New Poll! Poll number 32!

[SteveMacD]

You know, when I was in high school, guys would say "you don't smoke because you're a pussy." To which I'd say "no, I don't shoot heroin because I'm a pussy. I don't smoke because I'm cheap."

[Nixxxed]

I'm smoking right now!

Chick: "You shouldn't smoke. Each one of those things is a little stick of death!"

Meg: "That's what I like about it, Chick! Taking a drag off death... What power, what exhilaration!!! Ahhhh... Here, you wanna drag?!?!"



By the way: I LOVE POLLS. Hmmm... Maybe I'll start a Poll Poll.

[wondergirl9847]

Ya'll are crazy.

My mom used to smoke (she quit cold turkey when she found out I was upside down in her tummy and she couldn't breathe. LOL) and drink (she quit because my dad asked her to).

I have allergies as well and I hate being around smoke. It irritates my throat and eyes. I only know a couple of people who smoke.

[Jessica Leigh]

I smoke about a pack a day and i enjoy every single one of them... but i hate the fact that i smoke.... i have found that over the years (i am almost 25 and have been smoking regularly since right after i turned 14... almost 11 yrs yuck!) smokers start socializing with other smokers... at this point, i don't have any friends who don't smoke... and i'm afraid to try to quit because everywhere i go my friends will be smoking... and that will make me fail.

i do agree with you non-smokers about the rudeness in smoking around non-smokers... for years i had never ever smoked indoors (i'm from california and it's been illegal to smoke inside- except bars- since 1987... and they banned it in bars in 1997) so i never had to answer the "smoking or non?" question until i was about 20. but when i started going to places where i could smoke inside i was floored at how nasty it smelled and how the grossness just loomed overhead and never went away... there are many times when i request non smoking just so i don't have to smell the nastiness... but then i'll go outside to the fresh air to smoke...

oh, and the people who think it's necessary to tell me that i'm smoking "cancer sticks" can go to hell... they think i had no idea it was bad for me... sometimes i want to say to those people "yes i know it's bad for me, but it's an addiction i have to deal with... much like your fat ass has to deal with your chocolate cake addiction... but at least i'm still skinny"

[TwistedGypsy]

Originally Posted by Jessica Leigh

I smoke about a pack a day and i enjoy every single one of them... but i hate the fact that i smoke.... i have found that over the years (i am almost 25 and have been smoking regularly since right after i turned 14... almost 11 yrs yuck!) smokers start socializing with other smokers... at this point, i don't have any friends who don't smoke... and i'm afraid to try to quit because everywhere i go my friends will be smoking... and that will make me fail.

i do agree with you non-smokers about the rudeness in smoking around non-smokers... for years i had never ever smoked indoors (i'm from california and it's been illegal to smoke inside- except bars- since 1987... and they banned it in bars in 1997) so i never had to answer the "smoking or non?" question until i was about 20. but when i started going to places where i could smoke inside i was floored at how nasty it smelled and how the grossness just loomed overhead and never went away... there are many times when i request non smoking just so i don't have to smell the nastiness... but then i'll go outside to the fresh air to smoke...

oh, and the people who think it's necessary to tell me that i'm smoking "cancer sticks" can go to hell... they think i had no idea it was bad for me... sometimes i want to say to those people "yes i know it's bad for me, but it's an addiction i have to deal with... much like your fat ass has to deal with your chocolate cake addiction... but at least i'm still skinny"

Brit

[SuzeQuze]

I quit smoking over 2 years ago. There is no "reason" to smoke, it isn't logical, it's a weird impulse to start and then you're hooked before you know it. Especially when you start young and think "yeah right, I can stop when I feel like it I don't believe what they say". You just feel invincible at that age.

I used to enjoy them occasionally but mostly it was gross to me too. It is strange when I think about it that I ever started because I always hated smoking. For me, it was definitely a rebellion which was subconscious at the time. You tell me I'm not supposed to smoke, I guess I'm going to smoke then! I bit off my nose to spite my face. I did not smoke for those 16 years straight, I had quit and gone back a bunch of times so smoked for about half of it.

Anyway, the best predictor of quitting success is how many attempts you've made, the more you have, the more likely you will quit. So never give up if you're trying and never let anyone discourage you by saying "yeah right you'll quit", don't even tell those people!

