Smokers Of The Archive

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CounterPunch
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Smokers Of The Archive

Post by CounterPunch »

So, I started smoking about 2 weeks ago and since then I have had numerous discussions with each of them, varying from them not caring, disappointment, shock, me being the "last person" they would think would start smoking... And it got me thinking about why people smoke.

I personally have started because a lot of crap is goin down in my life at the moment, and my social situation means I can't escape that crap, so I've started smoking in the hope that I can take the edge off, and it does, when I'm feeling shit, when an event connected to the problem occurs infront of me I'll disappear outside, have a smoke, and listen to music, and it calms me down so so so much. I know that in the long term I'm making a big mistake, but I dunno, I've spent my whole life doing what others want and expect of me, I thought it was about time I did what I want for the moment.

Also, yeah I smoke menthols, whats the problem with them? I did mix between menthols and normal, and normal just didnt relax me like menthols did.

So yeah, tell me your stories guys, peer pressure? stress?
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Post by Cliffjumper »

I genuinely have no recollection of why I started smoking, which means I probably started out when drunk and carried on from there (I have big difficulties with long term memory, which may or may not be related). It's not really something I think about that often, it's just something I do. It does relax me, and helps me concentrate - I find stopping what I'm, and having a fag tends to help when I'm stuck on something either at work or on my site or whatever. I'm not fussed about giving up - I could get hit by a bus tomorrow, if I end up dying from smoking that's fine, you've got to die of something and being an incontinent, senile octogenerian has few attractions.

Now I'm on roll-ups it doesn't even cost that much, IIRC it works out at about £2 per day (25g pouch lasts me ~3 days). Most of the people I know smoke. My only real dislike of smoking is that it accelerates yellowing on some of my toys, but then so does sunlight and there's no point in having them in a box hidden away somewhere.

I'm considerate around non-smokers, and won't smoke anywhere but outside or in my own house. If we ever have kids it'll be outside only with an eye on quitting
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Post by Halfshell »

I'd probably be a far nicer, calmer, more relaxed person if I smoked.

But I don't. So I'm a prick. WIN!
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Post by Sades »

IIRC I started because my sister had a pack of smokes hidden in her top drawer in her bedroom and I wanted to see what the fuss was about. I think I was like 14 or something. I continued because it pissed my parents off.

I think I've got it down pat- I'm pretty much the only person I know of that can take it or leave it. I smoke the most when I'm out with friends, especially if we're somewhere where there's loud music playing. I also smoke a lot when I'm drinking. I avoid smoking during the winter, because I hate having colds. I also don't smoke inside, and I try to stay downwind of non-smokers.

I don't think there's anything up with menthols, is there? I think they're supposed to be worse than regular cigs for you but that's just something I remember hearing long ago. I'm too lazy to google it.
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Post by Paul053 »

CounterPunch wrote:I personally have started because a lot of crap is goin down in my life at the moment, and my social situation means I can't escape that crap, so I've started smoking in the hope that I can take the edge off, and it does, when I'm feeling shit, when an event connected to the problem occurs infront of me I'll disappear outside, have a smoke, and listen to music, and it calms me down so so so much.
Same situation and tried the same thing almost 20 years ago but it didn't work for me. So I never touch it again.
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Post by inflatable dalek »

I would smoke but the whole porn addiction makes it hard to find a free hand to light them with.
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Post by Wildrider »

Smoked on and off from the age of about fourteen, stooped for a few years then re-commenced during university. I found unless I smoked I got drunk way too fast as I just guzzle any alcoholic beverage quickly with scant regard for consequences. So primarily it helped with boozey longevity.

Through university and work stuff I smoked between 5-10 a day, Marlborough Lights always with a pretentious chrome zipop, even had a one with a decepticon logo on, but I lost that in a pub. Carried on smoking, because contrary to belief it DID make me look cool and sophisticated.

I always convinced myself I could quit at anytime, but mid way through my failed marriage I'd walk the half mile to work and become out of breath and lie awake with a discernible wheeze to my breathing, that is scary not being able to get your breath. So abusing my job and medical friends I did a few tests, basic trial and error with inhalers and it seemed I was seriously ****ign up my lung capacity.

That and I'd balooned to twenty stone on a diet of apathy, pizza and San Miguel.!

But last year I decided enough was enough, I hit thirty, left the wife, took up excercise, stopped drinking, stopped smoking, I sound a bit like an infomercial, but I'm 11 and a half stone of lean muscle and can run 10k at a brisk pace without dieing completely.

I don't miss it at all, only the occaisional sweet smell of my favourite brand brings packa nostalgia pang, then I remember not being able to breathee.

