Are you a smoker or not?

Question

I am against smoking 100%, as it really affects others in mutiple ways.
1, Kills them, with 2nd hand smoke,(has 300% more nicotine, than what the smoker gets)
2.Ruins people's cloths and makes them smell nasty
3.Make food taist off

I have seen that people have said why do the goverment care abour banning cig's as they make money from it. That money they get is being spent on huge health bills people get, do to seconed hand smoke and normal smoking, so if they sold less they make less profit but in the long run they save money on the health bills. And looks after non-smokers better


If you smoke i would like to know why?
And if u dont i would like to see your opinion on it :D


Thanx

queenofbob if i fiind that site again i will show u it, i found it last year, for a smoking progect

Answer 1

Your argument is flawed, apart from missing out the important issues with regards to smoking it is also totally ignoring the health and well being of the smokers themselves, it is typical of the anti-smoking culture we are living in – advertisements to attempt to prevent smoking in fact do nothing but imply smokers are stupid and endangering others health, laws are being put forward to protect non-smokers rather than smokers to the point where non-smokers who purposefully put themselves at risk are being protected while smokers rights are removed.

There is nothing at all being done to support people quitting smoking…only to brainwash people like yourselves into overlooking the rights and health of people who do smoke, as well as thinking nothing of supporting people who are stuck with the unfortunate addiction.

Second hand smoke is not as risky as is made out, it is only within closed off areas, where most smokers would happily stop smoking if asked, assuming of course the non-smokers hasn't purposefully put themselves into that situation – such as by working within a pub, where they are responsible for their own health.

There are a lot of products that are harmful to health, if you take a look on the back of most bottles of shampoo you will find a plethora of ingredients that are linked to cancer, birth defects, gender benders, and so on that effect everyone as a whole through the environment, yet you very rarely see people bring up issues with these – in fact there have been products that have shown themselves to be just as harmful as cigarettes and on a larger scale even if not as obvious as the risks from smoking, difference being most people are unaware of those risks because there is a culture of anti-smoking, not anti-chemicals.

The money the government make from selling cigarettes far outweighs the money being pumped back into the NHS, if any from taxation on cigarettes does go back into the NHS (FYI smokers pay taxes too, in fact they have far more tax to pay due to their smoking!) – do you honestly think if it was any other way the government would carry on allowing smoking?
Well actually, yes, like the above example there are a lot of things in our stores and in our world that harms our health and the environment to a point where we are at real risk, government however it seems have very little control over larger companies such as tobacco manufacturers, government is also run by the people ultimately and to stop smoking would not only mean a huge issue for smokers but also see crime rates increase significantly.

Banning smoking would not solve the problem, helping people quit smoking will solve the problem, unfortunately there are now so much of an anti-smoking culture and so many people who are 100% smokers this means society and people against smoking are also against the smokers themselves - rather they only care about themselves, a claim often made by non-smokers against smokers.

Smokers cannot help being smokers for the most part although we can teach children dangers of smoking no one will ever understand until it is too late, there is simply no way to teach the level of addiction, once addicted that does not make smokers stupid or selfish, it makes smokers victims of their addiction and now it seems also victims of a society that has turned their backs on them. Smoking isn't enjoyable as much as smokers attempt to make themselves believe this, they had to force themselves to like smoking, they are poisening themselves on a daily basis, but the addiction keeps them thinking it is enjoyable and difficult to stop, society backs up these ideas.

I smoke; I smoke because I have an addiction – anti-smokers help keep people like me addicted by keeping away real help to bring an end to the addiction....

Answer 2

I would like to know where you get your statistics from. If passive smoke really has 300% more nicotine than inhaling directly, then why bother smoking? Let's just find a friendly smoker and get our kicks from their exhalations...

I would also like to take issue with your statement that the majority of the NHS budget is taken up with dealing with smoking-related diseases. Have you ever stopped to think what percentage of the cost of cigarettes is tax? As a smoker, I pay a fair percentage more VAT to the government than the average non-smoker, on top of my usual income tax and national insurance. To deny smokers NHS treatment is therefore ludicrous - you could make the same self-harm argument about athletes, sky-divers and adrenaline junkies.

As a smoker, I resent the way smoking has become such a moral issue. In simplistic terms, a smoker is not a Nazi! I do not take issue with the amount of alcohol people throw down their necks every week, or take to harassing car drivers for polluting the environment, even though I neither drink nor drive!

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. If someone around me doesn't like the smell, say, of cigarettes then I don't smoke around them. Similarly, I don't smoke in restaurants or around children. But what I do in my own home, or in places where smoking is sanctioned, is my own business, and I resent the implication that I am somehow morally inferior because I choose to spend my earnings on cigarettes!

