# Why Would Anyone Smoke? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 31, 2019, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802 "2019-03-31T06:44:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/81 "2019-04-04T15:24:33Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Reassuring to who? I’m not trying to reassure anyone about anything. Instead, strangers are telling me that I don’t feel relaxed when I feel relaxed. It’s becoming quite strange to read other posters telling me what I do and do not feel. Sounds like someone needs a Pall Mall. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/82 "2019-04-04T15:33:32Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Sounds like someone needs a Pall Mall. Well, it’s almost lunch time 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/83 "2019-04-04T15:35:05Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Reassuring to who? I’m not trying to reassure anyone about anything. Instead, strangers are telling me that I don’t feel relaxed when I feel relaxed. It’s becoming quite strange to read other posters telling me what I do and do not feel. No, what **Max S.** is telling you is that you feel relaxed, even though in fact your body is under stress. Not sure why this distinction is so controversial. I don’t see anyone challenging your experience of your state of mind. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/84 "2019-04-04T15:46:37Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > No, what **Max S.** is telling you is that you feel relaxed, even though in fact your body is under stress. Not sure why this distinction is so controversial. I don’t see anyone challenging your experience of your state of mind. Sure they are: > [@DrDeth](#): > > But Nicotine does \*not \*relax you. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/85 "2019-04-04T16:00:44Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Sure they are: I can get the same results from reading a good book without stinking up my clothes and breath and endangering my health and the health of others around me at the cost of over five bucks a pack(over one hundred dollars a carton). By the way, your “relaxation” would not be necessary without the mental and physical impairments your addiction causes in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/86 "2019-04-04T16:26:26Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I can get the same results from reading a good book without stinking up my clothes and breath and endangering my health and the health of others around me at the cost of over five bucks a pack(over one hundred dollars a carton) Good for you! > [@](#): > > By the way, your “relaxation” would not be necessary without the mental and physical impairments your addiction causes in the first place. Perhaps not, but it doesn’t mean that it does not relax me. Next you guys will be telling me that beer doesn’t keep me awake, since alcohol is a depressant! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/87 "2019-04-04T18:22:15Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Soooo…I feel more relaxed, that’s what you are saying? We said that while you getting your drug you do feel more relaxed. This is common in addictive drugs. It’s when you are NOT smoking that the increased stress occurs. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/88 "2019-04-04T18:36:34Z")
Either we arent getting thru to you or you are in denial. Maybe both. So let me try one more time. You life has much more stress in it due to your nicotine addiction. You normally operate on a higher level of stress due to the smoking. When your body gets the drug you want, your stress level goes back down. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/89 "2019-04-04T18:49:38Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Either we arent getting thru to you or you are in denial. Maybe both. Third possibility; he’s happy as is. I know a few people who smoke tobacco, are intelligent, and have no desire to stop smoking. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/90 "2019-04-04T19:28:59Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > It’s when you are NOT smoking that the increased stress occurs. Right, so by smoking, I can decrease the stress level. Got it! ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/91 "2019-04-04T19:30:44Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Either we arent getting thru to you or you are in denial. Maybe both. > > So let me try one more time. You life has much more stress in it due to your nicotine addiction. You normally operate on a higher level of stress due to the smoking. When your body gets the drug you want, your stress level goes back down. Let me try this: Say my normal stress level every day due to life was 100 if I wasn’t smoking. The nicotine addiction increases this level every day to 101. By smoking, it decreases to 90. So, stress level goes down. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/92 "2019-04-04T19:32:07Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Third possibility; he’s happy as is. I know a few people who smoke tobacco, are intelligent, and have no desire to stop smoking. Correct. A person needs to WANT to quit in order to successfully quit. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/93 "2019-04-04T20:43:47Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Right, so by smoking, I can decrease the stress level. Got it! So you spend more time smoking than you do not smoking? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/94 "2019-04-04T21:23:56Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Correct. A person needs to WANT to quit in order to successfully quit. With a hard addiction, even wanting to quit might not be enough to successfully quit. ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/95 "2019-04-04T21:59:50Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Right, so by smoking, I can decrease the stress level. Got it! Well, you’ve made up your mind that the entire scientific community is wrong and only you are right. And that science cant be right, because they didn’t personally study you. This thread has gotten to the point where you seem to only want to argue for the sake of arguing. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/96 "2019-04-05T01:05:41Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > With a hard addiction, even wanting to quit might not be enough to successfully quit. Yeah, that’s definitely a down point. And would not be a good thing for someone who wanted to quit. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/97 "2019-04-05T01:07:36Z")
> [@TheCuse](#): > > Well, you’ve made up your mind that the entire scientific community is wrong and only you are right. And that science cant be right, because they didn’t personally study you. > > This thread has gotten to the point where you seem to only want to argue for the sake of arguing. I said nothing about the scientific community. I said smoking relaxes me. And people are trying to tell me that it doesn’t. It just seems strange to me that strangers are trying to tell me that I don’t really feel what I feel. I’m going to go smoke right now, and then I’ll tell you if I feel more relaxed then now. Edited to add: Hey, i feel more relaxed! ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/98 "2019-04-05T01:23:59Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I said nothing about the scientific community. I said smoking relaxes me. And people are trying to tell me that it doesn’t. It just seems strange to me that strangers are trying to tell me that I don’t really feel what I feel. I’m going to go smoke right now, and then I’ll tell you if I feel more relaxed then now. > > Edited to add: Hey, i feel more relaxed! Oh, for the love of Pete… Okay, you’re more relaxed. Congratulations, you win the thread. Happy? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/99 "2019-04-05T01:26:47Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > Oh, for the love of Pete… > > Okay, you’re more relaxed. Congratulations, you win the thread. Happy? :rolleyes: I’ll take the acknowledgement that you believe that I’m more relaxed. “Winning a thread” is not something that I even think about. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/100 "2019-04-05T03:13:01Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I’ll take the acknowledgement that you believe that I’m more relaxed. “Winning a thread” is not something that I even think about. 🙂 I never said you weren’t relaxed when you smoke. _No one_ in this damned thread has said that, except _possibly_ **DrDeth** , and I suspect he was referring to the physiological stress smoking puts on the body. But you seem to think that we’re all ganging up to deny your subjective experience. Fine, you feel relaxed when you smoke. Good for you. You’re still doing shitty things to your body, but I see no reason to doubt that feeding your addiction makes you mellow and relaxed. Now can we get back to discussing why anyone takes up this disgusting habit? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802.md?page=6)