any smoking roadgeeks?

[1995hoo]

Late in joining this thread.....

I have never smoked habitually. Like many people, I tried the odd cigarette or other thing here and there in college, but I never got into it and I also quickly found almost all the girls I knew considered it a major turn-off. More importantly, however, if I had started smoking I would have felt like a hypocrite because my brother and I badgered our father into quitting when we were kids. I don't remember for sure when he quit, but I'm pretty sure it was before I was 10 years old since that was the year we moved to the house where they still live and I do not ever remember him smoking there. Anyway, to me that was a powerful motivator for never getting started.

Last time I smoked anything was in May 1998 a week after I graduated from law school. I was given a cigar by a former college roommate and felt I had to smoke it. Combined with beer, Scotch, and other crap that night, the next morning was hellish.

I'm not out to pass judgment on most smokers, but I genuinely do not understand why so many younger people still take up the smoking habit. Older people who got hooked, sure. I remember my father had a hard time quitting, and I suppose it's like any addiction. I weaned myself off a major caffeine addiction back in 2001 and the headaches were borderline incapacitating, so based on that I have to assume overcoming the nicotine addiction would be brutal too.

The other thing I think is reprehensible is to smoke in the car when you have kids riding with you (especially an infant). As an adult if I know you're a smoker I can refuse to ride with you, and I'll tell you why. Most smokers understand that, I think. But children have no choice in the matter. I really don't remember whether my father smoked in the car (which suggests to me he probably didn't, and given that he's fastidious about keeping the car clean I think it's all the more likely he did not) and I can't imagine being cooped up for a long time in a confined space like that with a smoker. I view it as borderline child abuse to do that to a little kid. I don't necessarily know that I support laws specifically restricting the right to smoke in a car where a kid is a passenger. I have a problem with too much governmental intervention into one's life in that way. BUT on the other hand, I think the kid is entitled to some protection and I'm not sure existing child-abuse laws would afford it.

Final thought....smokers who think the whole world is their ashtray and flip cigarette butts on the ground wherever they go are assholes and hopefully have a special space reserved for them in hell. I especially hate it when I find cigarette butts blown into my front yard because someone tossed one in the street in my neighborhood. If you choose to smoke, I think you assume the obligation to clean up properly (just like it's not OK for dog owners to leave dog shit in other people's yards). So many people have stopped littering compared to what we used to see in the 1970s, yet cigarette smokers seem to think anti-litter laws don't apply to them. It's high time they learned they're wrong about that.

[kphoger]

Final thought....smokers who think the whole world is their ashtray and flip cigarette butts on the ground wherever they go are assholes and hopefully have a special space reserved for them in hell. I especially hate it when I find cigarette butts blown into my front yard because someone tossed one in the street in my neighborhood. If you choose to smoke, I think you assume the obligation to clean up properly (just like it's not OK for dog owners to leave dog shit in other people's yards). So many people have stopped littering compared to what we used to see in the 1970s, yet cigarette smokers seem to think anti-litter laws don't apply to them. It's high time they learned they're wrong about that.

[djsinco]

One of my biggest regrets in life is that I smoked cigarettes as a young adult. I quit, thank goodness, in 1987. Now I am absolutely allergic to the smell of them. I can smell a cigarette burning downwind at over 100 feet, and talking to a smoker with standard personal space for a minute or two leaves my mouth feeling like I just smoked. I have often said I would turn down a supermodel if she was a smoker. None of my friends believe me, but that is how much I abhor it.

[mgk920]

Not only the 'roads are their ashtrays' thing being an unsightly mess, but it's also a severe fire hazard - I would not be surprised at all if the vast majority of major wildfires are touched off by discarded smoking stuff.  If I were a prosecutor and someone came before me with strong evidence that his or her discarded butt touched off a major wild fire....



And yes, tobacco addiction is #1 on my list of fatal disqualifiers in females, even more so than 'unavailability', and yes, I have turned a couple of interested addicted females down over my lifetime.

Oh well....



