub last night…\*\* Social smokers don’t smoke a pack and a half in 4 hours. \*\* > [@](#): > > Think about the fact that you are a druggie…\*\* 😕 \*\* > [@](#): > > Think about the only reason that it is a legal drug is the taxes the government gets from your addiction…\*\* Are you saying it _should_ be illegal? \*\* > [@](#): > > Think about being a hypocrite when you tell your kids not to smoke…if you have any.\*\* You probably won’t because you won’t be able to get a chick because they will consider you a “stinkyhead” :rolleyes: \*\* > [@](#): > > Remember that it is killing you!\*\* So are those Big Macs! Smoking a pack of smokes a day is just as bad as binge drinking or eating a Big Mac 3 times a day, but if someone wants to partake in something _once in awhile_, lighten the fuck up. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonofarizona-is-an-idiot-as-are-all-people-who-smoke-their-1st-cig/207645/40 "2003-10-16T00:02:26Z")
It’s a stretch to compare nicotine to alcohol. Of people who drink regularly, fewer than 10% of them are psychologically addicted, and fewer than 3% of them are physically addicted. Of regular nicotine users, greater than 95% are physically addicted, and greater than 99% are psychologically addicted. True social smokers, while they do exist, are uncommon. True social drinkers are the vast majority of people who do drink regularly. > [@](#): > > Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, causing more than 440,000 deaths each year. (See [http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/issue.htm](http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/issue.htm)). In 1995, alcohol was held responsible in 105,000 deaths. [http://www.health.org/govpubs/prevalert/html-p43/v2page21.aspx](http://www.health.org/govpubs/prevalert/html-p43/v2page21.aspx) So it seems smoking causes over 4 times more mortality. Of course, statistics are slippery things. Bottom line: Tobacco has **MANY** health liabilities, no demonstrated health benefits (save perhaps the occasional ulcerative colitis patient. I do NOT believe we have any convincing evidence it significantly changes outcomes in Alzheimers), and a low frequency of social use, as opposed to addictive use. Meanwhile, Alcohol has **MANY** health liabilities, some small demonstrated health benefits from moderate drinking, and most people are able to use it socially rather than addictively. Therefore, in my mind it’s settled: I’ve used both before, I’m not touching either of them again! YMMV. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonofarizona-is-an-idiot-as-are-all-people-who-smoke-their-1st-cig/207645.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonofarizona-is-an-idiot-as-are-all-people-who-smoke-their-1st-cig/207645.md?page=3)