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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why people start smoking

84 replies

Leavingsosoon · 10/10/2015 20:16

I know why people can't give up but AIBU to wonder why people start in the first place? I get that for an earlier generation they weren't aware of the dangers but I just don't understand why anyone under 40 smokes.

OP posts:
CrohnicallyAspie · 10/10/2015 20:21

For me, 2 reasons. Firstly I am always chewing, sucking or biting something (pens, nails, fingers, hoody cords...) so smoking was an extension of that. Secondly I never fitted in at school, I had a tough time and was the class 'goody goody', so when I found the misfit group that I actually fitted with, and they offered me cigarettes, I accepted.

SharkBastard · 10/10/2015 20:24

Because it looks cool...simple really

Original poster
Leavingsosoon · 10/10/2015 20:25

Does it?

OP posts:
BeautifulLiar · 10/10/2015 20:25

I always thought it looked cool as a dumb teen but I obviously didn't take it back properly as I never got addicted. Whyyyy do people take it to that extent?!

Gileswithachainsaw · 10/10/2015 20:26

fir me it was the only way to ensure getting a break at work. being a non smoker where everyone else took the piss and disappeared for fag breaks constantly and never remaining available long enough for me to catch a break was bloody hard.

I never really enjoyed it though and quit as soon as I knew I was pregnant and never re took it up for obvious reasons.

I'd never have started if I'd had a job where you could take lunch Sad

LemonPied · 10/10/2015 20:27

I started at 18 as a student nurse, 12 years ago.
I was struggling massively, new city, away from family and friends, history of depression and self harm, demanding Uni course and I wanted to do something that was bad for me that was also socially fairly acceptable. So I smoked. I forced myself to smoke.
Not your average starting smoking story I imagine.
I've stopped now. Unless I'm really pissed and cadge one.

WatchaGonnaDo · 10/10/2015 20:27

YABU and a bit naive - I'm under 40 and I'm the first of my family that smokes outside or doesnt count a night out with the kids as them sat in beer garden with pint of coke & packet of crisps.

Snossidge · 10/10/2015 20:27

I just don't understand why anyone under 40 smokes.
Because they started smoking when they were under 18 and are now addicted to nicotine.

BrandNewAndImproved · 10/10/2015 20:28

Chrohn are you me? Grin

Fluffyears · 10/10/2015 20:29

It doesn't look cool. When I see the smokers at work huddling outside because they are a slave to that Wee stick I think they look sad and pathetic. I know some people who got addicted through 'social' smoking, 3 on a night out turns into more, a pack gets bought then smoked and voila another addict!

JenniferYellowHat1980 · 10/10/2015 20:30

I did it aged 17 because I was bored of being so fucking good and doing what my DM told me. I was never a real smoker though.

Getyercoat · 10/10/2015 20:30

The boy I really fancied smoked. I was 16. He was incredibly hot and even hotter with a Marlboro in his hand.
So I smoked them too. Then realised I had a hugely addictive personality. I quit at 27.

Bragadocia · 10/10/2015 20:31

I'm not a smoker now, but I smoked for over 15 years, until pregnant at 30 (6 years ago). When you're a teen, you just try things out; you really don't think that much about mortality at that age, and don't imagine you'll be smoking as an adult (I was convinced I'd have stopped by the time I left university - the idea of being a proper adult smoker seemed unthinkable). Some friends smoked, so at around 13 or 14 I tried one or two, and kind of stuck with it. I wonder when I would have stopped, had I not had DS.

ginmakesitallok · 10/10/2015 20:31

20 odd years ago it did look cool, it was rebellious. Now? Not so much.

sproketmx · 10/10/2015 20:33

I'm 29. Currently on the ecig unless I go out for a drink with other smokers. I started coz everyone else smoked and gave me a fag. It was the done thing even in the 90s.

Fluffyears · 10/10/2015 20:34

I think making smokers traipse outside makes it seem less cool when they look cold and miserable because they have to have a ciggie.

wineoclockthanks · 10/10/2015 20:34

Because I was 15 Blush, desperate to be part of a 'group' in a new school and the smokers seemed the easiest to break into plus my mum smoked so I could steal them from her and be more popular

SacredHeart · 10/10/2015 20:36

My dad smoked and all my uncles and grandparents, most had quit before I was in secondary school but it was normalised to me. So, when a friend offered me a cigarette I wanted to see what the fuss was about. I smoked on and off one this week, 4 two weeks after for years - knowing I could stop anytime I wanted...until one day I couldn't.

We all believe we are the type of person who doesn't get addicted, unfortunately we all are.

I don't smoke now but only because Something clicked inside and I didn't want to do it anymore.

Sparklingbrook · 10/10/2015 20:37

How long does it take to go from first cigarette where you are coughing and choking to actually enjoying it? I have never even tried one.

The other question is how can anyone afford to smoke any more? Especially as teens.

Stanky · 10/10/2015 20:40

I can tell you why I didn't start smoking, even though it was cool at the time.

a) I wasn't cool, and
b) My grandma always had a fag in her mouth, and I didn't want to look like my grandma.

I did try it, and I did smoke quite a few for the purposes of a play at college. But, I couldn't afford to take up full time smoking. I certainly don't know how any kids could afford to start smoking now.

SacredHeart · 10/10/2015 20:41

most kids start my not taking the smoke down into their lungs, they effectively fill their mouth and puff it out, that normalises the taste and "prepares" the lungs as a little smoke goes down. Slowly after that they begin to take drags properly, it doesn't take that long to adjust.

bishboschone · 10/10/2015 20:41

I say the same thing . There is a woman who lives near me , she is maybe 25?.. She smokes like a chimney and she is so stylish and pretty . It just looks skanky .. I just can't understand why she started . As said up thread surely anyone under 40 or definitely under 30 should know better !

WalfordEast · 10/10/2015 20:42

Sparkling- a good question. I started smoking properly (always bummed the odd one or two off friends over the years) due to stress last year. Honestly? Until recently, it always affected me. Made me dizzy, feel nauseous etc- and I smoke a very mild cigarette. About six weeks ago it changed- no side effects, just the enjoyment of the nicotine fix.

I vape as much as I can now- but I find myself in times of stress turning to traditional cigarettes.

AdoraBell · 10/10/2015 20:42

My late mother, stress of bombings during WW11.

My siblings, stress of being raised in a tóxico familia by tóxico parents.

I tríed it in School because of peer pressure by luckily the paín of undiagnosed bronchitas the next day put me off continuing.

BrandNewAndImproved · 10/10/2015 20:43

About three days sparkling and then I was hooked. I used to buy ten fags out my dinner money for £1:70 sell them all for 50p or a pound if they were youngers buy my dinner and have enough left over to chip in with cider and more fags later on.

I really enjoyed my teenage years Grin