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?

I dont hate smokers but it is grim - it smells, it's awful for you, most people I know who smoke always have a cough and it's so expensive.

I really can't get excited about someone smoking.

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 ??( and so do all your DC !)

Smoking is legal, as is drinking and I think BOTH stink, but I'm not about to get all holier than thou about either unless the government makes them illegal. But TBH I have more of an issue with the people who have rushed back to pubs and who have been drinking more in lockdown as I've seen and heard of more poor judgement/ heated exchanges/ marital discord due to alcohol than I have from anyone smoking

It's not particular to MN.

This. Everyone who isn't a smoker loathes smoking, OP.

Because I’m an ex smoker (gave up early twenties) and don’t want anything to do with it. I don’t want to smell it when I’m eating and would rather they just banned it. Also can’t stand gaping. Smells even worse even though it’s a sweet smell, it’s sickly.

It stinks.
Even if a person isn’t smoking at the time I can still smell it on their clothes & hair.
It’s really inconsiderate, I don’t want a lungful of a smokers exhaled smokey breath.
Fag butts litter the street because smokers, for some bizarre reason, think it’s acceptable to chuck their fag ends in the street.

*vaping

It sets of my asthma, even if you are not directly next to me. If I have my windows open I get an asthma attack every time the bloke 3 doors down has a smoke in his front garden.

The smell/smoke stays around you for a while too. Heavy smokers walking past me can set me off even if they are not smoking right that second.

It also smells bad and makes the smoker smell all the time.

Good luck, OP. I wonder whether it's the 'ritual' side of smoking that is part of relieving the stress for you? Could you make up a new ritual? Cup of tea at the bottom of the garden instead of a cigarette? Or out into the garden and listen to 2 songs you really like (with headphones in)? NRT could deal with the physical side, at least as a transition. But if you've stopped before it seems to me as if this is more of a psychological thing (perhaps).

Good luck with quitting @PalmTreesPurple!

@SrMichael

It's not particular to MN.

This. Everyone who isn't a smoker loathes smoking, OP.

It is so very MN. Like drinking more than one glass of wine a year or eating a McDonalds.

It's not the MN way.

Because you will stink. Also they spray scent thinking it masks the smell, it doesn't you just small of cigarettes and overpowering perfume which sets my asthma off.
My neighbour across the back smokes and I can smell it across the length of the 2 gardens so I think your neighbours might be being polite.
I have no friends who smoke and I really would choose no to be friends with someone who smokes because it shows such a lack of self respect and awareness and awareness for others. It's just gross.

Also 1 parent and both pil's died from lung cancer, all heavy smokers.

Because the smell is so awful, because of the fag ends everywhere and because I used to work in operating theatres and smokers were just much more difficult to deal with. Less smooth induction and oh my god the coughing and sputum when they woke up.

Audi I begrudge the fact that pub gardens have become smoking areas, which makes them much less pleasant for the vast majority of people who don't smoke.

I definitely think it’s a psychological thing @CatteStreet. I seem to associate it with eliminating stress because it does in the moment, without realising that the stress always comes back and the habit continues. I’m sure you’re right, and if I associated eliminating stress with something else it would be easier to stop. I do find that listening to music and losing myself for a bit also helps, so maybe I will try to do that instead.

Good luck with quitting, OP. I know it's not easy.

Op, the majority of people on here don't understand how addictions work and just like to be judgy fuckers while they themselves are paragons of perfection.

It’s the smell. Even standing next to a smoker can make my throat start to close up. My dd who has full blown asthma can have an attack triggered by being in close proximity to someone who smoked recently.

Alcohol is completely different because as long as the person doesn’t operate heavy machinery they can sit there getting drunk all day and have no physical impact on other people.

It is so very MN. Like drinking more than one glass of wine a year or eating a McDonalds.

Right, so all the other non-smokers on the Internet are fine with smokers, are they?

@foxtiger

I don't smoke but I don't hate smokers and wish they were allowed to smoke in slightly more places. It does feel a bit unfair given that it is an addiction.

I wish there were far fewer places that smoking was allowed. It absolutely ruins beer gardens or outdoor eating areas. I just don’t think it’s something we (as a society) should be supporting any longer.

I particularly get annoyed by defences of smoking ruining all sorts of public places that go along the lines of ‘it’s the only pleasure left to smokers’.

Being an addiction makes no difference. Unless you think it’s unfair that intravenous heroin users can’t shoot up at the table next to you in Nando’s. After all, it’s an addiction too.

(Incidentally I don’t agree that smokers are stupid. But smoking is irredeemably antisocial and I don’t want to be around it at all).

It's the fact that it's a habit which is scientifically proven to kill both yourself and the people around you who have the misfortune of breathing your smoke in. If you want a habit fine, binge drink, over eat, pick your nose and eat it. Just don't do something that hurts others as well as yourself.

It's one of the most selfish acts I can imagine.

• increase risks that require extensive and expensive treatment, thus draining resources.
• a death sentence. Forcing loved ones around the smoker to watch as they deteriorate and eventually die. Offers forcing one of those members to act as carer.
• it poisons others who don't want to smoke.

The list really is endless. It's just revolting.

@DolphinandDuck

The second I see a fag in someones hand they automatically seem vile to me. I cant help it and I dont know what it is, but as soon as I know someone smokes I disassociate myself from them. I could never get close to a smoker. Even if theyve given up, I cant warm to them, it's like they are infected.

Even if they've given up? Good grief. Are you always so intolerant of other people's mistakes and capacity to change?

But mainly because I usually smoke when my mental health is in a bad place

That's pretty normal with dependency. It takes a few gos to get it right. The stop smoking service will give you some medicine if you want it which will help a lot in the short term. Here's a few tips my addiction counselor gave me when I was staring down the barrel of a booze-free, drugs-free existence and completely freaked out:

• do not think if the long term too much, it can be really daunting; just start each day focusing on not smoking today.
• cravings last only a few minutes. If you can grit your teeth and grin and bear it for those few minutes it will pass. And the more times you do this successfully, the more times you'll know you can do it again.
• chuck out the "emergency" fags. I know it's hard but just do it. If you have to walk to the store and part with £20 to get more you're giving yourself more time to change your mind
• keep abstinence "active" - you can sometimes slip back into old habits after a long spell of not using on the spur of the moment. I find social media good for this - I get little memes popping up each day about not drinking and it helps keep you on track. Counting the smoke free days and checking in with a fellow quitter is also helpful.

Good luck. It's good that this thread has given you more impetus to stop but don't think you're a bad person or stupid or weak of anything. Addiction is really complex and entwined with mental health and trauma so rather than beating yourself with a stick for being a "disgusting smoker" try and frame it in your mind about how great it will feel being smoke free. PM if you ever want to

I don't hate smokers but the smell is really strong. I'm pet sitting an animal for a smoker. They arrived with rucksack full of supplies, but I had to stuff it in a cupboard, it smelt so bad. Some of the supplies had to be chucked (bedding etc, I'll have to use my own) and the plastic tubs had to be washed. It really does cling to everything in a house where there's a smoker and I don't think they often realise how bad it is.

Because of the smell, it's very hard not to view smokers as disgusting. I know that's wrong and I try not to, but it's a natural reaction to someone that smells bad. It's nothing personal at all.

Thank you so much @Hangingover I really appreciate it. And congratulations on your own journey, and for sharing your tips.