# 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:** 9\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/101 "2019-04-08T16:06:13Z")
> [@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! I do want to tell you that you don’t really feel what you feel. I see it as a debate, “Should manson1972 smoke?” where you have said ‘yes, because smoking feels relaxing’ and I take the position that no, manson1972 should not smoke and neither should anyone else. I only pursue this discussion in this particular forum, in the name of fighting ignorance (yours or mine or others who happen upon this thread). I don’t mean to come across as domineering, and it is not my place to compel you or anyone else to stop smoking. Your rationale is incompatible with my worldview, therefore either I am ignorant, you are ignorant, or we can agree to disagree. Usually in these situations it is I who ends up being ignorant though not necessarily wrong. Engaging in discussion is educational for at least one side in any case. I could learn to adjust my worldview; you could learn to adjust yours; we both could learn why people take the other position instead of thinking to ourselves, “that seems strange to me”. That being said, I am still researching the psychological and neurological effects of smoking and nicotine in particular, so as to present a better argument than “people say smoking is bad and you are wrong for thinking otherwise”. So the ball is in my court. I’ve been learning a lot about physiology, pharmacology, and even psychology so far. While I’m not yet ready to support the argument that your feelings are illusory, I wanted to make clear that this is the argument I have been and will be making. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/102 "2019-04-08T19:37:51Z")
> [@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! When you are addicted to something by definition you are getting anxiety around it, especially around dose times. When you ingest you get a release. It will probably be the best you feel all day. If you call that “relaxed” it is with a big asterisk. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/103 "2019-04-08T21:27:31Z")
When someone says they feel more relaxed after smoking, there is nothing more to say. You should add a data point for why someone would choose to smoke, thank them, and keep it moving. ---
**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 8, 2019, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/104 "2019-04-08T21:32:25Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > When someone says they feel more relaxed after smoking, there is nothing more to say. You should add a data point for why someone would choose to smoke, thank them, and keep it moving. Does this pertain to all addictions which require a “fix” to relieve the stress brought on by said addiction? ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/105 "2019-04-08T23:39:14Z")
I can’t help thinking about the ancient Death by 1000 Cuts execution method. In a nutshell, the victim is tied to a pole, fed a massive dose of opium, and then they begin. Snip, snip, snip, apparently from the bottom up they methodically slice the guy to pieces. He is so high on opium he _thinks_ he is having a grand time, but every observer can tell otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/106 "2019-04-09T01:33:17Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Does this pertain to all addictions which require a “fix” to relieve the stress brought on by said addiction? How do you know the poster is addicted to nicotine? ---
**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 9, 2019, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/107 "2019-04-09T01:34:16Z")
You guys still talking about me smoking? Strange 🙂 Yes, it’s a stupid habit. One that is unhealthy. But unless you are on my deck or in my car, it doesn’t affect you in any way. One day I’ll quit. But a person has to WANT to quit, or else it won’t be effective. I started because people went on smoke breaks in the military, and I had to stay back and work. I didn’t start smoking until I was 23 or 24. I look forward to other thread topics like “Why Would Anyone Shoot Heroin?” and “Why Would Anyone Eat Until They Are 600 Pounds?” ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/108 "2019-04-09T01:35:01Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > I can’t help thinking about the ancient Death by 1000 Cuts execution method. In a nutshell, the victim is tied to a pole, fed a massive dose of opium, and then they begin. Snip, snip, snip, apparently from the bottom up they methodically slice the guy to pieces. He is so high on opium he _thinks_ he is having a grand time, but every observer can tell otherwise. Except the smoker chooses to smoke. He is not tied to a pole. His actions demonstrate his preference. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802/109 "2019-04-09T01:40:12Z")
Well yeah, but I was going for more of a lurid illustration of how drugs + your brain = illusion sometimes. Pretty much the opposite of, “Trust your feelings, Luke.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-smoke/831802.md?page=5)