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?

With smoking yes, my views of them decreases to less than zero. If someones says they used to smoke, whenever I see them I picture a fag in their hand and I just think "you disgusting person". Even as I write this, I'm pulling a face like I've just driven past a field of muck.

Wow!! What is it about MN that attracts such nasty intolerant people? I find this poster far more disgusting than anyone who smokes.

@eaglejulesk

With smoking yes, my views of them decreases to less than zero. If someones says they used to smoke, whenever I see them I picture a fag in their hand and I just think "you disgusting person". Even as I write this, I'm pulling a face like I've just driven past a field of muck.

Wow!! What is it about MN that attracts such nasty intolerant people? I find this poster far more disgusting than anyone who smokes.

Agree!

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 are a giant arsehole for saying this.

Wow, you really brought them out, OP. The perfectly fragrant brigade.

I can't help wondering if people this intolerant are actually compensating for something.

No, I don't smoke.

I'm smoking for the good of the country!!

It's in a terrible financial mess you know and all that tobacco duty I'm paying will contribute to the financial recovery!!

TBH what I never understand about smokers is that any one of them you talk to says “the first time I tried one I hated it...” so wtf keep trying?

And how can anyone afford it?

Personally I think it’s a revolting habit, but I have less respect for so many smokers since I’ve been spending time in hospital, and the the amount of them outside smoking their cigarettes with their drip stands next to them...

I no longer smoke and I am glad to be free of the habit but the comments by the end of page 2 are making me very angry at the lack of empathy for smokers - or any other addicts for that matter. And as always, the ex smokers who had their fun and gave up when they were done with it or were forced into it, are the most judgemental swats on the planet.

the comments by the end of page 2 are making me very angry at the lack of empathy for smokers - or any other addicts for that matter

Doingtheboxerbeat Excuse me? Is this a joke? Why should anyone have any sympathy for smokers? They’re extremely selfish and harming everyone around them with their carcinogenic smoke.

@Hangingover

I could never get close to a smoker. Even if theyve given up, I cant warm to them, it's like they are infected

How would you even know? Do you hand out those questionnaires like at the GP to new acquaintances?

Anyone with a sense of smell knows.

I think it's selfish. It's known to shorten your life and cause health issues, not only is this bad for the NHS, but reducing your own life has an effect on your family. Do you not care enough about them to want to spend as much time as possible with them? Plus you stink (even when you can't smell it) and it's just such a waste of money.

That being said everyone has there vice, it's just a hard one to understand.

Anyone with a sense of smell knows.

What, even for people that have given up smoking? I'm sure if they last had a fag 2 years ago, they don't smell of it now.

As for the cry of '' it should be banned everywhere'' twaddle, do these people realise that they inhale more carcinogens from the exhaust fumes of traffic FFS ??

How is that conceivably an argument for adding more carcinogens to the air?

I really dislike smoking because of the smell and the heath impact.

My mum smokes (a lot 40+/day) and truly does not believe that she smells of smoke. When she visits us, she tries to help fold washing and all I can smell as a non-smoker is the smoke from her usually (just smoked) cigarette as it lingers.

I have a toddler and asked my mum to change her top before holding my daughter but she really doesn't take my concerns seriously throwing on an old rain jacket. She'll quite happily smoke whilst we're out walking my daughter and thinks because she's 2 steps behind that it's ok. The lack of consideration is astounding given that she knows how I feel and I think that she feels that I'm being totally unreasonable.

We visited a park and she even had to smoke there - when I pointed out that we were in a children's park and it was entirely inappropriate she didn't like it.

I feel like it's a choice to smoke, however, lots of smokers feel that it isn't a choice due to it now being an addiction. Although, ultimately, every smoker at some point made the choice to smoke.

I really dislike smoking and could never be in a romantic relationship with one. Ultimately, it affects other people more than smokers seem to understand and I feel that it's selfish to inflict the effects on non-smokers.

I do think smoking is gross, but so do a lot of smokers I know.
I don't really know why anyone starts smoking these days, but I also understand that for those who are already addicted it is not easy to stop.
My mother has "given up" more times than I can count. I do wish it would stick one time.

My mother has "given up" more times than I can count. I do wish it would stick one time.

Mumoblue If she really wanted to it would, but if she won’t put in the effort and work then of course she’ll just keep stopping and starting.

