Why is there such a negative stigma attached to smoking?

[Boothy]

Why do people hate it so much? I mean, I understand it to some extent, but why are other bad habits viewed in a better light. It seems perfectly acceptable for students to go out and drink until they're sick on themselves, no-one says too much. It's fine for the obese woman in McDonalds to eat her Big Mac. Imagine if someone told her to put it down because it's slowly killing her, the reaction would be completely different from telling a smoker to stop smoking.

Ftr, I don't smoke cigarettes, they don't do anything for me. Just curious.

[Kizzy]

I affects everyone I suppose...You can't die from passive eating ...or drinking can you?

[Vanessa]

It's very dangerous. My mum smoked and she died of lung cancer. :sad::bawling:

[Shaun]

because everyone who smokes wants to kill everyone else obviously

[Z]

Because smokers are jokers

[Smithy]

-judges all the 3 things mentioned in the OP-

I think it's coz smoking is so strongly linked with cancer and stuff, like obesity can be linked to diabetes and heart disease and drinking causes liver damage, but people hear cancer and just sorta assume death? :shrug:

[MTVN]

The anti-smoking lobby has always just been really vocal I guess, and probably also because it's so addictive and can (apparently) harm other peoples health as well

[Brother Leon]

Because it gives girls saggy boobies.

[GypsyGoth]

http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzatwnNtzM1r83lw2o1_500.gif

[Kizzy]

The anti-smoking lobby has always just been really vocal I guess, and probably also because it's so addictive and can (apparently) harm other peoples health as well

There is nothing 'apparently' about it...it can.

[Kizzy]

It's very dangerous. My mum smoked and she died of lung cancer. :sad::bawling:
vanessa im so sorry...If they had only known then what we know now?
:(

[MTVN]

There is nothing 'apparently' about it...it can.

Just said apparently becuase I don't know much about it or whether it's been completely proven etc.

[Roy Mars III]

Switch to cigars

[Vanessa]

vanessa im so sorry...If they had only known then what we know now?
:(

Thanks. It was such a shock. No one saw it coming! :sad:

[Kizzy]

Just said apparently becuase I don't know much about it or whether it's been completely proven etc.

Do you want me to find you some...Or do you want to educate yourself?

[Brother Leon]

Switch to cigars

My Dad;

"I am giving up smoking"





"I only smoke Cigars now"

:joker:

[MTVN]

Do you want me to find you some...Or do you want to educate yourself?

Neither really, you've said it can so I'll believe you

[Vanessa]

My Dad;

"I am giving up smoking"





"I only smoke Cigars now"

:joker:

:laugh3:

[MTVN]

It is true that I don't think there's as much of a stigma around cigars, probably because they're classier

[Jake.]

I was sick from alcohol for the first time over the weekend... normally I get drunk but this time I ended up mixing and there you go... wasn't nice. Anyways I think it is because having the odd drink or maccy D's isn't prone to killing you, but those who start off with just one ciggy end up having another, and another etc

[Jack_]

I don't really know to be honest. Personally, I couldn't care less...if people want to smoke, that's their choice, if people want to eat McDonald's every day, that's their choice, if people want to get bladdered every night, that's their choice. I'm not going to judge any of them for it.

So long as they aren't directly hurting or bothering me or anyone else whilst doing so, I've no problem. Live and let live and all that.

[Kizzy]

Thanks. It was such a shock. No one saw it coming! :sad:

My mother lost her best friend to it...again no warning, so quick.
Its a blessing they were able to determine the cause as smoking, to save others, too late for some unfortunately.
I lost my father to cancer too vanessa, it was quick too so i feel for you.

[Mystic Mock]

Why do people hate it so much? I mean, I understand it to some extent, but why are other bad habits viewed in a better light. It seems perfectly acceptable for students to go out and drink until they're sick on themselves, no-one says too much. It's fine for the obese woman in McDonalds to eat her Big Mac. Imagine if someone told her to put it down because it's slowly killing her, the reaction would be completely different from telling a smoker to stop smoking.

Ftr, I don't smoke cigarettes, they don't do anything for me. Just curious.

You can breathe in smoke which affects your health where as you can't digest what someone else has eaten

[Vanessa]

My mother lost her best friend to it...again no warning, so quick.
Its a blessing they were able to determine the cause as smoking, to save others, too late for some unfortunately.
I lost my father to cancer too vanessa, it was quick too so i feel for you.

She got sick last december and died in just one month. No one deserves to suffer like that. :bawling:

[Mrluvaluva]

It's very true. We are a dying breed (literally). Drinking is somewhat acceptable, and getting pissed is even somewhat seen as hilarious by some people, but not smoking. It was once a very social habit. I believe at one point about two thirds of men, and 50% of women were smokers, if I recall correctly the literature I read. Cigarettes were freely available at social gatherings, and advertisers and the media made us think it was cool. Not so much nowadays. I think the problem (apart the repugnant stench for some people) is within the "passive" part, and although numbers of smokers are dwindling, a lot of us are hooked from a relatively early age unfortunately. I have enough sense at my age to know it is not a good thing to start, the expense alone would put me off, but I thought I was cool and clever in my early teens, and then I got hooked. And god I would love to stop, but I suppose lack enough will power. It's extremely hard to stop, once you have started, for many people.

