Your thoughts on Smoking

Let me preface this by saying, I am a non-smoker, and do realize that when it comes to this topic, the opinions are usually dependent on whether or not the person is a smoker or not. Now on to the post.

My grandmother just recently passed away, from cancer which was due to a life of smoking, and then this morning on my way to work I saw a lady sitting on a bench with her kid right in front of her in a stroller, having a cigarette. Having said that, it got me thinking how much I’ve disliked smoking since I was a kid, and wondered why anyone ever started? Sure, when my grandmother was a child they were unaware of the consequences, when I was a child you did it to be “cool”, and nowadays you only do at specific times, like when you’re drinking or just “off and on”, but to me, these are all just excuses, anyone can quit if they really want to, even though I realize it’s very difficult.

The things that really irk me about smoking is what happens to the non-smokers. A few things:

1) Tens (hundreds?) of thousands of non-smokers are killed every year due to 2nd hand smoke.
2) It increases insurance premiums of non-smokers due to cancer and breathing treatments of smokers.
3) When they go out for their 3-4 daily “smoke breaks” I am taking the workload, not to mention if they get this, I should get to leave 30-40 minutes early every day. Of course, some businesses provide employees with 2 10 minute breaks throughout the day, I just wish I had a better way to utilize them.
4) When I was younger, kids at school would actually flat out ask me if I smoked because my clothes wreaked of it. I was so used to it, that I didn’t even notice, but today I can imagine what other kids must have thought.
5) What to do with the ashes and cigarette butts? I find it odd that today, a lot of cars don’t even have ash trays, so what is a smoker to do? They just throw it out the window. Isn’t this littering?
6) Those people that can’t seem to read a sign that says “Smoking Prohibited within 20 feet of Entrance”, or fail to go to a designated area, yet stand right next to the entrance.

On top of all of this, all of the health concerns that come with smoking, such as obvious ones like cancer and COPD, but also everything from cataracts to wrinkles. Not to mention ones appearance, such as your teeth turning yellow and premature aging. To top it all off, just thinking about the money the person spends can be astronomical.

This isn’t me trying to bash anyone (although I’m sure I’m going to take a lot of bashing myself), it’s just the way I view it, just like a person is given the choice whether or not they want to smoke. Seeing that lady with her child right there in front of her (basically the same way I was raised) just got me thinking about it. The funny thing is, I’m not sure what can be done about all of this. Tobacco will never be illegal, and that is something I’ve accepted. I have friends that smoke and even though I’m not a big fan of being around them when they’re in the process, I deal with it because to me, the friendship is worth a lot more. Of course, smoking does make a person feel good, and also helps keep them skinny, so it does have a few positives.

Basically what I would like to hear is your thoughts on smoking, and if you think anything should be done about it (even though it won’t, understandably). If you are a smoker, I'd appreciate your honest opinion on the subject, instead of just quick bashing because you think I'm talking bad or dissing you.

Wasn’t sure if this should be in the D&D or Hangout.

Pugs