# traits associated with smokers **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 29, 2011, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-associated-with-smokers/580214 "2011-04-29T20:58:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-associated-with-smokers/580214/21 "2011-04-29T21:51:33Z")
> [@Sateryn76](#): > > Somehow, I don’t get the feeling the OP is looking to start an anti-smoking campaign. I think you’re probably right - but you did ask what “anyone else [could] gain by learning these things.” ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Skinley\_Von\_Clipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@Baron\_Skinley\_Von\_Clipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Skinley_Von_Clipper)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-associated-with-smokers/580214/22 "2011-04-29T22:03:04Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > I never realized that cigarettes where just another foodstuff. Thanks, ignorance fought. I never realized that anyone said they were.😕 The point I’m trying to make is that some people like some things and others don’t. Is that OK for you? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Skinley\_Von\_Clipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@Baron\_Skinley\_Von\_Clipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Skinley_Von_Clipper)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-associated-with-smokers/580214/23 "2011-04-29T22:11:04Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Thanks, ignorance fought. Ignorance is stronger than you thought.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-associated-with-smokers/580214/24 "2011-04-29T22:25:21Z")
> [@Baron\_Skinley\_Von\_Clipper](#): > > The only trait I’ve connected with smokers is that they smoke, the rest of this BS comes from the original posters misplaced sense of superiority. All this establishes is that you’re biased in favor of smokers a little more than I’m biased against them. After all, I’m looking for some published and respectable studies showing which of my assumptions are right and which are wrong–it doesn’t sound like any study you might see would change your mind. If confronted with evidence, are you willing to concede that one or two of my assumptions have some basis? Would you be willing to apologize for calling my OP “BS” if that turns out to be the case? I’m merely asking for evidence here, and am willing to amend my biases if the evidence persuades me to. Are you actually positing that there are ZERO differences between smokers and non-smokers other than the fact that one group smokes and the other doesn’t? That seems unlikely to me. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Skinley\_Von\_Clipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@Baron\_Skinley\_Von\_Clipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Skinley_Von_Clipper)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-associated-with-smokers/580214/25 "2011-04-29T22:37:29Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Would you be willing to apologize for calling my OP “BS” if that turns out to be the case? Certainly. > [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Are you actually positing that there are ZERO differences between smokers and non-smokers other than the fact that one group smokes and the other doesn’t? That seems unlikely to me. Not at all, I work at one of the largest and most well respected scientific establishments in Europe and I can definitely see a difference between the smokers and non-smokers, but the differences I see are very different to what you have posted. Some of the professors wear bow-ties, some don’t. Some bring a packed lunch to work, some don’t. Some go jogging on their lunch break, some don’t. Some smoke, some don’t. Hope that helps. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-associated-with-smokers/580214/26 "2011-04-29T22:53:55Z")
> [@Baron\_Skinley\_Von\_Clipper](#): > > Certainly. So…when can we expect that? At least a partial apology, since\*\* Lynn Bodini\*\* provided a link before you even posted with citations showing that income level and educational achievement \*are \*correlated with smoking? And I’ll throw this one to the pile, which shows smoking rates much higher in some states than others, so that covers the “different parts of the country” query: [State-Specific Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking and Quitting Among Adults --- United States, 2004](http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5444a3.htm) The cars, guns, Fox news and Republican things \*may \*also be true, but probably dictated more by the geography than the smoking. Correlation does not equal blah blah blah blah… ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Skinley\_Von\_Clipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@Baron\_Skinley\_Von\_Clipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Skinley_Von_Clipper)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-associated-with-smokers/580214/27 "2011-04-29T23:01:06Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > So…when can we expect that? At least a partial apology, since\*\* Lynn Bodini\*\* provided a link before you even posted with citations showing that income level and educational achievement \*are \*correlated with smoking? And I’ll throw this one to the pile, which shows smoking rates much higher in some states than others, so that covers the “different parts of the country” query: [State-Specific Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking and Quitting Among Adults --- United States, 2004](http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5444a3.htm) > > The cars, guns, Fox news and Republican things \*may \*also be true, but probably dictated more by the geography than the smoking. Correlation does not equal blah blah blah blah… Different States? Different parts of the country? Fox news? I Guess you are talking about the USA. Don’t know, never been there, and I have no idea about the smoking habits of Americans. Apology? Umm… no I don’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-associated-with-smokers/580214/28 "2011-04-29T23:21:50Z")
Just an observation. My mother was a respiratory therapist. Around these parts at the time it require a decent bit of training and at least a AA degree (with a fair bit of sciency stuff). Generally a step up from your typical nurse in both requirements and pay. Now, keep in mind these folks deal with people who have trouble breathing/are on breathing machines/need breathing treatment. They got to see ALL those folks on whom smoking had taken its toll. That group of coworkers was chock full of smokers. Go figure. Not that I think the OP is offbase with some of the possible traits statistically speaking. But, that was certainly one group that would buck the trend and generally made you think WTF? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-associated-with-smokers/580214/29 "2011-04-29T23:24:30Z")