In short, I think it's the fact of the possible harm to other people, due to our selfless act, although exhaust fumes and other pollutants don't seem to come as high on the agenda for some reason. We will soon be banished to underground smoking houses, since we have been driven out of bars, cinemas, clubs and restaurants, and rightly so.

I agree with most views against it to be honest, and I certainly would strongly advise against ever starting.

[Z]

Probably because smoking is the most irritating of the lot. It sticks to your clothes even if you yourself aren't smoking, it sets off asthma, it irritates your eyes (like any type of smoke) and it's seen as a surefire addictive habit, whereas alcohol and eating unhealthily are seen as more controllable vices I guess? You can run off calories and you can drink tap water to flush out alcohol, you can't get rid of tar in your lungs.

[Vanessa]

It's very true. We are a dying breed (literally). Drinking is somewhat acceptable, and getting pissed is even somewhat seen as hilarious by some people, but not smoking. It was once a very social habit. I believe at one point about two thirds of men, and 50% of women were smokers, if I recall correctly the literature I read. Cigarettes were freely available at social gatherings, and advertisers and the media made us think it was cool. Not so much nowadays. I think the problem (apart the repugnant stench for some people) is within the "passive" part, and although numbers of smokers are dwindling, a lot of us are hooked from a relatively early age unfortunately. I have enough sense at my age to know it is not a good thing to start, the expense alone would put me off, but I thought I was cool and clever in my early teens, and then I got hooked. And god I would love to stop, but I suppose lack enough will power. It's extremely hard to stop, once you have started, for many people.

In short, I think it's the fact of the possible harm to other people, due to our selfless act, although exhaust fumes and other pollutants don't seem to come as high on the agenda for some reason. We will soon be banished to underground smoking houses, since we have been driven out of bars, cinemas, clubs and restaurants.

I agree with most views against it to be honest, and I certainly would strongly advise against ever starting.

You should try to stop. It's too dangerous. :sad:

[Mrluvaluva]

You can run off calories and you can drink tap water to flush out alcohol, you can't get rid of tar in your lungs.

Drinking tap water does not alter the effect that alcohol has on your liver.

[Z]

Drinking tap water does not alter the effect that alcohol has on your liver.

Yeah and eating fruit and veg doesn't unclog your arteries :tongue: - I know, but I'm trying to point out the differences in views on these different habits. All of them bar smoking have some kind of "oh but you can do this to solve the problem" response that seems to save them from as harsh criticism.

[InOne]

I guess it was cool back in the day, but we know more about the dangers now and society is going health mad. I most likely won't stop for a while though. The laws are already getting ridiculous regarding smoking and they'll only get worse.

[Kizzy]

One of my dads sayings was 'to be forwarned is to be four armed'
If you are aware of something you can protect yourself or guard against it....Wise words.

[Niall]

I think its the fact that smoking is so damaging to your health that causes it to have a such a stigma. The actions of the tobacco companies in the past probably didn't help things either. Heck, the way they act now is pretty disgusting!

[Kizzy]

They could afford the advertising though...'embassy snooker' 'marlborough racing' ....

[rk3388]

It is true that I don't think there's as much of a stigma around cigars, probably because they're classier

also a lot of people can smoke them socially while cigarettes are easier to get addicted to

[Jords]

On Supersize vs. Superskinny they said pork pies contain nitrogen oxide [iirc] and its very damaging to our health. Lets stop eating them...

LOL. Theres too much health risk worries these days. Everything is relatively OK in moderation.

Edit: Except Class A drugs obv and eating poo

[Mystic Mock]

On Supersize vs. Superskinny they said pork pies contain nitrogen oxide [iirc] and its very damaging to our health. Lets stop eating them...

LOL. Theres too much health risk worries these days. Everything is relatively OK in moderation.

Edit: Except Class A drugs obv and eating poo

What you mean like 2 Girls 1 Cup?:joker:

[Kizzy]

Lets not trivialise this contentious topic...its not good for party politics to be seen advocating such a serious issue...
'some things kill.. some things kill everything!

[Jords]

What you mean like 2 Girls 1 Cup?:joker:

Good point.

Eating poo is OK in moderation also.


Joke! :laugh:

[Redway]

I'm not really arsed. I live in extremely busy life and I need a few fags to keep me going, ortherwise I'd probably go into a mental breakdown. It's MY choice to smoke, and will be MINE to stop. Certainly won't be giving up any time soon.

[Kizzy]

I'm not really arsed. I live in extremely busy life and I need a few fags to keep me going, ortherwise I'd probably go into a mental breakdown. It's MY choice to smoke, and will be MINE to stop. Certainly won't be giving up any time soon.

A lot of people use this excuse , 'im very stressed' so they use fags,booze or whatever as a crutch. And have a mental addiction to them, thats sometimes harder to break than the physical addiction.
If you are not ready to stop don't, the more pressured you feel to the more you won't succeed.