Help! I don't want to get addicted.

Tommy B · 3 Aug 2007 at 22:59

OK. I have never smoked a cigarette by myself in my entire life. It has always been a social thing for me. I enjoy it and if other people around me are doing it, I will too, and I quite often don't know when to stop. I guess it's just relaxing and something to do.

However, I had a few left in my jacket from the other night and I've now found myself having smoked all of them, by myself in my room. Ok, so it's not exactly a big deal but I really don't want to get addicted and I'm actually feeling a drive to go and buy another pack. I appreciate how bad it is for your health and what a bitch it is to give up, but it just seems to me like a relaxing alternative to alcohol.

Can someone please tell me what an idiot I am?

Tommy B · 3 Aug 2007 at 23:02

The thing is, when you do it by yourself it's no longer about being big and clever or showing off, it's an addiction.

Tommy B · 3 Aug 2007 at 23:09

stickroad said:
You a big idiot and you are harming people around you and you will die much younger than everyone else and during the last year you will suffer.

Is that what you wanted someone to say?

Well the funny thing is I'm a complete fitness freak and do about 4 runs/3 visits to the gym a week

I just find it really relaxing. I guess it wears off after a while. Perhaps I should buy some cigars instead?

Tommy B · 3 Aug 2007 at 23:13

stickroad said:
Seriously Tommy you can do it, will be much better in the long run. Goodluck to you.

lol, I don't think I'm addicted yet. I guess they were in my jacket and I thought I might as well smoke them. Still, it's now like I have to find a relaxing substitute.

Tommy B · 3 Aug 2007 at 23:16

fozzy said:
Not for long

Oh cheers

Right, I've decided to use my brain and just say NO. Or at least, perhaps make it a weekend thing

Tommy B · 3 Aug 2007 at 23:17

NickXX said:
If you're so fussed, then why don't you just not smoke? It's not hard to refrain from doing it if you're just a social smoker.

Otherwise just accept that you enjoy doing it ffs.

I openly do enjoy doing it, that's the thing.

All my mates say that is exactly what they used to think, until they got addicted where it becomes almost a chore.

As I said above, I'll take the advice here and stop now as no one has actually advocated doing it.

Tommy B · 3 Aug 2007 at 23:39

Exactly. I've always hated people (especially those my age) who automatically call smokers "idiots" because...

a) I don't think you can pass judgement on something unless you've tried it. Obviously there are some extremes, like I would never do Ecstasy, but you can't just re-iterate what your parents told you and that applies to anything; hobbies, habits, political views etc

b) Smokers appreciate the risks. They know it's bad for them. It's not as if they don't know any better. There are those who are addicted and those who do it for enjoyment, but either way there are very few smokers who actually believe that smoking doesn't damage your health!

Tommy B · 3 Aug 2007 at 23:45

Sorry, but couldn't resist!

Tommy B · 3 Aug 2007 at 23:48

Please read my post 3 above why labelling smokers as stupid is stupid in itself :rolleyes:

it's like calling people who drink stupid because they know it CAN give you liver cancer in the long run!

Tommy B · 3 Aug 2007 at 23:51

Kell_ee001 said:
I did - I considered them invalid.

But can't you see that it gives people enjoyment. A lot of things we enjoy are harmful. Eating chocolate is harmful, for example. In excess! A smoke now and again won't harm you!

Tommy B · 3 Aug 2007 at 23:56

Kell_ee001 said:
Please don't advise me to read your post then ignore mine...

No, I entirely agree with your post. I know how easy it is to get addicted, but I just dislike people who label smokers "stupid." I even had this view before I'd smoked.

Tommy B · 4 Aug 2007 at 00:01

Kell_ee001 said:
Will you please explain how it isn't stupid then? People know the risk, yet still do. They might enjoy it but the con's heavily outweigh the pro's. It's anti-social (especially these days), it's expensive and as we have agreed, over time will become an addiction.

The fact is they enjoy it. Isn't that enough of a justification? They know the risks.

Tommy B · 4 Aug 2007 at 00:06

In that case you must abhor drinking. The state of our 'drinking culture' is putting countless lives at risk in the long run!

Smoking in itself is stupid, but that doesn't mean people who smoke are stupid. They've decided that the enjoyment of doing it outweights their personal health risks.

As for other around, now that is a point. Hence why the smoking ban is favourable despite the now alienating feeling you get in many pubs.

Tommy B · 4 Aug 2007 at 00:13

It's not my fault the three people who happen to be active in this thread are hardcore anti-smokers?

Tommy B · 4 Aug 2007 at 00:50

Chong Warrior said:
Make no mistake and do not fool yourself...

You ARE already addicted. Now you have to give up and the more cig's you smoke and longer you leave it, it will get a whole lot harder to stop. Depending on your mentality almost impossible!

Trust me I know, I smoked for 16 years

Will switching to Cigars help?

Say you have the urge to go out and buy another pack?

Tommy B · 4 Aug 2007 at 13:13

wohoo said:
Most people in the motors forum concurr

Most people in the motors forum are bigots with serious aggressive anti-social problems. It's not big, clever or cool to engage in futile arguments which are completely aggressive and immaterial to the matter of hand. In fact it's the trate of a nerd. Fortunately there are some nice, normal guys there who actually go out of their way to explain things rather engage in pointless "omgwtf u suckz" talk.

Oh and whilst I admit it would seem like I was an idiot, it turns out my car is a 1.4 FSI, not a 1.4, so everything I said was true.

Tommy B · 4 Aug 2007 at 18:11

[TW]Fox said:
No, we are all just jealous of your Mums Golf 1.4.

That post proves my point.

You're an interesting bloke Fox. How can I put it? Helpful one minute, really great guy the next.

Tommy B · 4 Aug 2007 at 18:58

Kell_ee001 said:
If you continue when you're lucky enough not to be addicted yet cos you think you are cool and getting a bit of a buzz from it, you're a bigger idiot than the OP! At least he's trying not to get addicted when you're rolling up whenever you can!

The only argument you've got against it is that it can harm others, which is fair enough, but even so that only makes smokers selfish not stupid. Smoking damages your health but if that is enough justification for someone to call a smoker an idiot then IMO you might as well call drinkers/drivers, hell, people who have sex idiots too.

Tommy B · 4 Aug 2007 at 20:36

wohoo said:
Might I add, im jealous of his extra doors too

A 3 door hatchback is no cooler/better than a 5 door. The fact still remains it's a hatchback!

Tommy B · 5 Aug 2007 at 06:24

Well I never did buy them in the end. I only had £15 and there was a 5 litre mini keg of Heineken so could't resist