What's the point of smoking cigarettes?

[BerenTebogo]

If I had to traipse through downtown Ottawa without being able to smoke, I'd fucking move elsewhere; it would really cement the town's status as the premier civil servant yuppie abyss. One reason to smoke that no one has mentioned yet, is to offend the sensibilities of self righteous straight edgers and prohibitionists.

I follow the original ideals of the straight edge movement (not the stupid gang mentality it has developed into) but I swear to all fuck that if I thought I could inflict serious, lasting, emotional or psychological damage to a single hipster fucktwit by smoking I'd start up a 2 pack-a-day habit.

I don't give a fuck what anyone does 99% of the time. If you purposefully blow smoke in my face to piss me off, I'll ask you to stop, if you do it again I'll punch you. It's not just smoking though, it's the same for anyone with anything else. If someone comes up and like starts rubbing their hands in your face, you'll ask them to stop, if they don't, you'll deck them. Being offended by someone smoking and minding their own business is really fucking stupid.

That said, if I know that xyz place is going to be infested with smokers I'll be less likely to go there for the same reason that I wouldn't go to an all creationist party. Why go somewhere you know you'll be pissed off at?

People are too silly with their foolishly perceived "rights". It's not my right to make someone not smoke as long as they're not literally in my face just like it's not someone's right to get in my face (literally) and smoke. Legislation about all this shit has gone off the walls. Hell, I never even minded when people smoked in bars and restaurants, that's what "non-smoking" sections are for.

If people want to blow thousands of dollars a year and even more thousands on alcohol, that's fine, I don't know why people feel the need to stop them. Just means I look better by comparison when I can sink all that drug/cigarette/alcohol money into tangible awesomeness instead of (what I perceive to be, since I don't like it) passing states of mind that don't last nearly long enough to justify the cost.

[Olo401]

I've been smoking a bit way too much since I get back to Indonesia, all kind of kretek brands, for around a dollar a pack

It's gonna be hell to cut back once I go back to the states...but I suppose the 2 carton allowed by the custom should last me a good 3-6 months hopefully.

Any chance you could Fedex me a few boxes?

[Alvein]

I'd take a couple too :D

[Venga]

Not a smoker but have a fair few friends who are. Like you, i was always curious as to why they smoke, i mean weed has an obvious appeal if you enjoy the effects, yet i never really thought there was much to cigs.

They always say stuff like "it gets me more drunk when i smoke" etc. Kinda believe this, yet think its much more due to social factors.

[Melena]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotin...active_effects

in related news... if anyone is looking to quit smoking, Chantix is fucking awesome

Quoting this for truth. Smoked for ten years, 3 weeks on Chantix and I was done.

[gandorf]

That five minute break around 12pm that allows me to smoke at work helps my day go by so much smoother.

An because bitches love cigarettes.

[Shenrien]

I smoke a cig every time I need to just relax, or mellow out, idk why it helps me calm down so much, probably just a placebo tho :/ could do without it no doubt.

[Gadritan]

Cigs are one of the only things you can find that's an upper and downer at the same time. It does give you a body buzz. That's the initial appeal to it, and it works if you rarely smoke.

Due to nicotine being highly addictive though, most people create a habit out of it. Once addicted, if you decide to stop smoking you become very irritable, have difficulty focusing, for the first couple of weeks you usually get a very rough cough, you can get constipated/become "irregular," (tobacco is a natural laxative), all of which make life hell in general. Rather than go through all that, most smokers prefer to do the easy thing...just smoke another one and everything is okie dokie.

That's just a general breakdown. If you want the science behind it do a quick search, there's a metric fuck ton of studies that have been done.

tl;dr Nicotine is an upper and downer and does give you a buzz. The short term buzz is why most people start. The short term side effects of quitting are what usually prevent smokers from doing so.

[Pandum]

try buying cigarettes at a disney world resort, marlboro lights only $11/pack!

[Gadritan]

Uh, they're 11/12 a pack in some parts of the country at normal price, lol.

About $4.95/pack here, which is pretty fucking high for tobacco country.

