Why does MN hate smokers so much?

[PalmTreesPurple]

Not all of MN of course but I’ve seen a lot of negativity about it. I understand not liking smoking yourself because of the health issues, I’m a smoker after giving up for nearly a year and I was stupid to start again but it’s a nasty addiction to kick. I only smoke outside, in designated smoking areas, and never around people who are eating/close to other people. I also don’t smoke in places like parks or walking through town. It is either in my garden or in a designated spot. Would a smoker like that bother you, or is it people who don’t have any courtesy, or do you just not like smokers in general?

Not being aggressive at all, just very interested.

Would also like to know if anyone on here smokes themselves?

@BranchAndPoppy

one of my mother's peers started smoking after her husband (a smoker) died from lung cancer. Why on earth would somebody do that?

Depression? Grief? It is a very addictive habit. That is clear. Many people become addicts of one kind or another, following trauma.

I can understand the impact of depression or grief that but smoking rather than a different vice?

My partner smokes a lot. I HATE it with a passion. He smokes in the garden and the smell gets in the house either through the open door in the summer or just in his clothes/breath when he comes back into the house. He leave fag ends all over the garden despite me telling him on numerous occasions to bin them. It costs roughly £150 a month just for him to stink, wake every morning coughing his guts up, just an absolutely pointless thing to do. Worse thing is he quit for 3 years then his sister came home for Christmas and she was giving him rolls ups (totally his fault as he should have refused). So I think it makes me even more cross that he went back to it.

I dont think "ah it's ok they smoke because they have a mental illness"

Nobody thinks this.

Some people have empathy, that's all.

I'm an ex-smoker. Quitting for good was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. As others have said, it's an addiction rather than just a habit. My GP said it's probably harder to stop smoking than it is to stop using heroin. So no judgement of current smokers from me.

Apart from the smell, I don't understand the hatred of vaping here. The vapour is non-toxic and they don't leave ash and butts all over the place. I've read that around 98% of vapers do so in order to quit the cigs - why on earth would you slate someone who is giving up smoking?

Funnily enough I've recently been thinking of taking it up again. The coronavirus situation has shown clearly the alternative to dying younger. And it's not great. The neglect of care home residents, the funding issues, the general attitude of resentment towards those who've 'had their lives'.

Encourage smoking. Solves two problems. No worry about ending up neglected as a 'burden' in a care home, and the taxpayer wins. Twice. Huge tax revenue (that more than covers NHS treatment for smokers) - and reduced pension burden.

Having given up now for 14 months I feel it is the best thing I have ever done. A friend has lung cancer and a heavy smoker for years which has really shook me up and there's no going back. It's up to others what they choose to do but smokers should be co side rate as I arrived to do so as a smoker

I know some people start when they are younger and think they are indestructible but one of my mother's peers started smoking after her husband (a smoker) died from lung cancer. Why on earth would somebody do that?

Why do people self harm? Why do people do anything that they know will contribute to an early death (there are many of them? Why do people take an increasingly high dose of drugs knowing there’s an increasing likelihood of death?

If you can’t see why there’s such a strong correlation between smoking (or any similar addiction) and clinical depression then you’re not thinking very hard about it.

People who feel they have nothing to live for, whose lives have been traumatic, who have inherently low self esteem and don’t value themselves, those who’ve been brought up to believe they have no value, those who’ve been abused and are in pain and want it to end, those who feel suicidal at times... even if not a conscious attempt to take their own life, this is a common theme amongst the few properly addicted smokers I know.

jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/208421

Comments here about smokers smoking outside my window, or beside my car, or in my space .. I’m talking about the moaners not those with’triggers’.... in much the same way I can’t stand people who think sitting in their back garden into the wee small hours getting more and more inebriated and louder and louder and more coarse and crude, sometime getting violent and causing fights- I have to shut my windows to these selfish people! Not just smokers! I don’t know any smokers who have taken sick days cos they had one too many cigs last night ...(the shame the shame). My ( now ex) smoking never caused a drink driving accident and resulted in thousands and thousands of costs to the Nhs to put my poor victims face back together. My ( now ex) smoking never caused to fly into a smokery inebriated rage and beat the shit out of my partner, and therefore cos the gov and local council hundred of thousands and maybe millions in hostels for families running away from my smokery abuse. I’ve also had to give a wide berth to some extremely inebriated and intoxicated ( and perhaps drug filled) person urinating in public in the middle of the day...I can honestly say I’ve never caused public offense in that manner nor caused the council extra money to clean up my bodily fluids cos I’d lost all sense of being due to my smokery state. And the chewing gum eaters! I may have dropped the odd fag end or two ( tho mostly I would hate hate hate to do this) but I must admit that brushing up my odd ciggy butt wasn’t anywhere near as much of a difficult task as trying to scrape and power blast chewing gum off the ground. I’ve never seen people having punch ups and throwing up and passing out outside pubs because of their smokery behaviour either ..... I could go on.....honestly, I could....

It looks a bit like smoking, Vicious. It triggers their disgust response. It's not at all rational.

