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?

[quote Notredamn ]I haven't contradicted myself.
You just don't want to face that smoking smells and you aren't special in that it doesn't cling to you like it does everyone else. That's fine you can believe what you prefer. [/quote]
You have completely contradicted yourself. Read what you wrote again. And you clearly haven’t read what I said or you would have registered that I’m no longer a smoker.

it still swirls around the inside of the car and affects everyone in it

Since I was always alone that wasn’t really an issue.

[quote Notredamn ]I haven't contradicted myself.
You just don't want to face that smoking smells and you aren't special in that it doesn't cling to you like it does everyone else. That's fine you can believe what you prefer. [/quote]
It does smell. On everyone who does it.

But, I will say that, I remember working in an office after I graduated university and the smokers used to go out for their smoke breaks a few times a day. Some would come back and the smell wouldn't be that noticeable. I wasn't a smoker and also nobody smoked indoors by then, so it wasn't that I was used to it etc. There was one guy in particular though, who really did smell like an ashtray when he came back in. It clings to come people more than others I think. But no, I would say it doesn't ever smell of nothing IME.

"The smell actually makes me feel sick when I smell smoke now. Even seeing someone smoke makes it look very unattractive. I don't know how I did it for so long. I suppose I'm at that phase now where I'm just completely revolted by it."

That's what I feel, pure revulsion.

I cant stand smokers. They take multiple cig breaks yet noone else gets to go outside for a break every bloody 30 mins, they smell revolting- of stale smoke and a kind of musty rancidness that I cant quite describe.

Agree with PP, they always smell. You can always smell them. They also dont seem to care how their filthy habit affects others with asthma or other bronchial issues. They also age very badly- you can usually tell from the vertical lines going from the mouth to nose. Smokers always look way older than their non smoking peers.

@alsohuman I know what you said. You said people couldn't smell you otherwise they wouldn't have been surprised to learn you were a smoker. I gave you a few reasons why they might have expressed surprise. There are many more.
You smelt. The end.

And to the other poster. Yes, scruffy. It is scruffy.

11:42Alsohuman

it still swirls around the inside of the car and affects everyone in it

Since I was always alone that wasn’t really an issue.

It would still be on your clothes and hair.

Unless someone literally covers themselves in fag ash

Yes! That is the smell.

[quote Notredamn ]@alsohuman I know what you said. You said people couldn't smell you otherwise they wouldn't have been surprised to learn you were a smoker. I gave you a few reasons why they might have expressed surprise. There are many more.
You smelt. The end.

And to the other poster. Yes, scruffy. It is scruffy. [/quote]
What do you mean by scruffy please? The habit looks unpleasant to you or the people who are doing it always look unkempt or scruffy?

Sorry, but saying 'scruffy means scruffy' in this context doesn't really make sense.

[quote Notredamn ]Unless someone literally covers themselves in fag ash

Yes! That is the smell. [/quote]
I mean, I'm familiar with the smell. But smells aren't usually described as scruffy. Scruffy normally refers to appearance. Is that what you mean? Smokers always appear scruffy and unkempt?

@DolphinandDuck

11:42Alsohuman

it still swirls around the inside of the car and affects everyone in it

Since I was always alone that wasn’t really an issue.

It would still be on your clothes and hair.

And? You said it affected other people. It didn’t.

You say all smokers smell and you can smell them a mile off. I’ve given you evidence this isn’t true.

There’s also the myth that smoking ages everyone. Some smokers look older than their age, some don’t.

I’d have a lot more respect for tobacco fascists if you’d all just own your prejudice instead of tying yourselves in knots trying to justify it. The complete hypocrisy of someone allegedly repulsed by the smell of smoke buying a house that apparently reeked of it is off the scale.

There’s also the myth that smoking ages everyone

Definitely not a myth. the smokers I know look easily 10 years older than the non smokers I know of the same age.

