My Obnoxious Please Quit Smoking Thread.

[BobD]

I smoked from age 11 until about 6 or 7 years ago when I quit. I can't believe I was so stupid. I'm lucky I don't have cancer..... at least not yet. My mom died of cancer and my dad of heart disease, both smoked like chimneys. As you can probably tell from the thread title, I've gone from being a smoker to an obnoxious anti smoking pain in the ass. Nowadays when I see someone smoking it makes me sad for them. Today someone that works for me said "I'll quit when I'm ready" to which I replied "unless the cigarettes decide it's time for you to die first". It surprised me how much I've come to hate these fucking things, so to continue on that theme I've decided to start a thread dedicated to passing on my message to PLEASE QUIT SMOKING. IT IS KILLING YOU.

If you feel like it, please add to the conversation.

 

[RallySonsOfND]

I smoked from age 11 until about 6 or 7 years ago when I quit. I can't believe I was so stupid. I'm lucky I don't have cancer..... at least not yet. My mom died of cancer and my dad of heart disease, both smoked like chimneys. As you can probably tell from the thread title, I've gone from being a smoker to an obnoxious anti smoking pain in the ass. Nowadays when I see someone smoking it makes me sad for them. Today someone that works for me said "I'll quit when I'm ready" to which I replied "unless the cigarettes decide it's time for you to die first". It surprised me how much I've come to hate these fucking things, so to continue on that theme I've decided to start a thread dedicated to passing on my message to PLEASE QUIT SMOKING. IT IS KILLING YOU.

If you feel like it, please add to the conversation.

You started at 11!? I grew up in small town USA but damn! When were you born, 1942?



But props for quitting. I know that's a really tough thing to do.

 

[Pachuco]

I smoked from age 11 until about 6 or 7 years ago when I quit. I can't believe I was so stupid. I'm lucky I don't have cancer..... at least not yet. My mom died of cancer and my dad of heart disease, both smoked like chimneys. As you can probably tell from the thread title, I've gone from being a smoker to an obnoxious anti smoking pain in the ass. Nowadays when I see someone smoking it makes me sad for them. Today someone that works for me said "I'll quit when I'm ready" to which I replied "unless the cigarettes decide it's time for you to die first". It surprised me how much I've come to hate these fucking things, so to continue on that theme I've decided to start a thread dedicated to passing on my message to PLEASE QUIT SMOKING. IT IS KILLING YOU.

If you feel like it, please add to the conversation.

I support this post, mainly because once it's a habit, it's a vicious cycle. It takes a renewed spirit to exorcise that hamster wheel. Congratulations on running down your demon and sending it straight back to hell. Whatever it takes to keep it there!

 

[nsisk157]

I don't smoke but think this is unnecessary...

 

[anarin]

I don't smoke but think this is unnecessary...

Spreading the word is never unnecessary. I guess you think the ad with the cancer woman is unnecessary too.

 

[yankeeND]

Smoked a pack a day for 15 years. I am proud to say I am six months a free man of cigarettes. One if the most difficult things I ever did but, the easiest choice I ever made. It's so difficult to get through to people especially the younger folks. As life comes at you and you realize how precious and amazing it is, smoking becomes one of the most asinine habits to partake in. Take care of yourselves, and be around for your families.

 

[Irishnuke]

It's disgusting, and I'm not even talking about how it fucks up your health. Do smokers not realize they stink like shit ALL THE TIME? Your clothes don't magically repel the stench. Plus it kills you.

 

[Praytorian]

Spreading the word is never unnecessary. I guess you think the ad with the cancer woman is unnecessary too.

I don't think a commercial is going to change our mind on if we are going to smoke or not. We know it kills, we just don't care, or don't think it will kill us.

 

[TheRealLynch51]

As a former smoker, the only way they will quit is if they decide to do it for themselves. Maybe make them see the reasons they should (I.e. watching their families grow etc.), but it still becomes an individual decision. Try letting them know that what they could literally be missing out on in the future, and trying to turn that decision into something they figure out on their own. Just my 2 cents.

 

[ThePiombino]

Former smoker here, these are my thoughts:

I don't smoke but think this is unnecessary...

This.

Spreading the word is never unnecessary. I guess you think the ad with the cancer woman is unnecessary too.