MIke

[djsinco]

Not only the 'roads are their ashtrays' thing being an unsightly mess, but it's also a severe fire hazard - I would not be surprised at all if the vast majority of major wildfires are touched off by discarded smoking stuff.  If I were a prosecutor and someone came before me with strong evidence that his or her discarded butt touched off a major wild fire.

MIke

Not sure of how many other states have statutes criminalizing "throwing a burning substance from a moving vehicle."  I think OR was the first, and I know the law exists in CO as well.

[kphoger]

"throwing a burning substance from a moving vehicle."

So . . . . . . make sure to park first.

[djsinco]

"throwing a burning substance from a moving vehicle."

So . . . . . . make sure to park first.

What about the rotation of the earth? Are you one of those flat-earthers?

[kphoger]

"throwing a burning substance from a moving vehicle."

So . . . . . . make sure to park first.

What about the rotation of the earth? Are you one of those flat-earthers?

I'm pretty sure any judge would rule that "˜moving vehicle' means moving relative to the ground–except in Alanland, where a flat earth is codified in law.  And no:  though I think it would be kind of neat to be a member of the Flat Earth Society (only if they have membership cards, of course), it's not because I'm a flat-earther.  It would just be a fun conversation-starter.

[place-saint-henri]

Hey Roadgeeks. Curious. anyone here smoke? If so what do you smoke/what brand and for how long? and why do you enjoy the act of smoking? do you want to stop?

Me, I used to smoke on and off as a Teenager but I am now strongly opposed to smoking in general. I liked Cigars from time to time but my regular cigarette brand were Marlboro 27s. I loved those things, they were so tasty. but than I grew up and realized it was a waste of time and money. still get cravings sometimes but they are easy to fight since I didnt smoke for that long. Im lucky.

[agentsteel53]

also: mods, can someone merge this with the other smoking thread?  I can't find it offhand.

[Grzrd]

mods, can someone merge this with the other smoking thread?  I can't find it offhand.

Mods, hope this helps:

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=8530.0

[seicer]

A cig occasionally at a bar, but a much stronger preference for trees with friends.

[agentsteel53]

trees with friends.

definitely a new euphemism for me.  I had no idea the stuff grew on trees.

[seicer]

trees with friends.

definitely a new euphemism for me.  I had no idea the stuff grew on trees.

http://www.reddit.com/r/trees/

[US81]

...The other thing I think is reprehensible is to smoke in the car when you have kids riding with you (especially an infant). As an adult if I know you're a smoker I can refuse to ride with you, and I'll tell you why. Most smokers understand that, I think. But children have no choice in the matter. I really don't remember whether my father smoked in the car (which suggests to me he probably didn't, and given that he's fastidious about keeping the car clean I think it's all the more likely he did not) and I can't imagine being cooped up for a long time in a confined space like that with a smoker. I view it as borderline child abuse to do that to a little kid. I don't necessarily know that I support laws specifically restricting the right to smoke in a car where a kid is a passenger. I have a problem with too much governmental intervention into one's life in that way. BUT on the other hand, I think the kid is entitled to some protection and I'm not sure existing child-abuse laws would afford it....

There are legal entities where CPS can open a case if an adult smokes around a child and that child develops a chronic disease attributable to smoke exposure.

[Laura]

In college, I used to smoke cloves and unfiltered Lucky Strikes when I drank on the weekends. In social settings, I smoked a hookah and worked at a hookah bar one summer. I always thought regular mainstream cigarettes tasted pretty terrible and processed. I did date a guy who smoked Marlboro lights, which were probably the only mainstream ones that I tolerated.

Then I had a bad night of drinking and smoking too much and quit casually smoking. Oddly, I did not withdraw in real life, but had crazy withdraw dreams. I was more addicted subconsciously than I realized. This was at the end of 2008.

If the social situation allows, I will smoke a hookah, but that usually happens once a year or two. As for the green, I only smoke it in social situations (once every year or two), but it always takes me an ungodly amount of the stuff to feel anything. My friends would be high after a few hits, but it did nothing for me. I believe this is because I'm a pretty excited/anxious person, so i need more of it to mellow.

