Why do you WANT to smoke?

[JumboBeef]

Honest question here, why do some smokers WANT to smoke.

I'm not talking about those who smoke and don't want to (want to stop for health or financial reasons) but those who WANT to smoke (and WANT to continue to do so) and are defensive about their right to smoke if they want to.

(I am writing an essay on smoking and part of it covers the whole WHY people smoke question.)

Thanks.

[clonmult]

Wish I knew.

All that I know is that I started after some bad relationships. Stopped. Then started again when i was going through divorce. And haven't stopped since. Which is crap.

If I gave up, I'd be able to run the 10k in less than the current 50-51 minutes, and I'd find the evening 20 mile bike rides just a little easier.

As a guess, from the few people I know who *really* want to smoke, it was probably some sort of mini/pathetic rebellion.

[RemainAllHoof]

So by "why" you don't mean the reasons for their smoking addiction but their desire to keep smoking knowing that it's killing them?

[RemainAllHoof]

clonmult said:

Wish I knew.

All that I know is that I started after some bad relationships. Stopped. Then started again when i was going through divorce. And haven't stopped since. Which is crap.

If I gave up, I'd be able to run the 10k in less than the current 50-51 minutes, and I'd find the evening 20 mile bike rides just a little easier.

As a guess, from the few people I know who *really* want to smoke, it was probably some sort of mini/pathetic rebellion.

If you really want to quit, you can. There are all sorts of tools from Allen Carr's book to therapies.

Edited by RemainAllHoof on Friday 27th May 15:10

[Rugbyman]

No one really wants to smoke .....its the fear that life will be crap when stopping that puts people off quitting ....when you realise that life is so much better when you stop your half way there....the rest is down to will power if you really really want to stop then you can ...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[itsnotarace]

Rugbyman said:

No one really wants to smoke .

You're not a smoker are you

I enjoy it, as it goes. My willpower is strong enough that I can easily give up if I want to. I choose not to.

[hman]

to be cool.

Smokings cool, didn't you know?

oh man you are so not cool (unless you start smoking).


I dont smoke.

[Rugbyman]

itsnotarace said:

Rugbyman said:

No one really wants to smoke .

You're not a smoker are you

I enjoy it, as it goes. My willpower is strong enough that I can easily give up if I want to. I choose not to.

Read this .... http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

If you can easily give up why dont you ?

Try and stop for 24 hrs ......

We all know its killing us , its sooooo damn expensive, it stinks , its socially unacceptable ...etc etc

[Rugbyman]

hman said:

to be cool.

Smokings cool, didn't you know?

oh man you are so not cool (unless you start smoking).


I dont smoke.

You rebel ......

[pugwash4x4]

Wife and I smoke maybe 4-5 times a year- we went on honeymoon and smoked 2 packs, holidays, and weekends away with the lads are similar. Will also smoke a cigar from time to time.

Find a cigarette goes very well with alcohol, and is nice and relaxing- makes me feel a bit more aware and awake i guess.

also enjoy the taste and smell, although only when fresh.

have to be very careful to stop when i feel like like i want another one. Often go 12 months between fags.

[Rugbyman]

pugwash4x4 said:

Wife and I smoke maybe 4-5 times a year- we went on honeymoon and smoked 2 packs, holidays, and weekends away with the lads are similar. Will also smoke a cigar from time to time.

Find a cigarette goes very well with alcohol, and is nice and relaxing- makes me feel a bit more aware and awake i guess.

also enjoy the taste and smell, although only when fresh.

have to be very careful to stop when i feel like like i want another one. Often go 12 months between fags.

So your hooked then ? Cant really quit but dont really want to smoke full time ..... the worst addiction I know of was a woman that smoked 1 fag a day after work everyday , she spent everyday waiting for and wanting that smoke, craving it ....but she was such a strong lady mentally she would never let herself have more than one ....in fact she was not strong at all becuase when she wanted to stop completely she couldnt and went to pieces in front of her shrink.....

ETA ha ha I sound like Im on a crusade ....sorry

[itsnotarace]

Rugbyman said:

If you can easily give up why dont you ?
Try and stop for 24 hrs ......

I gave up smoking for 5 years because my GF of the time wasn't a smoker. That's out of 21 years of being a smoker. We aren't together any more.

Rugbyman said:

We all know its killing us , its sooooo damn expensive, it stinks , its socially unacceptable ...etc etc

Look, life is fking dangerous - to coin an old VIZ t-shirt you could get hit by a bus tomorrow!

Expensive? maybe to some people on minimum wage. I smoke rolling tobacco I buy in Belgium once a year, and only 3 or 4 a day. If I was on a 40 B&H or Marlboro Reds a day then I can understand where you are coming from.

Stinks? Stale tobacco smoke isn't the most pleasing thing to a non-smoker, or even a smoker for that matter. Point conceded on that one but it's not so bad with rollups, fags are definitely worse

Socially unacceptable? I don't drink so I don't go down the pub. If I am smoking in my house how the fk does that inconvenience anyone else besides me?

[RemainAllHoof]

Rugbyman said:

hman said:

to be cool.

Smokings cool, didn't you know?

oh man you are so not cool (unless you start smoking).


I dont smoke.

You rebel ......

I wonder if I'd get in trouble for lighting up a cigarette in a pub and letting it smoulder (I don't smoke). It says "no smoking" but does that mean just watching it burn like incense is forbidden, too? What about incense?

