Smokers

[uncle_rufus]

I started in college at ~18 so going on 10 years ago now (good lord!) and gave up at ~21 or 22 I forget...

A lot of other friends started smoking earlier at school for the "cool factor" though I was always against it - but did smoke "other things" (as I felt - hey, if you're going to harm yourself by smoking something it may as well have some sort of enjoyable effects)... as I expect it does for many in that sort of position I just became addicted as a side-effect eventually.

Gave both up at the same time totally cold-turkey when someone close to me lost a relative; I was planning to stop before reaching work age anyway but it gave me the final big push I needed. I'm a firm believer that all you really need to give up is to really want it. Have never even been slightly tempted since and feel healthier for it, just hope it doesn't come back to bite me

Also just want to say I hate the term "vaping"... "VAPING"?! Did they have a big meeting to decide the most lame-sounding term they possibly could? I'm not sure what it is about it that grinds-my-gears so but it really does! Maybe it sounds a bit like the sort of uncommon buzzword that extreme sports people use that always sounds a bit odd (like "stoked" and "gnarly" etc)

 

[ttaskmaster]

Given how many soldiers, police, doctors and nurses smoke (seriously, go check out the nurses' breakout room), I'd say it's more a stress-related resort than some "weak-minded cool factor".

It might be more of a rebellious thing for many kids, but that old idea of peer pressure is a bit "Just Say No", don't you think?

 

[Wazz-1]

'Cause it affects other people maybe?

Many things do!

Smoking affects their families and friends, people around them and anyone interested in public health.

Really, that,s not always true is it?

Why are people so obsessed about alcoholics and drinking way too much?

Are they? I dont smoke and dont really care what others do as long as it doesn't have a major impact on me or my life directly.

Because it ****ing stinks? The amount of people that get on the bus that stink to high hell of fags is staggering. Disgusting habit, i don't care if you pay to kill yourself just don't bring that crap near me. Smoking should be banned in public. Period. If you want to smoke you can stink out your own house, not places that other people use. What grinds my gears is when people stand right by doors into shops and supermarkets puffing away, some of them may as well be inside with how close they stand to the doors. I've suffered smoke inhalation when trying to enter some stores.

I don't use the bus because its full of smelly dirty unwashed people coughing on each other, the smell of smoke would be a welcome relief sometimes

 

[dowie]

Given how many soldiers, police, doctors and nurses smoke (seriously, go check out the nurses' breakout room), I'd say it's more a stress-related resort than some "weak-minded cool factor".

It might be more of a rebellious thing for many kids, but that old idea of peer pressure is a bit "Just Say No", don't you think?

you can check out the break areas or bit near the fire escape in just about any workplace and you'll find some smokers, smokers exist across the population not just in high stress jobs

 

[lawrence281]

Don't really see the point in smoking, its disgusting and I dont understand how people get hooked..my mentality is different. Smoking just has no effect, apart from shrinking your wallet, and letting dirty smoke in your lungs.. if you smoke, atleast do weed! worth while effect haha

 

[ttaskmaster]

you can check out the break areas or bit near the fire escape in just about any workplace and you'll find some smokers, smokers exist across the population not just in high stress jobs

But given how many medical professionals are both highly stressed and fully aware of the health impacts, yet still choose to smoke... ?

Ask some nursey smokers when they started. See how many never smoked until they started nursing.

 

[StriderX]

But given how many medical professionals are both highly stressed and fully aware of the health impacts, yet still choose to smoke... ?

Ask some nursey smokers when they started. See how many never smoked until they started nursing.

I doubt it's really a stress induced thing, probably boredom...just like with drinking, Peer Pressure can do only so much.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

I think this post on our Trusts Intranet deserves to be put in the public domain because it's frightening how a clinical professional can be so blind.
I reckon there isn't one smoker in this thread that doesn't know that smoking is harmful but it's their choice -

Posted by ***** on 07 April 2015 09:04.
One-sided? I look at it from both sides, but feel I have to defend myself when discriminated against. You state it worsens cardiovascular and respiratory health? My dad is former Royal Marines and Special forces. He joined the Marines at 25, which is quite old, smoked since he was 14 and passed through his Marines training (which is the hardest physical and cardiovascular training in the world) and then flew through his special forces training still smoking, he's 54 now and is health is phenominal. Im also a smoker since the age of 12/13, I trained 6 days a week in the gym up untill the age of 18. I stopped for a while then went back 3-4 days a week, I also trained in Karate where i recieved my black belt and on top of all that I did boxing for 3 years. All this while smoking, so yeah? I feel my health and cardiovascular is pretty good seeing as I could easily run 12-15 miles a day. It only affects health when people don't excersise and that applies to non smokers too, your cardiovascular system will be awful if you dont excersise mixed with sugary coffee and bad diets. With working in Pathology, I don't see any "proof" it increases cancer risk at all, if that is the case, how do we have non smokers with Lung cancer and other forms of cancer? But what is the answer to all this? The answer is we get one life, one go around on this fine planet, so live it how you want to live it, if i want to smoke, ill smoke, its called free will. Discriminate all you like, but I'll say this one more time, I don't see any proof of smoking causing cancer or increasing the risk of it, when there are so many people who don't smoke with cancer.

 

[Pestilence]

Also just want to say I hate the term "vaping"... "VAPING"?! Did they have a big meeting to decide the most lame-sounding term they possibly could? I'm not sure what it is about it that grinds-my-gears so but it really does! Maybe it sounds a bit like the sort of uncommon buzzword that extreme sports people use that always sounds a bit odd (like "stoked" and "gnarly" etc)

"Gnarly Vaping".

I feel a business name coming on, LOL.

 

[ttaskmaster]

I doubt it's really a stress induced thing, probably boredom...just like with drinking, Peer Pressure can do only so much.

I do know one who started out of desperation for something to help with the stress, but obviously didn't take a full survey of them all!
I certainly doubt they all felt they'd "look cool" puffing away while covered in blood, puke and bowels, though!

 

[xs2man]

"Gnarly Vaping".

I feel a business name coming on, LOL.

I'm forever vooping. How do you feel about that term?

 

[Brian18741]

I started smoking when I was about 15 simply due to peer pressure. Smoked about 20 a day throughout my 20's. Been giving them up for the last 5 years but can't quite kick them altogether. If I have a drink it's very hard to not smoke. But in recent years I could go a couple of weeks without a smoke. If I buy a pack going and and don't finish it, it will sit I a drawer until I do again.

In saying that tho, my eldest daughter turned two last week and we had a bit of a party. I was out the back having a smoke and she came out and saw me (she would never see me smoke) and I just felt so guilty for some reason. She was so curious about it (as she is with anything new) that I threw it away so she wouldn't see more. I hope that's me finished with them for good now.