What's the point in smoking?

[Arch]

Smoking is quite enjoyable. i actually like the taste of smoking and it's just like drinking. there's no known reason but it's still done.

Today i was having a quick cig with my boss outside a subway, some busker started telling us we should quit. Do i tell him to stop busking? do I tell him to find a different job? I don't see how someone can question my life yet i don't question us. He even said "they two **** you're smoking could be 30p in my hat" my response? "yeah well i pay taxes on what i earn and also on what i'm currently smoking, do you pay your taxes?"

Smoking generates more income through the taxes directly and indirectly linked to smoking, i pay dearly for my habit which i enjoy, make me feel comfortable and doesn't harm anyone (apart from someone who may be invading my personal space, ie on the street or in my bedroom).

Not sure how it is in the UK but here i think its about 60-70% of smoke prices are taxes...

Anyways, i started outta curiousity i guess then i started liking it. Then it becames more of a social thing
because you meet people whilist smoking, and more likely then not most of your friends probably smoke. Thats how it is for me atleast, also for a highschool we have alot of kids who smoke here, about 80+ kids. Everyone just goes out after class/at lunch. Its actually pretty fun all your good friends at one place at the same time and theres always something either funny, interesting or stupid going on

[@K]

I have a few reasons as to why I smoke and started. I find smoking relaxes me, eases stress and generally makes me happier. My family all around me have always smoked, my friends who I've known for the past 6 years all smoke. It is a habit of mine, just like someone else who bites their nails or picks their nose. I am addicted. Lastly, I ENJOY it.

[Cheryl]

I never have; mainly for 2 reasons, none, actually not even 1, of my close friends do it and no one in my family does - my dad and both grandads both did, all without any adverse health.

I don't have a problem with people smoking around me, say for example I was with a group of not so close friends who do smoke, I would stand outside with them whilst they smoke. I quite like the smell anyway.

It's a life choice at the end of the day and most people will try it - as will I quite probably.

[chantellehugs]

I've never had a cigarette, I used to hang out with a group of friends who smoked all the time but the 'temptation' was never there for me.
If someone close to me began smoking I'd try and break away from them or get them to quit, what some people don't realise is that when you're having the cigarette everything seems jolly and relaxed, but in a few years time, if you end up getting cancer, things won't be so relaxed and happy. I'd hate to watch someone I loved die of cancer.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Firstly i'll say that I don't smoke and have never smoked, and I doubt I will ever smoke.

But what does annoy me greatly is the paranoid reaction we seem to get now when the topic of smoking is brought up. The anti-smoking brigade constantly cite the fact that smoking costs the NHS billions every year, forgetting to mention that smoking probably generates far more income for the governent with its rip-off tax rates than smoking costs the NHS overall. It is interesting though, that HIV is never treated in the same way when in reality partaking in unprotected sex/sex at all greatly increases your risks of catching the virus.

Secondly the smoking ban - pubs have always had smoking as a part of pub culture and now we are seeing the closure of pubs thanks to the smoking ban where people will now stay at home and have a drink rather than go to the pub because the government and these people seem to have the idea that they have a right to tell pub owners what can/cannot go on in their own pub. Finally, people smoke for the simple reason that they enjoy smoking - just as you may enjoy one genre of music whereas somebody else may hate it.

The only thing disgusting about smoking is the government tax on it.

personally i don't like walking past people who smoke cause why should we have to put up with it...same at bus stops can't get away with it
kill yourself not others

Why should I put up with the clothes you are wearing that I dislike? why should I have to put up with my neighbours car that I don't like the colour of? why should I put up with children on the streets after 7pm at night? why should I have to put up with the smell of manure whilst driving past farmers fields in the spring - why? because we live in a supposed free country.

The reality is that smoking poses little risk to your heath, much less than all the salts and fatty foods you most likely consume. Do you drive/travel in cars? what about the risk to your health there as car accidents are quite common.

[Oleh]

All i have to say is.

out of all 13-25 year olds who i see smoking.. probably 90% are what you would call "financially disadvantaged".

