How many smokers out there?

[Westernskies]

How many FIRE members are (or were) smokers?

As a generalization , one would expect that this forum is probably more well-informed, better-educated, and with a higher percentage of overachievers than the general population. That would lead me to believe that there are fewer smokers than the national average.

Also, one would expect that the age demographics of this group are such that many of us grew up in an era when smoking was widely accepted and before the health risks were not as well known.That would lead me to believe that there are more smokers than the national average.

 

[Martha]

I quit nicotine in 1986. That was after a year of nicotine gum. Before that, I smoked. Kools.

 

[bssc]

Smoked in 8th grade because it was cool. Quit in 8th grade because it was costing too much money and I wanted to save more.

 

[Dreamer]

Quit 12/31/85. Wish I could have answered never smoked.

 

[Khan]

Voted never smoked.

A slight hedge: went through half a pack when I was 21. Didn't see the point.

 

[ziggy29]

My parents both smoked when I was growing up (my dad later quit). Being around the second hand smoke inside the house made me physically ill. It pretty much guaranteed I'd never even TRY smoking, let alone get hooked.

 

[winger]

Smoking is about the only bad habit I missed. Never smoked.

 

[samclem]

My mom and dad both smoked, the living room was a constant haze of smoke. I never tried it, never wanted to. My parents both tried to quit many times. Mom died of heart disease, dad died of lung cancer, both before they were 60.

I like the smell of cigarette smoke outside when others are smoking, it smells familiar, good.

It's hard for me to understand why people start these days.

 

[clifp]

I am think of starting. After the last 6 months, I figure, I can spend less, go back to work, or die earlier. Smoking seems like the easiest of the three.

 

[73ss454]

My mom and dad both smoked, the living room was a constant haze of smoke. I never tried it, never wanted to. My parents both tried to quit many times. Mom died of heart disease, dad died of lung cancer, both before they were 60.

I like the smell of cigarette smoke outside when others are smoking, it smells familiar, good.

It's hard for me to understand why people start these days.

The living room with the constant haze brings back memories. I also never tried it as I couldn't get past the stink.

I'm amazed that you like the smell. Yuk!

My Dad died of heart disease and Mom of lung cancer, just the opposite of you parents Sam.

 

[FIREd]

Both my parents are smokers (My dad stopped for about 10 years and then started again a few years ago). They often smoked at the kitchen table so I was exposed to plenty of second hand smoking. The smell doesn't bother me.

I tried smoking a few cigarettes when I was younger, but I never caught the bug (thankfully). I hate the residual smell of cigarette on clothes/upholstery (no one is allowed to smoke in our home and cars).

But I must confess a liking for the smell of cigar/pipe smoke though I don't smoke neither.

 

[Gumby]

I quit cold turkey in August 1984. I smoked about 1/2 pack a day of Camel no-filters for about 8 years prior to that.

 

[kumquat]

Ah, you guys are talking tobacco. That explains the answers.

 

[Westernskies]

Ah, you guys are talking tobacco. That explains the answers.

there is a voting opportunity for everyone...

 

[Payin-the-Toll]

For all those who grew up in the living room / kitchen haze, why aren't you all dead from second-hand smoke?

 

[jambo101]

I've tried to give up the Nicotine addiction many times,right now i'm 2 weeks into another attempt using a product called Champix,so far so good. both my parents smoked from their teenage years till they were 60,they are now into thier mid 80's with no health issues and living like a couple of 20yr olds,had they continued smoking i doubt they would be with us today.Mom Dad and myself worked in factories most of our lives and highschool was as far as we got academicaly.

 

[RonBoyd]

my parents smoked from their teenage years till they were 60,they are now into thier mid 80's with no health issues

Most, of course, are not so lucky (which is the correct word).

Alan Landers, Winston Man, Dies at 68

(I smoked for 25 years and quit 25 years ago.)

 

[ziggy29]

Ah, you guys are talking tobacco. That explains the answers.

I am, yes. But the poll itself never specifically mentioned cigarettes...

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

I quit all forms of smoking in 1968. Have been waiting for the lung cancer to show up ever since.

 

[73ss454]

For all those who grew up in the living room / kitchen haze, why aren't you all dead from second-hand smoke?

To get away from the haze and stink I would stay in my bedroom as much as possible. Made me sick to see the ceilings turning brown and clouds in the main part of the house.

Who knows if someday I'll get lung cancer, many non smokers die each year from it.

 

[tryan]

Couldn't answer the poll because I am an occasional cigar smoker (5-6 times per year). Not sure if that qualifies as "current smoker" in the conventional sense.

 

[TeeRuh]

Hated to have to say < 5 years, but want to be honest. (About 50 months.)

Full disclosure:
Your Quit Date is: Sunday, January 02, 2005 at 6:33:00 PM
Time Smoke-Free: 1519 days, 11 hours, 13 minutes and 24 seconds
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 37987
Lifetime Saved: 9 months, 20 days, 4 hours
Money Saved: $6,650.00

t.r.

 

[Westernskies]

Who knows if someday I'll get lung cancer, many non smokers die each year from it.

Originally Posted by Payin-the Toll
For all those who grew up in the living room / kitchen haze, why aren't you all dead from second-hand smoke?

I attended a funeral of a friend in Pennsylvania last weekend. He was only 54 years old , never smoked, avid runner, the picture of health. Died from lung cancer, 60 days from diagnosis to death. Left behind a wife of 35 years and two kids in college. His funeral was on the the 1-year anniversary of my mother's death from lung cancer. She smoked 3 packs a day for 45 years, quit when a mass turned up on a chest x-ray in 1998. She lost half of one lung, but got a second chance- she lived cancer-free for another 10 years, but it came back and took her last year. My father also died from cancer in 2000 due to smoking, his was heart-related.

We grew up in a house with a persistent blue haze. My folks smoked, all their friends smoked, all the relatives smoked. Three out of four kids in the family ended up as non-smokers; one picked up the habit.

I never smoked (anything)- made it through all the peer pressure in high school, four years of college with smoking roommates , the single bar scene early in my career, and many years of international business travel (many times I was the only one in the room not smoking) without succumbing. Probably never took it up because like CFB, I was born without a volume control, just an on-off switch. If I smoked I would probably be a chain-smoker; If I drank I would be a drunk.

The funeral last weekend got me thinking about the hazards of smoking, and prompted me to post this poll.

.

 

[TeeRuh]

Want to pass on a web site that was very helpful during the early days/weeks/months of my quit.
http://www.quitnet.com/p/m/redir.jtml?link=101&mURL=/Quitnet
Key item is a forum where you can get lots of near-real time feedback from fellow quitters.

t.r.

 

[F-One]

Started smoking at 12 - quit cigarettes at 17 on a bet with friends for case of beer. Quit other at 20 - poor college student, no money.