Do you smoke cigarettes?

[Thunderbird is the word]

too lazy to do the partisan breakdown but I find it funny that I've sometimes noticed more smokers that are left leaning then right leaning given that the political left is also more anti-tobacco yet I almost associate smoking with a more libertine lifestyle. Probably because most smokers hate the fact that they have an addiction and aren't very likely to organize politically as smokers so the issue is ceded to the anti-tobacco moralists.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Unfortunately.

[Virginiá]

Nope! I've tried it, but I don't see what is so great about it nor how it can be so addictive. All it did was make me lightheaded and nauseous.

I don't mind when my friends smoke, more or less, but I'm not a big fan of it if they constantly smell like cigarettes. Not too into kissing people who taste like cigarettes, either.

[The Dowager Mod]

No.

[Figueira]

No.

The "Only when I drink" thing is the #1 reason why I don't usually drink, by the way.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Nope! I've tried it, but I don't see what is so great about it nor how it can be so addictive.

There's no "great thing" about it, you just getting addicted to the substance. OK, there are, at least as far as I'm concerned, moments, where a puff feels great, but it's mostly about feeding your "needs". You should be very happy you avoided getting addicted. I've tried to quit twice and failed.

Ironically, I haven't started smoking regularly until I was 18. I've tried it before, of course, but didn't get the addiction until my last HS year. My parents were lifelong smokers (and it contributed to my father's death) and for a long time I was just resolved not to make their mistake, but, alas, it came down to this.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

That's natural until (if) you get used to it. I remember when I started to do it regularly, at first it was like "wtf is in these cigarettes, a weed?". And when I lit the first cigarette after a failed attempt to quit, I felt this again.

[beaver2.0]

No, and I don't plan to.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

The sh**ty thing about quitting is that it takes time to get it out of your system and until that, well, you just feel sh**ty, not being able to function naturally. Yes, it depends on an individual, but those claiming it doesn't have an unpleasant effect are either liars or doesn't know about smoking. I keep telling myself "I'd quit, but there are too much on my hands to get burdened with this", so it's a circle.  

[Santander]

Of course. Smoking is an incredibly useful social/political activity. (and enjoyable)

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Smoked for about two years. Quit either late January or early/mid-February. Got home from a party and saw the episode of "Mad Men" where Betty Francis is diagnosed with lung cancer and has at-max 12 months to live. I was reminded of how my own dad was robbed from my family. I thought to myself "This woman doesn't even exist! She just lives on a piece of paper in a script! And she's going to die!" I had a chronic cough the next few weeks, which outlasted the nicotine withdrawal. I was pretty safe by the time it wore off. Smoked about three times since then.

[Figueira]

Of course. Smoking is an incredibly useful social/political activity. (and enjoyable)

It's only useful if you're already a smoker.

[dax00]

Nay. Haven't tried. Reckon I prefer spirits, anyways.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Yes, quite heavily sadly. I'm in 100% agreement with Kal on how hard it is to quit. I haven't even tried yet, and I'm not quite ready to do so.

[Thunderbird is the word]

Maybe i'm just that rare bird that's able to smoke in moderation without getting addicted. I'll go through a pack every other week or so and then be able to go days without one. I honestly don't know how I do it.

[Joe Republic]

No, and it will forever be a mystery to me why people even start.

Smoking is an incredibly useful social/political activity.

Explain.

[beaver2.0]

No, and it will forever be a mystery to me why people even start.

Smoking is an incredibly useful social/political activity.

Explain.

I suppose if you spend quite a bit of time in smoke-filled rooms.

Plus, are talking cigars or cigarettes, Santander?

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

Nope, while I don't have a problem with others smoking around me/being in a smoke-filled pub, I'd rather not end up like my uncle, who's had two heart attacks. Also, I'm not wrecking my teeth.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

No (all liberal all the time)

[Santander]

No, and it will forever be a mystery to me why people even start.

Smoking is an incredibly useful social/political activity.

Explain.

At work, all the smokers usually get to know each other from huddling outside in the freezing cold to feed their addiction. 5 minutes to smoke a cigarette 2-3 times a day adds up over time, and it's a great time to socialize or play office politics. One time, I actually ended up doing a bit of consulting work for a guy I met in the smoking room of the ANA lounge at Narita airport.

Plus, are talking cigars or cigarettes, Santander?

I definitely enjoy cigar smoking, but I only smoke cigars once or twice a month. I meant cigarettes.

[bagelman]

Never

[Maxwell]

Quit about a year ago, thankfully.

[Joe Republic]

No, and it will forever be a mystery to me why people even start.

Smoking is an incredibly useful social/political activity.

Explain.

At work, all the smokers usually get to know each other from huddling outside in the freezing cold to feed their addiction. 5 minutes to smoke a cigarette 2-3 times a day adds up over time, and it's a great time to socialize or play office politics. One time, I actually ended up doing a bit of consulting work for a guy I met in the smoking room of the ANA lounge at Narita airport.

You just reminded me how terrible Kentucky is.  (I grew up in SW Ohio, but KY was always generally ten years even further behind us, culturally.)

[ElectionsGuy]

Nope, never will. My sympathies go out to those who are quiting. I've seen the things cigarettes can do to people.

[Illiniwek]

I give a bit of a pass to people who are older than 30 or 40. But anyone who is in their 20s or younger, I just want to punch the stupidity out of them for trying. There is absolutely zero none nada no reason to start smoking in the United States today. Everyone knows better now, and should realize that they look like idiots. When I see the 4-5 of my law school classmates come in late to class (because they were smoking) and then bolt outside right as class ends to light up, I just want to walk up and slap the damn thing out of their hands. You smell awful and if the world is a right place then it shouldn't look good in a professional environment anymore.

I also hate when people say they "only smoke when [they] drink." Guess what, if you do that regularly, its going to turn in to a regular addiction, and the tobacco industry made you their b****.

Now, I have smoke cigars a handful of times (not in a few years). I did notice that in the days after each one, I got a little twitchy for another one. So I know how easily addiction starts. I will probably smoke a couple cigars at some point in my life (children born; Cubs win the World Series), but its going to happen very rarely, and I will always vehemently oppose any cigarette smoking.

[Virginiá]

You should be very happy you avoided getting addicted. I've tried to quit twice and failed.

I suppose I should. Both my parents smoked incessantly and like 75% of the people I grew up with / current friends smoke(d) to varying degrees