Could you help me understand why people that are so intelligent smoke cigarettes?

Question

Their so intelligent but yet so ignorant why?

Answer 1

They aren't ignorant, they make a decision based on the information available, and decide that the benefits gained from smoking outweigh the possible risks.

Don't forget that nicotine is a very addictive, and intelligence isn't a factor in continuing smoking - the addiction is the reason that smokers continue.

I smoked for many years - because I wanted to. I knew it was damaging to my health, but felt that the enjoyment I got out of being a smoker was worth it. As soon as I didn't enjoy smoking anymore, I knew it was time to quit. Fingers crossed, I am now a non smoker.

Answer 2

That's a good question, and one that I will try to answer the best I can. Times have changed dramatically in the last couple decades. When I was growing up, you would turn on the television and see people smoking on talk shows. Airplanes and even hospitals had smoking rooms. In the eyes of a young man, smoking was just something that was looked at as being part of being an adult, all the cool adults smoked. I started smoking while in the military, and smoked for a long time after. Nicotine is so addictive, both physically and mentally, that it is extremely hard to break the habit. People have tried to quit, that is why nicotine gum and the nicotine patches are such big business, because people do want to quit. Don't judge someone unless you've walked a mile in their shoes. I look forward to the day that cigarettes are illegal in the U.S., but that day will never come because of the tobacco lobby in Washington. Smoking bans are a great start. As an ex-smoker, I still deal with an occassional desire to have a cigarette even though I know that it would taste horrible (because my sense of smell is back to normal). Attitudes toward smoking are changing and the way it is presented to the younger generation will largely determine the attitudes passed down to their children.

Answer 3

I don’t think that there is a significant relationship between smoking and intelligence. I don’t think that it is safe to conclude that people who are intelligent smoke and that non-smokers are not intelligent. It also doesn’t make sense to think that smoking is an act of stupidity.

Intelligence does not imply perfection. In other words, an intelligent person still has the human flaw to succumb to temptation. Intelligent people are also susceptible to feelings and human emotion…more often than not, people begin smoking through peer pressure and from the influence of others. I think smoking begins by people wanting to conform to a particular group thus allowing the opportunity to present themselves in a certain way to other people.

Sometimes, cigarettes, just like alcohol or coffee, have to be seen as a social tool. It just shouldn’t be seen as a provider of cancer. Aside from merely being a stress-reliever, cigarettes can also bring people together. Imagine a corporate setting and every person on top management smokes cigarettes… a person who wishes to climb the corporate ladder will look for the opportunity to rub elbows with the higher ups and one way of doing so is by identifying with management and smoking with them. There are times, though it may be the more superficial reason behind smoking but sometimes these can be the reasons why people start smoking, that smoking is done for the sake of conformity and finding the need to belong (and this is usually during adolescence).

People continue to smoke because they are hooked on the substance. Being an addictive substance, intelligence and ignorance would no longer play a role in the act. It is already the dependence towards the vice that a person does smoke. Sure you can always say that smoking is bad for you and people are well-informed of the harm that it can do to a person but then, we are all just human and sometimes, smokers just cant help it but they have to cater to the dependence by using the substance… that makes them weak but that does not mean that they are ignorant.

Answer 4

I have read the responses and I am still not convinced on a logical reason to smoke. I don't get why its so hard to stop (may be ignorant being that I have never been addicted to anything). The smell that lingers, since u smoke are u immune to the smell? (seriously, I am not trying to be funny) If it is so calming, when smelling smoke why does it not have the same effects. The financials is what gets me. Cigarettes are what $6, I will say you are in the middle buying 3 packs a week. That is $936, that is a mortagae, a couple of car payments, a couple of months student loans, a semester at a junior college. I want to understand and I don't.

Answer 5

ok. i'll try to help you understand (i'm smoking right now).
it has nothing to do with intelligence-
yes, i know it's 'unhealthy', makes my clothes/hair smell, and it's the new way to be a social pariah (they're trying to ban smoking at bus stops, now. AT BUS STOPS! outside in the streets.)
i'd say it's equally compulsion and addiction. i had stopped for a while and found myself having cravings (the addiction) as well as constantly chewing gum, toothpicks, or just eating too much (the oral-compulsion).
a small factor may also be the social aspect; i've always been friends with smokers, just as i've always found non-smokers to be overly self-righteous and preachy.
another factor may be that i really just don't care. nobody gaurantees me a long life, and if i died tomorrow i wouldn't regret all of my smoking, drinking, or drug use. it was my life and i lived it my own way.
any of this rant help you?

Answer 6

Here are some ways to look at this:

1.) even if you don't smoke you will NOT live forever

2.) people who do not smoke will become ill at the end of their lives, sickness or diminishing health is a symptom of aging period.

3.) everyone has a vice - smoking is just simply one of the choices.

4.) tobacco is not necessarily bad by itself, but the chemical additives are. (mad scientist gone wild)


Not to say that smoking will not exaserbate naturally occuring deminishing health, but it is what it is.

Not smoking is more of a social concern/ideal and a choice to smoke doesn't connotate ignorance as you stated.

Answer 7

*Just putting out my cigarette* It's the same reason that intelligent people do all sorts of stupid things; drive recklessly, wear high heels, use styrofoam plates in the microwave, etc. A lot of those people are intelligent, but do these things that put their health at stake. It's also for the same reason that intelligent people get hooked on drugs (legal and illegal), spend money out of control (which is why they're in debt), gamble, etc. It is an addiction.

Answer 8

I smoke cigarettes - I know exactly what I've gotten myself into - and yet I still smoke.

I've tried to quit numerous times. I'm trying again in a few months.

It's a very, very, very addictive substance.

You'd think it'd be so easy, right? To know that what you are doing to yourself is slowly killing you - you'd just stop?

I can't answer your question. I don't know the answer.

Don't ever smoke.

Answer 9

What proof do you have that they are intelligent? They can answer obscure question's that seemingly have multiple answers? They make money? Good GPA? High SAT? If they are getting marked up for these things than they must be marked down for smoking. -45 points

Answer 10

They do it because it's yummy,don't knock it till ya try it! My uncle smoked 3 packs a day for most of his life and lived till he was 96~! Who gives a crap if you're going to shorten your life by 5 years! Who the hell wants to live that long anyway! Keep smoking!
Long live the Chainsmoker!
Yoou must be one of em huh? YOu don't even know the correct THEY"RE to use.......as in THEIR so intelligent yet so ignorant......I think you need a smoke buddy.