there are a lot of reasons people smoke, me included, nicotene is a drug pure and simple. i personaly like the taste and smell of a cigeratte. some of us had wonderfull family members who thought it was funny to give a 6 year old kid a cigeratte every now and then. yes i am 44 years old and have smoked regularly since i was 8. i know about all the bad things that tobbaco does to you. i have emphasema in its early stages. i now smoke, {excuse me while i light up}, because i want to and because i almost lost my wife and family when i did quit for about 9 months. doctors said they had never seen anything like it, no drug worked to help me, anxiety attacks everyday, and, i was one evil s o b to anyone and everyone. i was in worse shape physicaly after 9 months than i was after 30 years of smoking. i almost couldnt work anymore. now, i smoke 2 packs a day, empasema isnt any worse after 5 years, no more anxiety attacks, and my wife and kids can stay in the house now. i think i will just go ahead and kill my self one filtered 100 at a time thank you. as far as the nonsmoking cities someone mentioned earlier, well i have probably been there, might have left something there, but i bet i dont need it anymore so i guess i wont go back after it. i do not smoke in restraunts. i do not smoke in other peoples cars if they dont. i do not smoke in other peoples house if they dont. but if smokeing bothers you , dont ride in one of my trucks, and dont come to my house and ask me to not smoke.

 

I quit! Lots of times! For good in 67. Here’s how! Make a list of all the negatives related to smoking, add to it every day. Tell your friends you are quitting and ask for help with the list. Buy several bottles of Listerine (UGH), carry a small bottle with you and gargle with that stuff after every meal and when you are about to cave in and smoke. After a few short weeks you will no longer smoke. Taste buds are ruined for several months and your breath smells like Dow Chemical. The urge to smoke will stay with you for years, carry lemon drops or butter scotch for those times. If you ever have any doubts about the benefits of quitting, go by the local VA hospital. You will see wracked individuals with deep rumbling choughs, literally choking for breath sitting in their wheel chairs, green oxygen bottles attached being pushed to the door by another Vet pulling his green bottle along, heading out for a smoke!
William in Atlanta

 

William: I lost a good friend to lung cancer in his early forties. The tumors metastisized eventually to his brain and he had brain seizures. It killed him. He suffered as you described. Coughing, hacking, and yes, still smoking until the day he died. Incredible.

I never try and counsel smokers unless they ask. It is a sure ticket to an awful argument. With all the information available to smokers today, I just can't believe that they would be ignorant of the health hazzards of smoking, so I have to let them be.

You are right on about the tour through the VA hospitals. But I would take school children there through age 16. Let them see with their own eyes where they may end up if they start. Usually, smokers are too defensive to do the tour. Like I posted earlier, I knew a guy in his late 60's who got a scare on a x-ray. Promised "God" he would'nt smoke if it turned out alright. It did, but he went back on his promise to "God". Foolish man. I feel bad for him for two reasons:

A) Because when he invoked God's name, and if his God exists, he is in trouble, big time.

B) If not, he still is in trouble big time, because he still smokes.

I can't figure it out. I do know it is a pervasive and evil addiction that can only be overcome through dedication and hard work.
However, there are militant smokers that will always seek to argue against the militant anti-smokers. And vice versa This is our society for now, and so shall we deal with it. Hopefully, someday it will be different. Cancer cures will be discovered, and the frequency of addiction will drop off, as education and reason wins out over the obstinate and arrogant, in this most serious health issue.

 

I don't smoke. I also don't care if others do smoke. I don't care if they smoke around me. I don't care if they smoke in the same building as I do. I don't care. I don't care if someone else gets sick from smoking. I don't care if someone dies an early death from smoking (hey less strain on the social security system). I don't care.

I don't like any of the non-smoking laws 'cause If YOU don't like someone else's smoke leave. That's what I do. If a business owner wants to cater to smokers I believe that's his right. I don't have to eat there. Heck I've never had a problem finding another resturaunt. I'd love to see someone open a smokers only resturaunt and hang a big ole sign out front 'Whiny non-smokers need not enter'.

