What Would Constitute Being A Smoker?

[Slash]

I always wondered this myself. What do you consider in a person to be a smoker? Like when you get an exam by a doctor and they ask you, or if you happen to see someone doing it.

Would someone trying it several times without being addicted be considered a smoker by a stranger or a doctor? Or someone who has quit after many years?


Just makes me wonder, especially with anti-public smoking restaurants and everything. What constitutes being a smoker?

This could be by anything. Cigarettes, marijuana etc.

 

[Pupik]

Lighting a combustible object makes one a smoker in a public place.

To a doctor, they're generally concerned with someone who smokes more than a few cigarettes a week. Sure, some people might partake in a very rare smoke, and it would have an infinitesimal impact on their overall health. But likely all doctors would consider any smoking or drug use to be a health risk, due to their potentially addictive nature.

 

[Slash]

But would you always consider that person a smoker if you only happened to see him/her do it once?

And I figured that but wasn't sure. Was looking for a lot of peoples input. Thanks Pupik.

 

[KinLM]

But would you always consider that person a smoker if you only happened to see him/her do it once?

And I figured that but wasn't sure. Was looking for a lot of peoples input. Thanks Pupik.

If I only saw them do it once, then no. I mean, would you call somebody a drinker if you saw them have one beer?

 

[Slash]

I never thought of it that way. But I meant if they were a stranger and you never saw them again.

Not that it matters.

 

[KinLM]

I never thought of it that way. But I meant if they were a stranger and you never saw them again.

Not that it matters.

I still wouldn't. It might just be because Im not very judgemental, but I couldn't categorize somebody as something unless I really knew them, seeing them smoke one time wouldn't make me consider them anything more than somebody who's a little stressed out.

 

[Slash]

Ah, that makes sense.

 

[sumbrownkid]

If you see that guy smoking again, I think it's safe to assume that they are a smoker.

I'm trying to cut down on the smokes (mostly hookah and the herb) actually.

 

[Slash]

I do it occasionally but not a lot which was reason for the thread.

 

[sumbrownkid]

The problem with the whole smoking thing now is that people get highly offended for some reason if a smoke from whatever you're doing reaches their nostrils.

I understand it can be annoying and nauseating for some, but they can at least try not to be holier-than-thou about it as I've seen too many times unfortunately.

Like Dave Chappelle once said, cities laws are making tobacco smokers look like crack heads.

 

[Slash]

I agree with you. Some of these laws are rediculous.

 

[parksideu14]

The problem with the whole smoking thing now is that people get highly offended for some reason if a smoke from whatever you're doing reaches their nostrils.

I understand it can be annoying and nauseating for some, but they can at least try not to be holier-than-thou about it as I've seen too many times unfortunately.

The thing is though that smokers usually stand in a huge group next to the door way of places people wish to go, causing them to have to walk though the smoke (the smell of one cig makes me feel like throwing up ) .

 

[niky]

It's being "holier than thou" if the person is downwind of you and far away.

But if the person at the next table is blowing carcinogenic fumes straight into your face, no.

 

[W3H5]

I think anyone who has a smoking habit can be called a smoker. I smoked rather mildly for a year or so before I became a full time smoker but even then I'd still say I'm a smoker.

Smokers.

 

[Exorcet]

If you actively seek out cigarettes or accept offers to smoke, no matter the frequency, you're a smoker.

It's being "holier than thou" if the person is downwind of you and far away.

But if the person at the next table is blowing carcinogenic fumes straight into your face, no.

Agreed. My usual strategy is just to move far away though. The last thing I'd want to do is get closer and deal with a stronger scent. I don't mind people doing what they want, as long as it doesn't find me and float around my face.

 

[photonrider]

.............................if the person at the next table is blowing carcinogenic fumes straight into your face, no.

Yes.

I think anyone who has a smoking habit can be called a smoker............[/IMG]

Spot on.

If you actively seek out cigarettes or accept offers to smoke, no matter the frequency......................

Absolutely.


I have quit smoking (several times); the last time I restarted was last Christmas. I had quit for one and a half years that time. I have since quit again (been two weeks now) and already feeling the good effects of not smoking. I actually wanted to start a discussion in here to get smokers to join me (or at least cut down) but never got around to it (Too many threads, too little time ). I wanted to call the thread 'QUIT SMOKING!' so as to entrap googlers and bring new members in here. It is easy to quit if you use certain techniques. But while cutting down gradually and weaning yourself off from the nicotine is not really hard - staying off the stuff is a pain - because there will be a constant mental craving - which is the real habit one has to give up.
However - the more you cut down, the better for you.
The more times you quit successfully, the easier it is to quit again. (Going a full three days without a cigarette is 'Quitting' to me - because on the morning of the third day - you will actually feel that beautiful fresh air filling your lungs as you breathe.
I found a pack of Candy cigarettes recently (posted in the GTPlanet's Dad's thread) and wanted to use that as a spur to talk to other Dad's about the effects of smoking - which I shall still do - when I have the time.

Smoking kills.
(Okay - I know someone out there who is probably going - No! Smoking doesn't kill, cigarettes kill, etc, etc, etc . . . but inhaling cigarette/cigar/etc smoke habitually can lead to diseases that kill - or at the very least shorten your life.)
For younger folk - DO NOT touch that first cigarette. Say NO!! Tell your friend, that offers you that cigarette, that you do not need his habit.
Not starting is the best way to quit. Don't start young.
If you are an adult smoker, don't smoke in front of your children ever. Because I adored my Dad, and he looked so cool smoking, is one of the reasons I started.
The other was that some of my closest friends (not all) were also smokers when I joined up with them, and I wanted to be 'one' of the gang.
Smoking also costs money - and eventually when you are desperate you will sell anything to lay your hands on money.
I sold my collection of Spiderman #1 - #104, which I began collecting as a teen, so I could smoke. Sacrilege! And something I'll regret forever.
I sold my vinyl of Floyd's Piper at the Gates of Dawn, in my early twenties, when I was broke and wanted to buy smokes.
That is how ghastly this habit is.

When I think of all the money I spent now on smokes - I could have easily bought that dream car.

There actually is no reason to smoke - except to feed the addiction you train in yourself to begin with. So not starting is the best way of quitting.
Ask any smoker - and TBH - they'll probably tell you that they'd love to quit.

Cheers, Guys . . .and have a great day!
Off to work now - but yay!! Holidays begin this evening!
Harry.

 

[Johnnypenso]

The thing is though that smokers usually stand in a huge group next to the door way of places people wish to go, causing them to have to walk though the smoke (the smell of one cig makes me feel like throwing up ) .

The smoking gauntlet I call it. I used to swim underwater a lot when I was a kid and had lots of practice holding my breath, so I practice holding my breath now while running the smoking gauntlet. Christmas shopping yesterday I had one covered area exiting a mall that had to be 75ft long full of chain smokers...bit of a challenge

 

[Bluntified]

I smoke a half pack of king size, a day, smoking steady for a little over 15 years, (started 15, I'm 31 now) I would call myself a smoker. Someone smoking on occasion, isn't a smoker!

Someone smoking out in the open, public, is probably a smoker, non/occasional smokers would keep away a bit, kinda hid as to not be labelled.

@The moochers inhaling our second hand, sorry! We've been kicked outside, that's where we are!