smoking

[Kyuketsuki]

No. But if someone really wants to quit, then what is so difficult about ignoring a habbit? People who can't say no to a cigarette are simply people who don't really want to quit. Quitting isn't that difficult.

the answer is chemicals, silly

And chemicals can also been manipulated and ignored. we can think, and criticize our own behaviour and feelings.

When I wrote that reply I knew a lot of people would reply to it, telling me how hard addiction is, and to get rid of it. Did they all read my replies? I have also been addicted to smoking. I know what an addiction is. I know the biology, the chemicals that are related to it. And how it feels when a voice in the back of your head says "smoke a cigarette". That everytime when you see something related to smoking you will think "oh I would love to smoke now".

Smokers can't stand it when people criticize their habit(sorry for the typo earlier ) A habit can become an addiction. It takes a few weeks to get rid of a habit. It also takes a few weeks to get rid of the habit of having a cigarette in your hand. Your body needs 3 days to cure from its dependence on nicotine. After that you just need to lose the habit. Also, get used to the pressure of other people who smoke.

Irritation, frustation, craving are all part of getting over it. But well, you can conquer those feelings with willpower. At least, to me it was quite easy. If you can't conquer those feelings with willpower, then I think you don't really want to quit. Smoking is great, and it is really not weird or strange if you don't want to quit smoking. However, if you really want to quit, then I am sure willpower can easily conquer all the voices, chemicals and negative emotions.

Yeah, but you're missing the point that everyone is not you. Different chemicals do different things to different people because we're all wired differently- that's what makes us unique. So just because it was simpler for you, doesn't mean it is for someone else- you don't know what they're going through; they could want to quit more badly than you ever did and find that they cannot.

I don't smoke, but I know many who do, and this is what I've seen. I'm very happy that you managed to break out of it cold-turkey, but to be honest with you, that's a bit of a fluke compared to everyone else. Try to get out of your own personal view point for a second and put yourself in someone elses shoes who has a completely different life, routine, attitude, mentality- if you were perhaps someone else and wired like they were, I doubt it would be so easy for you.

 

[Antaeus]

Yeah, but you're missing the point that everyone is not you. Different chemicals do different things to different people because we're all wired differently- that's what makes us unique. So just because it was simpler for you, doesn't mean it is for someone else- you don't know what they're going through; they could want to quit more badly than you ever did and find that they cannot.

I don't smoke, but I know many who do, and this is what I've seen. I'm very happy that you managed to break out of it cold-turkey, but to be honest with you, that's a bit of a fluke compared to everyone else. Try to get out of your own personal view point for a second and put yourself in someone elses shoes who has a completely different life, routine, attitude, mentality- if you were perhaps someone else and wired like they were, I doubt it would be so easy for you.

Maybe I can't imagine how someone else experience this.
I have observed people who smoke, who tried to quit, who just love to smoke and myself. This was just the conclusion that made most sense to me.

I guess being differently "wired" means you are less capable of dealing with your own feelings, the addiction, and getting rid of it. Isn't that a weakness? If so, then my statement in my first post is still true. If you think those people are strong even when they are less lucky with their "wires" then I guess I am wrong.

 

[Kyuketsuki]

Yeah, but you're missing the point that everyone is not you. Different chemicals do different things to different people because we're all wired differently- that's what makes us unique. So just because it was simpler for you, doesn't mean it is for someone else- you don't know what they're going through; they could want to quit more badly than you ever did and find that they cannot.

I don't smoke, but I know many who do, and this is what I've seen. I'm very happy that you managed to break out of it cold-turkey, but to be honest with you, that's a bit of a fluke compared to everyone else. Try to get out of your own personal view point for a second and put yourself in someone elses shoes who has a completely different life, routine, attitude, mentality- if you were perhaps someone else and wired like they were, I doubt it would be so easy for you.

Maybe I can't imagine how someone else experience this.
I have observed people who smoke, who tried to quit, who just love to smoke and myself. This was just the conclusion that made most sense to me.

I guess being differently "wired" means you are less capable of dealing with your own feelings, the addiction, and getting rid of it. Isn't that a weakness? If so, then my statement in my first post is still true. If you think those people are strong even when they are less lucky with their "wires" then I guess I am wrong.

I'd love to see you switch places with my old best friend's mother- low income, unkept house, divorce on the horizon, parents just died, hereditary health problems, and having to sell your house due to impending divorce- try to quit under such pressure. You could want everything in the world to quit, but are unable to.