Edit: And them bitches were $15 at Bonnaroo.

[Weeks]

Everyone is a fucking retard until the age of like 30 or 35 (Maybe mid 20s for certain people). If you get to that age without picking up some dumbass habit in order to fit in with a bunch of other retards you're golden.

[Effluo]

I started smoking pretty young because at the time everyone was doing it (peer pressure sucks). The first couple of time, i coughed my ass off, but got a certain rush i really hadn't experienced before. After while, there was no cough, only the rush of that first smoke of the day. I have never been a hardcore smoker; I smoke a pack every couple of weeks, and mostly on my way to work/home and after a few drinks. There is a certain buzz you get from nicotine, and something that keeps you wanting to smoke. I am a rare breed that can go days without a cigarette, enjoy one, and then not smoke for a day or two.

The worst part is, nicotine is an addictive substance and hard to overcome. Add in that many people, myself included, develop a routine around smoking, it can be difficult to quit. One of the main points of smoking cessation classes is recognizing your triggers. Mine revolve around a long drive, or drinking with friends. My biggest down fall with smoking is drinking, whether it be at home or out in a bar with friends.

I have quit a couple of times, but it seems stress brings me back. Luckily, I don't smoke near as much as many of my friends.

[Effluo]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotin...active_effects

in related news... if anyone is looking to quit smoking, Chantix is fucking awesome

I'm not sure how serious you are about Chantix. Friends of mine who tried it had serious issues, mental issues. After hearing their stories, I'd rather quit cold turkey...

[Gadritan]

I tried to do the whole "only smoke when I drink," thing and ended up becoming an alcoholic instead.

[Atreides]

I'm not sure how serious you are about Chantix. Friends of mine who tried it had serious issues, mental issues. After hearing their stories, I'd rather quit cold turkey...

I tried cold turkey, I have a very addictive personality so it failed miserably. I had tried at least twice cold turkey AND once with gum, once with herbal lozenges. Chantix eliminated my desire to smoke, but I had mild side effects. Obviously if you have bad side effects then you can't take it, but I definitely would not have been able to quit without it.

[Neoscrilla]

I tried to do the whole "only smoke when I drink," thing and ended up becoming an alcoholic instead.

I lol'd at this harder than I should have.

[Conformity]

oral fixation

[Tellahh]

I have been smoking since the beginning of High School pretty much. Started off as the "looking cool" thing behind the Gym and panhandling adults or older looking friends to buy them for you lolz. I did like the feeling of light-headedness you get from them, after that first drag you do feel a bit more relaxed and my head feels a little fuzzy. I've never really been "addicted" to cigarettes, mostly a pack a week even now I just smoke after I get high for an extra little light headed buzz. Drinking though, I fucking smoke alot more, Idk what it is about alcohol but I like to smoke a lot when I'm getting drunk heh.

Even now I don't have any cigarettes and I'm not freaking out, I just buy packs of Camel Turkish Royals if I do actually buy ciggs or can bum ones off my roommate and pay him back with chronic . I mostly prefer Camels all the time (only ones I buy as said) but I'll smoke anything if desired as long as it's not super cheap or taste like shit (See: Winstons or USA Golds). It's really about the taste in the end, smooth clean tasting flavor~.

EDIT: Anyone wondering price range in this region, Turk Royals are about 7-8$ from Gas Stations (no fucking joke) but I buy from a family owned "quickee-mart" down the way for about $4.80. There's a store near an Indian Reservation near the area that sells cartons for DIRT cheap too so I'd buy from there if any of my friends going that way and I have the cash, saves a ton in the long run.

[Atreides]

oh man, I used to only smoke Camel Turkish Silvers, they were really smooth.

[gandorf]

Around here you usually see packs go for $4.98. Once in awhile a smoke shop I visit will sell half a carton for 23$,Full cartons usually go for $55+.

I also found a place that lets you roll your own carton of cigarettes. It costs about 26$, but their pretty much 305s flavor wise.The only difference is one the hand rolled cigs last nine minutes and they claim they don't have any chemicals in the tobacco.