Smoking
 

A poll, just curious to see the trends. A ton of my friends smoke.

There are a couple of people I work with who smoke. Other than that, I know very few people who smoke at the moment.

I quit in basic training over 10 years ago. Haven't lit up since.

2.5 to 3.5 packs a day.

I smoked a few times in high school at parties.... didn't enjoy it....

Wow, Jon are you serious?

I'm pretty certain that he is.

Never have, never will. Ditto with drinking alcohol and any type of non-medicational drugs.

Went through a phase a few years ago where I would smoke when I was drunk, but that thankfully didn't last long.

Got a better buzz from cigs than I do from booze, though...

I used to smoke very occassionally. A few times a year tops. Then one night in Prague me and a friend of mine split three packs of cigarettes. When I woke up the next day I swore I would never smoke a cigarette again. It's been almost 6 years and I've stuck to it. Nasty shit.

I would guess but worked with a guy from France and he smoked 2.5 packs a day no lie.

Completely ... which is down from my previous high years ago of about 4.5/day.

Technically, I don't think you can really smoke 4.5 packs a day, you can just burn that many. Lots of light & get interrupted, caught on the phone, etc., sort of stuff once you get to that point.

As comic James Gregory puts it "I smoke about 2 packs a day ... I'd smoke more, but there just isn't time."

Wow.

I smoked for 12 years, but quit cold turkey last June (June 13, to be exact). I still think about it every day. This week I had two dreams where I smoked a cigarette.

I tried a few times in high school and once in college, but could never stand it fortunately.

My cadaver in medical school was a heavy smoker for 30 plus years my anatomy professor guessed. He had the nastiest lungs I've ever seen. I couldn't believe the vast difference when looking at the lungs of a previous non-smoker cadaver.

To be honest, I thought 2.5 sounded a little low.

I quit, twice. Once for 3 years and currently my streak is 20 smokeless months...

that's very chimney-like

It varies, depending almost entirely upon how much I'm awake/asleep.

Longer days, I'll burn more, virtually chaining them late if I'm staying awake past when i'd like to for some reason. If I actually get 7-8 hours sleep, I'll smoke less.

I also smoke about a half-pack a day less now than I used to, now that I don't spend much time in the car.

I never understood the whole fascination with cigs. I like a cigar now and then, but the couple of cigs I have smoked I just found nasty.

Are you on fire?

You should really consider cutting back to 1 pack a day and taking it from there. That seems like over-kill on the lungs and circulation. You're never giving your body a chance to chill.

This is my situation as well. When I was in college I would smoke when drinking, but couldn't stand the leftover smell the next day. I think I've had maybe one smoke (cigarette)in the last 2 years.

While I worked in the lab at Mead, the folks who operated the machines would go through two packs in a 12 hour shift. It was crazy to watch because it was like they were trained...

5 minutes of work.... 25 minute smoke break.... 5 minutes of work.... 25 minute smoke break....

Its funny how different people really are when it comes to smoking, even quitting smoking. I also smoked for 12 years and quit cold turkey sometime last fall before my birthday. Usually went through about a carton a week, sometimes more based on social activities and bar hopping. Everyone in my house smokes and half of the people I work with also. Still I rarely think about it and havent touched one since. Never 'tried' to quit except the one day I woke up and decided that I didnt want to smoke anymore. Want to say I had a pack or so that last day of smoking, but certainly didnt plan on quitting or make some ordeal up about it the night before.

No gum, or lozenge or patches. Quitting had nothing to do with anyone else like a newborn baby or stopping at the same time as another smoker. It certainly didnt have any sort of a financial impact on my decision either and there wasnt a nagging g/f pushing to quit. Basically it comes down to what do you want? I just cannot imagine not being able to do something or not being able to stop doing something thats happening in my life on a daily basis. Suppose its been about seven months or so but I dont know exactly. Doesnt matter. If I wake up tomorrow and want a cigarette or a carton - I'll have one.

Ditto

I know a lot of people who smoke...they didn't in high school, but once college started, they started smoking when they drank, then just all the time. I also know a lot of people who dip...many started in high school. I also know people who dip in class.

Personally, I've only tried cigs a few times and dip a few times. I try to stay away from it all though...just the occasional cig while I've been drinking (maybe twice a year).

Smoked about a pack a day for five years or so. One night I decided to quit, and I haven't had one since. That was just over four years ago.

I usually smoke 3-5 cigs a day.

My parents were in that two-pack range. Didn't believe it would hurt them at all. So my son only has one set of grandparents.

