scrapaddie
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,090
Jul 8, 2014 20:17:31 GMT
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Post by scrapaddie on Nov 2, 2017 10:04:21 GMT
Most people smoking today started smoking at a time when they knew how bad cigarettes are for you and that they are very addictive.... So why do they start? I am in my late 60's and think I could easily become addicted to them... In fact, may be from all of the exposutpre to second hand smoke... So I just don't let myself even start.
serious question.... Is it peer pressure? To be. "cool"... Which it is not.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Nov 2, 2017 10:17:18 GMT
I have no idea.
I often wonder that when I seen teens smoking today.
My only guess is that they were around people who did/do and it was normalized. My brother started when he was 14, after growing up with my mom who had smoked all her life. She was an enabler, and would buy them for him.
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Post by Merge on Nov 2, 2017 10:51:35 GMT
Teen girls do because they tell each other it will help them stay skinny and, like most teens, they think they're invincible. The dancers at my DD's school smoke like chimneys. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
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peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,598
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Nov 2, 2017 11:11:55 GMT
When I started as a teen (I have long since quit - haven't had a cigarette in 30 years) it was to be cool. Plain and simple.
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Post by camanddanismom on Nov 2, 2017 11:23:11 GMT
I am mystified why people who know better smoke...especially healthcare professionals. I drive by our hospital multiple times a day. Smokers are not allowed on campus so they walk up to the main road. It is amazing to me how many congregate there.
My mother smoked and died because of it. I hated it so much as a kid. I am about as anti smoking as you can get.
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Post by peasapie on Nov 2, 2017 11:31:46 GMT
I smoked from age 16-26. I started because my friends did, so yes, peer pressure. I quit before I became pregnant. Like all other addictions, it’s not an easy one to give up. I tried to quit several times before it stuck.
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Post by gar on Nov 2, 2017 11:38:55 GMT
I would guess that it's done on a snap decision made 'in the moment' without listening to that voice that knows it's bad for you etc.
I remember being offered one ages about 16 and am so grateful I managed to say no in that split second. That was much than giving up, I'm sure!
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Post by PEAcan pie on Nov 2, 2017 11:52:59 GMT
I will never understand...it is beyond gross. I actually cannot wrap my head around it being cool. When I see a smoker all I see pathetic/weakness. How are people even affording them and why would you waste money.
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Post by brina on Nov 2, 2017 11:53:28 GMT
If you are below the age of 55, maybe older, you knew they were bad before you started. I am 51 and I remember begging my mother to stop when I was still in grammar school.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Nov 2, 2017 12:24:21 GMT
I will never understand...it is beyond gross. I actually cannot wrap my head around it being cool. When I see a smoker all I see pathetic/weakness. How are people even affording them and why would you waste money. I am wondering if you also think fat people are pathetic and weak. I wonder why people feel such disdain for smokers but not others struggling with addiction.
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Post by missbennet on Nov 2, 2017 12:48:15 GMT
This reminds me a little of when people who have never done drugs ask why anyone would do drugs. Um, because it's fun and feels really good in the moment. Same for alcohol, which I think is a common gateway to smoking. Drinking and smoking together, yeah, that's how a lot of people get sucked in. I think most people start casually and in a short time, it becomes a convenient way to manage a variety of undesirable emotions: anger, boredom, etc. After that, and it doesn't take long, it's just straight up addiction. When I stopped smoking, I had to quit drinking too if I wanted to stay quit....those things were just too linked for me, and alcohol lowered my resolve for picking it up again. If you've never struggled with addiction, you are very lucky. Some of us are just wired that way.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 3, 2024 15:59:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2017 13:04:11 GMT
Immature brains. Same reason young people do a lot of things they shouldn't do.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 3, 2024 15:59:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2017 13:06:07 GMT
Ex started smoking when he was deployed. Up until then, he was the only nonsmoker in his family - mom and both sisters were heavy smokers. He admitted it was stress and boredom. Then he said he couldn't quit because of me. Now he claims he has quit because his girlfriend got him to but yet I still smell it on him from time to time and he has been seen smoking at work.
It get it's a hard habit to quit so I don't judge but don't lie to me.
