Cinnie said:

that's it!!! But why do I find smoking repulsive and unsexy? It seems like an immature attitude toward life and death. Life is the sexy part.

Ok, I have to stop posting this thread now

heartbeatocean said:

Fuck it, it's one of the more thought-provoking topics. I'm with ya.

I find smoking unsexy simply because it smells (and tastes) nasty coming off of someone else's body. And believe me it seeps into every pore.

It still looks cool

Cinnie said:

I'm over it. I don't find it cool whatsoever (but then I live in California where smokers are ostracized)

Rita Hayworth can get away with it.



but maybe that's because she's already dead and we can still buy into the illusion

heartbeatocean said:

I don't think that's flirting with death. Driving on a freeway is flirting with death. Being a pedestrian in a major city is flirting with death.
More people probably die from those activities than thrill sports.

that's the smoker from günther hagen's exhibition...still holding a cigarette...

[img]

Oh, don't get me wrong, if you don't already smoke, don't start because it definately is harmful to your health and just because I don't care if I live to be 80 or 90, it is possible to get lung cancer earlier. It just affects everyone differently. Some people smoke their entire lives and never get cancer.

Smoking doesn't really do anything for you until you become addicted to it. Once you become addicted to it, it does calm your nerves when you get mad. If it weren't for cigarettes, I would have killed a lot of people by now and I don't mean from my second hand smoke either. So some of these complaining non-smokers better be glad that I smoke for their sake.

Smoking is an addiction though and people seem to forget about that while they are bitching about smokers. At least our addiction isn't killing people on the roads from being drunk or stealing from people to get a crack fix. Our addiction isn't that bad and as long as we have our smoking section, nonsmokers should shut the fuck up. They just enjoy bitching about smokers though because that seems to be the fashionable thing to do these days. But a lot of those same people bitching smoke weed themselves which makes them damn hypocrits.

Anyway, people usually start smoking during their teens because of peer pressure. Teens are weak that way but you're a grown man and you have strength and a mind of your own as an individual. I know that from seeing your posts here on the org. And it costs a lot of money once you become addicted too. The way they keep raising these cigarette prices as "punishment" or "trying to make us quit" which isn't going to work. They raise the price more and more and then take away more and more places where you can smoke. Actually, I wouldn't mind paying more if I could smoke wherever I please including right next to the people who bitch about smokers just to piss them off.

Even though it may sound like I'm promoting smoking, I'm not. I just like to piss some of the little goodie two shoes off who act like smokers brought down the twin towers on 9/11. But I will say again, if you don't smoke, don't start.
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[Edited 8/21/09 6:43am]

I bitch because the smokers get away with taking way more breaks at work.

Just pretend like you're a smoker and take some more breaks too.

Actually, if we could smoke at our desk, we wouldn't need all those breaks. Hell, I wouldn't need any breaks.

vainandy said:

Good point.

I temped at a business that used to allow smoking at the desks and it was true, most people stayed put, but since they banned smoking indoors (city wide), those people have to go outside way more often.

NDRU said:

Again, I loooooved smoking. I hated the gross side effects, absolutely! But the smoking itself was pure heaven to me. While I was addicted, anyway. Now it's yucky. I try a puff and cough and sputter and think the taste in my mouth is nasty and HATE the way smokers smell and all of that.

But I miss everything else about smoking. The relief that would wash over me, the entire ritual of it: packing the cigarettes, opening the pack, drawing the first one out, the way it felt in my hand, striking a match, the first sting in your throat and lungs from the first puff, the way the smoke swirled away from the tip... I could go on and on. I really, really loved smoking.

I liken my finally quitting to breaking up with someone who was bad for me. Even now I look back with fond memories all the while knowing I can never go back.

For those who don't smoke, it is indeed a dirty habit, it stinks and it costs money. But there are hundreds of other dirty habits.

I like the ritual of smoking. It's like life and death in one cigerette. The fire, the burn, the ash the stub. I support 3 rd world countries who produce and grow tobacco. I give people a job and I support the government with lots of tax money. It's a multi billion dollar industry. If everyone quit tomorrow where would they find those dollars?

Smoking is a social habit. Those breaks at work are good and creative. It's also a good tactic to get rid of people who just don't stop talking and need constant attention. Smoking relaxes me and it is perhaps a little of my life philosophy. Carpe diem. Who knows what will happen tomorrow. Some people drop dead young every day from something or other. It does seem to be the older generation who smokes as the younger generation have had good publicity against it.

CarrieMpls said:

Muffin. You are a smoker. Ask yourself why you quit... Life is just a party and parties weren't meant to last.

Would you rather be mentally stable and physically unable; or chemically dependant with the Cool Kids in the ascendant?

GirlBrother said:

CarrieMpls said:

I liked everything about smoking but the actual feeling nicotine gave me

No. Because not everyone who smokes dies from a smoking-related cause.