Interestingly, I never liked the smell of tobacco on me. It would super gross me out that my fingers smelled like it. Thankfully this kept me from smoking it more, so I never got seriously addicted.

My husband's parents smoke Winstons in their house, and it grosses me out. I smell like an ashtray when I leave and it takes me two showers to get the smell completely off. I love them to death but don't visit them as much as I'd like because of the smoke.

[bugo]

I'm surprised that this hasn't evolved (or devolved, if you wish) into a discussion of drinking vs. drug use.

So I'll forge bravely ahead and take us there. 

I've often seen people ponder why consumption of alcoholic beverages is legal, yet consumption of marijuana/heroin/cocaine or the abuse of pain medication is illegal.

I think it can be explained in this way.

There are legitimate uses for the consumption of alcohol that do not involve intoxication. People enjoy drinking beer, wine, etc. and do so for purposes other than intoxication.

No one uses drugs for any purpose other than intoxication -- or if you do not want to use that word, then for the purposes of altering one's perception or senses. You don't smoke a joint because you like the taste, or want to have it with a pizza. You smoke a joint to get high.

Then you should ban alcohol and make non-alcoholic versions of these beverages.

Your argument holds no water (or wine).  It doesn't matter why anybody drinks or tokes or whatever they want to do.  It's none of your business and it's none of mine.

[allniter89]

I'm surprised that this hasn't evolved (or devolved, if you wish) into a discussion of drinking vs. drug use.

So I'll forge bravely ahead and take us there. 

I've often seen people ponder why consumption of alcoholic beverages is legal, yet consumption of marijuana/heroin/cocaine or the abuse of pain medication is illegal.

I think it can be explained in this way.

There are legitimate uses for the consumption of alcohol that do not involve intoxication. People enjoy drinking beer, wine, etc. and do so for purposes other than intoxication.

No one uses drugs for any purpose other than intoxication -- or if you do not want to use that word, then for the purposes of altering one's perception or senses. You don't smoke a joint because you like the taste, or want to have it with a pizza. You smoke a joint to get high.

Then you should ban alcohol and make non-alcoholic versions of these beverages.

Your argument holds no water (or wine).  It doesn't matter why anybody drinks or tokes or whatever they want to do.  It's none of your business and it's none of mine.

Thank you bugo, spot on imo. To add to bugo statement, its no-ones business what we drink or smoke as long as we dont endanger the public. And not everyone smokes a joint to get high, some dont even smoke a whole joint b/c they use it to relax after work or whatever. BTW I've heard there is some nice tasting smoke out there

[hbelkins]

Sometimes I believe I'm the only person in the world who has never smoked dope, not even once to try it.

[NE2]

That's kind of like being the only person never to speed.

[hotdogPi]

Sometimes I believe I'm the only person in the world who has never smoked dope, not even once to try it.

I have never smoked anything (not even ham).



EDIT: Why didn't I get the "new post has been made" when I tried to submit it?

[Duke87]

Sometimes I believe I'm the only person in the world who has never smoked dope, not even once to try it.

You're not. I've been in the presence of people smoking it on multiple occasions and have even had some random dude in a park in Montreal at 3 AM ask me if I had any (heh, oh Canada!), but I have never actually smoked anything myself.

[empirestate]

Sometimes I believe I'm the only person in the world who has never smoked dope, not even once to try it.

You're not. I've been in the presence of people smoking it on multiple occasions and have even had some random dude in a park in Montreal at 3 AM ask me if I had any (heh, oh Canada!), but I have never actually smoked anything myself.

Don't miss it for a second, though it was perfectly fun while it lasted. Suddenly it stopped being fun, so that was it for me.

[realjd]

Sometimes I believe I'm the only person in the world who has never smoked dope, not even once to try it.

No, you're not. I never did either. Although I'd like to try it once to see what the fuss is about, I never did growing up and my current job situation precludes trying it.

[Takumi]

You aren't missing much. It's overrated.