Smoking: is it an habit to pretend or fit in a group?

Question

What is the social function of smoking? To fit in some kind of group, trying to look older, smarter or fashionable (include the cigar).
Does it really works or the people go away because the bad smell?
Is it help to reduce the anxiety or nervousness under pressure?
Do the smokers are aware of the effect of smoking?

Answer 1

Smoking is never healthy. But young people always do that just to be different, they want to get noticed. When these people get attention from other young people around them, some other young people would think that smoking is cool since it popularizes them, and they join in just for the sake of being 'cool'. Some people do it just to keep up with their friends.

These are ALL TWISTED thoughts. Smoking is never cool. Only smokers claim themselves cool. Once someone starts smoking, he'll get addicted, definitely, and so smoking becomes a habit. People often smoke when they are in trouble or stress out, because smoking gives them the kind of soothing feeling of being cool, or themselves being seen as cool. This is an imaginary positive thought used to balance out the stressful condition they are in at that moment.

Cigar is much more expensive and so it places people in another social level. Smoking cigar is just a self depiction or self proclaimation of being in upper class.

Cigarettes contain chemicals that INDUCE stress instead of relieving it.

Smokers of course know the health hazards related to smoking. Since smoking is a slow killer, who cares since everyone will die at some time later. This is the mindset of smokers. They however, have no idea of the sufferings they'll get from terminal illness caused by smoking. Female smokers who are pregnant are even worse because it causes mutation to their children. And most don't care about that.

Answer 2

Most kids start smoking because their parents smoke. I started stealing cigarettes at age 10. Sure I thought it was a cool thing to do. Of course doing pretty much anything that I wasn't supposed to do was fun. Then you become addicted and just smoke because you're compelled to. They say that only 5% of the people who try to quit smoking are successful on the first attempt. This shows you how dependent they become of the cigarette. It's like a security blanket to some. Just habit to others. A status symbol to others. You ask if smokers are aware of the risks and effects. Every single one of them yes. They showed us a black lung of a smoker in 6th grade. Too bad I was already a smoker. But I must add I woke up one day and decided enough was enough. I haven't had a cigarette since. Over 13 years now. =)

Answer 3

I am a smoker and yeah i am aware of the effect of it.. I've been tryin to quit though!
At first I did it to fit in with my friends...stupid move on my part cause now I'm addicted, and you know the funny thing about it is......
I cant stand the way it smells..everytime i smoke a cigg i go directly to the bathroom and brush my teeth and wash my hands....I also refuse to smoke in my house cause of the smell also! For me it dosent really reduce anxiety or nervousness though! Ive only been smoking for 6 years and i want to quit soooo bad...i dont think i am somebody that's made for smoking LOL

Answer 4

I found out that smoking is something that some people start to do while excavating. So, it would be a social function. I had a choice of staying by myself or being somewhere where people were smoking. I'm allergic to it, but I stuck it out because I was in a small foreign country and there was nothing to do. I swore when I was 3 that I would never smoke because it can kill you, and I don't think I'll ever break that oath.

Answer 5

It is no habit to pretend, nor fitting in a group. rather it is backed by an undefined sense of morbid psycho-social frustration, and a lack of normal daily stress coping abilities. The smoker thinks he needs a boaster to give him that strength to cope with anxiety, stress, depression, cold, loneliness, lust, cravings,..., you can name the rest.
After smoking he feels confident to face the task. A PITY THOUGH BECAUSE ITS EFFECT IS ONLY SHORT-LIVE.
They are aware of the effects, but think ''I'm not alone'', ''they can't produce this if it is harmful'', ''doctors also do smoke'', ...; their philosophy is based on the popular opinion, and not on facts.

Answer 6

Well I started around 13 because I thought it was cool. Now I only smoke cigars when I go on holiday on cruise ships and stuff.. the smell definatley deters people. For me, nicotine makes anxiety worse.

Answer 7

wow, i disagree and agree with the other answer about looking mature in high school. i graduated last year and i knew a lot of folk who did smoke just for the look of being old enough to have it and making others think you are tough and a bad ***. for me though i started at 17 just for the fact that i hung out with my sister alot and i always fought with my mother and ended up smoking whenever we fought. and it seems to me that now when i am upset or really agitated i smoke because if i don't i will feel a little shaky. i know the risks and i want to stop.... and the smell is unnoticable at times- if you grew up with it... it seems to fade

Answer 8

To someone like me (a non-smoker), smoking doesn't make you cool. Of course, I'm 27 years old. But, I don't think for someone of high school age that having a cigarette makes you more "mature" in a sense. Me personally, I go away because a) I have asthma, and b) they're killing themselves!!

Answer 9

I smoked for forty years and your hair always smells of smoke, you develope a hoarse cough, your wind goes to hell, nowadays most places its unacceptable, and don't kid your self, there is no pretending, of part time smokers. It always becomes a habit,one thats harder to break than losing weight. To kill your self to belong is as foolish as running naked down main street at noon and not expecting to be seen.

Answer 10

when i was a kid it was the same with cigs as other drugs something to look for every day almost a goal that got me out of the house help me interact. i thought it was cool, but knew i shouldn't be proud of it i'm almost imbarrassed by it now i quit once by truly hating smoking for 2mnths but nobody in my fam cared so i started again i think now i pretend its almost like coffee. gives me get up and go and its so easy not to quit