Smoker / Non-Smoker

[RAJAH235]

I too, had to 'put down my pipe' to answer this... L.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Yep, I'm a smelly old smoker!

I started when I was 8 years old and have never stopped. That's 40 years of nicotine and poison in me.

I have tried the usuals, Hypno, patches, Acupuncture, Prayer, Kits, counselling, Stop smoking Chewing gum, tablets etc.

My Doc says I have extreme receptors!!! (whatever they are).

I have a very acute sense of smell (which I shouldn't have), 40 years of puffing and yet I hate the smell of Smokes, smokers, ashtrays, Smokers clothes and smoke in the air! I smoke outside at home.

I run around coaching kids in Rugby League and yet I don't get puffed out. And I smoke between 25 and 30 a day!!!

I would like to give up but the addiction has me badly. My Doc said one day I might just stop smoking for no reason but my "Receptors" are different to most people and that's what makes it difficult.

[Gargoyle_Steve (Steve)]

I'm in the "have never smoked in my life" category ..... don't allow anyone to smoke inside my house. Visitors know the situation, if they want a smoke badly enough they go outside to do it. I don't date a woman if she smokes either ... because kissing a smoker really IS like kissing an ashtray!

Smoking is very much a personal choice ... just not mine.

[Argonavis (William)]

Originally Posted by Gargoyle_Steve

I don't date a woman if she smokes either ... because kissing a smoker really IS like kissing an ashtray!

forget the mints as they do not work on the overbearing smell of nicottine - asking said smoker to munch on some parsley takes the stench away. Parsley is amazing stuff for bad breath.

[iceman (Mike)]

Never smoked, never will. Hate the smell of it on others, too.

My Dad is a smoker, but will probably have to give up soon.

[OneOfOne (Trevor)]

I have never smoked a cigarette in my life. I grew up in Milk Bars (you may remember them?) and one of my jobs was to fill up the fags every night. I can still remember the stench from the "roll your own" tobacco when I opened the doors of the storage cupboard. I have probably handled more cigarettes than any smoker is every likely to smoke (several thousand dozen cartons), but am proud to say I have never had a puff of anything! Drinking is another issue, I never drank...until I met my girlfriend, now wife, (and her teenage daughter), but that is something for another poll.

If you are into astronomy, and I think most of us are, there are two good reasons to give up:

Smoking reduces blood flow to the small capillaries of the body, eg. the eyes, and so you could expect to see a reduction in sensitivity.

Secondly, lighting up a fag will destroy your night adaption as much as turning on a small torch...maybe smoking on a dark site should be banned for this very reason?

[Smokey]

I,m pretty much in the same boat as Ken. I have smoked for as long as I can remember, and although I dislike the smell, I still actually enjoy my smokes.
Makes it hard to give up when you dont want to.

[astrogeek (Leon)]

Well I gave up about a year ago after 4 years of smoking. Cold turkey worked for me, and I found that just having the occasional smoke helped me quit. Once a week, or maybe longer, I'd have a smoke and after about a month I found I didn't really need to any more. I still miss smoking though as I absolutly loved it. If it wasn't going to kill me I'd be out having a smoke right now.

[ving (David)]

never smoked, my parents did tho. my mother gave up decades ago and my father a couple of years ago after having a stroke. now a smoke free family
I dont get people who are just taking it up now, but its prolly just a rebelling thing.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I'm a smoker myself. I've stopped several times using nico gum, patches and cold turkey.
I don't smoke in the house because of the kids and the fact that it makes the house stink. I hate the smell of smoke.
Now that I am moving to a new house in a few weeks time, I'm setting that as the date to quit.
Again I'll go cold turkey. I'm not looking forward to it because I know what I'm in for. Weeks of totally irrational behavior with the occasional violent outburst against some poor inanimate object.
Ron Wood ( Rolling Stones ), who has quit a heroin and booze addiction, said that giving up the ciggies was the hardest thing he had ever done.

[mojo (Terry)]

I sometimes think I should give up after a night out, when I've had far too many smokes. But it's that morning coffee and smoke that I would really miss.

On the other hand, I'm not much of a drinker and I've played the pokies once in my life (for 20 minutes until I got bored) just to see what people see in them. So I take heart that I might be sucking on a carcinogen but don't indulge in the two cancers on society... But that's another topic.

