Smokers in a Box

[Beldar]

I used to grab cigarette boxes out of the trash when traveling abroad. The warnings are not as mild as here in the US. Smokers at work were non-plussed.

_B

 

[Lakewood90712]

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The real question is, why is anybody even still smoking...why on earth would anyone start?

That's 2 questions. 1 Chemical addiction in addition to a habit and

question 2 Ever see people in the fashion or entertainment industry at work backstage? both talent and crew! Big Time Smokers. Great for keeping weight down. I wish I was kidding.

 

[MRG]

I remember when I was young, foolish, flew and was a smoker. Couldn't wait for the seat belt sign to go off after takeoff so the entire back section of the plane could light up. It could have been 20 minutes or more since the last puff at the gate.

Those little cardboard"smoking section" signs fastened to the headrests of whatever row was the demarcation line used to magically keep all the smoke aft of that point.

Hehe, what fun thinking back on that now. I described the office of 1982 (when I started) to my young coworker the other day, with the clouds of smoke and ashtrays in the conference rooms. She literally didn't believe me.

I started in an office in '84. The first three months we were in an orientation class. I was one of four smokers in the class of 13. We were highly offended when the instructor announced we were to sit in the back of the class.

Oh how times changed for the better.

I still remember after quitting the last time when I first smelled a smoker, actually two women. The folks who were with me were pretty amused by the shock I expressed over how smoking reeks.

 

[braumeister]

I used to grab cigarette boxes out of the trash when traveling abroad. The warnings are not as mild as here in the US. Smokers at work were non-plussed.

About ten years ago, I was in London with a local friend who smoked. While we were out for a walk, he stopped at a newsstand and bought a package of stickers that were exactly the same size as the graphic warnings on cigarette packs, but had things like "Smoking is cool!" or "Smoking helps keep the weight off!" that were used to cover up the warnings.

 

[HadEnuff]

I watched the first few episodes of "Madmen". Just watching all of that smoking gave me a sore throat.

 

[Meadbh]

I watched the first few episodes of "Madmen". Just watching all of that smoking gave me a sore throat.

Spoiler alert: Betty dies of lung cancer in the end.

 

[folivier]

I remember going to college in '72 and smoking in class. Quit not long after that when a pack went up from 40 to 45 cents! Could only afford either beer or cigarettes. Beer won out....45 cents was almost two 25 cent draft beers!

 

[HadEnuff]

I remember going to college in '72 and smoking in class. Quit not long after that when a pack went up from 40 to 45 cents! Could only afford either beer or cigarettes. Beer won out....45 cents was almost two 25 cent draft beers!

yep, i remember smoking in a lecture. Gross.

 

[aja8888]

DW smoked most of her adult life. Tried the "patch" and other things without much success. Now she does not smoke anymore as it's been replaced with an oxygen concentrator 24/7 (COPD treatment).

I smoked from age 14 to maybe 29, then quit and took up jogging which turned into long distance running (1980's through 1990's). I have no resulting respiratory issues from the 15 years of smoking.

 

[14thMed]

When I first started my first Anesthesia position the Anesthesia office/lounge was the defacto smoking area, Docs would come in smoke,read the newspaper,and drink coffee. The smoke would be halfway down the Surgery corridor. The nurses lounge was even worse.
Of course smoking was allowed at the Nurses Station on the floors.There was one surgeon who would smoke while changing patients dressings.The ash getting longer and longer.Nurse would stand there wondering if it was going to fall in the wound!

 

[NW-Bound]

...There was one surgeon who would smoke while changing patients dressings.The ash getting longer and longer.Nurse would stand there wondering if it was going to fall in the wound!

You mean he did not use the wet wound to put out the stub?

PS. There is a neurosurgeon in the US who was recently sentenced to life in prison for killing two patients, in addition to rendering a few quadriplegic. The article did not provide details or what evidence the prosecutor presented, but there were many nurses testifying against him.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

Quitting smoking was by far the hardest thing I ever did, and I was only 25 years old at the time. I really feel for those who try and try after smoking longer than I had been alive at that time.

 

[Hermit]

I have never even tried a cigarette, ever. I did try a funny cigarette once in 1972 before basketball practice, I was 14. I never did it again, thankfully.

That must have been a very "interesting" basketball practice.

 

[Meadbh]

Both my parents smoked, and ultimately died of smoking related diseases. As a child, I suffered repeated respiratory infections, and despite being blamed for jumping into puddles or staying out too long in the rain, my respiratory infections disappeared when I left home. I was always repulsed by the smoking habit, and never tried it, not even once. Thank goodness for that!

 

[Winemaker]

That must have been a very "interesting" basketball practice.