You call this a weakness when your own lack of empathy and pride in thinking you understand other peoples' situations when you won't even realistically consider them for two seconds is your weakness. Living like that will be exceedingly lonely for you if you can't understand what your fellow man are going through.

 

[Antaeus]

I'd love to see you switch places with my old best friend's mother- low income, unkept house, divorce on the horizon, parents just died, hereditary health problems, and having to sell your house due to impending divorce- try to quit under such pressure. You could want everything in the world to quit, but are unable to.

You call this a weakness when your own lack of empathy and pride in thinking you understand other peoples' situations when you won't even realistically consider them for two seconds is your weakness. Living like that will be exceedingly lonely for you if you can't understand what your fellow man are going through.

so because she had so many problems it is ok to smoke? It is ridiculous to try to quit under those circumstances. Simply because you have other things on your mind. However, when everything calmed down, and she is in a better part of her life. She could quit easily.

Don't you think it is a bit offtopic what I think of my fellow men? I think you shouldn't say I don't understand my fellow men simply based on my opinion on smoking. I am the type of person who observes. I am a student, because of that I have met, seen and observed a lot of smokers. This is the only logical conclusion to me. Saying that it is a weakness of me, that I can't understand how difficult it is, is ridiculous.

The facts are that people who really want to quit always quit. People who say they want to quit but never succeed are the type of people who either want attention, or just love smoking too much. Also, smokers are generally people who are sensitive to peer pressure. Don't you know how easily other smokers accept you when you smoke? Plus, it is a very easy way to meet new people. It is also an interesting fact that those people who are sensitive to peer pressure started to smoke on an early age. Attention seeking behaviour, loving smoking too much, peer pressure, aren't those all signs of weakness? I never understood those things. Why people require much attention, why they depend their life on a cigarette and why they can't handle peer pressure. So that makes me the weakling. Makes perfect sense

 

[Kurisu]

I hate smoking and everyone who is smoking close to me.
I can't stand it. The smell makes me sick

 

[Amatsu]

She could quit easily.

honestly, have you read anything anyone has said?

I'm going to ignore your ignorant posts until you get addicted to cigarettes and try to quit. then, I'll call you weak.

 

[flowersofnight]

So, would it be safe to say at this point that this thread has.... gone up in flames?

 

[Amatsu]

So, would it be safe to say at this point that this thread has.... gone up in flames?

I think so.

 

[Berserk]

so because she had so many problems it is ok to smoke?

Obviously that's not what Kyuketsuki was saying at all. This isn't a moral issue, it's a practical one. When someone is under immense stress, and they have come to depend on a certain chemical to relieve their stress, it's obviously going to be incredibly hard (perhaps even impossible) for them to break that addiction.

Saying that it is a weakness of me, that I can't understand how difficult it is, is ridiculous.

I think it's fair. You clearly don't grasp that just because you've had a relatively cheery, carefree lot in life doesn't mean that everyone else is in the same position. You don't grasp that just because you were able to break your addiction easily doesn't mean that anyone who wants to can.

If someone spoke to you in a language that you've never heard or studied, and they called you weak for not being able to fluently respond to them in that language, you would think they were ridiculous. Stupid even. This is what you're doing. Other smokers have a completely different perspective of life than you do, and you need to try to understand them; not label them as "weak".

The facts are that people who really want to quit always quit.

Prove it.

I question that you were ever truly addicted to cigarettes.

EDIT:

So, would it be safe to say at this point that this thread has.... gone up in flames?

Yeah, I don't think this thread is going anywhere pleasant.

 

[Antaeus]

Geez that people could get so pissed off simply because my opinion is different, and maybe controversial compared to the general opinion about smoking. I am mostly posting this because I am curious to see how other people think about this. Not to see people get all pissed off because they see it as offensive. Get used to it that not everything in life is all nice and full with sweetness.

oh well..

@Berserk, I said in my reply that when you are under a lot of stress then it is a bad time to quit, because you will probably need to smoke to release the stress. But after or before the period of stress people are able to quit.

You can't measure whether people really want to quit smoking or not. But just look around and ask people who did quit and people who are trying to quit. There is a big difference in mentality between those two type of people.

cheerful, carefree life, huh?