I tried it when I was 12 or 13. Didn't like it at all, luckily, so I've probably had about 20 in my life, total. My little sister did, and still smokes, though she's probably in the half-pack range.

You can tell the amount someone smokes by the time it takes their interior walls to require a fresh coat of paint.

My sister took to it immediately, and thought she needed to hide it from my parents when she was 12. So one day my mom found a cigarette still smouldering in her trash can. She just put an ash tray on my sister's desk. No lectures, nothing. By 15, my sister was bringing home clove cigarettes.

Ditto his ditto to MJ4H

And to quote Casey Jones

"I'd rather suck a dick then smoke a cig"

(They're an overly straight edge band, I don't consider myself sXe but it's a funny lyric)

Same here... Now a cigar, that's fun to smoke every once in a while. When my family traveled to Paris over winter break, we went to Belgium for a couple of days, my older brother, who I hadn't seen in 6 months (because he lives in Paris), and I smoked a Cuban Cigar in the hotel lobby. One of the highlights of my trip:)

By the way, where's the smoke marijuana option?

Likewise...

I grew up with parents, grandparents, aunts, etc. who smoked a lot. I grew to detest the way it smelled, the way it made my clothes smells, and the way it gave me headaches and made me cough. I vowed at an early age to never touch a cig, and I am happy to say that I never have. Tons of friends smoked and I got ribbed about it alot, but I never buckled.

I'm almost a bit psychotic about it; I won't go to bars, I won't hug my mom if she smells of smoke, I'm unable to hang with friends who smoke in thier homes and cars, etc. Just the smell of smoke on someone's clothes makes me want to retch. I'm glad that I've never smoked, but I really wish I didn't have this big of a hang-up. It's actually limited me in a lot of areas.

for future reference...do you think your parents handled it correctly? would you handle it the same way? would she smoe more or less had responded differently?

That's largely the point I think -- if my body decides to "chill", it means I'm not moving as fast as I can, and that's pretty much the only way I can keep up with everything going on here.

Minus caffeine & nicotine, there's no company to pay my salary, those are pretty much the only two things that keep me (and it) going.

Besides, those two things are also on the fairly short list of things I genuinely enjoy, and I really have no desire to cut back on either of them.

That was their style. We did whatever we wanted, as long as it didn't bother them. Which meant making absolutely no noise in the house, but I stayed out all night at a party when I was 16, for example, because I called and told them I would (they didn't set a curfew, they asked me when I would be home and expected me to stick to what I said).

No. If I caught my son smoking, I would take away his computer for a week, or something like that. I have more ability to do something about it than my parents did, since there is no smoking in our house.

That last question is the toughest. She smokes because she likes to smoke. She's had health scares, but she doesn't seem to care that much because she's single and has no kids herself. And she plays tennis something like five times a week in the summer, so she's not yet limited by her decision. So, no, I don't think it would have changed anything.

smoking right now, Jon? :)

no offense but thats a shame. Could hurt cha in the future.

Shorty, that's usually a pretty safe bet ;)

Smoke away, Jon. It's still legal in most states.

In college, one of my nicknames was "Chimney"

I was smoking in the 2+ pack a day range for awhile. It probably would have been more, but I had to spend at least some time working and at class. :)

I have not smoked in awhile though. I quit mainly because of money issues ($8-10 a day on smokes adds up when you're broke) and now when I smoke, since my body is not used to it, they make me feel like crap so I end up just not smoking at all.

In my hayday, though, when at parties or just hanging out, I would smoke through cigarettes like they were just paper and air.

I was at 2 packs a day and rising when I quit last month. The constant wheezing and hacking were a bother at work and in the gym.

I don't think anybody is questioning the legality of it.

I started pretty late in life, really. Never touched a cigarette till I was 19. Traditionally smoke a whole helluva lot (on drinking nights, I can prolly compete with Jon), though I can and have gone days without a cigarette. Sitting at a computer writing code all day is very condusive to lighting up.

Same here. My dad quit when I was a baby. But mother, grandmother and all the females basically in my family for the most part - well, with some notable exceptions - all were smokers. My mom wasn't one of those - smoke everywhere smokers - she'd only smoke outside or in the bathroom (she had an ashtray in the window and smoked out the window, literally) so she was a really considerate smoker, if you will.

