• CreativeWoman said on Sep 05, 2006....

  I don't smoke. I tried cigarettes, but I didn't like the after taste.
  
  CW
  

• scalywag said on Sep 05, 2006....

  I started smoking when I was 13. Over the years I quit a few times, but not for more than a couple months at a time.
  
  I finally had my last smoke on May 26, 2000, at age 40.
  

• allaroundgirl said on Sep 05, 2006....

  I don't smoke...as a teen I tried one and didn't really see the point.
  

• ashishnangia said on Sep 05, 2006....

  well...since you ask..
  look at it this way
  some people drink, some play golf, some blog, some smoke.
  
  people are not 'trying' to kill themselves, they're just leading their lives the best they know how.
  
  as an occasional smoker, i find the 'moral' non-smoker very annoying, the one who tries to convince me that something's fundamentally wrong with me because i smoke.
  
  i agree that non-smoker needn't be forced to inhale second-hand smoke, but no one's forcing anyone to go where people are smoking, right?
  
  have you tried talking to your neighbor? Maybe he has another place he wouldnt mind smoking in, one from where the smoke won't carry..
  
  lastly, one question: are you being paid to blog by SoulCast? I mean, the language people use and their handles are incredibly similar, structurally speaking.. so after a while one wonders...:D
  
  I mean, its all right if you are, many startups are doing the same thing, but just so one knows...
  

• Lovethebeach said on Sep 05, 2006....

  I have never smoked a day in my life. I cannot stand the smell. Luckily, my kids feel the same way!
  

• bloc said on Sep 05, 2006....

  "but no one's forcing anyone to go where people are smoking, right?"
  
  If I take the elevator in my apartment building i'm forced to face the stench of people that smoked in the elevator before I got in it.
  
  Here's a better question. Why do you smoke? What do you get out of it. You listed how others drink, golf, or blog. I can see what people get out of those. Smoking makes you smell terrible to non smokers, makes your teath yellow, etc, etc. What overcomes all the negatives of smoking for you? I don't see similar negatives in the non smoking examples you listed assuming one isn't an alcholic.
  

• okelay said on Sep 05, 2006....

  i don't smoke. x-files taught me that smoking is very,very bad.
  i admit, i did tried it when i was around 16. but i didn't like it. it left a bad taste in my mouth. it made it harder to breather.
  i didn't like it at all.
  thank god, my country just passed a law about smoking.
  no more smoking in public places. only a few restaurants and pubs will be allowed to be smoking-only places.
  
  i'm thrilled about it.but there has been a lot of discussion, going so far as calling it "an attack of civil liberties"
  
  a bit exagerated, i think.
  besides, isn't it an attack of the non-smoker's liberties to have to endure the smokers?
  

• aphadon said on Sep 05, 2006....

  I used to smoke. When I smoked, I knew it was unhealthy, but it wasn't an issue to me at the time. I ended up quitting, mainly because it was too damn expensive here.
  
  However, I'm very middle of the road on this issue - people should be free to smoke, but those who choose not to shouldn't be forced to take in the second-hand smoke. It sucks that the laws are so open where you are - here smoking is banned in pretty much all buildings except private residences, and at least 20 metres from doors. I think that this type of law is a good balance, because non-smokers can enjoy restaurants, bars, shopping, and whatnot without being exposed, but smokers are not criminals and can still do as they choose.
  
  I also believe that non-smokers shouldn't fit the bill for the healthcare of smokers, for countries that provide government-funded care. So, levying taxes to help cover healthcare costs is, I feel, a good way for these countries to keep non-smokers from suffering in another way.
  

• soca said on Sep 05, 2006....

  I don't smoke. I don't like to be around people who smoke. I am very glad that most of the people I hang out with are non-smokers. I do face smokers on the street daily though...and that is why I really hope they will soon ban smoking in public places. I am through trying to convince smokers they shouldn't smoke. I believe there is enough information out there for them to decide for themselves. I hope they all decide to quit! That's clearly not going to happen ...barring a miracle of course ....yes, I do believe in miracles!
  

• Bluesnake said on Sep 05, 2006....

  Thanks for all the comments...
  
  ashishnangia,
  it's really difficult to talk to your neighbour when I've never spoken to my neighbour since he moved in a year ago. I just knew that he's not a good neighbour and I just do not want to be near him.
  LOL, the language & style everyone uses here at SC looks the same?
  Maybe the reason why is we are bloggers. :D
  
  Bloc,
  Good point!
  
  Anyway, do you realise that a smoker's life is being controlled by a stick of cigaratte.
  Why do you want something else to control your life? Everyday, he/she gives his life away to a stick of cigaratte, clinging to the stick of cigaratte, addicted to a stick of cigaratte.
  
  I too have been trying to convince my smoker friend to quit. But his addiction is just too powerful.
  

• anarchist said on Sep 05, 2006....

  I smoke. But not a "chimney" you just described your neighbor as. I don't do chain-smoking. Most of the time, I just couldn't take away the whole smoking away from the drinking -- whenever my friends and I meet for drinks, that is. I don't go crazy just to take a break and get a nicotine-fix. Not exactly sure why I do smoke. Will get back to you on that.
  

• Bluesnake said on Sep 05, 2006....

  I'll be waiting, anarchist. :)
  

• anarchist said on Sep 05, 2006....