I had nose job in 2010 and I got chatting to the plastic surgeon about smoking and he said that smokers skin always ages worse than non smokers and he said he can always tell a smoker from their skin alone.

I don’t smoke, and have nothing against anyone who does, but it’s absolutely not true that everyone who smokes “reeks” of smoke. I have a very good sense of smell and have worked next to people for years not knowing they were smokers, and no one else realised either until they told us (and they smoked on lunch breaks). My partner’s step mum smokes and you can’t smell it, her house doesn’t smell of it either, it actually smells lovely. Saying everyone who smokes stinks is like saying everyone who owns a dog stinks of dog, it’s just not true, some people do, others don’t.

@Botpoke
Quoting US stats because those are the ones I have at the moment. Your numbers for UK are off by at least a mile. As for the point about tax to the economy, I would much rather not have that contribution and have a healthy population that can contribute positively. Otherwise, every addict to every drug under the sun can say they contribute. That tax money (if it exists in those numbers; I truly don’t trust 30 million versus those billions!) is not a good price to pay for the millions of mutations that can potentially be passed to next generations too. If a third of US cancers arise from smoking, why do you think UK will be any different? You don’t want to think of US stats because it will drastically change that £30 million figure, wouldn’t it?

Because it stinks, and it's not just a choice to affect that individuals health, second and third hand smoke affects others you come into contact with, so that just makes it selfish and thoughtless. You think because you had one cigarette in your garden 3 hours ago, so you don't smell... You do, and you're seeping toxins into the environment and around other people/animals/wildlife. Just don't understand why anyone would do something that costs so much money and puts them at such a higher risk of serious health issues, so yeah, I guess I do see smokers as a "bit stupid", as I would assume anyone intelligent wouldn't purposely increase their risk of cancer etc, while paying through the nose to do so!?

@MimiLaRue

There’s also the myth that smoking ages everyone

Definitely not a myth. the smokers I know look easily 10 years older than the non smokers I know of the same age.

I had nose job in 2010 and I got chatting to the plastic surgeon about smoking and he said that smokers skin always ages worse than non smokers and he said he can always tell a smoker from their skin alone.

Skin is what we can see. Doctors and scientists ‘see’ what we cannot see. There is a reason that scientific community is so strongly anti-smoking. Smokers are entitled to self-sabotage (so long as it doesn’t cost anything to NHS, which I seriously doubt!), blowing their money away, passing on mutations to people around them and after them. But smokers aren’t entitled to their facts. UK has a very strong tobacco industry lobby. Priti Patel worked for them for years! This is one reason why I dislike her so much.

Skin is what we can see. Doctors and scientists ‘see’ what we cannot see

Yes, I agree! I just find it bizarre people are seemingly reluctant to believe there are any ill effects from smoking when research has clearly shown otherwise.

There is a reason they ask you not to smoke before or after an operation because it hinders wound healing, it reduces the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream and increases risk of tissue death/necrosis. So, for anyone to argue that smoking doesnt really affect skin is really in deep denial. Smoking breaks down skin elasticity almost as badly as excessive sun does.

I am another one who absolutely hates smoking. I have tried it myself when I was younger a few times but never got any enjoyment out of it. My partner also gave up smoking within 4 weeks when we got together because he knew how much I hated it. Anyway I digress...

I have a job in public health and health is something that I massively prioritise in my life. Life throws curve balls at you at the best of times and I worry about my future health without increasing those risks even further by smoking. Clearly not all people who have cancer have lead an unhealthy lifestyle but there has been overwhelming studies which indicates smoking increases many risks such as heart disease, cancers, diabetes.

I am still young, in my early 30s but I am also mindful of my skin. I try and look after it by not basking in the sun, wearing daily spf, not only to prevent the risk of skin cancer but to prevent wrinkles. Again I will of course eventually get wrinkles its a natural ageing process but why would I speed this process up by basking in the sun, smoking etc!!! Same applies to teeth - with yellowing.