I think since I've spent so many years away from it, that I find it pretty gross and avoid places like bars and such that have it - for the same reasons. But I won't say, not go someplace because there is smoking. I obviously would prefer to avoid it, when possible tho.

smoked mostly during my teenage years. when I hit my 20s, got bored with it and just quit. Had no issue doing it, probably due to the fact that I wasn't really ever that heavy of a smoker. Occasionally would have one when drinking, but the last time I did that I thought it was nasty. I do like cigars, but rarely get a chance to enjoy one.

the wife was a heavier smoker - quit cold turkey for me as a Christmas present 9 years ago. unlike me, she still craves them pretty badly.

New Years must've been a real joy! :p

My guess is this poll will swing a bit in the other direction once the European contigent weighs in.

I've never tried cigarettes or cigars, but I don't know if blunts and j's count?? In that case, my whole sophomore year of high school....

I actually started out dipping, switched to cigarettes at 16 or so, then quit at 19.

I posted never, beacuse I have never smoked cigarettes. I have smoked a few cigars before, mainly after quitting smoking the other plant!

Cigars. Maybe a couple a week. And I don't inhale them.

I used to smoke a pack a day, now only when the wife isnt looking :) Probably once a week id guess.

I think Smoking is stupid and definitely harmful and I hope my kids don't do it - that being said I'm currently smoking again and get through around 10-15 a day on average.

I gave up for around 4 years before starting again last year, will probably have to kick it again shortly as my daughter is 11 now and I reckon will be considering smoking by the age of 13 ....

Hence if I give up before then I can do my utmost to ensure that she doesn't start (and not feel too hypocritical about it) .... that being said because of me smoking she's currently vehemently anit-smoking, maybe I should continue and that dissuade her? ;)

That's my plan ;)

(Edited because I didn't finish your post.)

I used the anti-smoking behavior of my youngest to quit smoking (along with other reasons such as financial and health) and it was a great motivator. And now I can use it against him if he ever lights up. :)

Yeah strangely enough I can give up fairly easily if motivated externally - for instance when I gave up for 4 years I started when my wife got pregnant with Jake (my eldest son) ... strange thing is I can't motivate myself that well simply because it'd be better for me.

My parents did, and I became neurotic about it at an early age. Like someone else in this thread, I vowed to stay away from it and I have. If I was with a girl and she lit up, that would be the last date we went on. It is just a neurotic pet peeve of mine. It comes from being trapped in a car on long trips to grandma's and struggling to breathe in the back seat.

My mom has smoked 3-4 packs a day all my life. Her teeth are gross and the whole house smells like nasty. I had to wash all my clothes at friends houses because if I did it at home they would still smell like smoke, no matter what I did. I tried cigarrettes once when she left them in the bathroom but it nauseated me.

When my mom and dad moved out of the house they had lived in and smoked in for 10 years, each wall and ceiling literally had inches of smoke and haze attached to it. They had to scrub the walls for weeks to get the grey stuff off of it and should have bought stock in air freshner from all the dozens of bottles they had to use to get the smell out.

I've resorted to buying multiple cartons at a time now. Of course, California tax and all...eh.

I started smoking when I was 7 years old. It started by stealing cigarettes from my parents. By the time I was 9 they didn't care anymore and started buying me cigarettes.

Now I smoke as much as I possibly can. Sometimes it's hard to find somebody willing to bum smokes from. If I have money I'll buy them. But like I said in another thread, I love cigarettes more than sunshine.

That is a pretty ironic name you have, considering your statement.


I have smoked less than a pack in my life. Tried a few in college while out drinking with friends. I honestly think I never inhaled them correctly, as I never felt anything except for the coughing. Stupid habit. Like others, I refused to date girls who smoked. Figured there could never be a future with them, as I didn't want my wife to teach my kids to smoke. Plus smokers smell like shit.

I smoked about a pack a day for 8-9 years but quit about a year ago. I still think about them all the time, but havent smoked one since. I feel a lot better now(i.e. better abilty to smell, and no shortness of breath). Plus it is a ton cheaper now that i dont smoke.

oh oh oh RIGHT like aliens don't!

Which is 50 to 70 cigarettes, correct? 20 per pack?

Yeppers.
(And I smoke 100s, so that's an additional 20mm of pleasure right there ;) )

And, just in case somebody is curious about the math of that ...
I generally sleep 4-5 hours a day, 6 tops, so I'm awake for at least 18 hours.
And since the very first thing I do in the morning is light one & the very last thing I do at night is put one out, I make full use of those hours.

That's 18 x 60(mins) = 1080 mins a day
1080 mins a day / 60 = 1 every eighteen minutes.

Figure that it takes 6-8 to burn one down, that's basically
Smoke one, wait about the time it takes to smoke another, light another one.
(which is why I'm not technically a "chain smoker", which is usually defined as "lighting one off another one).

