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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:
Sparklingbrook · 10/10/2015 20:45

But your lungs not so much Brand Grin

JeffsanArsehole · 10/10/2015 20:46

Yep, it looked cool

I'm mid 40's and in every film and TV programme as I was growing up all the cool people smoked

I watched 'All about Eve' for the gazillionth time the other, bette davis looks so cool with that cigarette holder smoking

I've never taken it up though, as I don't like the taste and it (thankfully) made me feel
sick

But I consider that just luck

BrandNewAndImproved · 10/10/2015 20:46

No sparkling I try and kid myself that as I gave up at 25 the urban tale of the lungs repairing smoking effect if you give up before 30 is true.

Sparklingbrook · 10/10/2015 20:47

Walford that's interesting that you ploughed on through nausea and dizziness, but I guess it was helping with the stress in some way or you would have stopped.

LemonPied · 10/10/2015 20:47

sparkling I think it took me about 4 cigs before i became accustomed to the burning lung sensation, not sure how long it took me to stop noticing it altogether.
But now if I bum a cig when drunk I notice it straight away.

madwomanbackintheattic · 10/10/2015 20:47

I don't get it either. I find it a bit sad that so many people started smoking just to fit in. I can't get my head round the idea of deliberately inhaling smoke though. Just, why?! It doesn't make any sense to me. Even though it rationally should be just the same as any other peer pressure, alcohol whatever. The idea of smoking just baffles me. (Grew up with family of heavy smokers. They all gave up when I was in my teens. Sis smoked though. Not sure why. Possibly her friends convinced her? No idea...)

I'm equally baffled by drugs of any type. Just why? I mean, occasionally I'll wonder what it would be like to light up a fag and have a drag, but idle curiousity loses out to the sheer pointlessness of the whole thing, and I just can't be arsed.

Sparklingbrook · 10/10/2015 20:48

Is that not true Brand? I thought there was some truth in it at least?

Skullyton · 10/10/2015 20:48

to piss someone off.

Yes, that was my reason for starting, because my ex best friend was so anti-smoking... so when we fell out, i started smoking just to piss her off.

i was 17 and it was stupid, but then you think you're only doing it socially, then something happens, and you get angry or upset and you think I WANT A FAG, and you do, and then you're not just smoking socially, you're smoking on the walk to college, when you're out with your friends, and then you're hooked.... and your BF is throwing a packet at you as soon as you get in his car because you're snappy and it chills you out.

For all its unhealthy, its still a really good stress reliever, and the only time i think about it now, having given up 3 years ago, is when i'm stressed and all i want to do it stand in my garden and smoke, because its somehow calming, anxiety relieving...

helenahandbag · 10/10/2015 20:48

I'm 25 and started smoking at 13 to be rebellious and to look cool to the older girls Hmm

I smoked until years ago and now I vape. I sometimes miss it but I'd never start again - not that I could bloody afford to even if I wanted to! My ex flatmate and I used to spend the last of our wages on fags and then eat cereal for dinner Blush

CrohnicallyAspie · 10/10/2015 20:48

I inhaled very deeply my first time... Coughed and hacked for a good 5 minutes but then smoked the rest of the cigarette without coughing once!

helenahandbag · 10/10/2015 20:49

Until TWO years ago*

BrandNewAndImproved · 10/10/2015 20:50

I think it's wishful thinking Sparkling

Sparklingbrook · 10/10/2015 20:50

Burning lungs Sad

It's a shame I don't smoke because I could give up and save myself a load of cash.

Narp · 10/10/2015 20:51

AFAIK, most people dart when they are young - before 20.

The younger you are when you start, the more likely to get addicted.

Teens start because they think it's cool or rebellious or grown up

CrohnicallyAspie · 10/10/2015 20:51

Oh, and I've been wondering if my increased number of meltdowns in the past couple of years has been partly down to quitting... When I smoked, if I was getting stressed I would remove myself from the situation for a cigarette and have a few minutes by myself, deep breathing, and smoking is like a stim.

Now when I getting stressed I find it hard to remove myself and tend to get more wound up, I have stim toys to use but I don't go for them as automatically as I did my cigarette packet.

WalfordEast · 10/10/2015 20:56

Wishful thinking Sparkling. Placebo effect I guess?

KatieLatie · 10/10/2015 20:58

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Lurkedforever1 · 10/10/2015 20:58

Because it was excellent stress relief and didn't leave instantly leave wounds like the other means of stress relief available at the time to me. It certainly wasn't to be cool or for peer pressure, I wish they had been the concerns of teen me.

Yabu and pretty ignorant to ask though. I've never felt the need to eat too much for my needs and become overweight. That doesn't mean I can't realise there are often reasons why others do. Nor does it inspire me to start a smug thread inviting others to make snide remarks about why people start eating too much, how silly they look eating high calorie food, or making silly comments about how they think it looks cool to binge eat and sharing opinions on how gorging sickened us when we tried it.

Because they're both addictions aren't they? Oh no, silly me one is socially acceptable and the other isn't.

sparkling God knows. The choking stage at first was more than worth it for the reduction in stress levels. Beats me how anyone not on a large salary can afford cigs though. My half e-cig half tobacco light smoking habit costs me maybe £7 a week.

chitofftheshovel · 10/10/2015 20:59

Well I started because I was young and impressionable. 11. I never thought then that I'd be smoking in my twenties. Or thirties!! But I am, I always think it could be worse, I could be a heroin addict. And although part of me would like to give up actually I enjoy the sensation.

WhyDoesGastonBark · 10/10/2015 21:00

Because I was a dickhead and thought I was cool...

Etak15 · 10/10/2015 21:01

All the usual reasons, to fit in with the cool kids, enjoying being rebellious - also like pp's history of oral fixation!
Stopped when ttc 9 yrs ago I always said that I would smoke again when baby was born but I never have, had half a pack of malbrough lights lying around for years, I wouldn't do it but still miss it.
I am surprised to see teenagers smoking though, i think it's becoming more and more antisocial and that it's not 'cool' to them nowadays?

gamerchick · 10/10/2015 21:07

Woohoo a smoking thread, there must have been a cat shit thread recently Grin

I like smoking.. It's not very often I do it now but man it breaks up visits
To a&e.

Sparklingbrook · 10/10/2015 21:08

I thought this thread was going well. Way better than any cat poo thread, and more interesting.

PlentyOfPubeGardens · 10/10/2015 21:11

I was 12, new school, a bit troubled and no friends. It was a way to fit in.

gamerchick · 10/10/2015 21:13

Give it time.