h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

hello,

I'm a non-smoker, and I was just wondering about the positive things of smoking, but I couldn't find any.

It pollutes the environment (smoke, cigarette butts),
it costs money,
it stinks (to many other people/non smokers, e.g. me),
and I can't see any coolness in sucking on a burning paper-wrapped roll.

so...what's the point of smoking?

Oh, right, it's also unhealthy (cancer...)
so sorry I forgot that point

errm good question, (but i hope you have a flame proof jacket as i've noticed smoking discussions can get quite heated )

For myself it's a pleasant sensation (nicotine is after all a drug!)

yes it pollutes, stinks etc and it is killing me, but i am socially aware enough not to smoke where it is unwanted i.e. never in someones house or car unless they themselves are smoking and never in the company of people with asthma.

I smoke sporadically as I find nicotine to have a calming influence on me- if I am stressed, wound tioght about something, I roll myself a cigarette and smoke it.

Also, I often smoke while drinking as I find it a pleasant sensation. I actually enjoy it.

Yes, it is very unhealthy. So are alcohol, cannabis, fast food and sugary drinks. Doesn't stop me using those products either. Why? Beacuse I enjoy it.

It may shorten my lifespan, but I feel it can make parts of that lifespan more bearable. It's depth of life that counts to me, not length,

It's cool.

...and don't try to deny it!

Fatty food, Gambling, Drinking, Drugs, Driving too fast, Promiscuity, Smoking....

All so much fun, all so very bad...

Oh well

Hey, there's three of that list i don't actually do!

There was a discussion about this over at Speaker's Corner A756605

F90802?thread=226190

Many of us have our vices and if smoking makes people feel better than thats fair enough. It would be great if we were all so wonderful we didn't need any props such as ciggies or alcohol or choc etc, but we are not perfect yet! The only problem I find is that I have asthma and it does me in, I used to go to a monthly meeting in a pub, and I was always very wheezy the next day. Wish the smokers could smoke but without the smoke!

Yeah I am also asthmatic.. I find that second hand somke really adversly affects my health. So occasionally (especially when ill) I get a bit evangelical about people not smoking.

Most of the time though I think if people want to smoke they should be allowed to.

There are really loads of benafits.
Provides larges amounts of employment, espescialy in developing countries. Helps provide the revenue to keep open local shops.
Provides about ten times the amount of money in taxes for the government than is spent on treating smoking related diseases.
Aids population control by killing people off early.
I think it works as an insect repellant - even insects can't stand the smell.
Socially, gives an obvious method to "break the ice" in social situations.
Provides amusement for non-smokers when they see smokers huddled out in the rain and wind at no-smoking premises.
works as a scape-goat for laziness.
Keeps people thin by using up so many of the the bodies resources trying to deal with all the toxins.
Up until recently, people advertising such wonderful toxins also provided lots of money for sporting events.
and of course makes people immune to the smell so they can enjoy a pub environment.

CF - non smoker

I consider that you only think it's a pleasure because you are already addicted.
Every smoker finds it relaxing to smoke, why else should he smoke (except beein "cool")?

Oh...and don't tell me you liked your first cigarette

Many smokers don’t enjoy it, but been addicted to nicotine actually prevents one from giving up,
I am a smoke, and have been since 11. (Peer pressure and all that got me started)
Now I’m fast approaching my 30th year as a smoker and have tried to give up for heath reasons,
I smoke more when stressed or out having a pint or 6 with friends, I wouldn’t say I enjoy smoking, and wonder if I ever did.

No to be fair i didn't like my first cigarette (but i didn't really smoke again after that for some years) i also didn't like my first beer and that didn't stop me.

I did find it a pleasant feeling prior to any addiction, otherwise i wouldn't have kept doing it (one cigarette does not an addiction make)

and as a i say i know it is doing my health no favours but if i only did things that were healthy for me i would live a long very dull life.

Started smoking at 19, (started drinking at 14), worked in a Casino for 4 years from 22, smoking 60 a day. Moved to London at 25 and stopped smoking for 5 years. Started again at 33. Stopped the cigs at 41, and now smoke cigars.
Question: Why did I restart?
Answer: My partner smoked and in an act of alcoholic madness, picked up a cigarette and smoked. Never a non-smoker only reformed.
Question : Do I enjoy it?
Answer: Yes in association with a , however I only smoke in the Pub, in the evenings, and may smoke the odd mini Cafe Creme at home before turning in.
Question: Do I want to quit?
Answer: Definitely. However as I know from the previous ocasion, it is right place right time, or it is pointless.
Question: Was I puritanical when I gave up?
Answer: No, because smoking is no-ones business but theirs. I have to breath a very carcinogenic chemical pumped into London's air every day, Benzene, but I can't beat up every driver , just because I don't like it .
Question: Would I do it again?
Answer: No

Hope this helps. Feel free to ask anything else.

almost all good arguments, but...

what's that nonsense about staying thin of smoking?
Come on, you didn't trust yourself as you wrote that, didn't u?
I mean, "Keeps people thin by using up so many of the the bodies resources trying to deal with all the toxins"...???

One thing hasn't been mentioned so far...

We fund the NHS!

(cigarette tax raises around 10 times the amount required to treat smoking-related diseases)

actually, that was kind of mentioned in track 11.

Sorry to be puritannical , but with regard to smoking versus cars, cigarette smoke makes me feel ill (sore eyes, throat, etc.) and makes my clothes stink. I've never noticed anything comparable from cars.

Cigarette smoking is not cool - everybody does it. Cigars are cool .

I am a smoker. There, that's out of the way.

I, personally, am sick of being treated like some sort of pariah because I smoke. I'm sick of people who meet me or know me or work with me treating me like some sort of criminal because of my habit. Let's try not to forget that smoking is legal.

I agree that there is a serious problem with the way that some smokers behave. Perhaps there should be some sort of legal guidelines for "smoking etiquette", although I have no idea how hard they would be to enforce.

In Victoria you are no longer allowed to smoke in restaurants. Every venue (ie, pubs, clubs, etc) has a "non-smoking" area. I don't think there are any public places where you are allowed to smoke indoors any more. And I think that's fair enough. I will not smoke around non-smokers if I know they have a problem with it (for example, my baby brother and my Father don't like it, everyone else either smokes or doesn't mind.)

I won't smoke around children. If I'm waiting for a bus or tram I will have a cigarette if no one else is around. If they come to the seat while I'm smoking, I work on the assumption that they know what they're in for. If I really need a cigarette, I will stand downwind or in a place where I know it will not bother anyone. I throw the butts in the bin.

So I have no idea why as soon as you mention the word "smoker" people treat you like some sort of leper. I recycle. I catch public transport instead of driving everywhere. I don't eat meat. And more to the point, I don't judge people who aren't like me unless they give me reason to (eg those idiots who decide to get plastered on the weekends and then drive home...) - so why am I the villain here??