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

I quit smoking over 2 years ago. There is no "reason" to smoke, it isn't logical, it's a weird impulse to start and then you're hooked before you know it. Especially when you start young and think "yeah right, I can stop when I feel like it I don't believe what they say". You just feel invincible at that age.

I used to enjoy them occasionally but mostly it was gross to me too. It is strange when I think about it that I ever started because I always hated smoking. For me, it was definitely a rebellion which was subconscious at the time. You tell me I'm not supposed to smoke, I guess I'm going to smoke then! I bit off my nose to spite my face. I did not smoke for those 16 years straight, I had quit and gone back a bunch of times so smoked for about half of it.

Anyway, the best predictor of quitting success is how many attempts you've made, the more you have, the more likely you will quit. So never give up if you're trying and never let anyone discourage you by saying "yeah right you'll quit", don't even tell those people!

I wish my friends felt that way, that it's totally illogical and they have no reason to continue it. I wish they would try to quit. But I learned my lesson a few years ago when I told an old friend that I was worried about her and wished that she would try to quit because I cared for her so much. I was young and didn't realize that that was the wrong thing to say it anyway, because she got annoyed and said "IF I do try to quit, then it won't be for you." So, because of that experience, I just don't mention my problems with it to my friends who smoke. But I have a hard time seeing why many people don't at least try. I understand that it must be difficult, but I've seen people who just don't even give it a shot. I see it as more destructive than my tendency to eat a bit more chocolate cake sometimes. I'm not skinny, but I'm not really overweight, so I don't see how I'm going to be hurt in the longrun. Continuing smoking is much more harmful, I'm thinking.

[hayley]

I love to smoke. I really do. When I don't enjoy it anymore, I will quit. In the meantime? I love every damned one. I smoke half a pack or a little more a day. I'd quit for a long time, and actually started again just for the excuse to go outside at the office and take smoke breaks. I need those ten minutes outside every once in awhile so that I don't go postal. I do hate how expensive they are in Chicago. Everytime I visit my parents in Kansas City, I stock up like wo in Iowa & Missouri.

I never smoke around non-smokers or anyone it bugs. But I don't deny myself the pleasure of a cigarette (preferably with the loose Turkish tobacco) with my nightly cocktail(s) ever, no matter who's over. I'll stick my head out the damned window if I have to.

[GypsySorcerer]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

You know, when I was in high school, guys would say "you don't smoke because you're a pussy." To which I'd say "no, I don't shoot heroin because I'm a pussy. I don't smoke because I'm cheap."

[GypsySorcerer]

I don't smoke and never have, except the occasional "drag" when drunk. I didn't even inhale, so I don't know why I bothered.

[Mad4stevie]

Not a smoker. I can count the number of cigarettes that I have ever smoked on two hands. Mostly at drunken parties in college

My boyfriend is trying to stop smoking. I hate the smell.

[gldstwmn]

I don't like cigarettes. That's kind of an understatement.

[HomerMcvie]

I'm so sick of talking about this. My town went smoke-free on 1/1/05, including bars. People are still bitching NON-stop about this(I work in bars, so I'm subjected to it all).
They think it's about their personal rights being taken away, and, if they had the ability to reason, beyond their addiction, they would see it's not.
It's about the rights of everyone being able to frequent any public place, without involuntarily having their life shortened. To be in a healthy environment. I've heard every stupid argument there is, tenfold. If you're going to kill yourself, fine. But you're not taking me with you!
WHY would any semi-intelligent person choose to smoke?
End of rant. smokers.

[Janet]

I'm a few a week , not a day.

I smoke when I am out socially, so it can be two weeks without one ciggie. I know it doesn't make sense but someday I will quit full throttle.

I agree with Jessica Leigh and Hayley, I just enjoy it socially so much and it helps me not drink as much as well.

Like Hayley, at night with a cocktail is really amazing, it's something I would miss.
BUT I have a good friend now who is against smoking and I won't smoke around him and it's good, I am learning...

NJ will be smoke free soon and I guess at that point, I will HAVE to learn. Most of my friends DON'T smoke anyway.

[CreepingDeath]

I don't smoke, but plenty of people in Vegas do (I think NV has the most smokers in the US). So I can't flip out everytime somebody smokes around me because there's too many. I would be in a constant bitch fest.