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[Maxey]

Despite all the anti-smoking campaigns, despite all the studies showing how terrible it is for the human body, despite all that knowledge being drilled into you, people still keep chosing to start smoking.

Is it still the same old story? Peer pressure in school? Curiosity? Fuck you, I'll do whatever I want and I look cool and tough with a cig in my mouth?

I tried cigarettes as a teenager, just for curiosity, but I never liked it, so I never became addicted. My dad smoked for many years but eventually quit due to a few scares with severe coughing while driving. He did it cold turkey despite his moderate addiction and today it has been about 20 years since he stopped.

So, why is it that people still keep starting even though they know all too well that they're basically getting into a terrible and expensive vice?

 

[adamy]

i like how cigs make me feel when i smoke them

 

[Bergerac]

First time, youth.
Second time, heartbreak.

 

[TheOnlyOneHeEverFeared]

Smoking feels great when you do it. Its amazing. It also looks cool, and can be great for social situations and start conversations.


I haven't had a cigarette in nearly 11 months but god, I miss it.

 

[OnionPowder]

First time, youth.
Second time, heartbreak.

Pretty much

Hoping for it to be the last time soon as my daughter will be here soon

My parents smoked which I feel like helped me start smoking early

Edit: also smoking feels great and I like the taste as well. I just wish they didn't kill me and smell awful.

 

[Donthizz#]

used to smoke every-time I went out with friends. one day used a filter because somebody recommended it. after I saw what cig filtered out in the filter, quit smoking that instant.

 

[True Savior]

I started smoking cause a girl I liked smoked. They didn't allowed us to smoke in school so we just went somewhere private. Easiest way to be around her.

Then I grew up and stopped. I might smoke on social situations (funnily enough, company is still the reason).

 

[thetrin]

I live in Japan, country full of ppl who smoke. I started because of work stress, drinking, and the fact that everyone around me smoked.

 

[jesu]

Started smoking joints first then got addicted to the tobacco.

 

[Kiraly]

First time, youth.
Second time, heartbreak.

So much this.

 

[GeordieMark]

Trying to be cool of course.

 

[Nokterian]

When i was 17 i started smoking..stopped when i was 29 now almost 6 years clean. Smoked because of work and other stress in my live but i am a glad i stopped.

 

[RangerX]

I started smoking when I was twelve because all my mates had started. Twenty years later and I'm still smoking. Ugh.

 

[KidB]

At first it was due to everyone else smoking at uni.
I then quit, but started again due to work related stress.

 

[entremet]

I live in Japan, country full of ppl who smoke. I started because of work stress, drinking, and the fact that everyone around me smoked.

Yet they still live pretty long. Strange huh?

 

[adamy]

Yet they still live pretty long. Strange huh?

It's the secret big tobacco doesn't want you to know

 

[barik]

Started 3/4 years ago because of stress and depression. Also because it feels amazing when you're drunk, it's fun when hanging out, etc. Trying to quit now because my teeth/gums can't deal with it anymore. Sad thing is, if that weren't a factor, I would have a lot less reason to quit. Cancer I can take or leave, but my teeth falling out? Fuck that.

 

[[Agent]ZeroNine]

It's the secret big tobacco doesn't want you to know

That came off surprisingly defensive. Do you have feelings against the public perception of "big tobacco", smoking, and/or smokers?

Question for the smokers; have you ever seen a family dealing with one of theirs dealing with cancer? Does that not seem like something that can happen to you?

That probably came off weird. I just can't understand smoking when it seems to be more of a health trap than any other legal vice that's common.

Hope not a one of you guys will ever have to go through that. My immediate family did, and so did my wife's. Its devastating

 

[NoblesseOblige]

I wish I was cool enough to smoke.

 

[John Kowalski]

High school rebellion

 

[iPaul93]

I started smoking when I was 13 with some friends.Back then we thought we were cool.I quit 3 years ago,so it's all good.

 

[TheOnlyOneHeEverFeared]

Started 3/4 years ago because of stress and depression. Also because it feels amazing when you're drunk, it's fun when hanging out, etc. Trying to quit now because my teeth/gums can't deal with it anymore. Sad thing is, if that weren't a factor, I would have a lot less reason to quit. Cancer I can take or leave, but my teeth falling out? Fuck that.

