Anyone Smoke?

Updated on May 01, 2011
M.R. asks from Churchville, NY
27 answers

I'm just really curious. We were coming home from shopping this afternoon and it was nasty hot (not really, but it feels that way since it is just getting warm enough for shorts for the kids) and I was surprised for some reason by how many people I saw outside smoking or smoking while driving. I've never smoked a thing but my dad did for years until I was in elementary school and as an adult I found out that my mom used to (she hid it from us I guess). I even learned that my younger sister did as a teenager and I know my older sister smoked (not just cigarettes). I was just curious about the numbers. If you do smoke, it is just socially like some people drink, or do you need smoke breaks?

I am NOT judging anyone who smokes, so please do not criticize anyone who does. It actually really grosses me out and I can't be around it, but I know lovely and wonderful people who smoke, I'm just not one of them. =)

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So What Happened?

Thanks so far. It is also always nice to know people can and do quit.

I agree about the gum chewing!! I can't stand the sight of gum chewing--makes me think of cows. :) My husband and a friend of his will smoke cigars once in a while when they play darts in the garage--funny since my husband has asthma but apparently you don't really inhale cigar smoke or something (whatever) and it's never given him an asthma attack, but he's gotten pretty ill from being around regular smoking. I consider that "social" smoking since they only do that a few times a year, but they have so much fun picking their cigars in the shop and doing their "man things" in the garage (and of course I have to tease them about it).

He also says a lot of people in his line of work smoke because it is the only way they get a break. I'm sure there are times he wishes he had something he could do that would require a few minutes outside and leave him feeling calm. :)

Featured Answers

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Used to smoke.
Both cigarettes and other stuff.
In college.

I am finding, less and less people smoke.

But, the air quality in some cities, are as bad as smoking.
Even for people who do not or have never, smoked.

5 moms found this helpful
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L.D.

answers from Las Vegas on

I used to smoke. I was addicted. Quit almost 12-years ago. Glad I did. Such a dangerous habit to get into. Now I know that I can never have just one. Luckily I no longer want to.

5 moms found this helpful

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

People are smoking outside because liberals demand that their places be "smoke free"....

My husband is a smoker. Not me. I personally don't care for it.However, he is an adult and knows what it is doing to his body. He does NOT smoke in the house.

Smoking is an addiction like any other drug - nicotine is VERY powerful.

4 moms found this helpful

More Answers

H.V.

answers from Cleveland on

I smoke cigs.
Both my husband and I do. Ya its a habit, but in all honesty I like smoking.
Now I, personally, have had no health issues from it. I can still run without being winded at all. No asthma etc.
However, we NEVER smoke in our car or home. I don't care if the kids aren't in the car, smoking in it is not allowed.
Every time we do smoke, we wash our hands and rinse our our mouths.
I even have my "smoking hoodie"
I quit for both my pregnancies.

I also always pay attention to who I am around when I smoke.
If I'm anywhere "Public" like a parking lot at a store...and kids are coming close to me, I walk away from them and hold my smoke behind me.
I always make sure to be away from people that aren't smoking. Even if that means me holding my breath till they walk by.

Smoking is my choice, and it is a personal one. I will not force anyone to be around my smoking. I try to have manners and respect for other people's choice to not smoke.

Some people are just rude. I've seen people smoke in their home with their babies right next to them. And Im not just talking about smoking cigs...

5 moms found this helpful

M.P.

answers from Lafayette on

i've smoked on and off more than half my life. currently i smoke. yeah i need smoke breaks occasionally. i usually have one cigarette in the morning, one at naptime, and then in the evening with my fiance when he's home. i smoke 5-10 cigarettes a day depending on how stressed i am. i'm not really planning to quit anytime soon, unless money necessitates it again. its the one thing i've found to calm myself down.

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K.P.

answers from Seattle on

My Mom always says: Smoking is a funny thing. Your buying cancer on the installment plan, and then when you finally do get it, you are spending your money trying to buy your health back.

5 moms found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

Don't smoke, never have and would never date anyone who did. Smoke bothers me.