Stop to be honest, as a coping mechanism, there are better ways.
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Post by the_escaflowne_2k »

For me, I view it as a rare treat every couple of months or so, much in the same way I view strip clubs, I couldn't afford to enjoy both of them every day (as much as I would like to) but don't see an issue paying up a couple of times a year.
As for when I started, was my first year of uni having avoided it at school, entirely of my own volition despite being friends with a heavy smoking circle. Drink was my vice of choice in those days anyway.
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Post by Ackula »

I started smoking at the age of 14. By the time I was 16 my father had given up on trying to stop me, and started buying me a carton of Camel non-filtered every week. I was smoking 2 packs a day. I smoked solid for 15 years straight. The least I'd smoke was a pack and a half a week.

I can't really remember why I started, but all of my closest friends also smoked, and many were a lot older than myself. I was also doing hard drugs at the age of 14 as well, so cigarettes really didn't seem like a big deal at all.

I started out smoking Marlboro Lights and moved on to Camel Wide, and later Camel non-filtered. After High School I stopped briefly for less than a year, before starting back after a bad breakup with my High School sweetheart.

Throughout the years I would attempt to stop smoking at least once a year, and always fail at it. I used smoking as a coping mechanism, even long after I got clean from all the other drugs in my body. I have been able to kick methamphetamine, marijuana, LSD, various pill addictions, and alcohol. But smoking remained a constant that I just could not beat.

I was finally able to stop smoking after my current wife begged me to do so for about 3 years. I was starting to have serious problems with my breathing and other health related issues. I simply woke up one day and decided to stop, and haven't smoked one since. That was a year ago this month actually.

My advice, without trying to sound preachy, would be to avoid it like the plague. You most likely are not severely addicted yet, and can get the nicotine out of your system relatively easy. It will become a problem later on, and even if you know it is, you won't care. I knew for years that I was seriously ****ing my health up, but still didn't care. Even having my daughter born wasn't enough of a wake up call, and now I really regret ever smoking at all.
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Post by Clogs »

I have never smoked. It was the thought of raising a naked flame towards my face that was unappealing. Yeah, I got too close to a Bunsen burner once...

My father smoked for about thirty-four years and was, to the end of his life, a martyr to bronchitis. He stopped smoking when an Army doctor (we're talking 1944) told him that he'd be dead within 10 years unless he did; he got better, gave away all smokes and never, ever touched tobacco again, rather like Ackula giving up.

Find another way of relaxing, CounterPunch.
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Post by Clay »

I recently started working third shift at a service station, so I sell tobacco products for pay now.

As both a new employee and a non-smoker, I have to say that the varieties of smokes available is a bit bewildering.

That, and smokers are impulsive. They buy one cigar at a time. At 3:30 a.m. I've yet to figure that out.
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Post by another tf fan »

"That, and smokers are impulsive. They buy one cigar at a time. At 3:30 a.m. I've yet to figure that out. " -Clay

that, sir, would be for the rolling of a "Blunt". Usually anyways.

a blunt is a type of marijuana cigarette that is rolled in the outer shell of a cigar.

you can see them in most hip-hop videos.

As to the topic I have smoked on and off since i was 18. I would smoke for 2 years then quit for two years. Currently I haven't smoked in 9 months and don't plan on starting again soon. Cigarettes are ok for a while but as a habit really do make you get sick more and reduce lung capacity.

I quit by : quitting... just stopped. every time I have quit I have just stopped smoking. It works great until I have another smoke 2 years later- then I might as well buy a carton.
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Post by Denyer »

Curiosity. Living with smokers and stoners, there's no difference between a bit of passive smoke (most people I've lived with have been generally considerate) and indulging occasionally, either when I feel like it or am sufficiently hacked off... I think I've averaged a couple a year for the past decade. I have more tolerance for my own smoke than second-hand, and have also eaten two or three cigarettes whilst pissed...

Sticking a bundle of leaves next to your face and setting fire to it doesn't really strike as particularly sensible.

Prefer the loud music on its own, on the whole. And menthol cigarettes are harsher than rolling tobacco, IMO.
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Post by another tf fan »

Denyer wrote:... and have also eaten two or three cigarettes whilst pissed...

Now THAT is intriguing.
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Post by Ackula »

I have to confess somewhere, and this thread seems appropriate. I haven't smoked in a year, but today I had a terrible argument followed by a sever anxiety attack, and I went and wasted $5 on a pack of Marlboro Lights. I tried smoking one and couldn't get all the way through it, because it caused me to cough uncontrollably and gave me a hell of a headache, and irritated my eyes something fierce.

Nope...don't miss it. They will be given to my friend at work come Monday, I'll not be smoking again.
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Post by Sades »

Yeah, it's better out of sight to get it out of mind. When I put them down for a few (can't rightfully say "quit", I guess) I always open the pack and ditch mine in a parking lot or somewhere really visible, I know someone will scoop them up eventually.
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Post by inflatable dalek »

Yep, ignore everything anyone tells you for or against. If you're in pain from a smoke don't do it. And if one fag alone makes you feel really ill, you need a cat. Seriously, get a pet, if you try to smoke round them you'll feel like you're going to hell.
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