Why do people smoke?

Question

the amount of bad things for their health doesn't stop them...but what about yellowing teeth, the stink of the stuff and the fact it speeds up the ageing process. I don't see the logic. I tried it when i was younger, i didn't see the big deal, it's grose

once people have smoked for a while they don't even get a "kick" from it anymore, i know a lot of smokers and they all say the same.

to vikki - i dont drink coffee/tea or anything to damage my tea. And i am 100% against drugs for various reasons

i'm not asking why people try it, i'm asking why they carry on, you don't get addicted after your first ***

Answer 1

It's like all drugs. You give it a try because your friends do it. Then you get addicted to the stuff. Then your friends give up and ask you why you're still hooked.

Answer 2

You've had the answers from everyone here. Here's mine. :)

The nicotine is addictive - and the tobacco companies have been breeding strains of tobacco, over the past 30 years, for ever higher nicotine content, making them as addictive as it's possible to get.

People hear the words "emphysema, bronchitis, deep vein thrombosis, lung cancer, sterility, bad breath, yellow fingers, risk to babies during pregnancy" and it just comes out in their heads as "buzz buzz buzz never happen buzz buzz buzz not to me ..."

Deep down, like all addictions, the craving for nicotine sits in the place in, for want of a better word, the soul - or perhaps that portion of the limbic region of the brain which governs the emotions - and for many, it offers a sense of completion, satisfaction, freedom from other needs.

It is, however, a false sensation, and the addicted are aware on an intellectual level of this - but the emotional and irrational has always been so much stronger than the rational, and so the smoking goes on.

That is, until the smoker starts coughing up chunks of lung, and at that point, it's generally too late to go back.

One other thing: historically, Hollywood and TV shows up to the late 1980s / early 1990s always portrayed smoking as being sexy and glamourous. Hollywood stars all smoked - hell, even Tom from Tom & Jerry smoked!

So a lot of the older generation smoked because they thought, at one time, that it was cool to smoke. They now know better, but it's too late for them. The tobacco companies have been desperately trying to get the young to take up smoking, because they have known for some time that this is a habit that kills, and without the teenagers taking up the weed, they would eventually die off as a historical oddity, like blacksmiths and slave traders.

So now you know.

Answer 3

Well. Peer pressure is a huge part of it. Along with wanting to be cool. If your pressured to try it, you reason that "Oh, I won't get addicted", but alot of the time, you do. Also, have you ever watched a movie with your favourite actor/actress in it, and saw them smoking? Some people have gotten plastic surgery to look like a celebrity, so if the celebrity smokes, that person may take up smoking as well. Also, smoking calms peoples nerves. When they're really tense it helps relax them.
There's also the fact that it's addicting. Once you start, it's extremely hard to stop.

Answer 4

key word- you tried it! many people try things- just like alot of other things in the world that are bad- a warning will not cause someone not to do something if they really want to try it, but some will like a thing and some wont. Its like fast food- it makes people fat and nasty, but they still eat it. some dont like it some do- its a matter of choice. And just like most things that are bad for you, a person only notices the benefits of something at first, like the buzz you get from smoking. It takes a long time for the negative side effects to catch up with the immidiate gradification.

Answer 5

Everyone has something in their life that they wish they hadn't started, mine is smoking, I am trying very hard to give it up, but you know I never smoke outside, in front of anyone or would certainly never smoke in front of a child, I have never asked my doctor for anything health wise because I smoke, I have absolutely no lines on my face and I am almost 50 years old, I look after my skin but in our family we also have very good skin too, my teeth are perfect and white too, my mom never smoked a cigarette in her life, she never drank alcohol, she had a very healthy diet but she died at 64 years old with breast cancer, what did she do wrong, if people want to smoke it is their business and their problem and if I stink as you seem to think, well ok but your attitude does too so were equal now.

Answer 6

i used to smoke but gave it up about a year ago. i still miss it even though i know it is really bad for you. luckily i have not had any bad problems - my teeth are still white and i still look really young. i think it is just an enjoyable thing; some people just like to smoke. the nicotine gives them a kick. i would never smoke again though - i really dont like it and the smell makes me feel a bit sick now!

there must be things you do that others would ask why you did it?

Answer 7

yeah and why do people drink tea?coffee? that makes teeth yellow and why do people take drugs?drink alcohol? i could go on and on there are so many bad things for you and i bet you do at least 1 of them! I NEVER SAID YOU DO ANY OF THEM BUT I BET YOU HAVE A BAD HABIT those was just a few examples just as drinking cola,eating fatty foods are examples

Answer 8

Yeah I know i dont understand either

And when I was young in school people think smoking is so cool why?

and when we grow up we have to face real life things, and all the gang , the smoking its absolutely nothing at the end ,

Answer 9

Am having luverly ciggie at the mo (won't let me write f@g! Aaah homos!) , find it very relaxing and I actually really enjoy smoking!
I look younger than I am and hubby says my breath doesn't smell. I also have perfect white teeth!
I am also contributing highly to the NHS by paying the enormous tax on them which also pays for fat people to be treated as well as smokers. (My nan smoked 30 a day til she was 93 and died of old age!
Freedom of choice!!!

Answer 10

It's supposed to be 'relaxing', and there's also curiosity, peer pressure, it makes people look more 'mature' (which is funny because it's so harmful for you, a mature person probably wouldn't do that). These are things I found when I did a speech about it. There are far far far more downsides to smoking, as I'm sure you know.