Actually, for me it wasn't. I was about 6' tall then, maybe 150#, and my 2 other friends told me I had to take long drags, and then hold the smoke in. Of course, I coughed and sputtered, but to no avail, it didn't "do" anything for me. Then they told me I'd have to do it several times before it would work. It seemed like a bunch of BS, and never tried it again. And much to my surprise, there was NEVER any peer pressure to make me smoke or try it again, even through college.

 

[Amethyst]

I did have a reaction - a very strong one - and didn't like it. If I'm going to act goofy, which is not uncommon, I want to be in complete control of it

Actually, for me it wasn't. I was about 6' tall then, maybe 150#, and my 2 other friends told me I had to take long drags, and then hold the smoke in. Of course, I coughed and sputtered, but to no avail, it didn't "do" anything for me. Then they told me I'd have to do it several times before it would work. It seemed like a bunch of BS, and never tried it again. And much to my surprise, there was NEVER any peer pressure to make me smoke or try it again, even through college.

 

[HadEnuff]

I smoked my share of "funny" cigarettes in college in the 70s. I enjoyed it a lot. For professional reasons I gave it up. About 20 years later I had the opportunity to engage in it again, on a golf trip. I got really messed up. Then I was informed that the stuff was a lot stronger after two decades of people at places like Cornell manipulating the growing of it for potential medical purposes. That's when I decided I didn't need to do that anymore.

If I drink some Jack Daniels, I know exactly what I'm getting. If I overdo it, it's on me, and my own stupidity. The idea of ingesting something like that and not knowing precisely the potency, I found very scary.
We are another 2 decades down that road and I understand from people who partake, that it's even stronger now.
No thanks, I'll stick to my manhattans.

 

[Nightcap]

Just lost an old friend to lung cancer. Too young, much too young.

 

[Big_Hitter]

Here in US, Salt Lake City airport has a similar room, although it is bigger.

SLC and ATL have smoking areas - they did it for the olympics

 

[Aerides]

Japan still has 80's/90's style with smoking/non-smoking areas in restaurants (ie, you can still smell smoke in the non-smoking area). Bars? forget it.

Vegas would be much more appealing if casinos were smoke free - makes the whole hotel stink as it wafts up the elevator shafts and clings to your clothes (which then go into your room...) since all the slots are basically filling up the lobby and common areas of any hotel. Even the nice ones.

I get why people "still" smoke - quitting is a bitch. For about a year after I quit I would go along with friends for a smoke break to get the 2nd hand whif, but after that it began to repel me and I'm one of those that can smell and hate it a mile away. I haven't smoked in 20 years but I will let myself start again when I'm 90 lol.

What I don't get is why people still "start" smoking. That's the sad thing.

 

[Big_Hitter]

What I don't get is why people still "start" smoking. That's the sad thing.

because it's one of the great pleasures in life?

 

[mystang52]

The Surgeon General's report on cancer and smoking was issued in 1964. And cigarettes were known as "coffin nails" long before 1964, according to my Dad who was born in 1910 and would know.

The real question is, why is anybody even still smoking...why on earth would anyone start?

I, too, am amazed when I see young people smoking. I'm 64, and I think my generation "should" have been the last smokers. We were just young enough where the Surgeon General's report was still relatively recent, and smoking was permitted in numerous (all?) indoor locations. I only smoked 3 years, from 12th grade into sophomore year at college. Even that short stretch was enough to make stopping difficult.
But with so many restrictions now where smoking is allowed, and even more knowledge about its long term effects, I'm just totally stumped why anyone would start smoking now.

 

[rodi]

As the mom of teenagers this is something I warn the kids about constantly. Fortunately they both think smoking is "gross". My older son actually decided to cut ties with one friend when the friend took up "vaping".... The friend is a smart kid doing stupid stuff.... and decided this would be 'cool'. My son didn't think it was cool (thank goodness.)

My mom smoked - I grew up knowing that the habit was dirty and smelly.

 

[Aerides]

Also, the price! Even on the low end, that's a heap of savings being thrown away

from google:
Cigarettes have an average cost of $5.51 with the price in most states being between six and eight dollars. This number is taken from the combined prices of all of the states but the actual numbers varying greatly with the most expensive cigarettes costing on average $12.85 (New York).Jul 20, 2015

 

[Big_Hitter]

Also, the price! Even on the low end, that's a heap of savings being thrown away

from google:
Cigarettes have an average cost of $5.51 with the price in most states being between six and eight dollars. This number is taken from the combined prices of all of the states but the actual numbers varying greatly with the most expensive cigarettes costing on average $12.85 (New York).Jul 20, 2015

one can purchase a decent pack of cigs here for $5 or less, however loose tobacco is much cheaper