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quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,696
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Nov 2, 2017 13:26:21 GMT
I wonder why people feel such disdain for smokers but not others struggling with addiction. My own personal disdain for smokers is that they are causing the air that I need to breathe, to become filled with particles that are not healthy for others. Second hand smoke and consequences is a REAL BIG DEAL, to me. Alcohol and other additions do not personally affect me and the air that I breathe.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Nov 2, 2017 13:30:22 GMT
I did not start because of peer pressure I started because my role model, my dad, smoked to deal with the fact that he is bipolar too. My father would never admit that he is but I know he is. It was, along with marijuana and alcohol, my way of coping with my disorder when I didn't have any other way to deal with things.
I began therapy at 25. I didn't start taking medication until I was 28. I realize I am role modeling the exact same thing to my kids and it makes me nuts.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Nov 2, 2017 13:34:39 GMT
I wonder why people feel such disdain for smokers but not others struggling with addiction. My own personal disdain for smokers is that they are causing the air that I need to breathe, to become filled with particles that are not healthy for others. Second hand smoke and consequences is a REAL BIG DEAL, to me. Alcohol and other additions do not personally affect me and the air that I breathe. That's a great argument. If you are exposed to smoke. I don't smoke in my house or in my car. I try not to expose anyone to my smoke. The post I quoted said she thought smokers we're pathetic and weak. I was specifically responding to that aspect of it. I respect the second hand smoke argument. I am a little dismayed at pathetic and weak.
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Post by annabella on Nov 2, 2017 13:35:51 GMT
Same reason smoke weed and drink until they pass out. The real question is why do adults continue to smoke? Why do pregnant women smoke?
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RedSquirrelUK
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,732
Location: The UK's beautiful West Country
Aug 2, 2014 13:03:45 GMT
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Post by RedSquirrelUK on Nov 2, 2017 13:42:58 GMT
I am mystified why people who know better smoke...especially healthcare professionals. I drive by our hospital multiple times a day. Smokers are not allowed on campus so they walk up to the main road. It is amazing to me how many congregate there. My mother smoked and died because of it. I hated it so much as a kid. I am about as anti smoking as you can get. That's me, except it was my father. But smoking is an addiction so anyone, even healthcare professionals who DO know better - now - may be unable to quit. It's the million dollar question, isn't it? Why do they start in the first place? I tried a cigarette when I was about 17. My reasoning was that I loathed Dad's smoking and what it was doing to his health, but I couldn't justify speaking out against it unless I'd tried it. Didn't like the taste much, didn't do anything good for me, so it wasn't difficult to say OK, I've tried it, not doing it again. But the part that scared me was that for 6 months after those few (maybe 4 or 5?) puffs, I would wake up from dreams that I wanted a cigarette. I didn't when I was awake, but that was the effect (chemical? psychological? I don't know) that it had on my brain. That shook me up. SaveSave
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Post by Tammiem2pnc1 on Nov 2, 2017 13:44:07 GMT
I never understood it either. I grew up with my mom smoking and she was/is a heavy smoker. I used to love to spend the nights at my friends houses because the air always was so clean. My mom kept an immaculate house with not a dust bunny to be found, but the air always felt heavy. She is still under the illusion that 2nd hand smoke doesn't hurt anyone as I am being monitored for a spot found on my lung yearly that was most likely caused by growing up around it.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Nov 2, 2017 13:45:32 GMT
RedSquirrelUK when I was pregnant I never smoked. I would have dreams that I had a mouthful of cigarettes. My dad quit years ago and said he still dreams about it.
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rncaduceus
Junior Member
Posts: 57
Oct 25, 2017 17:59:05 GMT
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Post by rncaduceus on Nov 2, 2017 13:46:08 GMT
Same reason smoke weed and drink until they pass out. The real question is why do adults continue to smoke? Why do pregnant women smoke? Addiction....Chemical dependancy
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 3, 2024 15:59:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2017 13:46:26 GMT
I smoked as a teen, I was a punk and it fit my image! I stopped after a while when I realised it made me feel ill. I have friends and a brother who smoke and I don't judge them for it, they're good people who have a bad habit. Our next door neighbour started smoking when he was 9, where on earth was he getting them from at that age?!