I don't hate smokers, but I hate smelling foul cigarette smoke or rancid fag breath and the selfish behaviour that often goes with being a smoker.

I hate the smell of smoke OP and do think there is a residual smell even if someone is not smoking.

I have only read your comments and gone back to a few others.

Even hating smoking, I think the ‘giving up is as easy as not buying cigarettes’ brigade is ridiculous.

As a non smoker but an overweight person, I think both obesity and smoking addiction are very similar and are very rarely a case of just wanting a cake or a cigarette, there is nearly always something far more complex behind otherwise we’d all be thin, fit, smoke free etc.

Good luck on your journey

And yes I've dismissed contributing facts as they mean nothing to me, the end result is still the same..Ie smoking, and that is what repulses me. I dont think "ah it's ok they smoke because they have a mental illness", I still cant get past the end result.

That’s obviously not what I or anyone else said. I would honestly rather be a repulsive smoker than go through life with such a vile attitude towards other human beings. Some of your comments here have been really disgusting.

Go and do some work in the substance abuse field. Talk to those suffering from addictions about their lives. It should mean something to you. You can hate the behaviour but calling the person weak and repulsive is disgraceful.

I'm genuinely shocked that people see it as a character flaw and wouldn't want to associate people with it. Or smokers of less intelligence.
DISGUSTING

"Some people have empathy, that's all."

Sorry but I cant get past the disgust.

This is from ONS. People with degrees and in professional and managerial positions are less likely to smoke.

Being told you mustn't do something is like a red rag to a bull...encouragement and support is the only way to help someone give up the addiction.

It’s funny and I agree. Oh my god! THE SMELL OF VANILLA AND CHOCOLATW
FROM THAT VAPER! It’s going all over my clothes , it’s ... wait ,Oh it’s gone now ,
Never mind. And I’m BREATHING IN THEIR EXHALE!!! NO ONE ELSE ROUND HERE IS SELFISH ENOUGH TO EXHALE AND SHARE MY AIR! How VERY DARE they.......

@DolphinandDuck

"Some people have empathy, that's all."

Sorry but I cant get past the disgust.

Clearly.

You're also clearly not sorry.

Seriously, what's the point of living longer?
To end up neglected in a care home, resented by society as a burden.
Isn't it better to die a bit younger than hang on for that? I've been ever so healthy since giving up but coronavirus has given me a glimpse of a future I don't want for myself. I'd rather contribute a huge amount of tax from indulging in something I find relaxing. I'm tee total, rarely eat sugar. Smoking was my only vice.

As for fumes. If you drive you're polluting as much if not more.

"That’s obviously not what I or anyone else said. I would honestly rather be a repulsive smoker than go through life with such a vile attitude towards other human beings. Some of your comments here have been really disgusting."

Well that's up to you really. I can only explain how I feel about smokers. And that is repulsed. It disgusts me. Even the word "smoker" makes me feel disgusted. It's a whole different level of repulsion for me.

"Go and do some work in the substance abuse field. Talk to those suffering from addictions about their lives. It should mean something to you. You can hate the behaviour but calling the person weak and repulsive is disgraceful."

"why on earth should I do that? It doesnt interest me enough to do that. Addiction to me is disgusting, and people who are addicted are weak. It's not at all disgraceful to say so Its a fact.

"You're also clearly not sorry."

Actually you are right I'm not at all sorry. I'm not sorry for being disgusted about something that is disgusting.

Everyone hates smokers, it’s not just MN.

I find your comments pretty disgusting tbh dolphin. You are probably in some position of privilege (as I am) which means you either haven't had the social background, opportunity or trauma which may have led either one of us into addiction.

I've never worked in addiction, but I did lose my mum to alcoholism. Yes, she probably was weaker in some way than you or I. But, it's delightful to know that someone like you, finds her disgusting. She was actually incredibly beautiful, kind and lovely. She worked in a caring role and looked after people who needed it. But she was weakened by her addiction and / or maybe she wasn't strong enough not to become addicted.

Do you feel this way about any sort of weakness? If a child is less intelligent for example, do you find that disgusting? If someone has a physical disability, like rheumatoid arthritis, which might make them physically weaker, do you find that disgusting?

You sound like someone from history. Not a good someone.

@PinkyBrain

Everyone hates smokers, it’s not just MN.

HMRC (lots of tax revenue) and DWP (pension money saved) love smokers. Care home owners might hate them (die before they need neglect care)...

why on earth should I do that? It doesnt interest me enough to do that.

Of course - far better to remain ignorant and continue hurling abuse around. What a lovely way to live.

Addiction to me is disgusting, and people who are addicted are weak. It's not at all disgraceful to say so Its a fact.

It’s interesting that you’ve been calling others thick while spouting utter garbage like this. It’s categorically not a fact - do you know what facts are?

Even the word "smoker" makes me feel disgusted. It's a whole different level of repulsion for me.

I don’t know why I quoted this because I don’t even have any words for how bizarre this is.