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Originally Posted by astrogeek

Cold turkey worked for me, and I found that just having the occasional smoke helped me quit.

That's a funny sort of cold turkey. Like a vegetarian pizza with salami!

[Volans]

I've never smoked at all but have suffered 2nd hand smoke on many occasions. I dislike the smell of smoke greatly but I must say, the smell of tobacco itself, ie the dried herb, is quite pleasant, just like any dried herb really.

Peter.

[ving (David)]

Originally Posted by janoskiss

That's a funny sort of cold turkey. Like a vegetarian pizza with salami!

always found it funny how "vegetarians" can eat chicken and/or seafood....

[circumpolar (Matt)]

I'm glad I gave up 4 years ago. Since then I have found astronomy and learned about how my pupil size will reduce as I age (Less aperture in my eyes ). Smoking speeds this process up by 15 years or so!.

[fringe_dweller]

I am looking forward to giving up the ciggies very soon, it is one damn very stupid habit, but then i have looked very cool my whole smoking life ahahahaa
Best thing I ever did give up was regular drinking and getting smashed (although I do have one drink maybe now and then, but can go months without a drink and have to force myself to have one initially, but - I do drink an exquistite bottle of wine or bubbly and get tipsy maybe once or twice a year) I see old friends and aquantinces who never stopped heavy drinking and they look like crap, while I am as pretty as ever!)
Frank Zappa called ciggies his "food" and couldnt part with them, I understand that one - but then they killed him stone dead in his 50's - sad
Notice the anti smoking nanny nazi's have achieved the ultimate with the packet propaganda - like someone said these images should be on all harmful products alcohol, fast food ect. ever seen people die of alcohol related illnesses and accidents? - I have, not very pretty at all!

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by OneOfOne

Smoking reduces blood flow to the small capillaries of the body, eg. the eyes, and so you could expect to see a reduction in sensitivity.

Secondly, lighting up a fag will destroy your night adaption as much as turning on a small torch...maybe smoking on a dark site should be banned for this very reason?

Alcohol is actually worse on the eyes for observing. Even a small amount reduces the pupil size, and enough alcohol blurrs the vision.

Using lighters on some observing fields is forbidden but not smoking. Just walk away and light up.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Just walk away and light up.

Or use a zippo

[wraithe]

i'm a smoker, given up a few times, and taken it up just as quick...
Both grandfathers smoked till the day they died...
one made 92 other 78, one grandmother wouldnt allow it in the house and died at 97, the other was always put next to a smoker at the nursing home to calm her after my grandfather died and she made 103...
i think old age seems to be more of a problem, and all my grandparents went senile in there 80's, except one who didnt make it...

[johnno]

Yeah,well at 57 years old,
I started at about 13,or 14,and gave it up some 25 years ago,

My Doctor said you have breathing problems,better give up smoking.

Funny thing is,I developed Insulin dependant Diabetes,Immediately,
and spent the next 2 weeks in hospital,and the last 25 years,giving myself a needle of a morning.

THE DOCTOR DID ADMIT,THE STRESS,OF GIVING UP SMOKING MAY,I,REPEAT,MAY,HAVE CAUSED,THE DIABETES.

Like a fool,I thought,here's me trying to get healthy,and I get this problem.
So,I took it up again.

DONT BLOODY SMOKE.

Now,I am on a disabillity pension,due to the effects,not only of SMOKING,BUT now, also the Diabetes,and ITS, associated problems.

I must admit,I
WISH,I HAD NEVER TAKEN IT UP IN THE FIRST PLACE.

In my defence,and also a lot of our older members,WE,thought it was COOL,in the sixties,to be a Smoker,AND,there was NOT the info we have today.

In fact,MY WIFE,was advised by HER DOCTOR,to "Take it up",as it WOULD help her Cope with the Stress,of a Difficult Father,

SHE,Luckily no longer Smokes.

I Still Do.

BUT,
I have now got to the Stage,where I Know,SOMETHING,will Nail Me.
Probably sooner,than Later,so I just hope its Later,(MUCH LATER)

TO our younger Members,DONT TAKE IT UP.

TO,our Older members(Smokers) Give it up,if you can.

Just My Thoughts.

John

P.S,
DONT BLOODY SMOKE.

PPS,
NOW,
you know why,you wont see ME, at meetings,outings,or any other GET TOGETHER,etc.

Because I Choke,at the slightest,reason,ESPECIALLY,cold air