Wow, lol, reading through all that was painful. Somebody stated earlier than second hand smoke is worse than first hand smoke? Do you mind citing this or trying to explain this. Common sense and my own personal anecdotal experiences tell me otherwise.

Anyway, I smoke. Non-smokers, get off your high horse. What isn't linked to cancer or poor health now a days? Should we ban any sort of cellular transmissions? Should we ban tanning? Fast food? Sitting down for long periods of time while working? Cars? Airplanes? Power plants? People hide behind second hand smoke, but I don't buy it. It's not that big a deal to avoid them, is it? Shit, if it is, perhaps stricter enforcement of smoking in designated areas. But banning them? Then why not ban everything that's adding toxins to the air? You never signed up for them, they're infringing on your right to breathe clean air! Right?

You think because I smoke, I'm stupid? Here's an idea - I smoke because I enjoy it. I'm not an idiot. I understood the risks going into it, but I did it anyway. I'm capable of making my own decisions, weighing risks, consequences, etc. Do I have plans to quit? Yeah. But now, I want to enjoy the benefits of it, just like I enjoy the benefits of sitting hours a day in front of a computer playing video games. We can't do that kind of stuff forever, and I understand that. I know quitting isn't easy - especially when you have a physical addiction to a substance, such as nicotine. But I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

Who's the other smoker?

Plenty of things aren't linked to cancer. The CDC has a more than comprehensive resource demonstrating exactly how and why second hand smoke is linked to cancer.

I don't mean to enter this argument (I have my opinion and feel I can justify it, but it isn't important), but I can't really think of any benefits here... Could you or someone possibly elaborate a little?

Post has been edited 2 time(s), last time on Oct 27 2011, 7:45 am by FaRTy1billion.

Thank god Tom exists.

This thread made me first LOL so hard, then cry and chainsmoke for an hour at how miserable this topic is.

Someone stated earlier that second hand smoke is worse than smoking? Care to look out your window at those things called cars and go suck on a tailpipe please.

As for the benefits of smoking? I've met hundreds of fucking awesome people while smoking. And not to mention how cool it makes me look. Also, if you ban smoking; the economy will pretty much collapse more than it already has. Fact. Finally, personal fucking choice. I'm gonna do what I want. And I want to smoke.

Peace.

Shit... I smoke Hookah, Cigarettes, Dip occasionally and love the awesomeness that are Cloves.

Anyways, I like it. Been doing it for some eight years. I'll kick the bucket knowing I did whatever the fuck I wanted to.

Im another one of those guys that sees a cute chick, but then she lights up a cigarette and I instantly say 'do not want.'

Turned a cute girl down purely because she smoked. Slight regret when she quit a couple months later, but still repulsive.

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Jan 4 2012, 4:27 am by FaZ-.

I'd turn her down even if she did smoke.

There are plenty of things that are hypothesized to be linked to cancer, but okay. My point still mentions contributors of poor health.

And I never said second hand smoke wasn't harmful. I just don't believe second hand smoke is more harmful than smoking first hand.
It's hard to explain - before I smoked I didn't quite understand it either. I like the way the cigarettes taste, make me feel warm, give me a small headrush/buzz. Having a cigarette after eating is just so soothing. During a movie or TV show? Just as good. On a walk to the train station? I give myself a cigarette and it makes the walk a little less monotonous. Smoking while drinking? Feels great! It makes doing schoolwork slightly more enjoyable. It gives me a reason to step out of school every 1 1/2 hours and just take a break. Gives me quiet time to think things over. Gives me an excuse to just be out there and observe things. On top of all this, smoking can be a social activity. At one of my jobs, I hadn't really had the chance to connect to people - I was working in my own department. But I started taking cigarette breaks and I got a chance to meet these people and talk to them. I was having conversations with people that I wouldn't have had in any other way unless I took cigarette breaks.

It's hard to really get a grasp of it, since physically(at least in comparison to other drugs), nicotine/tobacco doesn't do all that much. But it is enjoyable to me.
Haha, I actually wrote this post while smoking as well.

You guys are starting to sound like Butthurt Dweller.

...lol, you're the one sounding butthurt, not any of us.

None of things those except for vehicle emissions can potentially hurt others. Things like tanning and eating fast food are up to each individual; others don't get hurt if someone does it.

This is a very short sighted view.

Fast food outlets are responsible for deforestation. You eat a happy meal, some tree in the Amazon gets it. I smoke a cigarette, there's a teeny eency wee chance that you may or may not get cancer, which you might've had anyways.

You're not getting my point. I know tanning increases your chance of getting cancer, but it only increases the chances of the person getting the tan. When you smoke, you endanger everyone around you.

Me 2

Quote from Norm

Quote from poison_us

I'd turn her down even if she did smoke.

Me 2

I meant "didn't", but that's a moot point now anyways.

You mean because all of this money people have been wasting on a completely unproductive (in fact, detrimental) pastime will now evaporate into the ether and not be spent on anything else more worthwhile?

Quote from Lanthanide

Quote from name:Cardinal

Also, if you ban smoking; the economy will pretty much collapse more than it already has. Fact.

You mean because all of this money people have been wasting on a completely unproductive (in fact, detrimental) pastime will now evaporate into the ether and not be spent on anything else more worthwhile?

No, he's basing it off of the smoking industry being a large portion of our economy, as it's the only legal industry in which the end result is an addictive substance.

Now what the hell does eating food have to do with trees? We don't eat trees. And don't say packaging either, because cigarettes come in little boxes and are usually wrapped in paper.

And an actual complaint I have about smokers is just tossing cigarette butts around ... I find them everywhere.

Well if cigarettes/tobacco products were banned they would become like alcohol probation days and the influx of money would stop going to the government and go to crime rings.

They remove trees to make way for intensive bovine agriculture which contributes heavily to greenhouse gases (methane), top soil erosion (causing drought and eventual desertification) as well as severely destroying bio-diversity. Which in my humble little opinion is far more damaging to health and well being than second hand smoke.

Partly because of what poison said.

A packet of cigarettes in the UK costs around £7.20+. About 90% of that is tax.