  Since the time that I commented, I've been thinking. But you can go ahead and read what I wrote on first impressions and smoking. Be warned. I do smoke.
  

• willowwisp said on Sep 05, 2006....

  I don't smoke, and am one of the people who reacts badly to second hand smoke. My eyes burn and I can get headaches when exposed. Heavy exposure can lead to a serious case of bronchial pneumonia. I don't give smokers a hard time about their habit, but it really presents problems for me. It can also make it difficult in social situations - hard to remove yourself from exposure to the smoke without rudeness.
  

• willowwisp said on Sep 05, 2006....

  I don't smoke, and am one of the people who reacts badly to second hand smoke. My eyes burn and I can get headaches when exposed. Heavy exposure can lead to a serious case of bronchial pneumonia. I don't give smokers a hard time about their habit, but it really presents problems for me. It can also make it difficult in social situations - hard to remove yourself from exposure to the smoke without rudeness.
  

• nr23 said on Sep 05, 2006....

  i am like CreativeWoman, i did try to smoke during my school time but the taste was just disgusting.
  

• akimoto-kumiko said on Sep 10, 2006....

  Was a smoker and quit due to several reasons:
  
  1. I lost too much weight, which wasn't good coz I'm already tiny.
  2. I didn't like the smell cigars leave on my fingers
  3. Made me conscious about how my breath smelled
  4. I always knew that smoking isn't good for the health. My uncle died last December, lung cancer and something else that was also due to excessive smoking.
  
  I started smoking when I worked as a call center agent, 90% of the agents on my shift smoked. Decided to try it coz they said it helps beat the cold inside the building, and it did help. I stopped for about a year after I resigned, smoked again when I became a medical representative. It was in April of this year that I finally made up my mind and swore never to have even a single stick.
  
  I don't hate smokers, they have their reasons. Maybe some of them just need to be a little sensitive in terms of the proper places to puff. For example, it's really insensitive when one smokes in public transportations and places where there are a lot of kids. And for those who get annoyed and just can't bear inhaling second hand smoke, don't be afraid to politely ask a fellow commuter to put out his/her cigar. It works for me, I just lie about having an asthma attack :)
  

• Bluesnake said on Sep 10, 2006....

  Good to hear that you stopped, akimoto.
  

• missb said on Sep 13, 2006....

  Well, I guess I'm the only one who smokes and still do :/
  
  I have to admit that I'm quite a heavy smoker and I'm surrounded by smokers as well. My whole family except my mom smokes (My dad and 2 brothers). And almost all of my friends smoke too. Go figure.
  
  Tobacco is a huge business here. It's estimated that there are 141 million smokers out of the 250 million population of Indonesia. About 70% are men and 20% are women. So you can say that there are only 10% of Indonesians who don't smoke :/ Plus, cigarettes are so cheap over here compared to the other surrounding nations. A marlboro costs about less than US$ 1. And there are even cheaper ones.
  
  Indonesia is famous for the kretek (clove-blended) cigarette. It has a distinct smell. For people who don't know, they thought it smells like marijuana. I myself smoke the good ol' marlboro menthol. I personally don't like kretek. It has this weird sweet taste on your lips.
  
  Oh, sorry, I'm ranting. Anyway, to answer BlueSnake. Why do I smoke?
  
  Because I like it. I know it's such a bad habit. But I feel like cigarette is the perfect companion when I'm lost in thought, writing or conversing. It's especially best when I'm drinking coffee. I will quit though someday. But not today.
  
  Also, I don't think girls who smoke smell/taste like ashtray. Maybe it's just the girls. For guys, yeah, they stink. Even my dad. But the girls don't at all.
  
  Oh, and please don't hate me cuz I smoke :)
  
  Ps: I'm very considerate about others when I smoke though. And I'm sure I have never annoyed you guys for smoking. We never crossed paths :)
  
  Cheers!
  

• missb said on Sep 13, 2006....

  Sorry, the 10% Indonesians who don't smoke didn't come out right.
  
  That's not right. It's more like, about 40% Indonesian don't smoke. The missing 10% was weird. Maybe out of 141 million smokers, 70% are men, 20% are women, and the 10% are gay? Heh.... weird statistics :/
  

• Bluesnake said on Sep 13, 2006....

  LoL! Weird statistics for sure.
  
  Well, missb, I hope you do take the effort to stop it.
  

• missb said on Sep 14, 2006....

  I sure will someday Bluesnake ;)
  
  Cheers!
  

• jhanok said on Sep 19, 2006....

  No i'm not.
  
  & just like you i hate it...
  
  though my future husband so smoke.but he tried to stop,and now back again...
  
  this would be a challenge for to stop him from smoking...
  

• Bluesnake said on Sep 19, 2006....

  jhanok,
  You gotta take that challenge seriously to make him stop.
  

• JohnyBottom said on Sep 28, 2007....

  I smoke. I smoke outside and never around children.
  If you don't like it hold your breath.
   
  I understand the dangers of second hand smoke. I'm a loner anyway so I'm hurting no one but myself.
   
  Why do I do it? Well right now I'm in Iraq and it's the only stress relief I have because I can't get pussy or alcohol over here.

Comment on "Are you a smoker?"

Currently tagged	smoking smoke cigarettes life second hand smoke question etc non debate non-smoking (Click to add tags below)
Tag this post	(Separate tags using commas, for example: New York, dating, vegetarian)
Your comment
	Comment Anonymously