Nicotine / smoking mega-thread *mega merged*

[Busty St Clare]

Obviously you have no children. Stop being a cunt. I don't blow smoke in your face so kindly shut your mouth.

You don't know me or my fucking kid.

Right back at you.

 

[T. Calderone]

Right back at you.

Go back to The Lounge and sniff some gasoline prick.

 

[Busty St Clare]

I would but the chance of some scum bag smoker standing next to me and blowing us both up is too great to risk

 

[34-dihydroxyphen]

A lot of energy spent hating on smokers. So much venom in this thread.


It would make me lol if it weren't for the fact that people douchy enough to obsess over other people's bad habits and put themselves into scenarios where other people's habits that they disapprove of can bother them so they can obsess some more, are also the people who like to posses and wield legislative power over others so that the world can conform to the way they think it should be, instead of conforming to the world like everybody else.

 

[CHiLD-0F-THE-BEAT]

Pleas calm down everyone. If we can't have a mature discussion I will close this thread. Name-calling is completely unnecessary, everyone has the right to their own opinions. If it continues I will begin to hand out infractions.

I don't blow smoke in your face so kindly shut your mouth.

The point is you don't have to blow it in my face to subject me to second hand smoke that negatively impacts on my health. What if I were in a wheelchair and had a 'breathing machine' due to having emphysema? Would you walk a meter out of your way to avoid your second hand smoke washing over me then?

A lot of energy spent hating on smokers. So much venom in this thread.


It would make me lol if it weren't for the fact that people douchy enough to obsess over other people's bad habits and put themselves into scenarios where other people's habits that they disapprove of can bother them so they can obsess some more, are also the people who like to posses and wield legislative power over others so that the world can conform to the way they think it should be, instead of conforming to the world like everybody else.

What would you suggest? That I become a hermit and not venture out onto the streets at all?

 

[34-dihydroxyphen]

What would you suggest? That I become a hermit and not venture out onto the streets at all?

I believe that your attitudes towards smoking and past reactions to cigarette smoke, along with propaganda campaigns such as "Truth" have influenced you to such a degree that you imagine yourself getting sick, even though there is no evidence that exposure to cigarette smoke in non-confined spaces leads to significant health problems. I believe that you are imagining things, and that if you calmed down a bit and stood next to the person smoking next to you while you were waiting to cross the street, and maybe smiled and said "hello" and kept a positive attitude instead of obsessing over how someone does something you don't like, you would be OK and get over your mostly psychological aversion to cigarette smoke.

Most asthmatics I know don't even have problems with smoke in confined spaces, and some of them are quite severe, including my dad. Not that I ever smoke in a confined space with him anymore, but my mom does this to him all the time (it is something I vehemently disagree with considering his pulmonary issues, but she has no impulse control so whatever).

I know you will disagree with me and my suggestions, and insist that the problems you experience when passing smokers on the street are quite real, but that is just the way these psychosomatic complexes are. They feel absolutely real to you. Nothing I can say will ever change that.

 

[1lost]

Cunt? Asshole? Referring to your child as " my fucking kid".
Really? Yes all parties free to express their personal feelings on topic at hand, some I agree some I don't but personally attacking by name calling because I do not agree ?

 

[atara]

I'm a smoker, but I really can't wrap my head around how so many of you feel entitled to smoke in enclosed areas with nonsmokers. This is one of the most bizarre threads I've seen (including the stuff in the Lounge), and it contains some of the most ridiculous logic for why it is okay to smoke inside.

You're entitled to smoke in any building where the owner of a building allows you to. They're entitled to make that decision because it's their building.

however I have a problem with having it thrust into my body without my consent.

I have a right to protect my health.

By this logic, you also have the right to sue anyone who drives a car past you, walks past you while infected with the flu, et cetera.

The point is you don't have to blow it in my face to subject me to second hand smoke that negatively impacts on my health. What if I were in a wheelchair and had a 'breathing machine' due to having emphysema? Would you walk a meter out of your way to avoid your second hand smoke washing over me then?

If you're going to continue to make this claim, you really ought to provide a link showing that passing by a smoker outside presents some sort of measurable risk to human health. Presumably, the risk should be greater than that of the sunlight exposure you accrue during such time.

EDIT: I went and looked at the numbers. The WHO Air Quality Guidelines recommend a maximum average particulate level as measured by an average PM2.5 of 10 ug/m^3 over the course of a year and 25 ug/m^3 over the course of a day. This paper measures the increase in particulate matter incurred by sitting next to a smoker. The increase is 17.6 - 8.4 = 9.2 ug/m^3 on average and 27.3 - 8.4 = 19.9 ug/m^3 while cigarettes are being actively smoked. Since the duration is quite short and these are comparable to recommended levels, this tells me sitting next to a smoker even for an extended period of time is not much of a concern -- much less when you walk by someone. As regards actually blowing smoke in your face, particulate levels (obviously) increased a lot while a cigarette is right next to the particle meter, but the only time I or anyone else would blow smoke in someone's face is when they're being a total asshole.

And this is within one meter of an active smoker. That's what I'd classify as "uncomfortably close" anyway, unless we're like friends or something.

The fact that I'm contradicting the conclusion of the paper is not surprising, because negative results don't get published and definitely don't get awarded more grant money.

In conclusion, your claims appear to be false; the health risk is trivial, if any exists at all (WHO guidelines are set intentionally low so there is a good safety margin!).

smoke a drug that doesn't even provide a high

Come on, how could you possibly believe this? Nicotine has an obvious effect, at least on me.