@heartsonacake Yes, it is a shame. I do believe she tries sometimes, but it just isn't worth pushing through for her.
My mother in law gave up about 8 years ago, and I was so used to my mum's style of giving up that I was really surprised when she actually just gave up and never smoked again.

I'm not trying to diminish how hard it is to quit, because there is basically no upside to smoking so I'm sure everyone would quit if it was easy, but it's not impossible.

Mine was a genuine question though! Do you think my neighbours smell it from that far away? I’d hate that for sure.

The people in the house behind me smoke in their garden. Its about 15-20m from my house. It regularly stinks in my garden. I have a baby & a preschooler and I hate it.

Do you get joy from hiding away? Why don’t you just smoke in your house?

I'm a massive anti smoker who has found myself dating a smoker 🙈🤷🏻‍♀️ I hate smoking intensely. I was brought up by smokers and I'm asthmatic and spent most of my childhood puffing away on my inhaler. I always knew I wanted to get away and live in a smoke free house.

The smell is truly awful. My neighbours smoke in the garden or in the drive and I can smell it straight away. Sometimes i go to sit out for a brew and am driven back inside many the smell. But the smell I hate the worst is the stale smell on a smoker and the very pungent smell when someone has just had a cigarette. That makes me cough and gag.

My bf won't smoke when he's with me. And most of the time there is no smell but occasionally I get a smell in his hair or beard. I do wish he'd give up.

Oh my sweet jesus. dolphin is a teacher?! Holy fuck. That is terrifying. Those poor children she teaches. Honestly, what I've read from dolphin on here is some of the most intolerant, unkind, evil venom I think I've ever seen on MN, (other than things clearly written by trolls). I hope to god she gets help for her serious problems. And they are indeed her problems.

dolphin, you can pull all the yuck faces like you're driving past a field of muck all you like and go on about how disgusting smokers or even former smokers are. You are coming across a very nasty, twisted individual. If I knew anyone who expressed these views IRL, I honestly would give them an enormous wide birth for life. Despite saying you have sympathy for those addicted to other substances, you have called addiction a weakness which you find disgusting. Well, I and others on here find your views truly disgusting and abhorrent. At the minute I'm imagining your nasty, cruel face and pulling a face as if I've driven last a field of muck and rotten meat. To borrow your terminology. I hope you do state these views in real life please, just on the off chance I ever meet you and at least then, I'll know to run like hell in the other direction.

@Doingtheboxerbeat

I no longer smoke and I am glad to be free of the habit but the comments by the end of page 2 are making me very angry at the lack of empathy for smokers - or any other addicts for that matter. And as always, the ex smokers who had their fun and gave up when they were done with it or were forced into it, are the most judgemental swats on the planet.

I don't have much empathy no.

My mother's illness was present in my life from when I was about 10. I lived with the smell which I loathed. I had to watch (and listen) to her struggle for breath (cannot watch that advert about smoking). My father couldn't face the truth so I had to speak to the consultant re the prognosis (death was imminent) and I had to help him when he fell apart.
She never met my husband or my children.

And I'm still angry about a stupid habit that has such a devastating effect on so many.

And I lost my brother to the same disease (although he lived longer) and my father to a smoking-related one.

So no, not a fan

And the worst thing is that dolphin thinks she is perfectly right and entitled to be cruel and evil about smokers. Because they're 'just' smokers. Barely human. What she is doing is 'othering' and it is how evil people justify their revolting cruel streak to themselves and the outside world. Ironically, it is a terrible weakness and a sign of a really unbalanced personality, with a penchant for cruelty.

"Do you seriously change your entire view of people if you've already formed relationships with them and only discover this later on?"
Yes. Once I've found out they used to smoke, that's it, they disgust me. As I've said, it's like they are infected.

Several reasons:

1. Passive smoking affects other people's health. How is it fair that a habit YOU choose to indulge in might affect MY health aswell?

1. Smokers always smell. I'm sorry but they do. I know many smokers who insist they dont but I'm afraid I can always smell them.

1. Having worked on a respiratory ward and seen what long term smokers cough up thats coming directly from their lungs (you know- the organs from which you BREATHE) I am baffled why anyone would not only smoke, but actually pay for the privilege.

@DolphinandDuck

"Do you seriously change your entire view of people if you've already formed relationships with them and only discover this later on?" Yes. Once I've found out they used to smoke, that's it, they disgust me. As I've said, it's like they are infected.

I'd say they've had a very lucky escape.