I know the feeling. My teeth are fucked.

 

[Monochromaticx]

helped with stress.

 

[Das Ace]

Thought it was cool when mom did it. I only do it casually now days though

 

[eizarus]

Shisha/hookah/nargileh. Started smoking it because my friends at uni socialised around a shisha. And I like the taste of an orange, mint and grape mix

 

[RytGear]

Started when I went clubbing, best way to strike up a conversation. Does feel nice but can take it or leave it, feel no compulsion to do it so it just coincides to whenever I go clubbing or someone else goes out for a smoke that I want to chat to.

 

[Darkwater]

Heartbreak and being a dumb kid. I was about 16.

 

[NeoGold123]

Used to work at a convenience store where the only breaks allowed were smoke breaks, except for like bathroom of course, and standing in front of the Wall O Smokes was like a constant reminder that I could take breaks if I smoked, so one day I bought a pack and went out. 6 or 7 years later I quit, can't even smoke one without getting all nauseated and dizzy. Still smoking the good stuff, though.

 

[120v]

started out of bored teenage curiosity, but i also happened to like it. great way to "take the edge off"... don't think 'being cool' or whatever was ever a factor

i just vape now though. haven't had a cigarette in about half a decade

 

[oo7]

10 years ago I Worked as a 3rd shift stocker at a grocery store. Everyone would be in the back on smkke break. I would take a break as well. Boss said "what are you doing? You're not smoking, get back out there" I said, okey, and bummed a cigarette off of a coworker. Smoked for about 3-4 years and quit cold turkey after being tired of stinking, sore throat, being cold during winter months, wasting money.

 

[Rien]

Was bored of the things that other kids of my age (11) were doing. So our group decided to steal cigs from our parents and started to smoke. Been smoking ever since and just quit one year ago.
Terrible addiction and a threw away a lot of money and health.

 

[CarpeDeezNutz]

Cos it's cool you nerd.

 

[Bulbasaur]

Because it's cool.

 

[Cave Johnson]

I use this since I dislike the taste of conventional cigarettes:

 

[paragonpro]

When i was a dumb 15 year old we used to all hang out at the local mall every friday night, im talking full on brightly colored tight jeans, hot topic shirts, bangs covering one eye, the works. What we would do is hang out
In the back and smoke, and me being a fucking dumb ass did it as well because it seemed like the cool thing to do. After i got out of my "scene kid" phase at around 16 and a half i started dating someone for about two years. She was opposed to smoking and i stopped. When we broke up i went back to it unfortunatley, by this point highschool was ending, and i found i was having trouble socializing in the adult world, at both work and my college. Cigarettes gave me a reason
To leave social situatuations i wasnt entirely comfortable in, or even the chance to have an in with someone who asks me for one, almost a conversation starter. I would like to quit now, especially since working out has taken up
Some of my desire to smoke, yet i dont think i want to quit bad enough yet to actually do it

 

[highrider]

Nicotine is a calming drug and it's one of the great hedonistic pleasures in life. I flirted with it in high school and the army didn't help. I wasn't ever a heavy smoker but pretty consistent with a pack every 2 or 3 days. I quit about 15 years ago when I had children but I agree with my dad, if I'm ever told I have a terminal illness the first thing I'll do is go buy a pack lol.

 

[Sheytan]

I started smoking because of the social aspect

But i quit cold turkey after 23 years of smoking without any withdrawal symptoms

 

[Timedog]

I wanted to feel what it was like to be addicted to something.

 

[LookAtMeGo]

I used to be really against smoking. Then I was a bouncer at this club you could smoke at and I stood on this little platform thing looking over the dance floor and my head was buried in a cloud of cig smoke all night and then one day I was like holy shit I want a smoke and I went across the street to buy my first pack of smokes.

I'm on and off now. I smoke when I drink but mostly not smoking.

 

[andythinkpad]

I watched Bogart, Bette Davis movies.

I don't smoke anymore mind you but I have no problem saying smoking is cool.

 

[jb1234]

A few years ago, I smoked a few cigs a day because I was going through a difficult time in my life and I found them relaxing. The difficult times didn't stop but I didn't want to become addicted so I quit.

 

[caffeware]

It's legal, and when you want to get completely fucket up, it complements alcohol nicely.

Also, asking for a lighter is a great way to start a con.