[Rugbyman]

itsnotarace said:

Rugbyman said:

If you can easily give up why dont you ?
Try and stop for 24 hrs ......

I gave up smoking for 5 years because my GF of the time wasn't a smoker. That's out of 21 years of being a smoker. We aren't together any more.

Rugbyman said:

We all know its killing us , its sooooo damn expensive, it stinks , its socially unacceptable ...etc etc

Look, life is fking dangerous - to coin an old VIZ t-shirt you could get hit by a bus tomorrow!

Expensive? maybe to some people on minimum wage. I smoke rolling tobacco I buy in Belgium once a year, and only 3 or 4 a day. If I was on a 40 B&H or Marlboro Reds a day then I can understand where you are coming from.

Stinks? Stale tobacco smoke isn't the most pleasing thing to a non-smoker, or even a smoker for that matter. Point conceded on that one but it's not so bad with rollups, fags are definitely worse

Socially unacceptable? I don't drink so I don't go down the pub. If I am smoking in my house how the fk does that inconvenience anyone else besides me?

Your very defensive ......time for a smoke ...?

Life is dangerous ....but Im sure you wouldnt walk into a bus lane to be hit by a bus ? you would avoid that Im sure .....

Expensive .... so if you have so much money and dont care about the cost then why are you smoking roll ups ? You are still spending your hard earned on something that is poisoning you ....

Be honest with yourself you know it stinks and if you smoke in your own home then that will stink too, its a fact ....

It has become even more unacceptable after the ban ...thats why you have to stand outside in the rain under a bus shelter at work ....I hated doing that I felt so hooked so addicted and looked so stupid....

Smoke if you want to just dont kind yourself that its 'ok'.....and you can stop if you really want to ....I did

[Vipers]

People want to smoke so their clothes smell, their breath smells like an old ashtray, and they want to throw away lots of money, with possible long term health problems.

So why not do it!. There is no bigger turn off than a woman with a cancer stick hanging out of her mouth.

[Rugbyman]

RemainAllHoof said:

Rugbyman said:

hman said:

to be cool.

Smokings cool, didn't you know?

oh man you are so not cool (unless you start smoking).


I dont smoke.

You rebel ......

I wonder if I'd get in trouble for lighting up a cigarette in a pub and letting it smoulder (I don't smoke). It says "no smoking" but does that mean just watching it burn like incense is forbidden, too? What about incense?

I guess its a bit like being drunk sat in a car with the keys in the ignition but not running ........

Or if you stood a bit to close to the open fire in the pub and the tip of your coat started to smoulder .....would you be smoking or the coat ?

[TonyHetherington]

Rugbyman said:

So your hooked then ? Cant really quit but dont really want to smoke full time ..... the worst addiction I know of was a woman that smoked 1 fag a day after work everyday , she spent everyday waiting for and wanting that smoke, craving it ....but she was such a strong lady mentally she would never let herself have more than one ....in fact she was not strong at all becuase when she wanted to stop completely she couldnt and went to pieces in front of her shrink.....

Have you done an NHS smoking course recently? That exact same story was told to me by the bloke running our course - almost word for word. (North Kent, I'm in)

[TonyHetherington]

For the record, I've been quit for 3ish months now. I still want to smoke. I loved everything that went with it - the social aspect, the relaxing, the peaceful moments. I couldn't care less about the smell or perception - all my friend's smoked, so did girlfriend (we quit together) and so it was never anti-social amongst our group.

It was mainly the money I quit for, and a newly developed desire to get more fit.

[Rugbyman]

TonyHetherington said:

Rugbyman said:

So your hooked then ? Cant really quit but dont really want to smoke full time ..... the worst addiction I know of was a woman that smoked 1 fag a day after work everyday , she spent everyday waiting for and wanting that smoke, craving it ....but she was such a strong lady mentally she would never let herself have more than one ....in fact she was not strong at all becuase when she wanted to stop completely she couldnt and went to pieces in front of her shrink.....

Have you done an NHS smoking course recently? That exact same story was told to me by the bloke running our course - almost word for word. (North Kent, I'm in)

Interesting that the NHS are now quoting Allen Carrs book - almost word for word - thats where i got it from ........


ETA No Im not on commission from Mr Carr ........ honest

[itsnotarace]

Rugbyman said:

if you have so much money and dont care about the cost then why are you smoking roll ups ?

Because I prefer the taste. Cost does not come into it.

Rugbyman said:

You are still spending your hard earned on something that is poisoning you ....

and? Since when did I need to ask your permission what I should spend my money on

Rugbyman said:

Be honest with yourself you know it stinks and if you smoke in your own home then that will stink too, its a fact ....

No, it's not a fact if you smoke outside. My rental agreement doesn't allow me to smoke inside so I don't

Rugbyman said:

It has become even more unacceptable after the ban ...thats why you have to stand outside in the rain under a bus shelter at work ....I hated doing that I felt so hooked so addicted and looked so stupid....

I work from home full time. There are no bus shelters around here.

Rugbyman said:

Smoke if you want to

That's very kind of you to let me, thanks very much

Rugbyman said:

just dont kind yourself that its 'ok'

Who said it was ok? I do it for the enjoyment it gives me. I am quite aware of the risks. I have even lost 4 close members of the family to cancer (only one of them smoked)

Rugbyman said:

.....and you can stop if you really want to ....I did

And become a born-again non-smoker evangelist who harps on about how evil smoking is, like yourself? Um no thanks