[buttons]

Why should I put up with the clothes you are wearing that I dislike? why should I have to put up with my neighbours car that I don't like the colour of? why should I put up with children on the streets after 7pm at night? why should I have to put up with the smell of manure whilst driving past farmers fields in the spring - why? because we live in a supposed free country.

get real. none of this is harmful. why would you even compare? & it causes little health risks? um, yeah it does. in the long run if you use it too much, the same as everything else.

The reality is that smoking poses little risk to your heath, much less than all the salts and fatty foods you most likely consume. Do you drive/travel in cars? what about the risk to your health there as car accidents are quite common.

but that's OUR choice whether we drive/travel in cars, it's OUR choice whether we eat crappy foods. it's not our choice for people walking around smoking. no matter how debatable the facts on passive smoking is, it's still downright nasty. go shove one of your friends/family in to a room filled with smokers smoke. it irritates my eyes and the smell is nasty, do we not have the right to be protected from that? i used to smoke and would never do it in my house or around people such as at bus stops which they all do here. like when we're in a queue. ******* gross.

[-:Undertaker:-]

get real. none of this is harmful. why would you even compare? & it causes little health risks? um, yeah it does. in the long run if you use it too much, the same as everything else.

If you are a heavy smoker it causes health risks yes, but passive smoking is not heavy smoking - so again, you are wanting to stop people smoking not on the grounds of health (the anti-smoking side often use this as an excuse to justify smoking bans when in reality many of them are perfectly happy to go out and eat salty/fatty/GM foods) but on the grounds of 'I don't approve, so the whole world should revolve around me and follow what I want'.

It is a smell, just as manure omits a bad smell and just as many things do in life - we get by and live with it.

but that's OUR choice whether we drive/travel in cars, it's OUR choice whether we eat crappy foods. it's not our choice for people walking around smoking. no matter how debatable the facts on passive smoking is, it's still downright nasty. go shove one of your friends/family in to a room filled with smokers smoke. it irritates my eyes and the smell is nasty, do we not have the right to be protected from that? i used to smoke and would never do it in my house or around people such as at bus stops which they all do here. like when we're in a queue. ******* gross.

Yeah and guess what? you have the choice to leave the room or go to another pub.

[wixard]

get real. none of this is harmful. why would you even compare? & it causes little health risks? um, yeah it does. in the long run if you use it too much, the same as everything else.

but that's OUR choice whether we drive/travel in cars, it's OUR choice whether we eat crappy foods. it's not our choice for people walking around smoking. no matter how debatable the facts on passive smoking is, it's still downright nasty. go shove one of your friends/family in to a room filled with smokers smoke. it irritates my eyes and the smell is nasty, do we not have the right to be protected from that? i used to smoke and would never do it in my house or around people such as at bus stops which they all do here. like when we're in a queue. ******* gross.

not being rude but where did you smoke then?
queue i understand but bus stops, realllyyy

[buttons]

If you are a heavy smoker it causes health risks yes, but passive smoking is not heavy smoking - so again, you are wanting to stop people smoking not on the grounds of health (the anti-smoking side often use this as an excuse to justify smoking bans when in reality many of them are perfectly happy to go out and eat salty/fatty/GM foods) but on the grounds of 'I don't approve, so the whole world should revolve around me and follow what I want'.

er yeah i want people to stop smoking on the grounds of MY health cause i don't approve with people messing up MY health. what's your point? idc if they want to kill themselves, i just don't want any possible health risks due to someone elses fault thx.

Yeah and guess what? you have the choice to leave the room or go to another pub.

i don't go to pubs nor will i willingly go in a room with someone who smokes. personally, i would rather THEY leave the room but if i have to i will. it's when i'm walking in the street or in queues i can't exactly get rid of it. i throw a scarf around my face if i have to go past a smoker but the smell still lingers you know. it's not just the breathing in i hate. n i don't like getting smoke in my eyes either. yes, me me me.


tara i only ever smoked at the smoking shelter at college whereas people would do it when we were waiting for the bus. + i never smoked when i was out drinking, never felt like it. if i was in someone elses house i would smoke outside the back door, even if everyone smoked anyway cause it hurt my eyes