Okay, then, how about an apology for calling “BS” the OP written by an American about Americans (specifying “Republicans” and “Fox News,” both American phenomena) about whom you admittedly know nothing? That’s the least you could do. Plus also refraining from further comments on a GQ topic you claim to know nothing about. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Skinley\_Von\_Clipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@Baron\_Skinley\_Von\_Clipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Skinley_Von_Clipper)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-associated-with-smokers/580214/30 "2011-04-29T23:40:54Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Okay, then, how about an apology for calling “BS” the OP written by an American about Americans (specifying “Republicans” and “Fox News,” both American phenomena) about whom you admittedly know nothing? That’s the least you could do. > > Plus also refraining from further comments on a GQ topic you claim to know nothing about. Thanks. The original question referred to smokers, (How am I supposed to know the question was only about American smokers if you failed to say so?), there was no reference to geography at all. But when challenged you can only provide data that is relevant to your part of the world. Perhaps you should be more clear in future. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-associated-with-smokers/580214/31 "2011-04-29T23:45:57Z")
> [@Baron\_Skinley\_Von\_Clipper](#): > > Different parts of the country? Fox news? I Guess you are talking about the USA. > > Don’t know, never been there, and I have no idea about the smoking habits of Americans. All of those items are in the OP. Maybe you should work on your reading skills? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-associated-with-smokers/580214/32 "2011-04-29T23:47:29Z")
**Lynn Bodini** ’s link’s statistics come from the WHO, so yes, \*\*worldwide \*\*the trend is for lower income, lower education people to smoke more. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-associated-with-smokers/580214/33 "2011-04-29T23:49:10Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > I assume that smokers, for example, are less educated than smokers, and also less intelligent, but have no idea if anyone has studied this systematically. I also assume that smokers earn less money than non-smokers, are more religious than non-smokers, drive different cars, live in different parts of the country, own more guns, watch more Fox news, vote Republican, and about a zillion things, but would like to see some data on this. I’m pretty sure the cigarette companies have studied this stuff up the yin-yang, but is any of the data available in a reputable study? Barack Obama is a smoker. He seems to be pretty much the polar opposite of that entire composite. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-associated-with-smokers/580214/34 "2011-04-29T23:57:56Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Barack Obama is a smoker. He seems to be pretty much the polar opposite of that entire composite. Not only Obama, but many of my smoking friends–still, you do understand that I am looking for statistics on large numbers of people, not anecdotes about individuals, don’t you? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2011, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-associated-with-smokers/580214/35 "2011-04-30T00:03:24Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Not only Obama, but many of my smoking friends–still, you do understand that I am looking for statistics on large numbers of people, not anecdotes about individuals, don’t you? Yeah, but look what its done to the poor man’s skin! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2011, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-associated-with-smokers/580214/36 "2011-04-30T01:24:11Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > **Lynn Bodini** ’s link’s statistics come from the WHO, so yes, \*\*worldwide \*\*the trend is for lower income, lower education people to smoke more. Considering that worldwide, most smokers are Chinese, how does that relate to smokers in America? ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2011, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-associated-with-smokers/580214/37 "2011-04-30T01:25:04Z")
This has to be one of the longer pointless threads in a while. Little more than 30 years ago somewhere around 60% of Americans were smokers. And you know what? _ **\>\>\>NOBODY GAVE A SHIT!!!\<\<\<** _ The only reason to care if someone you don’t know smokes or not is self-serving condescension. Period. You cannot pass it off as concern for health because that degree of concern for a stranger is totally inappropriate in Western society. Its like seeing someone eating a bag of chips and ever-so-politely telling them about the dangers of trans-fats. Its not acceptable behavior and downright rude. I’ve never smoked but nothing makes me want to start more than an anti-smoker! And by the way, watch almost any old NASA footage. **Everyone** in Mission Control smoked. Constantly. And I wouldn’t exactly call those guys hayseed rubes! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2011, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-associated-with-smokers/580214/38 "2011-04-30T02:38:37Z")
I’m not asking about 30 years ago. I’m sure 300 years ago, the proportion of slave-holders was shockingly high. I’m asking about now, I’m describing my own subjective, uniformed opinions of smokers as biased and unreliable, and I’m looking for facts. Why are you so upset? Prove my biases to be ill-founded. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2011, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-associated-with-smokers/580214/39 "2011-04-30T02:56:41Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > And by the way, watch almost any old NASA footage. **Everyone** in Mission Control smoked. Constantly. Ah, come on! It’s not like they were rocket scientists! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2011, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-associated-with-smokers/580214/40 "2011-04-30T03:15:44Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > And they smell bad. Litterbugs, too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-associated-with-smokers/580214.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-associated-with-smokers/580214.md?page=3)