Quit nagging the smokers, will ya?

LOL!. Auto Ignore is becoming very popular.

>Isn't that the whole idea behind the "War on Some Drugs when Used by Certain People"?

Can't ever recall AIDS being spread through the use of a cigarette.

Me either. I'm sure nobody ever contracted the disease while drunk either.

Can't recall anyone killing someone driving under the influence of a cigarette.

Or alcohol (legal).

Can't recall any unwanted babies under the influence of a cigarette.

Or alcohol (legal).

Nobody has to go to rehab to quit smoking.

Nobody "has" to go to rehab to quit anything. They just don't sell "a patch" for heroin addicts yet.

I don't seem to recall River Pheonix dying at 21 because he O.D'd on a pack of smokes.

True, it was a combination of legal drugs, illegal drugs, and alcohol.

If someone jumps off a bridge, do we outlaw bridges?

Or Hendricks, Jim Morrison,Joplin,and on and on and on.

Hendricks is still somewhat of a mystery on exactly what he did, Joplin's official cause was Heroin mixed with a LARGE AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL.

Again, should we outlaw it?

Funny how someone who smokes and happens to die in their 70's is commiting suicide. But, people o.d.ing in their teens and 20's is not a big deal.Drugs should be legal.

Many of them are legal. You can go to your local store and buy cigarettes and alcohol right now. Or if you are the harried housewife of someone rich and or famous, you can score pretty much whatever you want.

Like the author of the article, I used to smoke, too. I began with I was 17 and stopped for good when I was 33 (17 years ago).

I truly enjoyed smoking, especially with a cup of coffee. Some of my favorite smoking memories: going for a walk in the country with my best friend in college, walking our dogs, having a smoke and talking; and traveling in Europe and trying all the different cigarettes.

After about 10 years of smoking, cigarettes began to make me ill -- sore throats, nose always stuffed up, coughs. As time went on, I switched to lighter and lighter brands because my body could not take smoking.

I tried off and on to quit over the years because everyone knows if you smoke long enough, you have a good chance of getting cancer.

People quit for different reasons. You have to find your own.

My reason: I told myself it was fine to smoke for pleasure, but cigarettes were making me sick and I could not stop. I told myself I was neurotic -- that if I enjoyed anything else that was making me ill (eating food if I had an allergy, etc.), I would just stop, but I could not with cigarettes.

I was psychologically addicted to cigarettes -- they represented freedom in some way I cannot describe. This is just advertising. Cigarettes are just a dried up plant inside a piece of paper.

Anyway, I did quit for good, 17 years now. I told myself smoking for enjoyment was fine, but I was not able to do that. I had to have a cigarette just to get through the ordinary ups and downs of life, and I refused to be like that. I also enrolled in a smoking program (SmokeEnders) because I knew I could not quit my own, and for 4 months I avoided situations where I would smell smoke and be tempted to start again (SmokeEnders did not tell me do do this -- I did it on my own).

ONLY after I quit for good did my sense of smell start to come back. In all the years I smoked, I HAD NO IDEA how truly overwhelming cigarettes smell, that they smell foul and stick to your clothes and hair. I had no idea at all because smoking kills your sense of smell. When smokers say they can't understand why other people object, it is because smoking has killed their sense of smell and they don't realize it.

I know how you feel. If you want, please see my post 643. Cigarettes are not your friend. Your emotional reaction of getting comfort is all inside you -- the cigarette is just a plant wrapped in a piece of paper. I loved smoking, smoked for years, and eventually quit. If I can do it, anybody can -- you just have to find your own personal reason. Good luck.

ONLY after I quit for good did my sense of smell start to come back. In all the years I smoked, I HAD NO IDEA how truly overwhelming cigarettes smell, that they smell foul and stick to your clothes and hair. I had no idea at all because smoking kills your sense of smell. When smokers say they can't understand why other people object, it is because smoking has killed their sense of smell and they don't realize it.

I'm happy that you quit smoking. If a person really hates a habit, then give it up. Sometimes, habits are hard to break.

I haven't reached that point yet. I truly enjoy smoking, even after all these years. Coffee and cigarettes. :)

A lot of times I will go to light up and then think 'nah. I really don't want a cigarette right now.' And I put it down.

My sense of smell and hearing are excellent. I guess for some, smoking desensitizes taste and smell, but I haven't noticed any difference. If a food taste good I eat it. And if it doesn't, I don't waste money bringing it into the house. I don't live to eat anyway. :)

But good for you! Thanks for your testimony.

When I do the same thing here in VA/DC - the bars are no more crowded....but they smell like absolute $h!t!....as do I at the end of the night.

You know...when I go to a bar and see fat chicks...sometimes they smell like absolute $hit too. While were at it...let make them go outside as well.

I mean, cmon...if you're really that offended by cig smoke at a bar...find a smoke-free bar...or move to NYC. I'm sooo tired of 1% of thin skinned people trying to outlaw all things that annoy them. Deal with it and move on.

Wow....very insightful.

I'm sure your mother would be so proud.