I am not that sensitive towards addiction. So perhaps I wasn't that addicted compared with other ex-smokers. Weak could be an exaggeration, but what other word should I apply? Feel sympathy for the fact they created an addiction for themself and now can't quit? People are strong when they are able to quit. They are weak when they want to quit but claim they can't. I understand now that the word "weak" sounds too offensive towards most users here. So if you have found a more suitable word that describe their situation, go ahead. Also interesting, the people who are replying here are not smokers(correct me if I am wrong) so how can you people know how an addiction feels like?

Anyway, about this topic. I have the feeling I left a bad impression on some users. Maybe a lot. so sorry for that(I apologize if I offended anyone). You could lock the topic, it is pretty obvious most scape users don't smoke, and I personally feel a bit misunderstood.

 

[PureElegance]

Get used to it that not everything in life is all nice and full with sweetness.

I think its safe to say that everyone here already knows this.

Also interesting, the people who are replying here are not smokers(correct me if I am wrong) so how can you people know how an addiction feels like?

Hmm...maybe we KNOW someone who's had an addiction before and had to go through awful withdrawal symptoms? Of course, I know that smoking withdrawal symptoms aren't as bad as the ones relating to drugs. Also, you shouldn't automatically assume that people haven't experienced some form of addiction in their lives.

Some people handle the addiction differently than others, no one is the same. Yes, I know you quit your addiction quite easily, which is good. Obviously, if everyone had your willpower and strength, there would be no rehab centers or addicts.

The addiction, however, doesn't only affect the person, but everyone else including friends and family, and I think you're failing to see this.

I'm not "pissed" at you but I think you're a bit ignorant when it comes to seeing the pain of someone trying to quit an addiction. I do hope that you never have never have to experience with someone you truly care for, though.


I just had to say that, I'll go now...

 

[Kyuketsuki]

@Antaeus: I think the main issue here is EMPATHY-

You have none.


And saying that I don't understand the pressure and the circumstances of these people just because I DON'T smoke- have you been reading?? My friend's mother- she's just one of many I've had to watch suffer through more than just smoking. Perhaps it's just me, perhaps I'm "too emotional", but I can empathize with these people heavily. I'll never know exactly what it's like, but what I do know is much worse than whatever description you've given so far is.

It's not a matter of having a different opinion that's getting people riled up, it's that you don't seem to empathize or even understand others around you who do smoke, and I mean truly understand. There's your personal take on the matter, at that is all- no one else's take is true to you just because you've gone through it one way and you think that's the only way. We're trying to tell you it is not the only way, and whether you're just like this towards smoking or other things even, you have to learn to really see from other peoples' perspectives or you're going to miss out a lot on life.


Now. As Marius de Romanus so eloquently put it, "Anger is a weakness." I think that's the true weakness here. That being said, I'm finished here.

 

[rizumu]

There's a reason I never started. Then I got drunk one night and all my friends smoke so I was like "gimme one!" Oops. I'll just quote Miz.

When someone is under immense stress, and they have come to depend on a certain chemical to relieve their stress, it's obviously going to be incredibly hard (perhaps even impossible) for them to break that addiction.

That and I don't care about anything enough anymore to really quit. I am cutting back though.

 

[sailorKa]

Before this gets thrown to the trash can or something let me say that I've never smoked in my life and I, in general, don't like to be around smokers...
.....but if that person is smoking BELMONT cigarettes I'M GOING TO HATE THEM FOREVER . D8<

I have no problem with people smoking Marlboro in my face. it smells nicer.

--k

 

[Amatsu]

Geez that people could get so pissed off simply because my opinion is different

It's not a matter of opinion, proven science is why you're wrong

 

[Antaeus]

Geez that people could get so pissed off simply because my opinion is different

It's not a matter of opinion, proven science is why you're wrong

As long as science hasn't proven what controls your willpower, in what extent we can control our chemicals and needs with our willpower. I don't think you can say it is scientifically proven.

Science only proved that it depends on a gene(they even know the specific gene) how easily you get addicted to nicotine, and how easily you can stop smoking. Science has also proven that a nicotine-addiction only last three days. The problem is the habbit of smoking, not the nicotine(ever wondered why those nicotine-bandages exist for people who want to quit?)

@Kyuketsuki, and empathy is a weakness too. In that way we can continue forever. I know I lack empathy. Or at least, my standards are pretty high before I accept someone's "suffering".

 

[Elec]

@Kyuketsuki, and empathy is a weakness too. In that way we can continue forever. I know I lack empathy. Or at least, my standards are pretty high before I accept someone's "suffering".

 

[flowersofnight]

Psh, I'm tired of this. It's obvious most people here don't smoke anyway.