Smokers

[Excited Penguin]

Well we were able to get beer from a local vendor woman who obviously knew how old we were but didn't mind selling to us and thought us trustworthy enough not to go cry to the cops.

Cigarettes were more of a problem for me, later on. That must be why I unconsciously took up the habit of not shaving myself for periods at a time, so I could look older and buy the damn ciggies.

Don't know where you're from, but here in Austria cigarettes and booze are legal, once you're 16. Nowadays that's also the voting age. But that's a rather new development.

Yeah, I know you guys are 'crazy' like that. You've got age of consent at 14. But I think those developments are great. I, for one, have been the thinking individual I am right now since I was only 13-14 years old. I haven't changed a bit, at least not profoundly so- intellectually, that is.

TBH, I've lived in Vienna for a month, and I found the whole experience quite ecstatic. I wrote my best stuff during that phase(and then went and deleted it, of course - I always sacrifice my best stories). This is all despite me getting a stony vibe from the inhabitants. But the city is just amazingly beautiful...

[Excited Penguin]

Well we were able to get beer from a local vendor woman who obviously knew how old we were but didn't mind selling to us and thought us trustworthy enough not to go cry to the cops.

Cigarettes were more of a problem for me, later on. That must be why I unconsciously took up the habit of not shaving myself for periods at a time, so I could look older and buy the damn ciggies.

Don't know where you're from, but here in Austria cigarettes and booze are legal, once you're 16. Nowadays that's also the voting age. But that's a rather new development.

I think I must explain something. I've been growing a beard ever since I started smoking, basically, and I could make myself look quite beyond my years with it, still can actually. I'm versatile in my looks like that, not sure if it's a very useful thing, me not being a Bosnian spy or anything   but there you have it.

[Longhorn]

I'm versatile in my looks like that, not sure if it's a very useful thing, me not being a Bosnian spy or anything   but there you have it.

You know I can hear you and see your browsing history, right? ಠ_ಠ

[BrokenQuill92]

I can always cough look really Tiny Tim like around everyone if guys wanna quit!

[ErGingerbreadMandude]

Basically before every movie in the cinema they show a general awareness advertisement against smoking.They show pictures of people affected by various conditions due to their smoking habit.
It's pretty disgusting.I know that i would spiral out of control if i ever started with the habit so i refrain from starting altogether.
(Seeing how people here have trouble quitting after starting,i'm now more motivated to never start.)

[zebo-the-fat]

I have never understood why anyone would ever want to put burning leaves in their mouth. Apart from the health issues, it makes you and your clothes stink!
I don't smoke for the same reason I don't stick red hot needles into my eyeballs!

[BrokenQuill92]

I tried an electronic cig once and it went very badly! I thought it be like inhaling steam.

[Excited Penguin]

I have never understood why anyone would ever want to put burning leaves in their mouth. Apart from the health issues, it makes you and your clothes stink!
I don't smoke for the same reason I don't stick red hot needles into my eyeballs!

Once you start - for whatever reason, it can become insanely addictive. Not to mention that pleasant buzz you get the first few times, or everytime you haven't smoked for a while. Plus, we find it very relaxing, but it might be that this is just an illusion.

[pocaracas]

What brand do you smoke?

Don't smoke.

When and how did you start?

In the womb - it was 1980 and Portugal was catching up with the crazy 70's. Both parents smoked round-the-clock.
The apartment had a carpet which made the smell remain longer.
I don't remember noticing the smell until far later in life...
Been a second-hand smoker for most my life... At uni, lots of others kids smoked and I had to take in their smoke.
As a researcher, I still have some smoker colleagues and, once in a while, we have to go outside to discuss some details of work, while they get their fix.

Do you regret it?

Yes.... f'in stupid habit imported from the americas...
America - providing the world with crap since the 16th century!

Are you a quitter(do you find yourself constantly trying to quit and then you go and take it up again)?

Too many people smoking around me... -.-'

Answer whatever you like.

About my dad... after a lifetime of smoking, he had some intestinal problem... which wouldn't go away. One morning, about a year ago, as he was getting his morning fix, something went terribly wrong and he couldn't stop coughing, until something red came out.
That day, he gave up smoking, drinking coffee and other bad habits. All cold turkey and, now, over a year later, he's still going strong!

His problem remained and a month later he went to the hospital where he was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, which made the doctors happy, as it was not cancer... but it's almost as bad.
His previous general poor state of health, after carrying around undiagnosed Crohn's for months, left him too weak to withstand the operation required to cut off a piece of his intestine, so that operation didn't go according to plan and he had to stay in the hospital for 4 months... 4 months confined to a hospital bed, without knowing when or how or even IF he would be ok and fit to resume his life.
Had he not quit smoking and drinking coffee prior to his admittance in the hospital, it would have been and even crappier stay than it was and he would probably not have remained willed enough to overcome that temporary setback.

Moral of the story: don't smoke - if you ever need to stay for a while in a hospital, you'll have a far easier time.
The same goes for clipping your toe nails - think of the people who discover your overgrown keratin! :p

[Excited Penguin]

Basically before every movie in the cinema they show a general awareness advertisement against smoking.They show pictures of people affected by various conditions due to their smoking habit.
It's pretty disgusting.I know that i would spiral out of control if i ever started with the habit so i refrain from starting altogether.
(Seeing how people here have trouble quitting after starting,i'm now more motivated to never start.)

Don't.