The Underground World Of Smoking
Nov 12 '00
I find it laughable that there could possible be more than one tip to offer those who want to quit smoking. So, I will offer only one tip...quit when you are ready. Positively without a doubt ready. There is not a patch, nor a gum, nor a group that is going to be able to convince a smoker to quit. There is no magic solution to saying "Today will be the last day I will puff away at this cancer stick."
Do you honestly think that raising the price of cigarettes, not allowing people to smoke in public areas, or constantly emphasizing how bad cigarettes are for you is going to get people to quit? I hate to disappoint the reading public, but NO!!!
They have more commercials stressing the importance of not smoking than they do about not doing drugs. We are consistently bombarded with statements on how horrible second hand smoke is for people. Some even say that second hand smoke is worse than actually smoking the cigarette. Might as well be smoking then because you will wind up getting cancer from all that second hand smoke. Think about how many other pollutants you breathe in every day besides that which comes from second hand smoke...probably quite a bit more than you are thinking.
Drinking is bad for you, yet people still drink and without a doubt there are consequences from that. So, should the American government go back to the days of Prohibition? What about caffeine and the preservatives in food? I read an article about two months ago on MSN about how they are considering removing caffeine from food and drinks because caffeine is considered to be as highly addictive of a drug as nicotine. And to think that there are no social consequences from what people eat and drink, is ridiculous.
Nowadays, smokers are part of an underground world. We sit under our grey cloud of smoke in suspicion of those who do not smoke and dare to make a mockery of our habit. Perhaps we smoke out of defiance to a society that lives in a politically correct little bubble. We may even smoke because life is full of dangers to our mortality as it is, so hey, we might as well get some enjoyment out of our existence on this planet. And who knows if the diseases we have or could have are not predispositioned in the genes passed on from past generations...this includes cancer and emphysema as well as other diseases from supposedly smoking or inhaling second hand smoke. By all rights, smokers should all die from cancer or other respiratory ailments but this is not necessarily the case.
Am I saying smoking is a great habit to have? No. I'm merely stating that instead of berating all the people who inhale those evil cancer sticks, leave them alone in peace. If they want to smoke, you telling them 9 million times, just makes them want that cigarette even more. Let them quit when they are ready to quit. Believe me, there are those who just wake up one day and say "I do not want a cigarette." And they never smoke again. Whether they use the patch, or gum, or quit cold turkey, they made the decision for themselves and not due to the pressures society puts on them. I am willing to bet that at least some of these people that advocate against cigarettes have smoked them, or a cigar, or a pipe, or even marijuana, all of which are bad for you.
So before you begin to judge or lecture a smoker in your life...STOP. Smokers are like kids in a way, the more you say no, the more they want to do it. If the time comes that they should want to quit, be a support system for them, because that is all we really want. The non smokers have already staked their claim at restaurants, bars, shopping malls etc. and nagged the smoking race into going outside or staying at home or in our cars...we relented and let you have your way.
Quit when ready...that is my one and only tip for all you smokers out there. And support the smokers when they are ready....that is my tip for you non smokers. While my opinion will no doubt be unpopular, I still thank you for taking the time to read and wish you a good day.
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Epinions.com ID:
zenstar812
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Member: Anonymous Preferred
Location: Idaho
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"When I'm alone"-the words tripped off his tongue...
Siegfried Sassoon
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