Finding smoking a really sad thing to do?

[ClaudiaAndHerFringe]

Unreasonable or not? I don't get it, and I feel sorry for people outside getting a fix in the rain, it just looks a bit sad really.

Oh, you haven't lived

Wow surprised by the number of posters saying that smoking looks cool - it really doesn’t to those on the outside.

I agree.

To me it just looks desperate.

I mean, who wants to stand outside in a howling gale with horizontal rain unless they have to?

The smokers standing outside the shopping centres also look desperate. It's not the same as sitting relaxing on the terrace with a glass of wine or cup of coffee. It looks more like someone with an addiction having a fix before they go inside.

Like current vapers who think they look cool - I am sure there is an element of it feeling great when you inhale, just like with cigarettes. At least vapes have a positive when it comes to stopping smoking.

Smoking is a dirty, smelly, dangerous, expensive habit ... if only broccoli gave you the same mental clarity as Marlborough reds

I agree with all of this. None of my friends smoke so I'm not around it except for social events outdoors so I've never understood it.. It's amusing how some people respond angrily too.

I'm not really old enough to remember when smoking was allowed in pubs and bars etc either.

@RampantIvy I think exactly the same.

I am sure that there is 1000s of people secretly smoking, the profits are very high, someone is buying them.
Addiction isn't exclusively hitting a certain group of people. (WC)

From park bench to Park avenue.

Most people reminiscing are non smokers now, those trapped by the addiction, really suffer, loss of health, wealth and pride.
I wish that I never started.

Appetite supressant

I never thought it looked cool tbh. Even as a child of the 70s/80s I associated it mainly with my parents and people of their generation. People do all kinds of things that are bad for them, but smoking always seemed like one of the most pointless and unattractive ones to me. It's not even mind-altering and doesn't seem to make you feel good until you're addicted and need it. Most people say it just makes them cough and feel a bit queasy at first.

My parents' smoking made my clothes and house reek and caused me to get chest infections regularly when I got a cold (stopped when I left home). At least it put me off ever smoking myself though. Revolting habit.

I am older than you as I remember coming back from bars and clubs reeking of smoke and in the morning my pillow would stink, too.
I now smell cigarette smoke so rarely that when the odd whiff comes my way it is powerfully nostalgic of those times.

So glad it has been banned indoors - now I see people vaping indoors (someone was vaping in a large seated venue that I was at recently) and on train platforms.

I am old enough to remember when smoking was allowed on public transport - buses, trains and planes, in cinemas, restaurants and pubs and all public buildings.

I was so glad when it was banned indoors.

Those who judge the IQ of smokers: I'm not sure your own can be great if you can't understand why people find it so difficult to stop.

Vaping looks ridiculous

You don't drive or fly anywhere then?

Obviiously not for everyone. As I say, I've known plenty of non skinny smokers. They ranged from chubby to morbidly obese. Obviously, I have also known skinny ones but they don't outnumber the fat ones IME.

I’d rather see someone smoking then vaping.

I wondered that too. From what I've heard no one particularly enjoys their first fag, it takes some effort to get to the point you actually enjoy it and by that time you’re addicted. I tried it once and couldn’t see the appeal, so never did it again.

Maybe before the fast food industry saturated the market.
There is 1000's and 1000's of obese cigarette and vaping addicts

It's enjoyable because it is a fix for the addiction.
Heroin and crack cocaine is enjoyable for many addicts.
The pleasure release from plunging the needle into the vein of a heroin addict is euphoric.
The pleasure comes from scratching the itch.

Why is smoking the only thing you’re allowed to really “judge” people for? Calling people disgusting etc. Every other addiction on here seems to gain much sympathy. Especially those that are obese. Everyone says you need to “be kind” and that you don’t know what is going on in someone’s life so don’t judge etc. Smoking though? Dirty fuckers judge away!!

I used to smoke. (Been quit for years now) At first was just a social thing as a teen. Only smoked at weekends really like most other people at the time.

I started to smoke more when I got more and more lonely and depressed. Turns out I was undiagnosed autistic. Didn’t have many friends as couldn’t navigate social situations well. I’m an only child. My parents died young (one of them actually smoking related lung cancer). Couldn’t get a relationship due to being “weird”. Hated my job and myself generally. So yeah I smoked. Did I know it could kill me? Of course. Did I care? Not at all. Why would I want to live a long time by myself every day hating my daily life? I was quite happy with the thought I might only have 30 years left rather than 50+. I would class myself as a considerate smoker back then. I never smoked near people unless they also smoked. I would always go to smoking areas or leave groups of people and stand away. To be honest I didn’t have many friends so was rarely out anyway so I would only smoke in my own house really where it didn’t affect anyone else.

I’ve quit smoking now and I have a husband and don’t feel life is so pointless. I am aware of the damage I have likely done to myself and may well still die young. That makes me sad that I might leave my husband alone if I go first. So I regret it in that case. But I’m childless (not by choice) so it’s only him I worry about. If he goes first, I fully intend to re start smoking. And yes it may kill me. But while I’m definitely not suicidal in the slightest, life has always been a huge struggle for me. I understand myself a lot better now since being diagnosed with autism. But it doesn’t actually make life any easier. I find comfort in the fact one day I will die and the stress will be gone. I have plenty I still want to do before then so I hope it’s not anytime soon. But, yes, I still intend to restart smoking should my husband die before me and if it kills me young then so be it. People can call me disgusting all they like. I won’t care. They’ve called me weird and a freak most of my life so disgusting can just join the collection.

Trying to quit is awful, and it's totally true that you have to be ready...I smoked for 25 years until just last month, had an offer accepted on a house and could really do with the extra £300 a month. Bought a vape as a standby but went cold turkey, probably helped by a 3 day sickness bug, but haven't even vaped. You'll do it when you're ready, dont put yourself under pressure as it makes it so much harder! Good luck

As a non-smoker does smoking take away the ability to rationally conceptualise the health risks?

Is there any addiction that doesn't take away the ability to rationally conceptualise the health risks over the need for the fix?
Alcoholics, drug addicts, food addicts, gambling addicts?.
Nicotine addiction is one of the hardest addictions to kick, NA members who have recovered from serious class A drugs will find it hard to beat nicotine.
Nicotine is the gateway drug.
People assume that it is weed, most weed smoking comes after the first cigarette for most young people.

Oh well I've never had an addiction to anything

I remember the morning after the King's Cross fire, getting the train I took on my way to school, and seeing the hastily stuck on photocopied "No Smoking" signs on every window, not just on those of the two (out of every three) non smoking carriages. No more hurriedly jumping into the smokers' carriage and having to walk through the fug to the no smoking carriages. From that day on all trains and indoor stations were no smoking throughout.

That is good.
Addiction and trauma often come hand in hand. Neuro diversity has a lot of links to addiction also poor mental health.
Some people can take or leave substances, other people get hooked.