Another thing that irks me is a woman chewing gum... just gross I hate seeing someone who might look classy until I see her smacking a wad of gum... Classless

4 moms found this helpful

C.B.

answers from Kansas City on

i used to, i quit almost 2 years ago. i am so glad i did! i am proud of that. but at the same time...boy do i miss it sometimes. that was the one thing i could do for ME that was MINE. i could take a 5 minute smoke break, step outside, away from the kid, the husband, the housework, and it was MY five minutes. i don't get that anymore. but i am glad i quit. my heart was never in it and i never planned to smoke longterm. i did for close to 10 years (off and on) which was long enough. i appreciate your non-judgmental post. too bad your responders can't keep that same tone going. they obviously have never been addicted to anything.

i work in an office, and a lot of people still smoke. they have their smoke buddies and they have their area they go to. it's its own little society. i was not happy to let those friends go. it's just not the same when you don't smoke, although we are still "friendly". it's just not the same.

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S.B.

answers from Redding on

I work at a hospital and you'd be surprised how many doctors and nurses go out to the back gravel parking lot and sneak cigarettes.
We are considered a "smoke free" zone, but they have smoking areas because even patients go outside to smoke.
It's not like the good old days where you could smoke in your hospital room.
(JUST KIDDING!)
Seriously though, people smoke outside and in their cars because they can't smoke anywhere else.
You used to be able to smoke in the grocery store, on airplanes, in movie theaters, and yes, even doctors smoked in their offices.

It's been a long and crappy winter. As the weather gets better, people will do a lot of things outside they haven't been able to do without freezing their tails off.

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M.F.

answers from Youngstown on

I am a former smoker. I quit with all three kids and with the older 2 I knew I would start again with the baby I decided I was done so I am. I never however smoked in the house or car around my kids EVER and I think it is wrong to do so. I always went outside so does my husband he is still a smoker though at 6 plus a pack I wish he would! I do really really hate when I see people smoking with their kids in the car though it bothers me so much I just want to rip them out of their mouths and scream at them. I also hate seeing pregnant women smoke too. I feel these are selfish acts. My dad smoked for 40 plus years and he had a lung colapse 2 years ago and had 1/3 of it removed then had a massive heart attack and had to be resussutated(spelling) 6 times, then had another heartattack the day after he came home from the hospital and had to be life flighted to the Cleveland Clinic in order to save his life AGAIN. He now has a defibulator and can't work anymore at 58 years old. Seeing him in the hospital in all that pain and the fact that he basically died 6 times but thank God he didn't I decided I never wanted to go through that and I never wanted my kids to see me like that or feel the pain and terror I felt for my dad so I decided to quit. My dad's health problem all came from smoking he wasn't overweight he ate healthy he exercised regularly..I am glad I quit and have no desire to start again.

3 moms found this helpful

A.C.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I do sometimes. I started smoking when I was 16 and have quit many times only to go back to it in times of stress. I occasionally will have one if I am hanging out with people who smoke, or if I am having a really awful week I might buy 1 pack and smoke like a chimney till they are all gone. My family does not know and would be furious. In fact, I am embarrassed enough about it that only my very closest friends know.

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P.M.

answers from Portland on

Nope. But I've had asthma from infancy, growing up in a household with 3, sometimes 4 adult smokers. I can't endure cigarette smoke now, and if I have to walk past smokers on the street, I take the biggest breath I can and try to hold it until I'm clear again. It always kicks up a frightening wheeze if I get exposed (and I can't use rescue inhalers).

I was lucky to see how hard it was for my mom and grandmother to quit. Every time they'd light up, they'd make some comment about hating cigs, death sticks, coffin nails, too expensive, slave to the habit, or just plain stupid. Those messages got in much deeper than the "glamor" of smoking.

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D.S.

answers from Houston on

yes i smoke and i am also asthmatic. They actually did research one time to find out why so many asthmatics smoked and said they felt better when they smoked. They were trying to find the ingredient in cigarettes that made the asthmatic more relaxed when they smoked. I do wish I could quit but my so says I am not addicted to the cigarette so to speak as much as something to do with my hands. He thinks the only reason I smoke is to keep my hands occupied. I think he has a very valid point. But god I would give anything to quit.