Yes it is. No one likes to be told what to do, especially when being looked down upon, and that tends to be the approach taken. Additionally, most (if not all) smokers know what they're doing to themselves and others around them. They don't care. Your words aren't getting them any closer to enlightenment. Save your breath.

As a former smoker, the only way they will quit is if they decide to do it for themselves. Maybe make them see the reasons they should (I.e. watching their families grow etc.), but it still becomes an individual decision. Try letting them know that what they could literally be missing out on in the future, and trying to turn that decision into something they figure out on their own. Just my 2 cents.

/thread

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Please don't lobby to have the "what are you drinking" thread closed down. I really like that one.

 

[Irish#1]

Please don't lobby to have the "what are you drinking" thread closed down. I really like that one.

Damn it, I was just going to say the same thing! lol

It's certainly a personal choice and admonishing people won't help, but I do believe the message still needs to be said all the time. If nothing else then to keep kids from starting. I bought a pack when I was 15 or 16. Lit one up, choked and coughed on the first one and threw the pack away. I was lucky I didn't like it.

 

[BobD]

You started at 11!? I grew up in small town USA but damn! When were you born, 1942?



But props for quitting. I know that's a really tough thing to do.

Yep, in 6th grade out in back of the school. We thought we were the cool kids. I was born in the early 60s.

 

[woolybug25]

Cheeseburgers and Cars kill way more people every year than cigarettes, but there is no where near the attack on their businesses. They certainly aren't paying for negative advertising against themselves (the Truth.com ads are paid for entirely by tobacco companies).

I guess Volvo and McDonalds just have better marketing people. lol

 

[BobD]

I don't smoke but think this is unnecessary...

Everyone makes thier own choices.

I care about people and thought I'd speak my mind. If just one person that's been thinking of quitting (because deep down inside all smokers know just how stupid the habit is) makes the decision to finally toss their cancer sticks in the trash ....boom! Success.

 

[BobD]

Cheeseburgers and Cars kill way more people every year than cigarettes, but there is no where near the attack on their businesses. They certainly aren't paying for negative advertising against themselves (the Truth.com ads are paid for entirely by tobacco companies).

I guess Volvo and McDonalds just have better marketing people. lol

Start a "My Obnoxious Please Quit Cheeseburgers Thread"

 

[BobD]

Please don't lobby to have the "what are you drinking" thread closed down. I really like that one.

Haha lobby against drinking on a site with "Irish" in its name.....that would be classic. I wonder how long I'd get banned for?

 

[rocket66]

My Obnoxious Please Quit Smoking Thread.

I hate smokers and get disgusted watching them. Totally agree win the OP

 

[woolybug25]

Start a "My Obnoxious Please Quit Cheeseburgers Thread"

You kind of already did… The Fatass thread? lol


I agree that smoking is terrible and not good for people, i'm not a smoker myself. But can you imagine if people treated fat people like they did smokers? Instead of constantly telling smokers "those are going to kill you" or "smoking is so gross", they started telling fat people "that cheeseburger is going to lead to heart disease" or "your overweight appearance is gross". How would that go?

Its just strange to me that there is a universal hatred for smoking and that its became completely acceptable to openly attack smokers for their personal choice whenever they light up. Meanwhile, the #1 killer of humans both in the USA and worldwide is widely ignored. In fact, it's considered rude in most circles to comment on one's eating habits.

 

[phillyirish]

I honestly don't understand, in this age, when someone makes a conscious decision to say "I'm going to start wasting $7 bucks a day to start smoking".

 

[Fbolt]

comes across as a self-righteous be like me thread.

 

[ThePiombino]

You kind of already did… The Fatass thread? lol


I agree that smoking is terrible and not good for people, i'm not a smoker myself. But can you imagine if people treated fat people like they did smokers? Instead of constantly telling smokers "those are going to kill you" or "smoking is so gross", they started telling fat people "that cheeseburger is going to lead to heart disease" or "your overweight appearance is gross". How would that go?

Its just strange to me that there is a universal hatred for smoking and that its became completely acceptable to openly attack smokers for their personal choice whenever they light up. Meanwhile, the #1 killer of humans both in the USA and worldwide is widely ignored. In fact, it's considered rude in most circles to comment on one's eating habits.