I do get that smoking is an addiction and I dont doubt for a moment how hard it must be for smokers to quit. I really dont. But I would like to think if I was pumping myself with chemicals that was likely to shortern my life span whilst ageing me I would find that determination to quit, particularly where DC is involved.

Op do you mind me asking how old you are? Do you worry about your health and your future? I hope I havent offended you with my comments!

Of course smoking has adverse effects on health. Everyone knows that, only an idiot would deny it. It’s a calculated risk that some people are prepared to take, including some doctors.

Incidentally, the NHS makes a profit from smokers, this obviously increases if you add in NI contributions from those who die before they attain pension age.

fullfact.org/economy/does-smoking-cost-much-it-makes-treasury/

Yes the coat rack. Only smokers use the coat rack because of this. All the non smokers would put their coat on the back of the chair instead. Then coat racks became redundant.

No. We were not permitted to put coats or jackets on backs of chairs. They all had to go on coat racks.

Definitely not a myth. the smokers I know look easily 10 years older than the non smokers I know of the same age

I concur with this. The smokers I know have all aged very badly compared to non smokers in our peer group. Its their skin- it looks much more leathery I think.

Every boyfriend I ever had, including my ex husband was a smoker (outdoors only). None of my family are. I was never too bothered by it, although I did say my ex husband had to quit when I was pregnant or I'd make him shower and change his clothes before picking up the baby.

When I started dating again smoking wasn't a deal breaker but the person I'm now engaged to doesn't smoke and now I realise how much I enjoy him smelling nice and tasting nice and not coughing up a lung every day.

It's quite grim, it's expensive, it smells, it's fairly anti social, it's harmful to others around you...I can't see ANY pros to it.

A lot of people compare being overweight to smoking and how it's equally damaging, however I can kind of see that someone eating a burger doesn't have any ill effects on those around them and at least it tastes nice!

I used to smoke and now I've quit I can smell people who do. I can smell it in their car, their clothes, their hair and on their skin. I couldn't smell it at all when I was smoking.
I can't stand the smell any more. When you no longer smoke you realise how much it stinks.

Isn’t it funny how most of us see smokers nowadays when in the past it must have been so normal . I feel the same as a lot of other posters- the smell .
I stopped drinking alcohol and realised I could smell beer on DP’s breath even though he’d only had one bottle. Then when I was out I could really smell alcohol on some people , even though they weren’t drinking at the time.. - and I kind of felt the same way towards them as people do about smokers( not caring about their health, wasteful , no will power) - I’m back to the odd glass of wine now but wonder if others have found that. These things seem fine when you do it yourself.

I really think it’s a problem that smokers and advocates for smoking seem to confuse a hatred of smoking for one of smokers.

Obviously some people do seem to think smokers are lesser human beings (and I’m not on board with that). But if you look at most of the responses, they’re about why people hate smoking and the effects of it: the smell, the litter, the health effects, etc.

I have nothing against smokers as people but I do not want to be subjected to their smoking anywhere or at any time. Nor do I want my children subjected to it. So I do have a huge problem with pro smoking campaign groups who want to maintain or increase the number of public spaces in which smoking is acceptable.

I would without question end a relationship with someone who decided to become a smoker. I love DH but I would not want to be anywhere near him if he had been smoking. I will not compromise on that. It’s not a choice I’m willing to support in the least. He’s totally aware of this too, so he’d be making the choice aware of the consequences.

I also don’t agree with the simplistic and lazy comparisons to alcohol that have been made repeatedly on this thread. Apart from anything else, the person on the table next to you having a glass of wine with their dinner doesn’t affect your experience in the restaurant at all. Smoking at the next table will (and the effects will linger on your clothes and hair too). It’s not the same thing.

Where addiction or problematic use is an issue, that’s obviously different. The kind of drinking that leads to antisocial behaviour should not be acceptable. And it shouldn’t be encouraged.

I do think that attitudes to and services to support addicts do need to improve in this country. But that’s very different from supporting addictions.