 

>I don't smoke. I also don't care if others do smoke. I
>don't care if they smoke around me. I don't care if they
>smoke in the same building as I do. I don't care. I don't
>care if someone else gets sick from smoking. I don't care
>if someone dies an early death from smoking (hey less strain
>on the social security system). I don't care.
>
>I don't like any of the non-smoking laws 'cause If YOU don't
>like someone else's smoke leave. That's what I do. If a
>business owner wants to cater to smokers I believe that's
>his right. I don't have to eat there. Heck I've never had
>a problem finding another resturaunt. I'd love to see
>someone open a smokers only resturaunt and hang a big ole
>sign out front 'Whiny non-smokers need not enter'.




YOU Sir are my new hero!

 

This thread has inspired me to quit chewing.I have been for ten years.Here gooooosssss!
I didnt see anybody mention the money?Also the need for a good lighter?Or being at home without and having no ride to get any?

I say do it if you want.My father is a long time smoker.But i want to quit tobacco bad.I hate it anymore.

For the anxiety guy:
I have that and panic disorder.I take adivan and zoloft.I may be in for trouble quiting.I wish i smoked weed.How many people are in the office for cancer from smoking weed?I never heard of any.And its illegal!
Cigs are bad!

 

>I don't like any of the non-smoking laws 'cause If YOU don't
>like someone else's smoke leave. That's what I do. If a
>business owner wants to cater to smokers I believe that's
>his right. I don't have to eat there. Heck I've never had
>a problem finding another resturaunt. I'd love to see
>someone open a smokers only resturaunt and hang a big ole
>sign out front 'Whiny non-smokers need not enter'.

There are two restaurants I go to. Both are totally non-smoking. One of them has several locations, some of which, based on customer preference, allow smoking.

I think that when the government mandated non-smoking sections they just postponed the advent of non-smoking restaurants by creating a compromise situation that reduced the demand for totally non-smoking facilities.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 21-Aug-02 AT 01:44 PM (EST)]76supercab: I am with you about not caring in most cases because there really is nothing you can do anyway. I do care about the people I love and those in my family. Yet I don't even bug them. No use. So your post is well taken

My exception is public buildings. The majority of Americans are non-smoking, so perhaps the majority should dictate the rules concerning smoking in their public buildings.

I like your idea with regard to restaurants for smokers only. It is great. Solves the problem of non smoker protest. Effectively divides and conquers the problem. It is win - win for everyone. I wonder who would be the first to try it without the fear of going broke?

I will say this once again: I have posted this only to stimulate thought and make public our thoughts on smoking. If it helps someone make a decision one way or another, then so be it. I have not posted this to have people at each other over personal habits. I respect everyone's personal choices. I may not agree with them, but I respect their opportunity to make the choice and live with the consequences. So fight nice folks, but please respect your fellow forum advocate.

 

Great posts!

I smoked for almost 20 years. Quit several times, too. My wife quit when 15 years ago and I just quit December 9, 2001. I quit because:

My wife didn't like it so I could only smoke when she wasn't around.
My kids didn't know I smoked so I hid from them too.
Couldn't smoke in our cars or in our house.
Costs lots of money (that could be spent on truck parts).

Basically, I got tired of hiding from everyone and I really didn't want my kids of 8 & 11 to find out.

I don't preach to or even urge other smokers to quit. The only thing worse than a non-smoker is a former smoker when it comes to that. I am just happy that I quit. I feel better. My food tastes better (which is probably why I eat more). I have more energy (comes in handy when working on the truck). I have more money (although the truck seems to take care of that pretty well). And, my wife likes to get close to me more often (you know what that means )

I tried quitting because "i should" and it never worked. It had to be something I "wanted" to do. So far, so good. Yeah, I still get the urge. And, I take a hit off of a friends ciggerette once in a while. Luckily, it tastes like crap to me. I hope that lasts!

Kevin K.