 

[HCandKROD]

A lot of energy spent hating on smokers. So much venom in this thread.


It would make me lol if it weren't for the fact that people douchy enough to obsess over other people's bad habits and put themselves into scenarios where other people's habits that they disapprove of can bother them so they can obsess some more, are also the people who like to posses and wield legislative power over others so that the world can conform to the way they think it should be, instead of conforming to the world like everybody else.

These people are the liberals who preach tolerance for everyone as long as you agree with their values and thoughts. I agree I have not much tolerance but I'm not the one twisting words and hating on people.

 

[J.Wallace]

OP, I fail to see the connection between it being a cash crop and it's effects on non-smokers.

You have every right to smoke. But dammit, even as an occasional smoker myself I don't want to be inhaling unnecessary smoke. Do that shit outdoors, away from me please. You have every right to smoke just as I have every right to protect myself from it. Face it, people find it repulsive and disgusting...it's a good thing that it's not allowed in bars or in buildings anymore.

 

[Busty St Clare]

Come on, how could you possibly believe this? Nicotine has an obvious effect, at least on me.

You could get the same effects breathing in and out of a paper bag, especially the first few times you smoke. Once you have a habit the "high" you experience is the relief you get from the hit, not the actual nicotine itself. You are addicted to the release from withdrawal, not the high itself.

 

[34-dihydroxyphen]

^Are you trying to sit here and tell people what does and doesn't feel good, according to their own subjective opinions?


Nicotine is relaxing to most people, and tobacco has other substances in it that produce a mild MAOI effect, bringing mild relief to depression (this effect on MAO is why nicotine substitution products are mostly ineffective). People wouldn't use a drug recreationally if it didn't feel good, at least at some point throughout their recreational use.

 

[Busty St Clare]

Mild MAOI effects? Now who is being subjective? I call bullshit, most people take up smoking because or peer pressure or because they thought it was cool.

 

[shimazu]

if E cigs were more refined we wouldnt even need cigs but Big Tobacco companys arent going to let that happen.

Actually I can see Big Tobacco buying out E-cig makers and just shelving the technology like they did to that electric car a while back.

 

[atara]

You could get the same effects breathing in and out of a paper bag, especially the first few times you smoke. Once you have a habit the "high" you experience is the relief you get from the hit, not the actual nicotine itself. You are addicted to the release from withdrawal, not the high itself.

For the record, I have actually made this very same argument. I never thought nicotine had a really effect until I tried smoking cigars and hookah. I rarely smoke, and haven't in a few days -- but I usually take long drags and find it enjoyable. One thing I won't debate is that it lasts an hour at best, which is a pretty small benefit considering y'know lung cancer. However, behavioral effects of nicotine can be demonstrated: it is anti-aggressive, promotes attention but not cognition, and most importantly seems to reduce anxiety. This latter fact caused researchers to notice that young people who suffer social anxiety are more likely to smoke, indicating that they may do so to relieve said anxiety.

For my part, I was at one point advised to continue smoking by my psychiatrist because it seemed to relieve suicidal ideation. Granted, this was based on my opinion, and I later quit after finding better reasons not to kill myself.

 

[HCandKROD]

You could get the same effects breathing in and out of a paper bag, especially the first few times you smoke. Once you have a habit the "high" you experience is the relief you get from the hit, not the actual nicotine itself. You are addicted to the release from withdrawal, not the high itself.

Technically you are correct ma'am or sir? Tobacco produces a stimulant effect which has a half-life of about 20 minutes. After that time we (smokers) feel restless, which when we smoke another cigarette produces what we feel as a calming effect but it is a relief from withdrawal.But as far as breathing into a paper bag you are incorrect. It's almost like smoking cocaine except I would never steal your wallet or burgle your home for a cigarette. I tend to think you don't really live in France as I have visited many times and found the French to be avid smokers. You would hate the bars and café's there. Also, I have never put my cigarette behind my back in a bar....never.Try not to get so close to people you don't even know. You should throw out the clothes that have all those burns in them, get new clothes and go to non smoking establishments. Have a smoke free day.

 

[moonyham]

I love when idiots like busty come on and rant about how cigarettes do nothing. Haha. Yes because someone who DOESNT do the drug knows far more about it than someone who doesnt? LOL you are like one of those stupid psychologists in the 50's talking about how bad LSD is.

I enjoy smoking. I pay my taxes to do so. Why I enjoy it is none of your business. Just like all things in this world, there are the obvious and the not so obvious pieces of information. Ie have you ever thought about how cigarettes create union? When at a bar, or club, or party, if you go out to the smoking area you are instantly 'part of that group'. I know to you it sounds stupid, but this is a real side effect that non-smokers never think about, aswell as a million others. You have NO IDEA why I enjoy smoking and continue to do it just like I have NO IDEA why child birth is 'good' to some people. Get real, woman.

 

[HCandKROD]

OP, I fail to see the connection between it being a cash crop and it's effects on non-smokers.

My point being is tobacco is a taxed item. It falls under what is called the "sin tax". If we didn't smoke everyone in the United States would feel the extra tax burden.

 

[Busty St Clare]

The flip side is the waiting list to see a cardiac surgeon would be slashed.

 

[HCandKROD]

The flip side is the waiting list to see a cardiac surgeon would be slashed.

I pay and have very good health insurance so don't worry about paying my medical bills. Do you live in the United States?

^ The reason I ask about residency is there is no waiting list in the United States it's cash that is the "waiting list". I still don't think you live anywhere near France. I can look up your IP. Be honest. I don't think you even have a stake in the US tobacco non smoking laws.