Smoker or Non-Smoker?

[thunderfly]

Are you a cigarette smoker or a non-smoker? If you're a non-smoker, what is your opinion of smoking? If a smoker, how do you feel about the (UK) ban on smoking in public places and the workplace etc? If a smoker, are you concerned about the health aspects but just cannot quit or are you not bothered about the health risks whatsoever?

I'm not a smoker although I did try it briefly when I was very young just because I thought it looked 'cool'. I'm glad there is a ban on smoking in public places etc. I was never happy to breathe in other people's second hand smoke and can well remember sitting in pubs with a blue-grey fog hanging in the air and my eyes stinging and watering. Going home again and your clothes and hair would stink like a full ash tray.
I don't believe in taking away people's free choices though. If people want to smoke, they should be able to in their own homes and away from non-smokers. It's usually a delicate subject when you actually try to persuade smokers (friends, family and people you care about) to quit because of the health risks. I think smokers are more worried about losing their freedom of choice than they are about their health - but that is their freedom of choice, I suppose although that's an odd choice of priorities IMO.
On the same subject but a slightly different note, I sometimes wonder if the price of twenty cigarettes, which is now almost £10, isn't to put people off smoking (as is claimed) but so that the tobacco companies won't be out of pocket now that so many people have quit smoking or never started at all.

[Mal Hombre]

I've never smoked,I've always thought that it was a silly habit But so long as They're not breathing poisonous smoke over other people,It was down to personal choice.I think the ban is ,On balance a good idea,I remember at the place I used to work that the Smoking section was separated from the Non Smoking by a trellis...

[Brecht]

I've quit smoking two years ago which enables me to offer views from both sides. Smoking is one of the most irrational habits known to us. Nicotine, along with sugar, is the deadliest substance in the world, meaning that most people die from either one of them. The tobacco industry is an industry of death, making billions on people's self-destructive habits. Various additives make sure you stay a "loyal customer" because nicotine alone does not (necessarily) lead to addiction. I never thought of myself as an addict. For me smoking was pleasure. But I was kidding myself, of course. Many times I'd ask myself why I keep wasting money on something that's ruining my health. If you count all the money you've spent on cigarettes in a year, you'll realize that you've thrown away a good vacation trip or a nice new computer. So there is a very good financial reason to quit. Cigarettes keep getting more expensive while our wages are stagnating. Everything is getting more expensive but you can live without cigarettes. The motive that essentially contributed to my decision to quit was frustration with all the aforementioned burdens. I was tired of my home and clothes smelling like an ashtray, of hurting myself financially, of the constant feeling of fatigue, of smoke stinging my eyes, of the coughing and of exposing fellows to the same risks. Now that I'm a non-smoker, I see how reckless and audacious smokers can be toward others. They don't care about those who feel bothered or endangered just because it's their "freedom of choice". It's funny how freedom of choice is being narrowed down to buying commodities. What about the freedom to choose to care for the well-being of others and yourself? But this being said I don't think there should be any decreed bans on smoking. We should invest our ressources in educating people to make them more responsible and reasonable.

[tygrkhat40]

I get together with a group of friends every Friday night and I'm the only one who doesn't smoke. One of them was bitching about the outdoor places you're no longer allowed to smoke at. I said he was complaining to the wrong person.

My parents smoked until the late 70's whem my mom had her first heart attack. Mom was amazed at how quickly smoking had become socially unacceptable. When her twin sister died, we were looking for photos for a collage and we had one of my aunt, her older sister and a dear family friend. It was a terrific picture of all of them, but we didn't use it because all of them had cigarettes in their hands.

[snowy25]

I started smoking quite late compared to most people, I waited until I was actually legal, 16 at the time, to smoke. I then over 20 years or so smoked on and off at times not smoking for 6 months sometimes. I never actually gave up but I simply would stop and then continue again later on. About 4 years ago I had a major health check up and they went over every inch inside and out. Apart from a few minor issues that were not going to do me much harm, I was 100% healthy. So at that point I decided to stop smoking for good. I thought that I was lucky and had seen and read about people who developed smoking related health issues in less time. So I simply stopped and have not touched any tobacco related product since.

[MaxJoker]

I've never smoked (Apart from when I wear my crushed velvet tuxedo, as can't help but be "Smokin" then) thankfully.
Not for want of inane encouragement from a certain ex either.
Seriously Fellow Forum Fellas the woman tried to get me to smoke as told me I`d find it relaxing
Although she did eventually drive me to drink

[Hertz]

I have never smoked.I think it's a bad and stinky habit.Cigars are quite expensive, why throw your money for nothing.I am always ready to give money to eat or drink something...

[cicciobuki]

I never smoked, probably because my father was a heavy smoker (Johnson, i think) so i grew up with 2nd hand smoke (pretty unpleasant, i can tell you) and a heavy smoker's cough (my health got alot better after my father had quit). The part i hated the most as a kid was sitting in the back of the car where all the smoke gathered.

So yeah, i didn't see any reason why i would start this expensive addiction, and when i see small kids whose parents are smoking, i feel sorry for the little buggers...

Did any of you experience peer pressure when it came to (not) smoking in school or work? (me never so i wonder if it's a real thing or just an excuse someone would make up)

[Sir Honkers]

I smoked until I had a heart attack thirteen years ago. It was astonishing how easy it was to quit after that.

[cabclive]

I had opp on my throat, doc said give up the weed or you WILL die, gave up. that was 18 yrs ago, still here lol