"I don't smoke... ...between cigarettes." (That's my friend's line but I always thought it was funny)

 

Congratulations Kevin: It was the hardest thing I ever did, for sure.
You really can't hide it because people that don't smoke can smell it as soon as you are around them. Sorry you smokers, but you guys do smell like last nights ashtray. Forget your breath Nothing can cover it up. Add alcohol on top of that, and it is a recipe for chronic halitosis. Great way to make, and keep friends.

I don't think you will ever be sorry you quit. You would be sorry someday if you did'nt. Unless you want to die prematurely, and in a agonizing manner not even fit for a labroratory animal, I suggest you never go back. Use all the power you can muster to stay upon the road that you have already chosen, otherwise you will lose all the good ground you have already gained. Once you quit, you body begins to repair itself immediately. The human body is very resilient, except when it has already contracted lung cancer.
It is all over then. You just wait to die. It is quite scary and it works on your family something awlful.

Once again, good luck, and if you find you need support, there were some excellent suggestions on some of these posts. Go get'em man!

 

I never have smoked a single cigarette, but I generally support the right to smoke. i don't think it's fair to make smokers pay more for health insurance, for example, when obese people don't have to.

But here's my problem with smokers - they are pigs. Stand behind one in a grocery - they smell. Bad.

As someone in the automotive repair biz, smoker's vehicles are the worst - ashes all over and stinky. The only worse vehicles are those of Copenhagen users- spit all over the door panels, console, carpet. Oink! Oink!

What kind of girl would date one of these pigs? "Say baby, let me slide over through this slop mess and give your a big wet one!"

Worst of all is the 'stoplight flick' - you know what I mean. You are sitting behind a guy (or gal) at a light, their arm is outstretched, holding their cig. They don't want to stink up their car, so they keep it out the window. Then, they've had enough for now, so they flick the butt on the ground. No shame,no second thought. Since when did it become OK to throw trash on the street? What would you think if I did the same with a McDonald's bag? or a used condom?

Smoke all ya want, just don't try to kid yourself that you are not a piggie!

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 23-Aug-02 AT 02:04 PM (EST)]Icelander: I read your posts. I am sincerely glad you do not have a brain tumor. If anyone has any kind of tumors, please consider calling Staten Island University Hospital @ 800-285-4584. They have an excellent radiology department. They have accomplished things there with tumors that no other hospital in the world has. It is worth the call, and it is free to you. George Harrison had some of his final treatments there.

Knowing that one has a DEFINITE numbered amount of days left on the planet is a very soul searching and sobering reality. It is hell for a week, but it is enormously gut wrenching to live with such torture everyday. One learns what it really means to live each day for itself. Everyone knows their days are numbered but they don't have a general time frame of expectation. I have had the "medical majesties" give me such time frames and I have proved them wrong so far. The most important thing is to have the attitude of invincibility. I have a great deal of information stored and would be glad to share it with anyone. Good luck, and email me if I can help you in any way.
Brien

 

When I started smoking at age 15 they were .15 a pack. when they went to .25 I said I'd quit if they went up again. Last year they went to 3.00 a pack. I quit. I was smoking 2 packs a day buy then. Been smoking 2 packs on non filtered Camel a day for years. I sat down and figured out that was over 175.00 a month. Damn I thought that new boat I wanted was only 172.00 a month. I quit with the help of ZyBan and just love my new bass boat. Get your prioritys straight.

 

I quit smoking a year ago last July. Feels excellent. I took the Zyban which was provided to me free through the military and it worked the trick. I quit mainly for my daughters sake though. At 2 she was following me around play smoking on a crayon. Only took me one time to see that and I was on the phone to the doc. I still want one eveery now and then but man is it expensive anymore. I'll just save my cash for more toys.


Brad Godkin
1986 F350 XLT
CC/SRW 6.9 auto

 

Gator & bgodkin: Congratulations! This Zyban stuff must work well. I have a sister-in-law that could use it, although she may be too far gone. I will suggest it to her. I wish you both good health and longevity.