And just for the record my son does not smoke and my so smokes 3 months quits for 6 smokes for 3 quits for 9 and just irks me to no end that he can actually do that. One step son does and one does not.

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B..

answers from Dallas on

No. I choose not to voluntarily give myself cancer, and other deadly diseases. It just seems...I won't go there.

I have not known anyone who can "socially" smoke. They may be out there, I just have never known any. Nicotine is more quickly addictive then alcohol. I generally assume if someone smokes only on the weekends, then it doesn't stay like that for long. Minor social drinking won't create an alcoholic, but social smoking will generally create a nicotine addict. I think, at least. I have no personal experience, but just from what I've read.

3 moms found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

My husband and I don't smoke.
We've had too many relatives, co-workers and friends die of smoking related illnesses. They were good people and we miss them.
I wish everyone could quit.

3 moms found this helpful

H.G.

answers from Dallas on

I do smoke. Not ever in front of my kids. I have smoked for a while and its a bad habit! I hope to break it soon!

2 moms found this helpful

Y.C.

answers from New York on

I smoked for about 2 years when my first daughter was little, I didn't smoke on front of her but I would on my way to one work to the other one (no in a car, I didn't own a car back then) or in my work brake, that was long time ago.
I think in the pass 9 years I have smoke in 4 occasions (never when pregnant), the last one was when my husband lost his job that day I think I smoke like 3 cigarretes in a row, oh men that was awful feeling, but my daughter has never see me.

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B.M.

answers from Dallas on

oh how i love to smoke!!! speaking of that...time for another one! (always outside though!) :)

(I know that's tacky, i'm just being funny; truthful though!)

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C.T.

answers from Dallas on

I smoked in college, but once I got married and had children, it just fell by the wayside. I occasionally smoke with some of my friends who still smoke everyday when I go to my hometown and visit, but only once in a while. I,also, have the occasional cheeseburger and fries, alcoholic beverage,etc., but don't make it a part of my daily diet. Things in moderation. I not saying either is not bad for you, but who does the right thing all the time?

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C.T.

answers from Detroit on

i smoke cigarettes on;y. i enjoy smoking and don't plan on quitting anytime soon. i;m self aware. lol

2 moms found this helpful

A.D.

answers from Norfolk on

.....depends on what kind of "smoking" we're talking about :p

My sister in law is giving up cigarettes and putting the money that she was spending on them (about $10/day) in her "boob job fund"

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M.T.

answers from New York on

I don't think as many people smoke as in decades past. I don't anymore, I smoked maybe a half pack a day from ages 16-24. I grew up with a smoking mother and when I was a kid (I'm 43 now), probably at least half of adults I knew smoked, they did it in the house, in the car, in the hospital, everywhere. Even in non smokers homes, an astray was always out for company. Since there are restrictions on smoking in public places, we don't see the smokers as much anymore.

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S.S.

answers from Binghamton on

I used to but I quit. It is a very dark chapter in my past, since quitting was hellish. But at least I can honestly say to my kids: Don't ever start, it's too hard to quit.

1 mom found this helpful
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V.M.

answers from Erie on

no, no one in my family ever did, to my knowledge so it always seemed gross to me, plus i didn't have any friends that thought it was cool in Hs either, I do now, know some lovely people who did smoke , thankfully not around me.

And i just have to say, I'm in another state but i saw a ton of people smoking today too!

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B.C.

answers from Dallas on

I do. Hope I can muster up the courage to quit soon. I started at 14. I'm 28 now.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.M.

answers from Kansas City on

IMO, smoking is disgusting! The cost and health risks alone should make people want to quit. And, people who say I don't smoke at home or in the car still smell like an ash tray. When I taught, I could easily tell who came from a smoking home. Their jackets and backpacks reeked. I can honestly say I don't know one person that smokes--or at least can't think of anyone off the top of my head.

1 mom found this helpful

A.G.

answers from Houston on

I used to be a smoker. For 14 years, for at least 10 of those years i needed my "fix" about once every waking hour or i would feel anxious and irritated.

God cigarettes are awful

****to prove they are awful,,,,just look down the thread is filled with women who either quit, or are in complete denial about needing to.

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