Poll: Do You Smoke

[Freightman]

I take it you don't know many smokers?

Not anymore

[Bushie]

Not anymore

If you reach a certain maturity you could say that about anything really.

[Freightman]

My father was a heavy smoker for 75 years. After having read about the bad effects of smoking, he decided to give up reading. He was very smart, both intellectually and street wise. He knew what I thought, but he couldn't help himself.

He passed at 83 - no doubt he had lots of years had he not smoked.

The damage that smoking can do is not necessarily immediate, rather cumulative over a period of years. Forget the emphysema, smoking weakened his arterial system - he had a ruptured abdominal aortic anayeurism at 74. It was a miracle that he survived. He lost all of the blood in his body, obviously replaced - his kidneys shut down and he was on dialysis for the rest of his life - never the same physically.

His choices at 83 because if smoking) were as follows. Die, whatever gets him first, from more anayeurisms developed and about to burst (confirmed), which would have been virtually instant, let the liver cancer (spread) eat him alive and cause an excruciating death, or go to a hospice, stop his dialysis and be kept comfortable.

He chose the latter, a decision as difficult as it was, which I supported.

Maybe off topic, but an issue resulting from death. I was Executor for my parents, held Enduring Power of Attorney's for both, as well their Personal Directives. These are Canadian legal terms which may or may not match up to the readers, but I think you get the point. My father also made sure that the legal documents were taken care regarding my mother, who was no longer able to take care of her own affairs.

Everything was in order for me. All taxes had been paid, I knew in advance the location of all his financial formation, accounts etc. Settling the estate was actually quite easy. We should all endeavour to take care if these details for our loved ones.

[lessj]

We should all endeavour to take care if these details for our loved ones.

I second.

Also, good to see the "smoker" numbers are low on this site. Non-smoking is an advantage play, for sure.

[Bushie]

I second.

Also, good to see the "smoker" numbers are low on this site. Non-smoking is an advantage play, for sure.

No argument here.

[Three]

I take it you don't know many smokers?

I know lots of smokers. Stupid describes most of them and weak willed describes the rest. Most smokers also have lots of other self control issues. They may be fat or addicted to many other substances or behaviors. The smart smokers all quit unless their will is too weak. The sets of being educated and being smart don't necessarily overlap. I have met a lot of geniuses that had almost no comment sense (basic intelligence). And I have met a lot of uneducated people that had more common sense than most geniuses.

I smoked as a dumb kid. I quit when smokes hit $1 a pack. That was just too much money to spend on something that is really stupid to begin with. Truth be told I smoked to cover up the smell of other smoked products that have health benefits despite having been an illegal drug. I am very strong willed when it comes to my conscious state and had no trouble quitting after smoking for about 8 years or so. I had no urge to smoke. But it took years for my subconscious to stop smoking in my dreams. I knew I beat the monkey when the dreams stopped. The dreams were so vivid they made me believe I had actually fallen off the wagon and smoked the night before. It would take a bit of time to realize it was just a dream. That is how powerful the addiction is. But being of really strong will I had no desire to smoke when awake once I made my mind up to never smoke again. In over 30 years I haven't even had a puff except when it was second hand smoke from the ignorant people that think they can assault people with poisons and it doesn't matter.

It is funny. If anyone dumps poisons into the environment there is hell to pay. If someone directly poisons an individual they will go to jail. Most smokers would be the first to put them there. But when it comes to the well documented poisons inconsiderate smokers force on others those inconsiderate people think it is just fine and anyone that complains about potentially being made sick or triggering a genetically predisposed cancer is out of line. Of course most of the US people are becoming more enlightened. Unfortunately some areas are populated by more troglodytes than others.

[refinery]

I know lots of smokers. Stupid describes most of them and weak willed describes the rest.

This is some of the stupidest shit I've ever read on here.

[BoSox]

I take it you don't know many smokers?

Not too many. Last year a close friend passed after fighting lung cancer, and other serious health problems all due to smoking for over 40 years he was 78 years old. Funny he took me to the casino for the first time in the early eighties. He played at least 50 years as a basic strategy trend better, claiming to be a lifetime winner. Don't they all. He did not want to learn to count claiming he could not have fun while counting, and said counting was a long-term option to being successful. I do not think he was thinking long term. I spoke with him the night before he passed on the phone in the hospital, he sounded so weak.

[Three]

This is some of the stupidest shit I've ever read on here.

I guess we found one of the few that answered the poll as a smoker. Even most smokers agree that it is stupid to smoke. They just can't quit. Most have tried. People do a lot of stupid stuff when they are you and dumb as a brick but none the less think they know everything. When people grow up they give up childish things, if they are strong enough. Unfortunately, despite repeated tries some aren't strong enough and some just never mature as a person.

[refinery]

I guess we found one of the few that answered the poll as a smoker.

You got me. Two packs a day for 20 years, and I've never felt better.

Even most smokers agree that it is stupid to smoke.

That's moving the goal posts. You said the smokers themselves are stupid and weak, not that they are doing something stupid.

When people grow up they give up childish things, if they are strong enough. Unfortunately, despite repeated tries some aren't strong enough and some just never mature as a person.

It sounds like you have unresolved issues. I'm sorry for your loss, or whomever hurt you.

[Three]

It sounds like you have unresolved issues. I'm sorry for your loss, or whomever hurt you.

LoL

Now that's funny.

[Three]

It sounds like you have unresolved issues. I'm sorry for your loss, or whomever hurt you.

LoL

Now that's funny.

That's moving the goal posts. You said the smokers themselves are stupid and weak, not that they are doing something stupid.

No. I said they are weak willed OR stupid. If they are stupid they don't try top quit. If they try to quit but can't, they are weak willed and use their own will to can't control their own actions.

[kelg21]

You got me. Two packs a day for 20 years, and I've never felt better.
That's moving the goal posts.
.

Care to race me between the goal posts? LOL Kidding.