As to why I smoke, I accept the fact that after 10 years of smoking I have a nicotine dependance. But if that were the only reason, I would give up. The truth is, I smoke because I enjoy it, Think about it, if smoking wasn't enjoyable, no-one would!

Answer 3

I have never smoked. my parents were heavy smokers, which probably put me off it. i hate the smell, and can tell when someone is smoking from half a mile away. i especially hate the smell when I'm eating, or when I'm going in for a cold. old ash trays stink, and one of the worst habits smokers have is that when they've finished with the ciggie/packet/matches etc, they just throw them on the floor. in work they tend to throw them under the work bench, where they fester and stink!
my wife smokes [she says it stops her getting fat!!! women]
the other morning i came home after night shift, and i could tell that she'd been up 10 Min's earlier for a cup of tea and a ciggie.
it's a "love me love my dog" thing and i wouldn't leave her for the world, so don't even suggest it.
though having said all that, i am a pub/club singer and as much as i hate ciggie smoke, i do need to earn a living. the impending smoking ban is going to hurt a lot more people that they think, if i suffer so will the tax man, so i don't suppose it will be all bad news!
every one says that i preach about smoking, but the worst preachers of all are the ones who have given it up, they even get on my nerves.

Answer 4

I am NOT A SMOKER! I think it's seriously disgusting. plus not only are the smokers damaging their own health, but all the others around them too! I don't understand how pregnant women can smoke. Surely the baby should be given a proper chance at having a healthy start in life! I know people who won't travel in my car with me because I won't let them smoke in it! Surely a 5 minute journey won't cause them to crave a cigarette so badly that they need to polute the already limited fresh air in the car and leave the car stinking for days!

Answer 5

I smoked 30-40 per day until May 14 2006, I hated my addiction to the dreaded weed, I hated the fact that a substance had power over me.
I had smoked since my marriage break up, 9 years ago, prior to that we had both packed up some years before that. I was so proud of myself and then I let myself down.

This year I suffered a chest infection, I was not well and decided to stop. I have not smoked since, I am determined to beat it and most of all save that tax
thats all I can be bothered to write at the moment

Answer 6

You have no idea how many taxes are placed upon the sale of cigarettes! Since smokers are in the minority, they bear a much higher burden than non-smokers. In my state, it is taxes on the sale of cigarettes that pay for the maintenance of hiking trails, and keeping lakes clean. There is a 60-cent per pack tax that goes to schools!
If the 'general population' were fined to this extent, then there would be a huge uprising against the taxes. But since it's only against the hated smokers, the taxes are allowed to remain. How are you going to foot the bill when everyone either quits or dies?
Additionally, there is a lot more federal money spent on keeping pre-mature crack babies alive than on health maintenance of smokers. You're barking up the wrong tree.

Answer 7

I smoke but respect others who don't. The tax paid on ciggies is enough to finance the NHS 10 times over, if not more. If you're getting into health bills - what about alcoholics, obiesity etc - where do you draw the line? At least smokers tax has contributed to care of other smokers & non-smokers alike.

Answer 8

I smoke and i hate it !!
Worst thing i ever done was pick up that 1st cigarette ..... i have given up on several occasions only 2 start again .... but i look at it like this even if i have failed at least i am trying ... if i don't make the start by trying i will never stop ....
it does stink it does ruin your health and also its not nice for non smokers ......
well done to all those that have stopped and well done to those that have never smoked !

Answer 9

I don't smoke, but I have tried it a few times.

The first time I tried it I started coughing, my eyes got watery, and my throat burned! I decided to try it a second time (I figured I did it wrong) Second time I smoked with those flavored cigarettes and it was the same ol, same ol. Finally I realized that my body was telling me that it didn't want that stuff. So I haven't bothered since.

I think that many people do it because supposedly it relieves stress and nerves. I don't know.

Answer 10

I am a smoker and have been since i was 13, my main reason for still smoking is mainly habit, i gave up for 6 month's but was difficult as my family are smokers. I agree with some of what you are saying, but as many people have said, it's what you want to do with your life the law are so keen to take everything away that you will not be the owner of your life they will, and we will all live very unhappy lifes. We are all free spirits and should be able to do whatever we want, if someone want's to kill themself by smoking then that's there choice!!

Answer 11

I started smoking at 13 to impress some people. I quit when I got preganant both times, but always started up agian because it relxed me. Now I have one or two a day when I work. When Im home with the kids, I dont. :)

It's my choice in the long run.