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quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,696
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Nov 2, 2017 13:47:30 GMT
My own personal disdain for smokers is that they are causing the air that I need to breathe, to become filled with particles that are not healthy for others. Second hand smoke and consequences is a REAL BIG DEAL, to me. Alcohol and other additions do not personally affect me and the air that I breathe. That's a great argument. If you are exposed to smoke. I don't smoke in my house or in my car. I try not to expose anyone to my smoke. The post I quoted said she thought smokers we're pathetic and weak. I was specifically responding to that aspect of it. I respect the second hand smoke argument. I am a little dismayed at pathetic and weak. I didn't mention anything about the pathetic and weak, because that was a very unfair jab.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Nov 2, 2017 13:54:38 GMT
That's a great argument. If you are exposed to smoke. I don't smoke in my house or in my car. I try not to expose anyone to my smoke. The post I quoted said she thought smokers we're pathetic and weak. I was specifically responding to that aspect of it. I respect the second hand smoke argument. I am a little dismayed at pathetic and weak. I didn't mention anything about the pathetic and weak, because that was a very unfair jab. It's perfectly acceptable to say that about smokers. Yet no one would dream of going over to the weight watchers thread and saying that.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 3, 2024 15:59:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2017 14:04:55 GMT
I think the shaming of smokers is a pretty shitty thing to do today...knowing that one of us is in obvious turmoil with smoking being one of the issues.
Good God, people.
Edited to add that her post is on page 1 and has been on page 1 with a very clear subject title regarding smoking.
I don’t even think today was the day for the spin off question but some of what I am reading in this thread makes me sick.
How about some empathy and support vs condemnation and shame?
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scrappyesq
Pearl Clutcher
You have always been a part of the heist. You're only mad now because you don't like your cut.
Posts: 4,029
Jun 26, 2014 19:29:07 GMT
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Post by scrappyesq on Nov 2, 2017 14:07:46 GMT
I actually liked the taste. I started in my early 20's and quit in my late 30's. I smoked and none of my friends at the time did so there was no trying to be cool. I quit because DH asked me to but every once in awhile I have one that I've bummed from a friend. jeremysgirl your struggle is yours. You know there are peas here who support you no matter what. You don't owe ANY of us an explanation about anything.
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gloryjoy
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,332
Jun 26, 2014 12:35:32 GMT
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Post by gloryjoy on Nov 2, 2017 14:12:11 GMT
When I started as a teen (I have long since quit - haven't had a cigarette in 30 years) it was to be cool. Plain and simple. Pretty much me exactly, to be cool and fit in with the cool kids. I haven't smoked in 28 years.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Nov 2, 2017 14:19:05 GMT
It's ok @jenny2. I have read a lot of pea threads about smoking over the years. I know the strong feelings involved especially given that many of you have watched your loved ones die from smoking related illnesses. I have complete empathy for that point of view. And I also have complete empathy for those that were exposed to second hand smoke as children whose parents smoked in their homes. You aren't telling me anything I don't already know and feel about myself. I beat myself up about it too. Why can't I just ditch it? It seems so easy right? Just simply don't smoke. Peas who haven't struggled with addiction just don't understand it. And I get it. We all come from our worldview. Our life experiences shape our thoughts and if you've never had any addiction, you just don't understand.
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Post by cawoman on Nov 2, 2017 14:24:43 GMT
I can tell you why I don't smoke. When I was around 7 or 8 I asked my Dad if I could have a drag off his cigarette. (I probably said puff). He said yes, to inhale as hard as I could. I did and cried. Although it seemed mean at the time I appreciated it when I got older. It turned me off and I never had the desire.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Nov 2, 2017 14:26:35 GMT
If you are below the age of 55, maybe older, you knew they were bad before you started. I am 51 and I remember begging my mother to stop when I was still in grammar school. Same here. Both of my parents and most of my siblings and other close relatives smoked. In about first or second grade there was a presentation at school where we were shown sections of lungs from two cadavers, one from a smoker and one from a non smoker. The non smoker lung was white and pristine and looked like polyester fiberfill, the smoker lung was black and gunky and full of big holes. There was no amount of peer pressure that could have gotten me to start smoking after looking at those lungs side by side. ETA: I feel bad for the people who really want to quit and just can’t. Some people are predisposed to addictions and there’s a genetic component to that which makes it doubly hard.
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