Middlega strikes me as a Reds man, but thats probably too cliched. Im guessing either Winstons, or Newports.

Oh gag, Newports. I'd rather have an unfiltered Salem.

Actually, I've switched several times since starting, always a menthol guy tho.
Started on Salem Light 100's, pretty quickly switched to B&H Ultra Light Menthol 100s, then switched to Marlboro Lt Menthol 100s about the time they came out (which was probably 12-15 yrs ago IIRC).

I also have an affinity for Dunhill Menthol but they're both too expensive & too hard to find to enjoy regularly.

As for non-menthols, I can smoke one in a pinch, but I don't believe I've ever bought any for myself with the infrequent exception of trying something that was new/recommended/curiosity etc. About the only non-menthol I have ever particularly cared for in the slightest was Camel Filters, which aren't bad.

I smoked Camel filters for like 5 years, and then switched to newports/salems/parlaments for 4 more. Basically whichever one was cheapest.

I've never tried even one cigarette. Was lucky enough never to see my parents smoke in front of me, actually they had stopped smoking before I was born, so it never even tempted me.

My wife, while she smoked in her teens, has stopped many years ago, so hopefully we'll give the good exmaple to our children too. On top of preaching by example, we're simply telling them how and why smoking simply isn't healthy...

FM

I have never smoked anything (cigs or otherwise) and never will.

I worked with a guy that smoked non stop. In an eight hour day the longest I ever saw him without a cigarette was 25 secs. Can't imagine how many packs a day he smoked.

I remember going to the Boston Science Museum in elementary school and seeing a preserved black smokers lung sitting in a case next to a pink healthy one. That image kept me from smoking...until I was 16, at least.

I stopped smoking regularly when I stopped enjoying it, which was within a year of graduating from college. Nowadays, I smoke maybe one or two cigarettes every few months or so.

Even at just 6mins each, the most he could have done was 10/hour (and that's actually pushing it pretty hard IMO). So half a pack an hour, 4 pks in an 8 hr day.

What would be interesting to me would be whether he smoked like that away from work or if his pattern was different when not working.

From what I gathered it was this way all the time. I asked one time if he smoked like that at home and he said yes.

We didn't get along too well (for other reasons) so I never really asked how many packs a day he smoked. My guess would be 5 - 7 packs. I had never seen anything like it. The 25 second comment above wasn't an exaggeration.

JoninMGA

I take it that you can smoke at your office. Have you ever had to turn down a job/had problems at a job/etc. because of the inability to smoke at work for long stretches?

Menthols? Ugh. If I ever wanted a bad headache, a menthol cigarette was my perscription. When I was smoking 2+ packs a day, it was Malboro Reds for me. I don't think I ever bought a pack of cigs that were not Malboro. I did go down to Lights (and Light 100s) eventually, though.

One of the beauties of owning the joint (now) :)

I'm lucky though, I'm just old enough to have started working when there wasn't a whole lot of major hoopla about smoking in the workplace. And when the hoopla really got going, I was most often far enough up the food chain where I had a certain amount of leeway, if not in terms of what I could do in my own office then in terms of where I could do it (one place in particular, it wasn't unusual for me to have set up shop on the loading dock, paperwork/laptop/cell, smoking away & working away at the same time.)

Now? God forbid I ever have to go back into the traditional workplace, but if I did, there's zero percent chance I'd even consider a job where it was much of an issue, it just wouldn't be realistic for me.

I've never met someone who loved a vice quite so much.

You should hear me get started about the importance of coffee :D

cigs are a cruel thing. my dad, facing the possibilty that his cancer might have spread to his lungs, has totally changed his lifestyle. he's drinking water like there is nothing else, he's eating healthy, i mean watching everything he eats...

but he can't give up smoking.

"it's the one thing i enjoy."

=/

Reminds me of a few years ago. The law firm for which I used to work in D.C. did a lot of tobacco work back in the day. It was, accordingly, one of the last big firms/businesses in the area to go to a smoke free workplace. Even then, there were apparently a few "holdout" partners who had special filtration systems installed in their office just so they could smoke in there. (All of this happened before I got there). Bacardi (sp?) is/was one of our big clients. Of course, the very wealthy and very important executives of our very wealthy and very important client did not understand why they could not just light up cigars wherever they felt like it. Exceptions, of course, can always be made.

Now there's a drug I have a genuine medical need for.

I'll have you know that I smell like an autumn rose garden. :p

I don't know what coffee does for you, but I'm pretty sure wihout it, your head caves in.