Poll: Why do you smoke?

[Una]

If you're addicted and haven't had one in ages, I'm sure the nicotine running through your mind does feel pretty damn good. But for the first smoke, I doubt it makes me feel euphoric.

Its like any drug though the first time you try it usually has a lot more effect. Once you start taking it on a regular basis your body gets more usage, thus you need to up the dosage to get more effect. Belive me first time you smoke you will feel a rush.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought nicotine was an alkaloid, which isn't really a "feel good" chemical. I thought it was a mild relaxant but also a stimulant. Like theanine. Hardly something to make you 'euphoric'.

If that's true, then having a cup of strong tea or coffee is much more preferable.

Its a stimulent which causes the release of acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine, and beta-endorphin etc... which do give a euphoric effect.

 

[cloudy]

I'm interested to hear how the physical addiction actually manifests itself to the smoker. Would you compare it to hunger pangs or something?


James

 

[trojan698]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought nicotine was an alkaloid, which isn't really a "feel good" chemical. I thought it was a mild relaxant but also a stimulant. Like theanine. Hardly something to make you 'euphoric'.

If that's true, then having a cup of strong tea or coffee is much more preferable.

The feeling of euphoria is a result of the now limited oxygen reaching your brain and the rest of your body. The Carbon Monoxide from the cigarette smoke reduces the intake of oxygen in your system somehow - I'm not a biologist.

 

[Zefan]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought nicotine was a alkaloid, which isn't really a "feel good" chemical. I thought it was a mild relaxant but also a stimulant. Like theanine. Hardly something to make you 'euphoric'.

If going by the meaning of euphoria as extremely happy then yes, it can do. Put it this way, the first time I had a cigarette I was a little bit tipsy, by the time I'd finished the cigarette it felt like I'd drank a LOT more and I felt like captain Planet.

To be honest I did use the word euphoria a bit lightly.

 

[Daff_Duck]

Smoke and proud of it - sick of people saying its bad for me and how disgusting it is blah blah blah .. I dont give two f about what people think its my life my body and if I dye then so be it everyone dyes sooner or later. some people dye at an early age and dye from various diseases or are involved in accidents.

I will have only myself to blame if/when I dye and if I decide to give up it will be my choice and no one elses. Why do people feel the need to jump on the bandwagon at every oportunity preaching about smoking. Get a life and look at yourself before spouting off.

 

[Zefan]

I'm interested to hear how the physical addiction actually manifests itself to the smoker. Would you compare it to hunger pangs or something?

James

You get tetchy and irritable. I can't really remember any physical things though as it was quite a while ago.

 

[CookieRocks]

I've never had one. My body is a temple, I intend to keep it that way

Can't stand girls that smoke either.. went out with one once which lasted all of a week before I sent her on her way.

Some of us get high on life without having to resort to alcohol, cigs or drugs

 

[Zefan]

I will have only myself to blame if/when I dye and if I decide to give up it will be my choice and no one elses.

Do you have a family?

 

[iCraig]

OK, so it makes you feel a bit better about yourself when you first take it right?

Even so, I can experience that by doing exercise or simply laughing Both of those release endorphins into the blood stream. No need to have to splutter and cough on a white stick for it.

 

[iCraig]

Smoke and proud of it - sick of people saying its bad for me and how disgusting it is blah blah blah .. I dont give two f about what people think its my life my body and if I dye then so be it everyone dyes sooner or later. some people dye at an early age and dye from various diseases or are involved in accidents.

I will have only myself to blame if/when I dye and if I decide to give up it will be my choice and no one elses. Why do people feel the need to jump on the bandwagon at every oportunity preaching about smoking. Get a life and look at yourself before spouting off.

Calm down and have a cigarette.

 

[trojan698]

I'm interested to hear how the physical addiction actually manifests itself to the smoker. Would you compare it to hunger pangs or something?


James

As Zefan said, irritable, bite peoples heads off, and just a general cloudiness that wont go until you have a smoke. The withdrawl was the main reason I quit, it's not a nice feeling.

 

[Zefan]

OK, so it makes you feel a bit better about yourself when you first take it right?

Even so, I can experience that by doing exercise or simply laughing Both of those release endorphins into the blood stream.

It's not the same, believe me.

 

[trojan698]

Calm down and have a cigarette.

Let's keep it constructive.

 

[iCraig]

Let's keep it constructive.

Like he did about going off on a rant about people not liking smokers?

I would respond to him with something constructive but it's unlikely he's going to take much notice.

I'll try anyway:

Many people don't like smokers because despite them accepting that it's their body and their life, many smokers don't care about where or how they smoke, literally forcing others to breath in the crap they're breathing out.

One reason I'm looking forward to the smoking in public ban.

 

[Una]

OK, so it makes you feel a bit better about yourself when you first take it right?

Even so, I can experience that by doing exercise or simply laughing Both of those release endorphins into the blood stream. No need to have to splutter and cough on a white stick for it.

No one said you had to take up smoking (you shouldn't), but one or two cigs here and there wont kill you Its just another experience to add to the list.

 

[Mad old tory]

Smoke and proud of it - sick of people saying its bad for me and how disgusting it is blah blah blah .. I dont give two f about what people think its my life my body and if I dye then so be it everyone dyes sooner or later. some people dye at an early age and dye from various diseases or are involved in accidents.

I will have only myself to blame if/when I dye and if I decide to give up it will be my choice and no one elses. Why do people feel the need to jump on the bandwagon at every oportunity preaching about smoking. Get a life and look at yourself before spouting off.

What colour?

 

[trojan698]

You're doing the exact same thing though, in fact you basically made a thread having a rant about smokers, so let him have his opinion.

 

[Zefan]

One reason I'm looking forward to the smoking in public ban.

+1, people should have the choice whether to smoke or not, not have it forced upon them.

What colour?

lol

 

[Memphis]

Smoke and proud of it - sick of people saying its bad for me and how disgusting it is blah blah blah .. I dont give two f about what people think its my life my body and if I dye then so be it everyone dyes sooner or later. some people dye at an early age and dye from various diseases or are involved in accidents.

I will have only myself to blame if/when I dye and if I decide to give up it will be my choice and no one elses. Why do people feel the need to jump on the bandwagon at every oportunity preaching about smoking. Get a life and look at yourself before spouting off.

Am I the only one curious to know what it is he's going to "dye"?

 

[allllec]

started smoking for stupid peer pressure reasons. but now i am addicted however,

sometimes i really do enjoy having a rollie.. then other times im not too fussed but i just "want one" which i suppose is the addiction thing.

but i tell ya what. with the weather being like this it is absolutely lovely to sit outside in the park with ya mates chillin and i just really enjoy having a few cigarettes. and uhm. other controlled substances

i would like to quit if it was just a button you pressed but its a tad more difficult than that, i tryed quiting a few weeks ago and i had a chest infection which was actualy helpfull. i had no cravings for the first 3 or 4 days and found it pretty easy to not smoke (i made sure i stayed out of situations where i would normal spark up) but then totally of my own accord i started again.

maybe when this 25g of drum runs out i will try and quit again propperly. who knows see what i feel like in a few days lol


*edit*

not that i want to stray of the topic too much, but i will just add - despite being a smoker and enjoying it i do totally understand when people say they dont want people smoking around/near them. however i don't like it when someones says someone else should QUIT because.. its up to the smoker.. but i do sympathise when non smokers are stuck around smokers because it is horrible.




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alec