Point of view of a non smoker

Terpsichore

Point of view of a non smoker.

I’m very lucky. I am not a smoker.

I’m fascinated by the struggle people go through to quit or try to quit smoking.
In the past, I have had a few boyfriends who smoked. I must say I never really understood why they were so hooked on their cigarettes. Now reading some of the threads here, I kind of gather how this horrible substance works on the human body. Still no excuse though in my eyes for a grown up person to get tricked by it.

I don’t know if that is going to help anyone, but here are a few observations I have made for myself.

Smokers say that smoking calm them down. But when you know that nicotine is an excitant as much as caffeine, there is something really wrong there.
So! Why do smokers think that smoking calm them down? Well, elementary my dear Watson. It’s the deep breathing that actually calm smokers down. Deep breathe in, and deep breathe out… A relaxing technique old like the world.

Also, a lot of people seem to think that it looks sexy to smoke. Well it doesn’t. I found most smokers look dead stupid, taking in the nasty air in their lungs. Lots of young girls think they look brilliant when they smoke, but they don’t. Marilyn Monroe was sexy before having her smoking portrait done. It’s not because she’s smoking that she is sexy.

Not even starting on 80% tax per packet…and the amount of money spent yearly on cigarettes or health related matters…

As a non smoker, I have long decided that I would never marry a smoker. It smells bad in the house and to kiss. Smoking kills the ability to taste food. Passive smoking is dangerous for young kids and family members living around. Smokers teeth look dirty. And I found it the most selfish anti-social behavior that exists, when no smokers are around. Smoking is bad for your skin: see the difference between fresh fish and smoked fish.

I wish all smokers who really want to quit the best of luck. It is possible. Some have managed it before you.

the GALL

Telling a smoker how rediculous it is,
how much money it costs,
how they stink,
and compareing a smokers skin to smoked fish
is utter tripe as a non smoker(and fair play to you) you will never know what it feels like to smoke it, to hold it, taste it, have it and until you do your words hold no encouragement but they do sound very condensending.
When people start to smoke they dont feel the slope that they are sliding down it's a gradual decent. If they were to go from a nonsmokers body to a smokersbody overnight they would find the shock near bloody murder.
Nobody wants to be an addict,
Nobody wants to be hooked,
Nobody wants to feel like sh1te,and have teeth like p1ss,
Nobody likes the obvious told to them
Fair play to you for not smoking
and just before I finish is there anything you cant live without?

froosh69

i know your post is good intentioned, but its the same spiel we've been getting from our non-smoking friends, relatives and every joe soap we've ever met since starting to smoke...you're lucky you never did...

But don't think for one minute we're smoking to look sexy...we're smoking because...well, eh, we're addicted....

Oh, and one more thing, we know cigarettes aren't "relaxants". We know they're stimulants. The "relaxing" effect is just the feeling of satisfying a craving...like scratching an itch can be relaxing...

Anyway, cheers for the concern!

Terpsichore

the GALL wrote: »

Telling a smoker how rediculous it is,
how much money it costs,
how they stink,
and compareing a smokers skin to smoked fish
is utter tripe as a non smoker(and fair play to you) you will never know what it feels like to smoke it, to hold it, taste it, have it and until you do your words hold no encouragement but they do sound very condensending.

Condensending: it wasn't the intention, far from it. If it doesn't help you, it might help someone else. By the way, congratulations on your own battle. Nice inspiring thread indeed.

the GALL wrote: »

When people start to smoke they dont feel the slope that they are sliding down it's a gradual decent. If they were to go from a nonsmokers body to a smokersbody overnight they would find the shock near bloody murder.
Nobody wants to be an addict,
Nobody wants to be hooked,
Nobody wants to feel like sh1te,and have teeth like p1ss,
Nobody likes the obvious told to them
Fair play to you for not smoking
and just before I finish is there anything you cant live without?

Anything I cant live without? Well, the list could be quite long, so just as starters and hopefully it won't insult you: my Hubby to be, a great sense of humour, and my joie de vivre are at the top. Plenty of fresh water all day long, a good night sleep, a good social life, home cooked food, traveling, great books, long walks, physical excercise etc... oh, and my hair clip, cos my hair is getting longer!

All this to say that I think it's important, no wait: crucial and vital! for people to focus and concentrate on positive things rather than focussing over and over on how miserable we all are. The key I think is to manage to distract you/ourselves from bad habbits, with healthier habbits.
And no, I'm not saying that it is easy.

Terry

I'm sure your posts are well intentioned, but this really isn't the place for it.

People do not come here to be lectured about smoking.
They come here for support in quitting and they already know all of the things listed above.

They know them better than any non smoker ever will.