Can't put it any better than this right here. The selectiveness of which soap box some people choose to stand on baffles me. I know of a lot more people who smoked their whole lives and lived well into their 80s or 90s than 300+ lb'ers who lived beyond their 50s or 60s.

comes across as a self-righteous be like me thread.

While I'm sure it wasn't the OP's intent to come across that way, I agree.

EDIT: I'm not advocating smoking. Like I mentioned earlier, I've been there, done that. I often hated the way I smelled and how things slowly started to lose their taste and how I would take me weeks to get over a simple cough. I eventually realized that the pros of smoking were no longer outweighing the cons, in addition to my first-born being on the way. Bottom line is it wasn't years of people preaching that got me to quit. It was my own personal conclusions. That said, I do advocate one's choice to smoke.

 

[BobD]

You kind of already did… The Fatass thread? lol


I agree that smoking is terrible and not good for people, i'm not a smoker myself. But can you imagine if people treated fat people like they did smokers? Instead of constantly telling smokers "those are going to kill you" or "smoking is so gross", they started telling fat people "that cheeseburger is going to lead to heart disease" or "your overweight appearance is gross". How would that go?

Its just strange to me that there is a universal hatred for smoking and that its became completely acceptable to openly attack smokers for their personal choice whenever they light up. Meanwhile, the #1 killer of humans both in the USA and worldwide is widely ignored. In fact, it's considered rude in most circles to comment on one's eating habits.

I have to revisit that fat ass thread this year....been slackin.

I agree, but I think you're better off being a chubby non smoker, than a skinny puffer.

 

[ThePiombino]

I have to revisit that fat ass thread this year....been slackin.

I agree, but I think you're better off being a chubby non smoker, than a skinny puffer.

Based on what?

 

[woolybug25]

I honestly don't understand, in this age, when someone makes a conscious decision to say "I'm going to start wasting $7 bucks a day to start smoking".

Here in NY, over $4 of every pack is taxes. This money doesn't even go all to healthcare. It goes to fix roads, to schools, etc. I'm not a fan of taxing businesses under false premise. Like all things in NY, they are using excuses to steal money from taxpayers and hurt business. I am fine with taxing items in proportion their product costs the general public (i.e. cigarette tax paying for cancer research, gas taxes paying for driver safety, etc).

The fact remains that the danger of cigarettes is exaggerated. They certainly are a huge killer in this country, but they are taxed and the government spends way more on smoking prevention than they do for healthy eating habits and safe driving. It isn't logical, fair and it is a poor use of our efforts. You will get way more bang for your buck asking your overweight friend to go on a run with you than telling your friend that their smoking is gross.

 

[BobD]

comes across as a self-righteous be like me thread.

Nice beard dude!

I don't want people to be like me, I just want them to live.

 

[woolybug25]

I have to revisit that fat ass thread this year....been slackin.

I agree, but I think you're better off being a chubby non smoker, than a skinny puffer.

You should. I couldn't find it the other day. I just got those Insanity dvd's (kinda like p90x) and want to get people's thoughts on it. That's a great thread.

On your second note, I don't know if thats true. You are more than 10x more likely to die from heart disease than lung cancer. Heart disease is the #1 killer in the world. I would bet on the skinny smoker as long as his eating habits are healthy and he exercises. Because we all know, just being skinny doesn't make a healthy heart. I know people that eat like crazy and never gain weight, those people are still exposed to heart disease.

 

[ThePiombino]

I honestly don't understand, in this age, when someone makes a conscious decision to say "I'm going to start wasting $7 bucks a day to start smoking".

lol just because it's a waste to you - presumably a non-smoker - does NOT make it a waste to one who does smoke. Please, try to think outside of yourself.

 

[BobD]

Based on what?

My own meandering thoughts.

 

[ThePiombino]

My own meandering thoughts.

Fair enough. I was just wondering if this was gut feeling or empirically based. I think Wooly makes a lot of really great points on smoking relative to unhealthy eating habits. I know that smokers are perceived as "gross" to non-smokers, but I just don't think it's fair to wave one's finger at them for it. I mean, would you tell the person who smells funny at the office that he/she needs a bath? And if you are willing to do that, would you do if the smell is culturally significant?